One exciting development for medical billers and coders in Washington is the recent announcement of a reciprocal referral system between the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, the Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles, and the Forks Community Hospital. This system will utilize electronic medical records prepared by medical billers and coders to create a system where patients are referred to Swedish Medical Center for specialized care, while patients are referred to Olympia and Forks for follow-up care. Not only will this make the healthcare process easier in the large, open state, but it will also justify the hiring of new medical billers and coders in Washington, as well as increasing the profits of all medical centers involved.
General Washington Medical Billing and Coding Information
- Number of Medical Billing and Coding Employees in Washington: 4,920
- Average Medical Billing and Coding Salary in Washington: $37,630
- 90th Percentile Salary: $55,910
- 10th Percentile Salary: $24,110
Medical Billing and Coding Training and Education in Washington
Bellingham Technical College
Medical Coding Certificate
This program prepares students to classify medical data using patient records in a healthcare setting. The program comprises 39 credits, including Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology, Medical Office Procedures, Medical Coding, and Medical Office Work Experience. This program is typically 4-5 quarters in length, and tuition and fees for state residents is $781 per quarter.
Highline Community College
Medical Insurance Coding Specialist Certificate
Highline Community College’s Medical Insurance Coding Specialist certificate program trains students on topics such as medical terminology, medical office procedures, and insurance coding. Once this program is successfully completed, students may choose to take either the Certified Professional Coder certification exam offered by the AAPC or the Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based certification exam offered by AHIMA. The program consists of 72 credits, including courses such as Medical Office Procedures, Health Seminar, and Clinical Procedures, as well as an externship and exam prep. Tuition and fees for residents is $87 per credit.
Shoreline Community College
Medical Coding and Reimbursement Specialist Certificate of Proficiency
This AHIMA-approved program is designed to prepare students to read and interpret medical records and assign codes for record-keeping, continuing care, and claims processing. Graduates are eligible to take the AHIMA Certified Coding Specialist – Physician’s Office exam or the entry-level Certified Coding Associate exam. They are also eligible to take the AAPC Certified Professional Coding and CPC-H exams. After further work experience, the mastery-level Certified Coding Specialist exam may also be taken. A total of 59-62 credits are required for this certificate, and classes include Hospital/Clinic Records, Medical Reimbursement Systems, and Medical Coding Practicum, among others. Tuition for residents is $126.45 per credit.
Washington AAPC CPC Exam Information
- City: Yakima, WA
- Proctor Name: Jeanette M Cansler, CPC
- Registration Deadline: 11/12/2011
- Exam Date: 12/10/2011
- City: Puyallup, WA
- Proctor Name: Suzanne Fletcher-Petrich, CPC, CPC-P, CPC-I
- Registration Deadline: 11/12/2011
- Exam Date: 12/10/2011
- City: Tacoma, WA
- Proctor Name: Arlene Joyce Smith, CPC, COBGC
- Registration Deadline: 11/21/2011
- Exam Date: 12/19/2011
Medical Billing and Coding Jobs in Washington
Three significant employers of medical billing and coding professionals in Washington are:
Cascade Valley Hospital
- Address: 330 S. Stillaguamish, Arlington, WA 98223
- Email Address: HR@cascadevalley.org
- Phone Number: 360-435-2133
- Website: www.cascadevalley.org
Since opening its doors in 1958, Cascade Valley Hospital has grown to employ over 90 employees. Some of their services include acute care, diabetes management, emergency medicine, intensive care, inpatient surgery, oncology, and a sleep disorders lab. Employee benefits at Cascade Valley include a “per diem pay alternative in lieu of benefits” for qualified employees, educational reimbursement, medical, dental, vision and life insurance plans, and a pension plan.
Harrison Medical Center
- Address: 2520 Cherry Avenue, Bremerton, WA 98310
- Email Address: employment@harrisonmedical.org
- Phone Number: 866-844-WELL
- Website: www.harrisonmedical.org
Since its founding in 1918, Harrison Medical has grown to employ 415 medical staff personnel. Over 90% of the staff is board certified, which is well above the national average. In January 2009 they expanded the campus to 70,000 square feet. Some of their services include cardiovascular, oncology, orthopedics, rehabilitation, surgery, urgent care, and women’s and children’s services. The benefits at HMC include a comprehensive retirement program, medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition reimbursement, disability coverage, and a continuing education benefit.
Coulee Medical Center
- Address: 411 Fortuyn Blvd., Grand Coulee, WA 99133
- Email Address: Click here to access their contact form.
- Phone Number: 509-633-1753
- Website: www.couleecommhosp.org
CMC employs 9 physicians and treats over 18,000 patients per year. A few of their services include emergency care, long term care, surgical services, obstetrics, and radiology. Employee benefits at CMC include paid time off, tuition assistance, retirement and pension plans, medical, dental and vision coverage, and life insurance.
Top Cities in Washington for Medical Billing and Coding Careers
1. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area has the highest number of medical billers and coders in the state: 2,870 workers, making up 58% of the state total. The average worker makes $19.29 hourly and $40,110 annually, both highest in the state. The highest ten percent of workers earn $59,390 annually, also highest in the state, and the lowest ten percent of workers earn $25,680 annually.
2. Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR-WA
There are approximately 1,400 medical billers and coders in the Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton metropolitan area, making it the second highest in the state. 28 percent of workers are here, and they make an average of $18.77 hourly and $39,040 annually. The annual tenth percentile wage is the second-highest in the state, $26,330. The annual ninetieth percentile wage is $53,230, third-highest in the state but lower than the national average.
3. Bellingham, WA
Bellingham has about 90 medical billers and coders who earn, on average, $18.04 hourly and $39,040 annually. The tenth percentile wage is $23,490 annually and the ninetieth percentile wage is $49,990 annually, well below the state and national averages.
4. Tacoma, WA
Thirteen percent of medical billers and coders in Washington can be found in Tacoma, about 650. They make an average of $17.83 per hour and $37,080 per year. The lowest ten percent of workers earns $25,560 annually and the highest ten percent of workers earns $54,390 annually.
5. Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA
There are about 90 medical billers and coders in the Mount Vernon-Anacortes metropolitan area. The average employee there makes $17.48 hourly and $36,360 annually. The tenth percentile wage is $24,820 annually, above the state and national averages. The ninetieth percentile wage is $51,120 annually, below the state and national averages.
6. Wenatchee, WA
Approximately 80 medical billers and coders can be found in Wenatchee. The hourly mean wage is $17.40 and the annual mean wage is $36,180, both between the national and state averages. The lowest ten percent of workers earns $26,390, the second highest in the state. The highest ten percent earns $51,650 annually.
7. Bremerton-Silverdale, WA
In the Bremerton-Silverdale metropolitan area, there are about 190 medical billers and coders. The average hourly wage there is $17.38 while the average annual wage is $36,140. The tenth percentile wage is $23,810 annually and the ninetieth percentile wage is $50,990 annually.
8. Olympia, WA
Around 180 medical billers and coders work in Olympia, where the average worker makes $16.80 hourly and $34,930 annually, slipping under the national averages. $24,120 per year is what a worker in the tenth percentile can expect to earn, while one in the ninetieth percentile can expect $50,500 annually.
9. Longview, WA
There are approximately 90 medical billers and coders in Longview who make an hourly mean wage of $16.27 and an annual mean wage of $33,850. Those in the lowest ten percent wage bracket make $22,740 annually while those in the top ten percent wage bracket make $46,660 annually.
10. Kennewick-Pasco-Richland, WA
The Kennewick-Pasco-Richland metropolitan area has about 110 medical billers and coders. The average worker makes $15.63 per hour and $32,510 per year, both under state and national averages. The annual tenth percentile wage is $23,440 and the annual ninetieth percentile wage is $44,730.
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.
