5 Reasons to Consider a Career as a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist

Have you ever considered making a career change or advancing your education to open up more doors? Well, now is the time!

There has never been a better time to join the healthcare industry. In fact, the healthcare industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the economy.

More than two million new jobs are expected to be added between 2018 and 2028.

One of the best ways to get started in the industry is to become a medical billing and coding specialist. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of this rewarding career path. 

1. You’ll Play an Important Role in Patient Care

Are you interested in joining the medical field and saving lives but do not want to work directly with patients? With a career as a medical billing and coding specialist, you can have the best of both worlds.

You will not directly work with patients, but you will play an important role in making sure they receive excellent support. As a medical billing and coding specialist, you will make sure insurance claims are processed accurately and timely. This ensures that insurance companies and healthcare providers are reimbursed and patients are not billed incorrectly.

With the rising costs of medical care, patients expect to be charged accurately. However, mistakes in the claims process are not uncommon. In your role as a billing and coding specialist, you can help patients by resolving their questions and concerns regarding billing matters.

If you are looking for a career where you can feel like you make a difference every day, this could be the one for you. Each role in the healthcare industry, including this one, plays a part in the patient care landscape.

2. A Positive Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the employment of medical billing and coding specialists is expected to grow 11-percent from 2018 to 2028. This is significantly faster than the average for all occupations.

There are a couple of reasons for the continued growth in the field. The first is the aging population. As baby boomers age, they are requiring more healthcare services than ever before.

Billing and coding specialists are needed to organize and maintain health information data and to file claims for reimbursement from insurance companies. As electronic health records (EHRs) become the standard, trained health information technicians are needed to manage the information within these records.

If you are looking for a job that has a stable outlook, look no further than the medical billing and coding career.

3. Medical School Not Required

If you are interested in joining the healthcare industry but do not want to spend years in school, consider becoming a medical coding and billing specialist. You can earn a diploma in this field in about 14 months.

Many schools offer a variety of options, such as morning, afternoon, evening or online classes. At IMBC, we offer a range of options for taking classes both on-campus and online. Our classes last six weeks, though at some schools classes might be longer. With this program, you can start working in a relatively short amount of time.

You will receive a quality education and training that will prepare you for the workforce. You will graduate with the skills you need to start working right away.

The flexibility of the medical coding and billing specialist program is great for those with families or full-time jobs that need to balance their work and life with their studies. You can earn your diploma around your schedule and increase your employability and income potential. 

4. You Will Have the Ability to Work Independently

If you are the type that prefers to work independently and take responsibility for your own tasks, you could make a great medical billing and coding specialist. This career is one that requires minimal supervision. 

On a daily basis, you will work within electronic databases and computers. Don’t worry, you will learn the systems and concepts during your program. It’s not computer science; it is just a matter of learning how to access medical records, submitting claims, and making updates. Depending on where you work, you might use apps or a coding manual to reference medical and diagnostic codes that you will enter into the software on a computer. You’ll also learn about health records privacy.

You will be set up with all of the tools you need to do your job on your own. Of course, if you have questions or issues, there are supervisors ready to help. As we mentioned before, you won’t have to work directly with patients from a hands-on perspective. You will speak with patients face-to-face or over the phone. 

5. A Variety of Office Environments

If you’re looking for a career that allows for flexibility, this may be the one for you. While many jobs within the medical field require demanding hours and time on your feet, medical coding and billing specialists typically work regular schedules and the job is also not physically demanding.

While every employer will offer different benefits, you may have the opportunity to work in a variety of environments, from a small healthcare office to a large hospital network. You might work for a dentist, a pediatrician (with children), or a specialist that focuses on a specific area of healthcare. Regardless of the type of office and care provider you work for, your standard responsibilities will remain consistent.

Interested in Becoming a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist?

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a medical billing and coding specialist, we would love to hear from you. We offer a program where you can earn your diploma and start working in around a year.

This career choice is a great one for those looking to join the healthcare field, but have flexibility in where and who they work for. You will likely not have trouble finding a job in this field either, though that may require relocation.

Contact us today to get started and to learn more about our medical coding and billing specialist program.