If you have always wanted to work in the medical industry but don’t have the necessary qualifications to study medicine or nursing, you will be glad to know that there are a variety of administration positions that might appeal to you. Medical coding and billing is just one of these. However, is medical coding a stressful job? And what will you need in terms of education to be able to apply for such a position? Read on to find out more.
What is Medical Coding?
The first thing to know about medical coding is that it is a job within an ever-growing industry. With trillions of dollars spent on healthcare in the U.S. every year, and all of it requiring medical coding and billing, there will always be a big demand for coders.
Indeed, medical coding is required for every medical and admin task associated with a patient’s care. For example, a medical coder would need to match each task with the relevant diagnostic codes and CPT codes before sending off a claim to the insurance company for reimbursement.
Is it Stressful to Work in Medical Coding?
Perhaps the most stressful part of a medical coder’s job is matching the relevant code to the specific administrative task, diagnosis, medical procedure, or equipment used. Nevertheless, using an online database such as that at Find-A-Code (visit their website here)can really help as it contains tens of thousands of easy to find medical billing codes, which can speed up the process immeasurably.
Those first starting out as a medical coder might find the role slightly daunting, but the good news is that there is no need to memorize thousands of codes. Many of the codes used will be easy to remember as they are used regularly, but even coders who have been working in the job for many years will still need to look up codes for medical treatments and procedures that are not so common.
Accuracy and the ability to work to deadlines is especially important for a medical coder, and while some individuals thrive under pressure, others can find this quite stressful. How stressful the job is will really depend on how busy the medical facility is and the individual’s ability to deal with pressure.
What Do Medical Coders Do Each Day?
Every day can be slightly different for a medical coder, and this is down to their caseload, irrespective of whether there are any claims that have been returned from the insurance company because of errors and the time of the month.
Nonetheless, on a typical day a medical coder will have medical files and reports with information that needs to be analyzed before billing codes are assigned. Sometimes a medical coder will also be responsible for billing and will then raise and send invoices to the insurance company for payment. If not, the coder will send the coded reports to the medical biller, who will then liaise with the insurance company.
Medical coders and billers must ensure they use the correct codes. If mistakes are entered, it is likely that the bill will be returned from the insurance company. Sometimes this can result in a refusal to pay, or a reduction in the amount paid. It is important therefore that medical coders have a knowledge of medical terminology as they will need to check patient files and reports to ensure they contain accurate information.
Finally, How to Become a Medical Coder?
In some cases, a high school diploma is sufficient for securing a job as a medical coder, but many employers prefer potential candidates to have a degree or to have at least completed a medical coder course. And that is it, in a nutshell.
