How to Become a Medical Biller and Coder

Medical billers and coders are two different but closely related professions in the healthcare administration field. The medical coders primarily work to accurately catalog the care that has been provided to a patient, and medical billers work to properly bill them for that care once the patient has been released.

Here are brief descriptions to help you understand each career path a little bit more, and how they differ from one another:

Medical billers are a vital part of the healthcare revenue management cycle. They are responsible for the submission of claims to health insurance companies, and as a part of this, they have to be knowledgeable about the different medical codes and the processes that insurance companies use in order to bill a patient. In the event that a bill is taking longer than usual to be paid, they are also responsible for following up with the recipient and remaining in contact with the insurance company until the bill is paid.

The job of a medical biller, beyond accurately charging insurance companies and patients for services rendered, is to help achieve optimal revenues for the care facility through the billing process. This can be done by keeping accurate records and diligently following up on unpaid bills to reduce the length of the healthcare revenue management cycle.

A partial list of job responsibilities for medical billers includes:

Medical coders are another part of the healthcare revenue management cycle. But instead of billing patients and insurance companies, they assign codes to treatments carried out by clinical professionals during a patient's care. CPT (current procedural terminology) codes correlate to different procedures, equipment or ailments, and are used to determine the cost of service.

In medical coding, the cost of service isn't the only thing the codes identify. By simplifying complex procedures into individual codes, it makes the data far easier to read. Once the data is put into this simplified format, facility administrators and managers can use this information to make important decisions that can go on to impact the allocation of funds within a care facility or be used to streamline the care process.

A partial list of job responsibilities for medical coders includes:

As with any career path, there is no one way to become a medical biller and coder that works for everyone. However, there are some general steps you can take and prerequisites you need to be aware of as you work toward that goal.

Here are some of the steps that may help you on the path to becoming a medical biller or medical coder:

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many medical billers and coders have some sort of postsecondary education, which may come in the form of an undergraduate certificate. Find a school that offers this kind of program, such as DeVry's Undergraduate Certificate in Medical Billing and Coding, and enroll to get your education started.

After enrolling, you need to complete and pass the coursework in your undergraduate certificate. To help set you up for success, we recommend taking advantage of professor office hours, learning resources and any certification exam preparation that might be offered.

Within the field of medical billing and coding, there are three major professional certifications:

Once you've earned your undergraduate certificate and your professional certification, it's time to start searching for jobs. Identify a few job titles that interest you and decide which employers in your area look like a good fit. Having clear goals on what time of environment you want to work in can help you streamline the application process.

It's not uncommon to apply and interview for a few positions before getting hired. Stay persistent and apply to as many jobs as you can until you find one that suits your goals and interests.