Medical coding and medical billing professionals translate medical procedures performed by physicians into a set of standard codes that facilitate the insurance claim and payment process. They perform an integral role in today's health care infrastructure. Medical practitioners, health insurance companies, and patients rely on medical billing and coding experts to connect the dots that will ensure a straight line of health information data communication among all parties.

Although many programs promise a diploma or certificate in just months, the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the two largest medical coding associations in the country, highly recommend pursuing quality programs of atleast a year. This is an industry where even a 2-year associate level degree will you an excellent foundation and start to your career.

Medical coders can expect a strong job market. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medical Records and Health Information employment will continue to grow at a rate of 18% through 2016, a rate that is much faster than the average for all occupations. The Bureau also stated that technicians with a strong background in medical coding will especially be in demand. In addition, the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will provide $19 billion in financial incentives to help physicians purchase and implement health information technology systems,. This will further increase the demand for qualified medical coding and health information professionals.

Medical Coding Salaries
Salary and career advancement can be greatly improved with quality training/education and certification. According to the 2008 Salary Survey of the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), certified medical coders earned an average $43,100 annually. Non-credentialed medical coders averaged $36,500 annually. According to the AAPC, coders who had a degree earned 18% more than coders who didn't. According to the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), medical record technicians with an associate's degree typically earn $20,000 to $30,000 for starters. Those earning four-year degrees begin at $30,000 to $50,000 and can make $50,000 to $75,000 in five years.

Medical Coding Certification
Getting certified is vital to a professional medical coder's career. As shown in the AAPC salary survey, certified medical coders earn more than non-certified coders. Certified medical coders are preferred by employers seeking ethical, accurate, experienced, and professional medical coders. AAPC's CPC® certification credential and AHIMA's CCS credential are the only medical coding credentials recognized by employers, payers, and government agencies. Both associations offer additional coding credentials for coders. AHIMA offers additional credentials for professionals who wish to further their careers into health information technology and health information management.

Medical Billing and Medical Coding Careers
Education and training in medical coding and medical billing can help prepare students interested in developing and advancing such interesting, in-demand careers as:

• Health Care Technician
• Insurance Verification Representative
• Clinical Information Specialist
• Health Information Specialist
• Patient Services Coordinator
• Medical Records Specialist
• Insurance Follow-up Specialist
• Relationship Client Manager
• Claims Processor

Online Schools offering Medical Coding, Medical Billing

Medical Coding - Certificate *
Kaplan's AHIMA approved Medical Coding Certificate program can be completed in just 12 months and is designed to help students examine and understand health care delivery systems, medical health care information terminologies, and classification systems for diseases. They will learn to abstract clinical information from a variety of medical records and assign appropriate diagnostic and procedural codes to patient records. Students will also learn to utilize computer software to categorize patients into one of several hundred "diagnosis-related groups" (DRG). Graduates of this program will be eligible to take the AHIMA Certified Coding Associate exam.

The Medical Coding Certificate program is approved as a Comprehensive Coding Program by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). This designation acknowledges the coding program as having been evaluated by a peer review process against a national minimum set of standards for entry-level coding professionals. Graduates of this program will be eligible to take the AHIMA Certified Coding Associate exam.

• Medical Billing - Certificate
• Medical Office Specialist - Certificate
• Medical Transcription - Certificate

Medical Billing and Insurance Coding - Associate of Science *
This AHIMA approved Associate of Science in Medical Billing and Insurance Coding degree program provides the student with a thorough understanding of the content of the medical record as well as extensive training in anatomy, physiology, disease processes, and medical terminology. This program will provide the student with the knowledge and understanding to analyze medical records and assign codes to classify diagnoses and procedures while applying the principles of professional and ethical conduct. The program will prepare the student for an entry-level position as a medical coder in a hospital, clinic, or other health care facility. Graduates of this program will be eligible to take the AHIMA Certified Coding Associate exam.

Medical Billing and Insurance Coding - Diploma *
The goal of the AHIMA approved Diploma in Medical billing and Insurance program is to provide the student with a thorough understanding of the content of the medical record as well as extensive training in anatomy, physiology, disease processes, and medical terminology. This program will provide the student with the knowledge and understanding to analyze medical records and assign codes to classify diagnoses and procedures while applying the principles of professional and ethical conduct. The program will prepare the student for an entry-level position as a medical coder in a hospital, clinic, or other health care facility. Graduates of this program will be eligible to take the AHIMA Certified Coding Associate exam.

Medical Billing and Coding - Associate of Science
This degree program can help students develop the capabilities needed to explore career opportunities throughout the growing health care industry. In the program, the foundations of medical billing and coding are addressed in courses covering coding, medical terminology, disease processes, health care organizations and management. Graduates can gain concepts and skills that provide the ability to be immediately productive in both public and private health organizations.

Medical Billing and Coding - Associate of Applied Science
This comprehensive curriculum covers the technical aspects of the insurance industry, computer technology, federal and state regulations, coding techniques for doctors’ offices and hospitals, basic medical office administration and offers extensive practice in preparing medical claims. This 21-month program includes subjects such as Pharmacology, Computerized Billing, Law and Ethics of Health Information Management and more. Graduates will have a solid knowledge of anatomy, physiology, medical terminology and the business aspects of the billing and coding field. The program will also prepare graduates for industry recognized certifications such as the CCA (Certified Coding Associate) and after a recommended three years of field experience, the CCS (Certified Coding Specialist).

Medical Coding and Billing - AABA
The AABA degree program with a concentration in Medical Coding and Billing features industry-relevant coursework taught by faculty members with real-world experience in the field.

Health Information Technology - Applied Associate of Science
Rasmussen's Health Information Technology AAS Degree program is accredited by CAHIIM and will prepare students to take the American Health Information Management Association's (AHIMA) examination to become a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). Program topics include: basic, intermediate, and advanced ICD-9-CM coding, ambulatory care coding, pathology, health information technologies, and more.

Health Information Technology - Associate of Science
DeVry's CAHIIM accredited Health Information Technology program prepares graduates to work with applications systems and manage electronic health information databases. Graduates of this program will be prepared to take the RHIT certification exam.

Campus Schools offering Medical Coding, Medical Billing

• Medical Billing & Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing & Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing & Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing / Medical Office Management - Diploma

• Medical Biller (Anaheim, Montclair, Riverside, San Diego, San Marcos)
• Advanced Medical Coder (Montclair, Riverside)

• Medical Insurance Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Degree

• Medical Biller / Health Claims Specialist - Diploma

• Medical Billing and Insurance Coding - Certificate

• Health Insurance Billing & Coding - AS Degree (Brandon, Clearwater)
• Health Insurance Billing & Coding - Diploma (Brandon, Clearwater, Hialeah, Lauderdale Lakes, Miami, Pembroke Pines, W. Palm Beach )

• Medical insurance Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Coding - Diploma *

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Coding - Diploma *

• Medical Coding - Diploma
• Medical Coding / Hospital - Diploma

• Medical Billing and Coding Specialist

• Medical Billing/Coding | Medical Transcription

• Medical Billing & Insurance Coding - AS Degree, Diploma

• Medical Coding - Certificate
• Medical Coding and Billing - Master Certificate

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Health Claims Specialist - Diploma

• Medical Billing & Insurance Coding - AS Degree, Diploma *

• Medical Coding - Diploma *

• Medical Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance and Coding Administration - Diploma

• Medical Biller / Health Claims Specialist - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Coding - Diploma *

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing and Coding - Degree

• Medical Insurance Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Claims and Billing Specialist - Diploma

• Advanced Medical Coder / Biller - Degree
• Health Claims Examiner / Medical Biller - Diploma

• Medical Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Coding - Diploma *