Medical coders are healthcare administrative workers who assign codes to patient procedure files to ensure correct billing to insurance companies. They are a vital peg in the overall financial health of any practice. It’s not mandatory that medical coders have to be certified but most health care facilities prefer to get onboard someone who has proof of coding knowledge and competence.

As per salary surveys, certified coding professionals earn much more than their non-certified counterparts. Certified medical coders can work in a variety of healthcare environments like nursing homes, hospitals or outpatient facilities. They can also work on their own as independent contractors for smaller, privately owned offices. These coders can also work at law offices if they want to.

How to make yourself a certified coding specialist?

‘ The first step would be to get on the job training as a medical coder. Knowing about the day to day operations will improve your understanding for the necessity of proper medical coding.
‘ Study the ICD-9/CPT coding manual inside out.
‘ Be well-equipped with medical terms.
‘ Take a coding exam pertaining to your specialty.
‘ Reach out and network with other coders. Working with peers is very important among coders. A lot of coding scenarios are subjective and therefore calls for feedback from other experts or professionals in the field. It also helps to know that there are other coders who are struggling with the same issues as you.

With medical advances and specialist treatments along with complex insurance regulations, the need for certified medical coders is way ahead of the number of people available to fill the positions. So get yourself a certification and enjoy the benefits that come with it.

About the Author:

codingcert.com provides selected trainers that gives you hands-on training for becoming a coding professional and a medical coder through medical coding certification at our CPC training camp.

Author: Julia Rose