Become Certified or Earn an Online Degree
in Medical Billing
and Coding
If you are in a financial pinch due to the current economic doldrums, perhaps it’s time to pick up some new education and launch a fresh career. Medical Billing and Coding is relatively easy to get into, allows you to work for a single employer, a group, or even start your own—work at home— business, and is expected to need more people than ever in coming years.
read more »
Checking School Availability
At Ultimate Medical Academy you will find an 8 month medical billing and coding program that will have you ready for your new career in record time. You'll learn the latest industry software and systems and will learn how to process claims accurately and efficiently. The program will prepare you for a job in a health care facility or for a career from home.
Checking School Availability 
US Career Institute is a Distance Learning University offering online degrees in nursing and other health professions. The most recent offerings focus on Medical Coding, due to an increase in demand for highly skilled professionals in these areas. If you want to be in the health care profession but don't want to be involved in actually diagnosing or treating patients, you might consider a billing or coding career where you work with the doctors or in the medical financial offices instead.
Checking School Availability
Earn your diploma in Insurance Billing and Coding from Herzing University. This program will help you obtain the knowledge and understanding to analyze medical records and assign the appropriate codes which are required in order for insurance claims to be made properly. You will qualify for an entry-level position in a hospital, doctor’s office or other health care facility. Once you have some experience you may even be able to start your own business.
Checking School Availability
The AmeriTech College Associate of Medical Billing and Coding will prepare you to work in the health care field without the years of study required of a medical practitioner. You will learn to use CPT, ICD-9-CM, and HCPC for medical billing coding and completion of insurance forms.
Checking School Availability
Herzing College Online offers an Associate's in Medical Billing and Coding that can be earned completely online or at a campus in Madison, WI; Atlanta, GA; Winter Park, FL; Minneapolis, MN, Birmingham, AL; or New Orleans, LA. You can also do a combination online and on-campus learning.
Checking School Availability
The ASS in Medical Reimbursement & Coding at Bryant & Stratton College prepares you to work as a billing / coding specialist in either a physician’s office or in a hospital or clinic. Once completing the core work you can choose one type of coding or can cross train to be able to do both. You will also be prepared to take the national coding exam.
For program disclosure information, click here.
Medical Billing and Coding actually involves two different processes. Medical coding is the process of applying international codes to any possible treatment, diagnosis, procedure, or condition possible to a human individual. The second is medical billing which is filing properly coded documents with insurance companies or with the government in the case of Medicare and Medicaid. At one time medical billing and coding could be learned at home; the code books could be purchased, and the finished bills could easily be sent to the appropriate place. Today, however, people who have the jobs paying the best salaries have taken the time to earn either a certificate or a diploma in medical billing and coding. The certification is not difficult to obtain and can be earned in as little as 18 months. Due to the complexity of today’s health care, it is probably easier to obtain your certificate through an accredited institution than it is to simply learn the trade through informal study.
Medical coding and billing is one way to work in the health care field without becoming a doctor, nurse, or even having much contact with the public as billing specialists usually work in a secluded office. They receive from 31,000 to $41,000 in annual salary, and are knowledgeable in managing accounts, submitting claims, using financial software, and in electronic record filing and accessing. In spite of the fact that two different processes are involved, most individuals usually are proficient in both billing and coding. The larger hospitals and health care institutions, however, may employ a team and divide the responsibilities with some doing the coding and others performing the billing.
Medical Billing and Coding is a popular occupation and is expected to continue growing, but it is also competitive. Thus, while formal medical billing training is still not a requirement, you will find that you will receive higher pay and perhaps even have an easier time finding a position if you have proof of successful development of your skills. Fortunately, the educational program is particularly suited to online study, and most institutions will allow you to complete the program as quickly as you are able.
There are many career opportunities for talented Medical billers and coders. Due to increasingly stringent Federal regulations, the demand for trained billers and coders is expected to increase, particularly in urban areas. Billing and coding is also very popular among people desiring to start a home-based business; due to competition, however, you will probably have an easier time starting a home based billing service if you work in a hospital or doctor’s office for a few years first. If you do a good job, you will become known for your efficiency and it will be easier to get contracts when you are ready to start your own business.
