The Orlando Sentinel featured a story in May of 2011 on 1,000 South Florida doctors making the switch to electronic medical records. This was part of an effort to provide better care for patients through the availability of digital records in multiple clinics and healthcare facilities. In April of 2011, Debbie Wheeler, director of regional compliance for Tenet Healthcare’s Florida Region, said that certified coding specialists are instrumental in helping hospitals comply with laws on medical billing and collections. State law mandates the use of electronic records, and there is an increasing demand for those that have the expertise to use cutting-edge coding software. In fact, the medical billing and coding field in Florida has seen the creation of around 570 jobs per year since 2007. Florida currently employs six percent of America’s billers and coders and has hourly wages and annual wages comparable to the national averages.
General Florida Medical Billing and Coding Information
- Number of Medical Billing and Coding Employees in Florida: 10,880
- Average Medical Billing and Coding Salary in Florida: $33,860
- 90th Percentile Salary: $53,930
- 10th Percentile Salary: $20,590
Medical Billing and Coding Training and Education in Florida
City College
Associate of Science in Allied Health in Medical Office Administration, Medical Coding and Billing Diploma
City College has four locations in Florida: Fort Lauderdale, Gainesville, Miami, and Orlando. They offer two programs: an Associate of Science in Allied Health in Medical Office Administration with a track in Insurance Billing and Coding, and a diploma in medical billing and coding. Both curricula include medical records management, medical insurance, ICD-9 coding, and computerized medical office management. These courses are designed to land graduates jobs like Medical Coding Clerk, Medical Billing Specialist, Medical Records Clerk and Medical Office Assistant. Graduates will be eligible to sit for the National Certified Insurance and Coding Specialist exam. Cost is $275 per credit.
College of Business and Technology
Medical Coding and Billing Technical Diploma
CBT’s Medical Billing and Coding Program in Miami Dade teaches students to translate medical documentation into standardized numerical codes, use recognized coding systems, and help streamline revenue systems, among other skills. Graduates are eligible to sit for the CPC exam. The course consists of 24 credits and takes approximately eight months, costing $414 per semester credit.
Palm Beach State College
Medical Information Coder/Biller Certificate
This program is intended to prepare students for employment as medical coders and health insurance specialists. The program is comprehensive, with courses covering inpatient and outpatient coding, anatomy, computer software, and other vital topics. The PBSC Medical Information Coder/Biller program is accredited by the American Health Information Management Association and qualifies graduates to sit for the American Health Information Management Association CCA certification exam and/or the American Academy of Professional Coders CPC-A certification exam. The total program consists of 34 credits, including six part-time semesters of hybrid online courses. Tuition is $2,723.
Pensacola State College
Medical Information Coder/Biller Applied Certificate
The Medical Information Coder/Biller program is designed to give students the technical skills needed to code medical diagnoses, procedures, and services provided for reimbursement. Upon completion of the certificate program, students can apply their credits toward a two-year Health Information Management Associates of Applied Science degree and/or sit for the Certified Coding Associate exam offered by the American Health Information Management Association. The program consists of 34 credit hours and the cost of tuition is $2,179 per semester.
State AAPC CPC Exam Information
- City: Daytona Beach, FL
- Proctor Name: Casey A Petrov, CPC
- Registration Deadline: 11/12/2011
- Exam Date: 12/10/2011
- City: Sarasota, FL
- Proctor Name: Delly Parham, CPC
- Registration Deadline: 11/12/2011
- Exam Date: 12/10/2011
- City: Jacksonville, FL
- Proctor Name: Kristen B Roberts, CPC
- Registration Deadline: 11/19/2011
- Exam Date: 12/17/2011
Medical Billing and Coding Jobs in Florida
Three significant employers of medical billing and coding professionals in Florida are:
Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery
- Address: 4730 N Habana Ave # 300, Tampa, Florida 33614
- Phone Number: 866-400-3376
- Website: www.advancedderm.com
Dr. Matt L. Leavitt founded Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in 1990. Today there are 32 offices in Florida offering expertise and quick care. Their specialties involve complete care for the skin, nails, and hair, including cosmetic procedures like collagen injections and vein therapy. In addition to experienced dermatologists and physician assistants there are licensed aestheticians that relax and pamper the skin.
Mount Sinai Medical Center
- Address: 4300 Alton Road, Miami Beach, Florida 33140
- Phone Number: 305-674-2121
- Website: www.msmc.com
Mount Sinai Medical Center was founded in 1949 and is the largest, private, independent, not-for-profit teaching hospital in South Florida. U.S. News & World Report has named it one of America’s Top Hospitals. MSMC has over 3,000 employees, including more than 700 physicians. HSMC is proud to offer competitive salary and benefits for employees.
Tallahassee Primary Care Associates
- Address: 1803 Miccosukee Commons Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32308
- Email Address: HR@tallahasseeprimarycare.com
- Phone Number: 850-942-6624
- Website: www.tpcadocs.com
Tallahassee Primary Care Associates is a physician-owned and operated group medical practice that was formed in 1997. Physicians still have individual offices, but they also have the added benefit of ancillary programs and services. Today, Tallahassee Primary Care Associates has 39 physicians and caregivers and 244 staff members who care for over 80,0000 patients.
Boca Raton Regional Hospital
- Address: 800 Meadows Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33486
- Phone Number: 561-955-7100
- Website: www.brrh.com
Founded in 1967, Boca Raton Regional Hospital has grown to include 700 physicians, a nursing and support staff of over 2000, and 1200 volunteers. Their mission is to provide the community with high quality and cost effective healthcare, and they are accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. This not-for-profit hospital is set in the heart of the community just minutes from the beach.
Top Cities in Florida for Medical Billing and Coding Careers
1. Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
There are only about 380 medical billers and coders in the Lakeland-Winter Haven metropolitan area, but they make the highest hourly and annual wages at $18.81 and $39,130, respectively. The lowest ten percent of wage earners only earn an average of $18,300 annually, which is over $2,000 below the corresponding state and national average. However, the top ten percent of earners make much more than the state and national averages – $67,470 annually. This is almost $14,000 more than the national average.
2. Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL
The Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin metropolitan area employs one of the lowest numbers of medical billers and coders in the top cities – 70. However, these workers make the second-best hourly and yearly wages in the state, at $18.75 and $39,000, respectively. The top ten percent of earners make a wage closer to the state average at $55,840 annually, while the lower ten percent make about $22,090 annually.
3. Gainesville, FL
The 250 medical billers and coders in Gainesville make, on average, about $18.04 an hour, which is about two dollars over the state and national average. The average worker also makes about $37,530 annually. The lowest ten percent of earners make $21,230 annually, while the top inch closer to the state average at $54,400.
4. Tallahassee, FL
Tallahassee falls behind the national and state averages for the top bracket of earners, as these billers and coders make around $46,400 annually. The lowest ten percent still make a competitive $22,410, while the average worker makes $36,400 annually and $17.50 per hour.
5. Naples-Marco Island, FL
The Naples-Marco Island metropolitan area sees the highest annual wage for the bottom 10th percentile of medical billers and coders at $26,450. The highest ten percent make $43,040 per year, which is below the national and state average. The average worker makes an annual wage of $35,170 and hourly wage of $16.91. There are about 100 medical billers and coders in this area.
6. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Miami Beach, FL
The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Miami Beach metropolitan area employs the most medical billers and coders in the state: 3,240. The average worker’s hourly wages are close to the state and national averages at $16.76, and the average annual wage is $1,000 higher than the state and national averages at $34,860. The highest ten percent of earners make the second highest annual wage in the state at $57,990, while the lowest ten percent of earners are marginally higher than the state and national averages at $20,950 annually.
7. Jacksonville, FL
The city of Jacksonville is home to 700 medical billers and coders who make an average hourly wage of $16.62 and an annual wage of $34,560. The lowest ten percent of workers make $20,760 annually, while the top ten percent make $51,750 annually.
8. Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL
There are about 310 medical billers and coders in the Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent metropolitan area. The average earner makes $16.29 per hour, the same as the national average, and $33,880 annually, also the same as the national average. The lowest ten percent of earners make $18,150 annually, which is the lowest among the top cities. The highest bracket of earners makes $55,350 annually, which is third highest in the state.
9. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
The second highest number of medical billers and coders in Florida can be found in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area: 1810. A worker here makes on average of $16.01 hourly and $33,490 annually, both of which are under the state and national averages. Those in the top ten percent of wage earners make $53,490 annually, while those in the lower ten percent make $19,730 annually.
10. Orlando-Kissimmee, FL
About 1460 medical billers and coders can be found in the Orlando-Kissimmee metropolitan area, making it the third most popular destination in the state. However, the average medical biller/coder in this area earns the lowest wages on this list – $15.35 hourly and $31,960 annually. The top 10th and bottom 10th percentiles respectively earn $50,020 and $20,930 annually.
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.
