The field of medical billing and coding is growing rapidly. Those with positions
in medical billing and coding are also referred to as medical records or health
information technicians. The field involves in depth knowledge of the coding
systems and standards that are used everyday to record patient information.
There are many training courses available at a number of institutions to become
prepared for a career in medical billing and coding.
Length of Training Course. Most training courses require that entrants have an
associates degree. Training programs include course work in medical terminology,
legal aspects of health information, coding and billing, database management,
and quality improvement methods. Students are educated on the systems of coding
including the International Classification of Disease (ICD-9) and Current
Procedural Terminology (CPT-4). Training courses prepare students for
certification in medical information management.
Types of Schools. In order to be eligible for certification, one must attend a
program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and
Information Management Education (CAHIIM). There are currently over 200
accredited institutions in the United States. Those who do not attend an
accredited school may still work in the field, but they are not allowed to take
the certification examination offered by the American Health Information
Management Association (AHIMA).
Examination and Certification. Successful completion of an accredited program
and examination provides the title of Registered Health Information Technician
(RHIT). There are several other examinations provided by the AHIMA for health
information professional including the Certified Coding Associate (CCA), and
Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), as well as certification in Healthcare
Privacy and Security. The AHIMA also provides examination for the advanced
position of Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA). Most employers
prefer to hire certified employees as opposed to non-certified.
Career Advancement. Medical billing and coding professional can advance their
career in two main methods. One method is to specialize in coding, including
Medicare coding or cancer registry. There is on-the-job training or intensive
short term training programs to become specialize in coding. For specialization
in cancer registry, there are several two year programs that prepare medical
coding professional for certification by the National Cancer Registrars
Association (NCRA).
This article was written by Angela Oliver for HealthCare-TrainingCenter.com. For more information about medical billing and coding, training programs, and continuing education, please visit HealthCare-TrainingCenter.com. Find jobs and available training programs in your area that can help you begin a career in medical billing and coding, or health information.
