According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for technicians in the field of medical records and health information – including medical billers and coders – is expected to grow over the next decade. The drivers of the expected employment growth include the aging U.S. population, retirement of current professionals and growing demand for medical services.
Medical records and health information technicians “use various classification systems to code and categorize patient information for insurance reimbursement purposes, for databases and registries, and to maintain patients’ medical and treatment histories,” according to BLS.
The primary job of a medical coder is to review clinical documentation to extract and translate billable information into medical codes using specific classification systems. Medical classification, commonly referred to as medical coding, is the process of translating medical reports into codes used within the healthcare industry. Specifically, medical billing and coding is the process of identifying diagnoses, medical tests, treatments, and procedures found in clinical documentation and then transcribing this patient data into standardized codes which are them use for billing. The use of medical codes helps summarize medical services and reports and allows the coders to document the specific conditions and describe the processes used to treat the patient.
Essentially, medical billing and coding professionals translate a healthcare service into a medical billing claim. The Medical Billing & coding professional must possess a deep understanding of medical insurance, the claims and appeals process, and the impact on revenue. Often, the financial well-being of a medical practice is dependent upon the skills of the billing office.
Graduates of the medical billing and coding program at Fortis are prepared for entry-level positions at hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices, dental offices, nursing homes and insurance companies and may be qualified to pursue certification from the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) or the American Health Information Management Association.
Medical Billing & Coding training programs are offered at select Fortis campuses. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in medical billing and coding, Fortis can help. Click here to apply online.
