As part of the health information sector of the medical industry, medical coders apply codes to computer patient records. Every diagnosis, medical procedure or other service provided by healthcare professionals has a specially designed code required by private or public insurance companies to determine payment. Medical coders learn the protocol to assign thousands of different system codes used by private medical offices or large public hospitals. Medical industries use different types of procedure codes depending on the size of the facility.

Your academic training

Students who desire a career in medical coding generally acquire at least an associate’s degree from a community college or university. Required classes include anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology, along with computer database management. Other required courses include pharmacology, ethics, and health care law along with insurance compliance, abuse, and fraud. During their education, students learnCurrent procedural technology codes, the Common Healthcare Procedures Coding System Y ICD-9 codes. Improving employment options or obtaining supervisory positions requires students to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

Experienced medical coders earn additional credentials by taking the Certified Coding Specialist certification exam. The coders who perform this exam typically have experience working with records from various areas within a hospital, including emergency services, general admissions, and operating rooms. Physician-based is another type of accreditation that medical coders can obtain if they seek employment in clinics, doctor’s offices, or similar medical facilities.

Become a Registered Coding Technician

Medical coders who have ambitions to expand their responsibilities eventually become Registered Health Information Technicians. A Registered Health Information Technician, or RHIT, generally acquires a bachelor’s degree and has experience working in a hospital setting. This position offers the opportunity to advance to managerial levels. RHIT takes responsibility for ensuring that computer systems contain accurate and complete medical records. Technicians also code disease processes and medical procedures for payment reimbursement.

Medical Codes Employers Need You Know About

The American Medical Association developed the Current Procedural Terminology, or CPT codes, which consist of five-digit numerical codes applied to procedures performed in a physician’s office. WADA also developed the alphanumeric codes known as Healthcare Common Procedures Coding System, or HCPCS. Medical coders use this system for medical products, services and supplies provided beyond the usual outpatient procedures and not covered by CPT codes. Both categories of coding receive regular updates throughout the year.

In the late 1970s, the World Health Organization, commonly known as WHO, developed a coding system known as ICD-9 codes. Many countries consider the ICD-9 system obsolete and use the updated version of ICD-10. Used internationally, the ICD codes serve as the standard for health management systems and WHO builds on the system for statistics related to diseases and health problems of the general public.

Your responsibilities in medical coding

Coders generally hold full-time positions and work around 40 hours per week during the day if they are employees of clinics, nursing homes, doctor’s offices, or outpatient medical centers. When employed in hospitals or facilities open 24 hours a day, coders may work shifts that occur during the day, afternoon, or night. In specialized hospitals or clinics, medical coders may specialize in specific areas including cardiology, emergency medicine, or hematology.

In addition to conventional medical facilities, coders can find employment with consulting firms, home health centers, insurance companies, or law firms. Some medical coders earn advanced degrees, take business courses, and set up private businesses from a home office working for multiple companies. Starting salaries for medical coders average about $ 38,000 a year. However, the salary is highly dependent on the coder’s location, education, and experience along with the required responsibilities.