What is a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist?

What is a Medical Office Coding and Billing Specialist?

Medical office coding and billing specialists are detail-oriented individuals who work in medical offices’ administration departments. This career is a valuable resource to medical facilities, and is also a growing sector within the healthcare industry.

In this article, we’re going to cover the role medical coding and billing specialists play within the medical community, what they do, where they work, and how this role differs from a medical assistant’s role.

Who Medical Office Coding and Billing Specialists Are

Medical coding and billing specialists are trained to work in medical office settings like clinics, doctor’s offices, or other healthcare facilities managing billing and insurance paperwork.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that these jobs will grow by 13% between 2016 and 2026, which is higher than the average of all occupations. The best coding and billing specialists are detail oriented and organized.

What Coding and Billing Specialists Do

Medical coding and billing specialists are trained in everything they need to know in order to manage health records and other important paperwork. Many training programs are eight months, offering students a chance to start their new career much faster than traditional four-year degrees.

Upon graduation, coding and billing specialists will be ready to help patients in these areas:

  • Verbal and written communication skills
  • Health information management
  • Patient and insurance billing
  • Managing patient records and running a doctor’s office

Once complete, individuals are eligible to take the national registry exam to become certified as a Medical Administrative Assistant with a Billing and Coding Certification and Electronic Health Records Certification.

Where Coding and Billing Specialists Work

After certification, coding and billing specialists are eligible to work as a receptionist in a hospital or doctor’s office, insurance specialist, or as a billing and collections coding specialist. This array of options means that it’s possible to find a hospital or doctor’s office and a specific role that will be a good career fit.

Coding and billing specialists can be promoted to managerial positions, including Health Information Manager and Clinical Manager.

Becoming a medical coding and billing specialist offers a way to make a positive impact in a medical office, and is ideal for detail-oriented people. While in this role, individuals also have an opportunity to gain the skills necessary to advance in their career. With a short-term investment into training, these specialists can improve their career outlook, and we’re honored to be a part of it.

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