The Billing Coder's Job Description

Billing coders are better and more accurately known as medical coders and billers. This is due to the two procedures that constitute what they do in a medical facility: coding and billing. They belong to a class of health care information technicians who are responsible for collecting and storing medical data.

Coding and Billing

When a patient with health insurance coverage enters a medical facility, the billing coder enters a code in the computer system that corresponds to the diagnosis and/or procedure the patient receives from the physician. The computer system then yields a bill that shows the reimbursement amount owed to the medical facility.

Codes Used

Billing coders use two types of code standards. The International Classification of Diseases, or ICD, is a publication by the World Health Organization that sets the worldwide coding system for diseases and injuries. The Current Procedural Terminology, or CPT, is published by the American Medical Association, and is used for diagnostic, medical and surgical services provided in the United States.

Specialization

Billing coders can choose to specialize in a type of workplace or disease. Examples of employers of billing coders include physicians' offices, hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities. Cancer registers are particularly common; they are responsible for assigning codes for the diagnosis and treatment of different cancers.

Education and Certification

The standard educational requirement for billing coders is an associate degree in medical billing and coding, which can be earned within two years from a community college or technical school. Although certification/credentialing is voluntary, some graduates go for it to show that they have met certain professional standards. An example of an association that offers credentialing is the American Health Information Management Association.

Salary and Job Outlook

Including them in the "Medical Records and Health Information Technicians" category, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics listed billing coders as making an average salary of around $34,000 in 2009. The agency expects the field to experience a 20 percent boost in employment between 2008 and 2018--a much faster rate than for all U.S. occupations.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
• All Allied Health Schools: Medical Billing & Coding Careers
• American Health Information Management Association: Coding Credentials
• American Medical Association: CPT - Current Procedural Terminology
• WHO: International Classification of Diseases