When compared to some other states, there are some minor legal differences of which medical billers and coders working in Oklahoma should be aware. For example, Oklahoma state law only requires medical facilities to keep medical records of patients for up to five years after their last treatment was administered. However, medical records for minors must be kept on file until they turn 21, even if this time period exceeds five years, according to Oklahoma state laws related to medical billing and coding.
Key differences in medical billing and coding in Oklahoma also include patients’ right to access their medical records. For example, many medical facilities in Oklahoma can cite administrative difficulties when failing to provide access to medical records within a 30-day time frame. This time frame is usually required in other states that employ medical billers and coders.
General Oklahoma Medical Billing and Coding Information
- Number of Medical Billing and Coding Employees in Oklahoma: 2,900
- Average Medical Billing and Coding Salary in Oklahoma: $30,230
- 90th Percentile Salary: $46,560
- 10th Percentile Salary: $18,710
Medical Billing and Coding Training and Education in Oklahoma
Rose State College
Health Information Technology Certificate – Coding Specialist
The goal of this program is to provide additional skills for those already in the workplace or to prepare students for the Certified Coding Specialist exam offered by AHIMA. Courses include Introduction to Health Information, Healthcare Reimbursement Methodologies, and Pharmacology for Health Information. The program is a minimum of 32 credit hours long, and tuition and fees for residents is $69.15.
Tulsa Community College
Health Information Technology- Coding & Reimbursement Specialist Certificate
This 40-credit hour program is designed to prepare students for employment in a variety of healthcare settings as coding and reimbursement specialists. Courses include Medical Terminology, Electronic Health Record Systems, and Physician Billing and Reimbursements. This program has been approved by AHIMA, and it prepares students to sit for the Certified Coding Specialist exam. The estimated cost for a state resident is $3,868.
Oklahoma AAPC CPC Exam Information
- City: Oklahoma City, OK
- Proctor Name: Cindy Woodward, CPC
- Registration Deadline: 7/9/2011
- Exam Date: 08/06/2011
- City: Tulsa, OK
- Proctor Name: Kimberly Ann Oswald, CPC
- Registration Deadline: 8/20/2011
- Exam Date: 09/17/2011
- City: Oklahoma City, OK
- Proctor Name: Annja R Caine, CPC
- Registration Deadline: 9/3/2011
- Exam Date: 10/01/2011
Medical Billing and Coding Jobs in Oklahoma
Three significant employers of medical billing and coding professionals in Oklahoma are:
Arbuckle Memorial Hospital
- Address: 2011 West Broadway, Sulphur, OK 73086
- Email Address: webmaster@arbucklehospital.com
- Phone Number: 580-622-2161
- Website: www.arbucklehospital.com
Arbuckle Memorial has 8 physicians on staff in a 25-bed facility. Their specialties include 24-hour emergency care, heart attack and stroke, pap smears, urology, cataract surgery, endoscopy, and imaging. Employee benefits at Arbuckle include health, dental, life and vision coverage, a 403b, continuing education assistance, paid time off, and more.
The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis
- Address: 6161 South Yale Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74136
- Email Address: webadministrator@saintfrancis.com
- Phone Number: 918-494-2200
- Website: www.sfh-childrenshospital.com
Opened in 2005, Saint Francis has 95 pediatricians and 45 pediatric subspecialists on staff. The pediatric services they provide include neurology, oncology, cardiology, cardiac surgery, diabetes, gastroenterology, neurosurgery, and urology. Benefits include retirement options, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, vision, dental, health and life insurance, a smoking cessation program, and more.
Duncan Regional Hospital
- Address: 1407 Whisenant Dr., Duncan, OK 73533
- Email Address: info@duncanregional.com
- Phone Number: 580-252-5300
- Website: www.duncanregional.com
Founded in 1977, Duncan Regional now hosts 167 beds with over 70 physicians on staff. Their services include a sleep center, rehab services, hospice care, imaging, cardiac rehab, a cancer treatment center, and surgical services. Benefits at Duncan Regional include paid days off, health, dental, vision and life insurance, supplemental life insurance, tuition and book reimbursement, long term disability, and other perks.
Top Cities in Oklahoma for Medical Billing and Coding Careers
1. Oklahoma City, OK
In Oklahoma, almost 40 percent of all medical billers and coders work in Oklahoma City. That’s 1,140 workers, who make an average wage of $15.32 hourly and $31,880 annually, both under the national averages but above the state averages. The lowest tenth percent of wages is $19,640 annually and the highest tenth percent is $51,440 annually, highest in the state and almost $5,000 more than the state average.
2. Lawton, OK
There are only about 110 medical billers and coders in Lawton, but they make the highest wages in the state, on average. The hourly mean wage is $16.58 and the annual mean wage is $34,480. Those in the tenth percentile make $18,380 annually, lower than the national and state averages, while those in the ninetieth percentile make $49,870 annually, $3,000 more than the state average.
3. Tulsa, OK
In Tulsa, there are around 720 medical billers and coders who make, on average, $14.41 per hour and $29,980 per year. Both are lower than the state and national averages. The annual tenth percentile wage is highest in the state, $21,030, while the annual ninetieth percentile wage is $41,890, about $11,500 less than the national average.
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.
