Medical Coding Blog

Train for Competence!

2008-12-12T19:20:00.000-08:00

Many people prefer to enroll in a medical coding training program that provides the flexibility to learn medical coding in the privacy of their own home, and on their own schedule, on a full or part time basis without having to quit their current job and give up their livelihood.

Look for a medical coding training program that offers a strong complement of foundation courses in addition to the standard courses on medical coding industry codes. Obviously, the medical coding industry codes will form the foundation of your training.

These codes include:
1. CPT
2. HCPCS
3. ICD-9 and soon ICD-10

However, you should also look for core medical coding training classes that ensure competence in areas such as:

* Medical terminology
* Anatomy, physiology, and disease processes
* Pharmacology
* Technology
* Healthcare regulations
* HIPAA compliance
* Insurance fraud and compliance

It can be a challenge to sift through the “diploma mills” to find a top medical coding training program. Finding a medical coding training program that offers a flexible home-based online coding training option as well as a solid medical coding curriculum that is practicum intensive can be difficult yet is possible.

Importance of Medical Coding Practicum

2008-12-10T19:12:00.000-08:00

Most medical coding training programs that I am aware of – and I have done my research - focus almost entirely on theoretic training, which - while important – is far removed from the realities of a clinical coding setting. The very best medical coding training option will include a comprehensive practicum – something that will allow you to put into practice the theory and medical coding rules that you learn. The best medical coding training program will include something very substantive that approximates the real world of medical coding. I cannot stress too much the importance of an intensive practicum in the medical coding training program you select. I can tell you that when you apply for your first job, this practical experience is going to set you apart from your competitors. More importantly, it will translate into a high comfort level on your first day on the job as a medical coder.

Again, one of the most important components of a quality medical coding training program will be a comprehensive “hands-on” practicum. Nothing will prepare you more for the real world of medical coding than a solid medical coding practicum.

Quest for the Right Medical Coding Training Program

2008-12-08T18:24:00.000-08:00

There are definitely a wide variety of options for someone interested in receiving medical coding training. It can be challenging, however, to find the right medical coding training program.

The first question you should be asking yourself is: “What are my primary objectives?” Your primary objective is probably not to receive medical coding training for its own sake – unless you are just a true renaissance person. If you are like most people, your hope is that a medical coding training program will lead to a really great medical coding job! Sure! That is what it is all about isn’t it? Medical coding employment. Something that will bring in a paycheck and set you on a path for financial success as a trained medical coder.

Let's face it, medical coding training requires an investment. But investing time and money in the wrong medical coding training program can result in a less than positive experience.

Medical Coding Where?

2008-12-03T19:59:00.000-08:00

Most medical coding work is still performed by medical coders working in hospitals or clinics. Medical coders work in a professional environment and perform a vital behind the scenes billing support activity.

There is a trend toward outsourcing of medical coding work to third party vendors. As this trend catches on, more medical coding work will be done in homes and medical coding will evolve to become more of a home based career – much like medical transcription is today. It is believed that as technology continues to evolve and remote medical coding platforms are developed, the outsourcing model will begin to take hold in the industry. However, at this point it is important to point out that most medical coding is still performed in hospitals and clinics.

What do Medical Coders Do?

2008-12-02T19:56:00.000-08:00

Medical coders review patient medical records to identify reimbursable or billable events and activities. Once a reimbursable event has been identified the proper numerical code is input into a healthcare reimbursement system. Proper coding will ultimately determine the amount the healthcare provider will be reimbursed by Insurance companies or by Medicare or Medicaid. It is of paramount importance that the medical coder accurately codes each patient chart. Errors and omissions can be costly and burdensome to the healthcare system.

Define: Medical Coding

2008-12-01T19:51:00.000-08:00

Medical coding is essentially the process of assigning formal, standardized medical codes to patient medical records. When a patient goes into a clinic or hospital a medical record is created. This medical record will include patient identifying and demographic information. It will also include a description of the chief complaint, any procedures that were performed, medications prescribed, a diagnosis, and follow-up instructions.

The diagnostic and procedural information contained in the patient medical record must be converted into simplified numerical codes by trained medical coders. These numerical codes allow complex medical procedures and diagnoses to be recognized quickly and easily by health care computer systems where they can be electronically processed for payment by third party payers – Insurance companies and Medicare, for example.

Am I for In or for Out Patient Medical Coding

2008-11-25T23:22:00.000-08:00

A lot of surgeries and procedures that used to require admission to the hospital are now being performed routinely on an outpatient basis – which means you go in and have the surgery and come home the same day without ever being admitted to the hospital.

As you might expect, there is a significant difference in the skill set required to apply medical codes to complex inpatient operative reports vs. the skill set required to apply appropriate medical codes to a report for a laceration or a stubbed toe in a clinic or emergency room setting.

The reality is that most medical coding is outpatient medical coding. The trend is for physicians and hospitals to perform more and more of their procedures on an outpatient basis.

Most entry-level medical coders are going to begin their careers performing outpatient medical coding on outpatient medical records.

Inpatient medical coders are generally trained or mentored on the job and come from the ranks of outpatient medical coders. This creates plenty of opportunities for advancement in both career and income over time.

The Two Groups of Medical Coders

2008-11-23T23:20:00.000-08:00

In the world of medical coding, there are two fairly distinct groups of medical coders:

1. Those who perform medical coding for clinics, physicians offices, and hospital emergency rooms. These are typically referred to as “Outpatient Medical Coders”.

2. Those who perform medical coding in major hospitals. These are typically referred to as “Inpatient Medical Coders”.

If you are interested in a medical coding career, it will be important to understand the difference between outpatient medical coding and inpatient medical coding. This might be best understood through example. If you have a procedure performed that requires you to be admitted to the hospital and stay overnight, this medical coding activity will require the skills of an inpatient medical coder. If you have a procedure performed on a same-day basis and are not admitted to the hospital for an overnight stay then it is considered an outpatient event and is typically assigned to an outpatient medical coder.

Types of Medical Coding Certification

2008-11-16T18:59:00.000-08:00

Here we list the different medical coding certifications, take a look and if you are not certified yet, choose which certification suits you best.

AHIMA Medical Coding Certifications:
Certified Coding Associate (CCA)
Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)
Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based (CCS-P)

AAPC Medical Coding Certifications:
Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
Certified Professional Coder-Hospital (CPC-H)
Certified Professional Coder-Payer (CPC-P)

The right medical coding training program will certainly provide you with the medical transcription skills and training necessary to successfully sit for and pass a medical coding certification exam.

Certified Medical Coders Make More!

2008-11-15T18:58:00.000-08:00

It turns out that Certified Medical Coders make more money than their non-certified counterparts – as much as 17% more, according to the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). Additionally, medical coding career advancement opportunities are far more plentiful for certified medical coders than for those without a medical coding certification.

There are two national organizations that certify medical coders:
1. AHIMA – American Health Information Management Association
2. AAPC – American Association of Professional Coders

Both of these organizations are reputable and respected and offer widely recognized medical coding credentials. Both organizations also offer entry level medical coding credentials as well as advanced medical coding credentials. Once a medical coding certification is achieved, credentialing organizations typically require that members maintain their credentials through rigorous ongoing continuing education. Over time, most professional medical coders will continue to improve their status by completing advanced medical coding certification requirements.

The Importance of a Medical Coding Certificate

2008-11-14T18:55:00.000-08:00

It is not a requirement that you be certified to be employed as a medical coder – not yet anyway. However, because of the magnitude of money that changes hands every day in the healthcare industry, medical coding has become a very highly regulated and tightly supervised activity. Medical coding is also subject to frequent and rigorous audits to ensure accuracy in the medical billing process as there are literally billions of dollars at stake.

As a result of this intensive regulation, most employers of medical coders have a strong preference that their employees involved in the medical coding process be in possession of a valid medical coding certification. An entry level or advanced medical coding certification while not a prerequisite, is extremely desirable for entry into the medical coding profession.

Health Information Industry and Medical Coding

2008-11-13T08:27:00.000-08:00

The medical coding job outlook is rosy indeed. According to the US Department of Labor, the healthcare information industry is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations over the next decade. This rapidly growing segment of the economy includes medical coding professionals.

As mentioned earlier, medical coding professionals are in extremely high demand. In fact, medical coding is one of the fastest growing segments in the rapidly growing health information industry. And demographic trends in the United States and around the world suggest that this growth in medical coding employment will continue for many years to come. A rapidly aging population, combined with advances in complex treatment options almost guarantees solid job prospects for medical coding professionals well into the future.

The Promising Career of Medical Coding

2008-11-11T08:26:00.000-08:00

Medical coding offers an exceptionally promising career path for individuals willing to invest in medical coding training and acquire entry level or advanced medical coding certifications. In fact, the 2007 Medical Coding Salary Survey published by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) indicates that the average salary for medical coding professionals increased to almost $34,400 in 2007 – up from just over $30,000 in 2006. Salaries for managers and administrators increased dramatically as well.

Medical Coding in a Hospital

2008-11-07T00:39:00.000-08:00

Hospitals tend to be more rigid and bureaucratic in their approach to medical coding employment than smaller, more nimble medical clinics or physician groups. However, their pay rates can also be higher.

Hospitals tend to require a higher level of inpatient coding skill and certification. On the other hand, large hospitals can offer medical transcription employment benefits which far outweigh those provided by smaller organizations. These benefits may include overtime pay, flex-time, sick leave, paid vacation, and perhaps most importantly - generous health care benefits. Also, if you are interested in pursuing a long-term career as a Medical Records Director or Hospital Administrator, a large hospital system will typically provide more opportunities for upward mobility.

Medical clinics and physicians offices tend to operate under relatively normal business hours. This allows medical coders employed by these organizations to enjoy a traditional and fairly stable medical coding work schedule. However, if medical coding job flexibility is important to you, you should consider a medical coding job in a hospital setting. Most hospitals are open 24 hours per day 7 days per week and often offer significant flexibility to medical coders in terms of flex schedules and shift work.

Find Medical Coding Jobs Here!

2008-11-06T00:38:00.000-08:00

Medical coding jobs can be found in a variety of organizations, including:
* Large hospital systems
* Private hospitals – small and large
* Government hospitals
* National medical billing & Coding service providers
* Clinics and Physician Groups
* Nursing Homes & Rehabilitation Centers
* Home Healthcare Agencies
* Insurance Companies
* Law firms and Consulting firms

The path you ultimately take on your medical coding job search will depend on a number of factors. Some of these factors include:
* Level of Experience and Proficiency
* Income Requirements
* Benefit Requirements
* Importance of Freedom and Flexibility
* Personal Motivation
* Risk Tolerance

So how do you find a Medical Coding job?

2008-11-05T00:34:00.000-08:00

Of course, you can look in the classified ad section of your local newspaper in search of medical coding job opportunities. However, you are always at the mercy of the timing of postings. It is not our preferred method. You should be aware that there are a lot of medical coding industry publications where medical coding jobs are routinely posted. Advance Magazine, an AHIMA (American Health Information management Association) publication, is an excellent resource. Also, in this day and age, there are many medical coding job boards dedicated to opportunities and information in the medical coding field.

If you are not bashful, one of the best ways we can think of to identify medical coding job opportunities is to call or visit the medical records department of local hospitals or clinics. If you ask to speak directly to the medical records director or medical coding supervisor, you may be fortunate enough to catch them at an opportune moment and make a brief introduction. Finding the best medical coding job requires a little networking and proactivity on your part.

Get a Job As a Medical Coder!

2008-11-04T00:03:00.000-08:00

The options for medical coding employment are extremely varied. But most of them lead back to the same place – a medical coding job with a medical clinic or hospital. Fortunately, unless you happen to live in an extremely out of the way locale, opportunities for medical coding jobs should be plentiful. The supply of medical coders has not been sufficient to meet the demand for medical coders for many years now and the supply-demand imbalance in the medical coding industry is only getting worse. This is good news for a newly minted medical coder looking for a medical coding job.

Effective Home Based Medical Coder

2008-10-19T10:46:00.000-07:00

Medical coding is certainly ripe to follow suit. And in fact, the work at home trend is beginning to catch on in the medical coding industry.

Currently hundreds of medical coders are working from home quite effectively. As this trend picks up steam over the coming months and years look for more and more employers to offer this medical coding work at home option to their more reliable coders.

Working from home as a medical coder basically requires that the home based medical coder is granted remote access to the hospital or clinic centralized medical coding system. Technology continues to evolve allowing additional safeguards to secure confidential patient and financial information.

The Home Based Medical Coding Model

2008-10-18T10:41:00.000-07:00

Traditionally, medical coding has been a profession that has required medical coders to be present in the hospital or clinic where services are performed. And in truth, this is still largely the expectation of employers.

However, it should be noted that the technology to allow medical coders to work from home has been around for some time. Resistance to the home based medical coding model has typically come from entrenched bureaucrats within hospital systems who have become accustomed to the idea of complete control over the coding process. Some of this is understandable.

But professional managers should take some queues from the medical transcription industry which has successfully transformed itself to a home based production model while adding incredible efficiency to the production process.

Why I Want to Work from Home

2008-10-17T10:39:00.000-07:00

Let's face facts. Most people dream of the possibility of working from home. The work at home option is appealing for so many reasons: flexibility, lack of commute, more time with family, working at your own pace and on your own schedule, being able to attend to personal matters at scheduled breaks, easy access to the refrigerator, and so many more…

Evaluating THE Medical Coding Salary

2008-10-16T00:23:00.000-07:00

There are a couple of things to be aware of in evaluating medical coding salary and wage information.

1. Certified Medical Coders earn on average 17% more than non-certified medical coders, according the AAPC medical coding salary survey.

2. There is a very solid career path for medical coding professionals. Wages increase with responsibility and advanced certification. According to the AAPC Salary Survey, a full eight percent of medical coders possessing a specialty credential earned in excess of $85,000 per year.

3. Longevity and experience in the medical coding profession pay dividends, according to the 2007 AAPC Medical Coding Salary Survey. Medical coders with an entry level credential and one year or less of experience earn an average of $25,000 - $30,000 per year. Medical coders with 18 or more years of experience earn an average of 70% to 80% more: $45,000 - $50,000 annually.

It Figures! Medical Coding Salary Survey Says…

2008-10-15T00:17:00.000-07:00

The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) publishes an annual survey of medical coding wage and salary information.

The 2007 medical coding salary survey contains the following information:

Average Medical Coding Industry Annual Salary by Title:
Medical Coding Specialist: $30,000 - $35,000
Medical Coding Professional: $30,000 - $35,000
aMedical Coding Manager: $40,000 - $45,000
Medical Billing Manager: $35,000 - $40,000
Medical Coding Audit Specialist: $40,000 - $45,000
Medical Coding Compliance Manager: $55,000 - $60,000
Medical Records Supervisor: $40,000 - $45,000
Administrator: $85,000 +

The Good News for Potential Medical Coders

2008-10-14T00:05:00.000-07:00

Obviously, no discussion of the medical coding job outlook is complete without medical coding salary and wage information. Fortunately, there is a lot of good news to report regarding medical coding salaries.

The Department of Labor tracks wages and salaries for a very large number of occupations; this includes medical coding salary and wage information. The most recent published Dept. of Labor statistics suggest that the mean salary for medical coders is about $32,000 per year. The important thing to remember here is the term “mean” or average. There is obviously far more to the story.