Online Medical Billing and Coding Courses

An Accredited Online Medical Billing and Coding Degree Will Give Your Healthcare Career a Solid Foundation

Online medical billing and coding courses can open doors for you to an essential and fast-growing field of allied health: medical billing and coding. Earning an online medical billing degree will give you solid job security and benefits as a medical billing specialist or medical coder.

As a medical biller and coder, you will play vital role at a hospital or clinic alongside other medical professionals in providing administrative services. Insurance companies, healthcare provides, and patients rely on qualified medical billers and coders to maintain accurate records of medical services provided, prepare insurance forms and handle billing.

Online medical billing and coding degree prepares you to accurately apply codes to medical procedures, surgical methods and diagnoses; and use billing procedures to handle healthcare claims, insurance and medical reimbursement. You will also learn how to use the latest software applications used in medical billing and coding, communicate effectively and prioritize multiple tasks.

To qualify as a professional medical biller or coder, you can earn your online medical billing and coding degree in half the time as traditional programs, and eDegreeSteps can help you find the ideal online medical billing and coding courses for your career focus.

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Who Should Enroll in Online Medical Billing and Coding Courses?

Medical billers and coders are at the heart of the administrative field of healthcare industry and their skills are in high demand today. Because of the vital role they play in delivering healthcare services, medical billers and coders must perform both before the public and behind the scenes.

The ideal medical biller and coder is highly organized and detail-oriented, and able to keep accurate and reliable records while mastering the latest software applications.

But at the same time, you must be able to communicate clearly to patients, doctors and nurses, and insurance companies, so your communication skills will be at a premium.

Fortunately, earning your medical billing and coding degree online is easier than ever and ideal for busy professionals who can't afford to take time off of work to go back to school. You can earn your medical coding degree from the comfort of your home workstation.

What Will You Learn in Online Medical Billing and Coding Programs?

Medical billing procedures are built around a complex system of codes that signify everything from a CAT scan to a bandage. Medical billers and coders must master this code system to effectively do their jobs. In online medical coding courses, you will study medical coding and much more.

You will study the most up-to-date coding manuals (CPT, ICD-9-CM, ICD-10, and HCPCS), medical and insurance terminology, insurance billing and coding, pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, healthcare laws and ethics, fundamentals of information technology and other basic administrative principles.

Online medical billing and coding programs help you to hone your verbal and written communication skills, critical thinking abilities and time management skills. The courses also include hands-on training on the latest software applications used in medical coding and billing.

Many online medical billing and coding programs are focused on certification exam preparation, training you for professional certification exams, such as

• Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam
• Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) exam
• Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist (CMRS) exam

Medical Billing and Coding Job Overview and Growth Prospects

With your online medical billing and coding degree, you can obtain entry-level position as medical transcriptionist, medical insurance appraiser, and medical records technician in variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, medical offices and insurance and medical billing firms. Relevant experience and professional certification can elevate your career to a new horizon.

Highly trained and certified medical coders and billers are a must have in the healthcare industry today. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, positions in medical billing and coding are expected to grow faster than other occupations through 2020:

Salary Guidelines for Careers in Medical Billing and Coding

Certified medical records technicians, billers, and coders earn competitive salaries and excellent benefits. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, average annual salaries for jobs related to medical billing and coding in 2010 were:

Future Trends in Medical Billing and Coding Career

Many changes are coming to the way healthcare services are delivered in America, and medical billers and coders will be at the forefront of some of these new trends.

• The number one development in this field is the introduction of reformed billing codes, especially ICD-10, a system which already has more than 70,000 codes. Continuing education will be needed to stay on top of more efficient coding systems for the future.
• Patient privacy will also be of increasing concern in coming years, with more strident safety rules designed to enhance the privacy of medical records.
• Healthcare reforms in the United States are expected to bring millions of people into the healthcare system, offering more and more career opportunities for qualified medical billers and coders.

As the healthcare laws are getting complex and population ages, the medical coding and billing professionals will play crucial role in delivering next generation of healthcare services. eDegreeSteps guides you to the best online medical billing and coding courses that prepare you for exciting challenges in this field.

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