This article will cover three main sections, covering topics that will help you transition into a career in medical billing and coding. The first section is resume building, the state of the job market for certified medical billers and coders, and resources for continuing education. The next section is occupational projections, which looks at the forecast for various medical specialties through 2018. The final section lists methods of achieving continuing education, including workshops, webinars, and several other options from the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
Crafting a Professional Resume
First, be sure to have a professional-sounding email address. Something like Kitten_Lov3r0811@gmail.com or WarCraft_Fan@yahoo.com is unprofessional and sends a message that you may not be mature enough for a career. If you don’t already have one, create an email account that contains at least your surname, if not your full name.
List a few short objectives, or what you bring to the company and how the company will benefit from your expertise. Then, summarize your skills and qualifications below the objectives. You want to gear both of these to the company and position you are going for. Emphasize your knowledge and experience in medical billing and coding, and leave out information that does not pertain to the job you are applying for. This can include facts such as typing speed, speaking more than one language, data entry platforms you are familiar with, the different software applications you are familiar with, and verifiable achievements you are proud to share, such as gaining your certification.
When you list your educational and work experience and achievements. Be sure to include information regarding any education related to medical billing and coding, such as a random course you took or a seminar that you attended, and even your score on your certification exam if you did really well. If you have had any work experience related to the position you are applying for, include it, even it was just some volunteer work or an internship.
Lastly, it’s best to include a cover letter with your resume. Write one for each position you apply for, and don’t just use a generic one for all of them. Do some research and include some information about the company, and why you want to work there. Also, this is where you get to sell yourself. Talk about your personal qualities and how they make you the right person for the job.
Resume Building Resources
If you don’t feel confident in your ability to craft a professional resumes, there are many businesses that can do it for you — for a price, of course. The prices of resume writing services can vary, depending on the company you choose to work with and how much work they have to do for you. Most resume writing services will provide samples on their websites so you can see their handiwork. There are numerous companies out there that you can choose from, so shop around and choose the one that’s right for you.
Occupational Projections to 2018
Medical billing and coding is a part of all areas of medicine, and according to the 2010-2011 Occupational Outlook Handbook provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there is a projected increase of employment across the board for medical jobs. However, there are three main jobs that focus on medical coding and billing. The following shows the occupational projections for each:
Continuing Education
Advances in technology and new discoveries create an ever-changing atmosphere in the medical industry, and the need for those working in the medical field to continuously learn. Continuing education allows you to stay abreast of changes in your field, such as updates to codes, new laws, and more effective billing methods. Plus, completing a certain amount of continuing education credits is required to maintain your certification. The AAPC and the AHIMA offer programs that will earn you the credits necessary to maintain your certification.
AAPC Programs
There are several methods of obtaining continuing education units (CEUs) from the AAPC. CEUs are available for all 21 specialties. Click any link below to learn more about each method.
For information about where to attend these programs and more that have been approved by the AAPC, check out this list of approved CEU vendors.
AHIMA Programs
AHIMA has numerous electronic learning products, such as continuing education courses, overviews, and books, dedicated to continuing education listed in their e-learning catalog. AHIMA also has a large number of e-assessments available online, covering topics such as musculoskeletal system, alcohol and drug abuse coding, and many aspects of the soon-to-be-implemented ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS. If there is a particular course you are looking for, you can search for it through AHIMA’s quick course locator.
AHIMA also offers seminars, which are designed to provide you with the information you need from the comfort of your home or office. You simply log in online and call in via speaker phone to attend. Prices start at $229 for non-members and $179 for members. They typically last 90 minutes and begin at 1 p.m. EST. Seminar registration closes 24 hours before the event.
In addition, quizzes are online, and allow you to earn CE credits by answering 10 multiple choice questions — all open book. The cost for each quiz is $25 for non-members and $15 for members. Quizzes expire six months after being offered. All quizzes can be purchased through AHIMA’s store. For more information about how to take a quiz, click here.
About our expert. Jan Jacobs has worked in medical offices since the early 1980's. Ms. Jacobs has worked for M.D.'s and D.O.'s in primary care and specialty care. She is employed as a senior medical biller and has been at her current job for nearly 10 years, where she uses three different billing systems.
