Understanding the Array of Options
It’s no accident that grocery stores shelve the peanut butter next to the jelly. Like PB&J, if medical billing and coding were always separate disciplines, there would be distinct educational tracks to choose from. But, just as the careers are often intertwined, medical billing and coding training programs frequently come in tandem.
What should you expect when attending a medical billing school versus a medical coding school? To understand the difference, it helps to understand the various roles in the profession of health information management.
Medical coding jobs often require interpreting health care providers’ notes in patient medical charts and assigning the proper codes for each item or service. As a medical coder, you will need to have extensive knowledge of medical terminology, the fine nuances between similar medical procedures, and physician documentation practices. A medical coding school will focus primarily on learning coding terminology and assigning codes for medical procedures using a variety of standard code sets.
Medical billing, by comparison, involves reviewing and entering information on claims forms so payers will promptly reimburse the health care provider for the services rendered. Billers may communicate with insurance companies and government payers. They work with claims and invoices, but due to the nature of the business they also need the ability to speak the language of procedure codes. In general, an educational program designed to help you enter a career in medical billing will focus on how to process claims and deal with insurance companies.
Coding and billing jobs are related and share an important connection. The curriculum at medical billing and medical coding schools are designed to teach you the skills you require to succeed at one or both jobs. It’s up to you to decide which career you want to pursue and which academic program offers the best fit.
The wide range of degree options and certifications would confuse any industry. Some schools offer degrees while others offer certifications. Here are some examples of common ones:
- Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)
- Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)
- Healthcare Reimbursement Associate
- Certified Coding Associate (CCA)
- Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)
- Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
The RHIT and RHIA designations represent health information technology, respectively, while the Healthcare Reimbursement Associate degree and others like it are weighted more heavily toward the insurance side of health information. Finally, the coding certifications offer specialized knowledge in coding conventions for a variety of health care settings.
In any of these programs, your degree could lead you to a successful career in either medical billing or coding. Your level of qualification and earning potential will depend on how many hours of training you receive and your experience. Medical coding positions are more likely than billing positions to require certifications that demonstrate your knowledge of specific code sets, but job requirements vary from one position to the next.
Finding the Middle Ground
When you get ready to apply for jobs, it would be ideal to have an idea of your long-term career goals. But keep in mind that while you may already know which area of coding or billing you want to specialize in, it will be to your advantage to acquire a working knowledge of both disciplines. A medical biller needs to have some familiarity with medical coding definitions to catch mistakes, such as a hysterectomy procedure being billed for a male patient. Similarly, a medical coder needs to have a working knowledge of billing practices to prevent problems. Each procedure, for example, must be coded to the highest possible level of specificity to qualify for reimbursement. To accomplish the goals of applying accurate codes and submitting proper claims, medical billing and coding must go hand in hand. With that fact in mind, getting training in both areas makes sense.
Therefore, whether you pursue a degree or certification in medical billing or a medical coding, you are going to get exposed to the other side of the business. (Be cautious about enrolling in a program that doesn’t cover at least the basics of both areas, unless you already have a strong background in the profession.) The key question for prospective students is which of the two areas to specialize in. Now that you have some knowledge of the variety of schools and programs out there, you can more confidently decide which one is right for you.
Choosing the Best Program for You
If you are still undecided about what type of program to pursue, how do you finally settle on one option when there are so many choices? As you compare medical billing and coding schools, you should consider what career path is best suited to your goals and interests. Do you see yourself as an expert in deciphering physicians’ notes in patient charts and knowing the right code to apply? Or as someone who efficiently handles a high volume of bills and paperwork? If you are unsure, it may be possible to enroll in a health information management program that will acquaint you with both disciplines before you have to choose.
Your decision should also factor in what job opportunities are available to you in the medical field. If you envision yourself working for a small provider, you may be responsible for all tasks associated with submitting claims and obtaining reimbursement. At a large hospital, on the other hand, there may be separate departments and staff for medical billing and coding. As you consider your options you may also want to think about what your academic strengths are and how much work is required to get the different certifications.
Thinking about your career goals and objectives will set you on a path to choose the best medical billing or coding program for you. Whichever degree or certification you pursue, once you make the commitment, you are on your way to becoming a professional in the field of health information.
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.
