Alaska boasts one of the lowest unemployment figures in the nation. According to the U3 measurement from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Alaska’s unemployment declined from 7.9% in October 2010 to 7.4% in March 2011. BLS data also reveals 42,800 jobs in the dual category of healthcare and education in Alaska.
The smaller amount of cities in Alaska naturally means that the number of medical billing and coding job opportunities are relatively low when compared to other states. However, there are medical billing and coding jobs available at some of the largest medical institutions in Alaska.
General Alaska Medical Billing and Coding Information
- Number of Medical Billing and Coding Employees in Alaska: 640
- Average Medical Billing and Coding Salary in Alaska: $39,300
- 90th Percentile Salary: $54,490
- 10th Percentile Salary: $26,840
Medical Billing and Coding Training and Education in Alaska
University of Alaska Southeast (UAS)
Health Information Management Coding Specialist
This 31 credit hour course leads to a Coding Specialist Certificate, with all credits counting toward an associate of applied science degree. In addition to college basics, topics cover medical terminology, CPT coding, ICD-9-CM coding, billing, data quality, and reimbursement. The program costs $5,744.
Alaska AAPC CPC Exam Information
- City: Fairbanks
- Proctor Name: Nancy Dawn Bergen, CPC
- Registration Deadline: 8/20/2011
- Exam Date: 09/17/2011
- City: Anchorage
- Proctor Name: Laura Campbell
- Registration Deadline: 9/10/2011
- Exam Date: 10/08/2011
- City: Fairbanks
- Proctor Name: Yelena Foreman, CPC-A
- Registration Deadline: 11/5/2011
- Exam Date: 12/03/2011
Medical Billing and Coding Jobs in Alaska
Three significant employers of medical billing and coding professionals include:
Alaska Regional Hospital
- Address: 2801 DeBarr Road, Anchorage, AK, 99508
- Email Address: ARH-CVServices@HCAHealthcare.com
- Phone Number: (907) 276-1131
- Website: www.alaskaregional.com
Alaska Regional has existed since 1963, and currently has 250 beds. They have 1,000 employees and over 450 independent practitioners. Alaska Regional is the only non-military hospital in the state that has its own air strip. Salary and benefits include disability, sick days, paid holidays, flexible vacation times and more.
Advanced Pain Centers of Alaska (APCA)
- Address: 1917 Abbott Road, Suite 100, Anchorage, AK 99507
- Email Address: anchorage@alaskapain.net
- Phone Number: 907.278.2741
- Website: www.apcalaska.com
APCA was founded in July 2000 to bring pain relief to Alaskans. Founders Dr. Larry Stinson and Dr. Grant Roderer started APCA inside Alaska Regional Hospital, and due to the number of patients requiring treatment for chronic pain, APCA expanded rapidly. About 20% of patients had to drive from Fairbanks to Anchorage for treatment, so APCA opened a second office in Fairbanks in 2002. In 2004, a third office opened to accommodate the residents of the remote Matanuska-Susitna area.
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC)
- Address: 4000 Ambassador Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508
- Email Address: vheart@anthc.org
- Phone Number: 907-729-1900
- Website: www.anthc.org
The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium has been in charge of healthcare services for native Alaskans since 1997. They work through four divisions to achieve their goals. These divisions include: the Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC), the Division of Environmental Health and Engineering (DEHE), the Division of Community Health Services (DCHS), and the Consortium Business Support Services (CBSS).
The Alaska Native Medical Center is a 150-bed facility with over 700 nurses and 250 board certified physicians. It is the highest rated trauma center in the state. The Division of Environmental Health and Engineering is responsible for wastewater and for maintaining health care facilities. The Division of Community Health Services does research on pollution and promotes immunization. Consortium Business Support Services is the statewide support system for all Native Alaskan services.
Top Cities in Alaska for Medical Billing and Coding Careers
1. Anchorage, AK
Anchorage employs about 340 medical billers and coders. The average pay is $18.45 an hour, or $38,380 per year. Those in the bottom 10th percentile earn $24,750 per year, while those in the top 10th percentile earn $51,450.
2. Railbelt / Southwest Alaska
The Alaskan Railbelt employs roughly 100 billers and coders. The mean hourly wage is $20.54 and the mean annual wage is $42,710. The bottom 10% of workers in this area earn $28,410 annually, while the top 10% earn $61,710 per year.
3. Fairbanks
Fairbanks boasts 130 medical billing professionals who earn an average of $19.52 an hour, or $40,600 yearly. The top earners make $52,130 per year, while workers in the bottom 10th percentile make $30,490.
4. Southeast Alaska
The southeastern region has 80 medical billers and coders. The mean wage is $18.44 per hour, or $38,360 per year. Those in the bottom 10% earn $27,410 annually, while the top 10% earn $53,950.
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.
