Medical Records and Health Information Technician Careers
Medical billing and coding professionals are generally included in the category of health information and medical records technicians. The information provided below pertains to that more general category, unless otherwise specified.
Specializing in coding and billing, individuals work in an office and provide each medical procedure and diagnosis with a code using software for classification systems. The system determines the amount of reimbursement for medical providers when patients are covered by health insurance Medicaid, or Medicare. Coders may be required to use multiple coding systems, such as those pertaining to long-term care, physician offices, or ambulatory settings.
Medical Records and Health Information Technician Career Snapshot
Medical coders work closely with health care personnel, therefore excellent communication skills are a must for this job. They must be attentive to detail and record information accurately, in order to ensure that data is properly entered into electronic billing systems. Medical coders should be well-organized and able to focus on a task for a lengthy period of time.
Further details on a career as a medical billing specialist are listed below (statistics from the May 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):
is the average yearly pay for medical records and health information technicians.
increase in employment between 2014 and 2024.
have a High School Diploma while 21% have some college, but no degree.
Education
Medical billers and coders typically have an Associate’s degree or equivalent training. Coursework for medical coding typically includes anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology, as well as data analysis and database security. Many employers prefer credentialed medical coders who have passed a certification exam and completed a specified number of hours of hands-on training.
Job Outlook
The demand for medical billing and coding specialists is expected to increase much faster than the average for other types of employment over the next ten years. Individuals with extensive computer software and technology skills are generally favored; taking additional courses in specialized areas increases opportunities for advancement.
Salaries
Salaries for medical billing and coding can range from less than $24,190 for entry level positions to over $61,400 annually (according to May 2015 BLS.gov statistics), depending on level of experience and place of employment.
Job Duties
Medical coding technicians are not involved in any hands-on patient care, and typically work a 40-hour work week in an office setting, whether in a hospital, clinic or doctor’s office. Some medical coders and billers work from home.
Duties consist of coding patients’ medical information including diagnoses, procedures and tests, using specialized classification software. The codes determine the amount to be reimbursed, according to whether they are covered by Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance.
Medical Records and Health Information Technician Skills & Traits
| Medical Billing Specialist Skill Set: | Required Abilities: | Tools Used by Medical Billing Specialists: | Typical Work Activities: |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Reading Comprehension • Active Listening • Critical Thinking • Speaking • Writing | • Near Vision • Oral Comprehension • Written Comprehension • Oral Expression • Category Flexibility | • Barcode scanners • Label printers • Barcode attachment equipment • Microfiche viewing machines • Scanners | • Getting information • Processing information • Recording information • Working with computers • Organizing work |
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