Why you should consider a career in medical coding & billing

WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER A CAREER IN MEDICAL CODING AND BILLING Medical coders specialize in coding patients' medical information for billing purposes. BIG changes are coming to this industry, which will significantly increase the demand for medical coders. Read below to find out why Medical Coding could make a great future career for you! THERE IS A GROWING NEED FOR MEDICAL CODERS Currently, only 49% of healthcare employers report being adequately staffed with medical coders. 49% The most commonly cited reason was a lack of qualified candidates. An aging population who use more healthcare service is part of the reason why The need for medical coders is growing at a faster pace than average. there is more demand. Additionally, healthcare providers in the United States face a deadline to achieve compliance ICD-9 ICD-10 with a nationwide conversion to to ICD-10 code sets by October 1, 2014. 53% There's currently a 30% shortage of medical coders and with the switch to ICD-10, that's expected to increase to at least 53% SHORTAGE nationwide. The U.S. Department of Labor notes in its Bureau of Labor This number is expected to increase by 21% Statistics report that there were 179,500 over the decade until 2020. This is an increase of medical record coding jobs in the US in 20O10. 37,000 new jobs HOW DO YOU BECOME A MEDICAL CODER? Completing a training program and earning a coding credential are essential first steps toward a successful medical coding career. The two most common, entry-level credentials required by employers are the CCA (Certified Coding Associate) offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the CPC (Certified Professional Coder) offered by the AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) To earn either of these credentials you must first graduate from a medical coding training program. Training programs for medical coding are widely-available. When choosing a program, look for these elements to make sure you are getting an excellent education: AHIMA-approved curriculum ICD-10 focused training Industry certification preparation High graduate passing rates for the national certification exams Hands-on, experience-basead training Practical experience coding actual medical records and reports Affordable tuition Graduate support and counseling CAREER BENEFITS OF MEDICAL CODERS Job security in the stable and growing Opportunities nationwide as healthcare is the largest industry in the nation field of healthcare Opportunity to work in a variety of environments, such as hospitals, nursing facilities, physician's offices, and other healthcare settings. $47,870 The 2012 average salary was $47,87O for Certified Professional Coders. Possibilities for growth and promotion. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON YOUR FUTURE CAREER PATH, VISIT: CareerStep ONLINE EDUCATION & TRAINING SOLUTIONS www.careerstep.com SOURCES: Barron Professional Consulting Services. "The State of H.I.M. A Study of The Impact of ICD-10, CDI and CAC Initiatives". 2013 http://news.aapc.com/index.php/2012/09/salary-survey-2012-trends-show-growth-and-diversification/ http://www.salary.com/Articles/ArticleDetail.asp?part=par883