About Medical Coding & Billing Courses

There are many ways to learn the skill of medical coding and billing. Schools all over the country teach how to code and transcribe medical records. You can take a course at a local community college or even online. Medical coders can earn an associate degree or just take a concentrated course in medical coding, medical billing or medical transcription.

The Facts

• Several schools offer online courses for medical coding and billing as well as transcription courses. A simple 6-month course can teach you the basics; however, it might not get you a job. Hospitals prefer to hire those with an associate degree or higher in the field. If you have a college degree and have taken a course in medical coding, this might be considered more valuable than someone who simply has an associate degree in coding, depending on what the hospital or doctor office needs. In any case, an associate degree or college degree is more valuable than a simple course that you took online.

Misconceptions

• Medical coders and medical billers are not the same thing. Each job requires different skills. Though they both use the same medical codes in the work, a medical biller handles a hospital's bills, works with insurance companies to receive payment and manages invoices. A medical coder extracts information from medical records and knows all about medical codes for certain surgeries and care. Coders may work just for an insurance agency, hospital or related companies. This is a higher-skilled position. A medical transcriptionist is the person who transcribes and reads doctors' records to prepare reports and manage care. In some cases, some or all these skills may be rolled into one job.

Risk Factors

• If you are planning on getting a job as a medical biller and coder, there are a few risks involved. You need to be certain that the training you receive is worth the money and will get you a job. A medical biller typically has a high school education and experience in the field; maybe the biller worked for a doctor or as an LNA. Coders and transcriptionists have anywhere from a few training courses to 2 years of school. The health care industry rarely sees slowdowns, so most of these jobs are still in demand when the economy slows.

Significance

• A 2-year course in medical coding or transcription will give you a very good base from which to be hired. Hospitals will see you can complete the work, have devoted time to your career and are ready to work from day 1, with little training. A 2-year course can also mean a higher salary. Taking a course online could get you a job; however, you may not earn as much and will have to adjust and learn more on the job.

Time Frame

• You can take a medical coding, transcriptionist or billing course in as little as 6 months or spend up to a year learning this trade. Typically, a 6-month course will be accelerated and may not be as in depth as a yearlong course. Most 2-year courses will give you an associate degree or related certificate in your field, which can also be applied toward additional jobs and training.