What is a CCA Certified Medical Coder?
A Certified Coding Associate (CCA) is an entry level medical coder who has fulfilled the education and examination requirements to earn AHIMA's CCA credential. A medical coding associate assigns numeric or alphanumeric codes to identify medical diagnoses and procedures on patient records. This coding allows insurance companies to process claims accurately and make payments to providers, as well as reimburse individuals. The work becomes more complex every year as researchers identify more conditions and develop new medical tests and treatments.

The medical coding associate works from documentation provided by physicians, nurses and other health care personnel. The associates identify diagnoses and treatments from charts, laboratory results and notes and assign codes from the industry manuals. Sometimes coding associates must ask a physician for further clarification when there is no single straightforward diagnosis or procedure. After the classifications are assigned, the coder enters the information into a computer database.

Medical coding associates most often find jobs in the finance departments of hospitals, where they assign industry-established classifications to health insurance claims. They also work in clinics, private practices, dental offices, nursing care facilities, non-profit agencies, third-party billing firms and insurance companies. Some coders are employed by hospitals or clinics that allow them to work from home. In smaller practices and clinics, medical coding associates might perform general office assistant duties such as registering patients and scheduling appointments.

Why is the CCA Certification Important to a Medical Coder?
The Certified Coding Associate (CCA) credential is a excellent way for a new coder to demonstrate competency in the field, even without much job experience. The CCA credential can provide a competitive advantage when seeking a new job, career advancement opportunties, and salary increase.

How Do I Get the CCA Certification?
Candidates can pursue the CCA credential with a quality coding program and less than a year of experience. AHIMA and AAPC strongly recommend a quality coding program which lasts at least a year and results in either an Associate Degree or Diploma. Students learn medical terminology, anatomy and physiology and how to analyze medical records and operate billing software. They also study the two standard code classification manuals. Although not required for eligibility, AHIMA also recommends having at least six months of experience in a healthcare organization applying ICD-9-CM and CPT coding conventions and guidelines.

Medical Coder Career Advancement and Salary Potential
Medical Coding provides opportunities for career advancement and increased salary potential. Coders can advance and broaden their careers by meeting additional education, experience, and certification requirements.
>> Read Guide on Certification (pdf)

Career Outlook for Medical Coders
The future for skilled medical coders is excellent. There are two major economic forces that cannot be ignored that will push the need for medical care -- the ARRA stimulus plan passed by Congress in 2009 is pushing the healthcare industry to become more data driven and the growing senior population in the US will require more healthcare services. Both will fuel the increase in demand for qualified professional medical coders. In fact, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a shortage of more than 50,000 qualified medical coding and HIM workers by 2015.

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).

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 (CCA) exam.

• Medical Billing - Certificate

Medical Reimbursement and Coding - Associate of Applied Science
Hospital Track or Physician Track
The Medical Reimbursement and Coding (MRC) Program prepares students to sit for the national coding exams, or begin working in the coding and billing field. This unique program is formatted to specifically address, through core courses, a means to facilitate uniformity of terms, the structure and organization of the body systems, common disease processes, and common pharmacological treatments. The core courses provide students with a foundation on which they will complete the coding portion of this comprehensive program. After completing the mandatory core courses, students will have a choice of studying for Physician coding or Hospital/inpatient coding. While some coding professionals choose one type of coding based on their own interest and style, many coders are cross-credentialed and able to work in both arenas. The MRC Program prepares students with the information needed to choose one or both coding paths. Students will study and practice the skills that will help them gain national coding certification from either The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) or the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). The comprehensive nature of the MRC Program fulfills all hourly criteria for both AHIMA and AAPC national certifying bodies. Students who successfully complete the MRC Program will be equipped to participate in the field of medical coding and reimbursement.

Medical Reimbursement and Coding (Physician Track) - Certificate
Get on track for an exciting career in medical coding by taking the Certificate in Medical Reimbursement & Coding. This inclusive program will cover everything you need to know to be prepared to gain national coding certification from either the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) or the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). Students in this program learn medical terminology, anatomy & physiology, and coding methods starting from an introductory level up to advanced levels in either the physician or hospital track. Students who complete and pass this certificate program can articulate these courses for transfer credit upon being accepted into a Bryant & Stratton College degree program.

Medical Reimbursement - Certificate
Prepare for a career in the growing healthcare industry by training to be a medical biller. The Certificate in Medical Reimbursement prepares students to take the national billing certification from the American Billing Association (AMBA). Students of this program take courses that cover medical terminology, anatomy & physiology, and billing and coding methods on both a basic and an advanced level. Students who complete and pass this certificate program can articulate these courses for transfer credit upon being accepted into a Bryant & Stratton College degree program.

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 Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing & Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - 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 Billing/Coding - 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 Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma, AAS Degree

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

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

• Medical Billing and Coding Specialist

• Medical Administration / Billing and Coding

• Medical Billing & Insurance Coding - AS Degree, Diploma

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

• Medical Billing/Coding - Certificate

• Health Claims Specialist - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

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

• Medical Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma, AAS Degree

• Medical Insurance and Coding Administration - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Certificate

• Medical Billing/Coding - Certificate

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Administration / Billing and Coding

• 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/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Certificate

• Medical Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Certificate

• Medical Billing and Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Insurance Billing/Coding - Diploma

• Medical Billing/Coding - Diploma