Choosing the Best Online Medical Billing and Coding Program for You
Prepare for a career in medical billing and coding. Learn how to choose the best online medical billing and coding program for you with this guide from DeVry.
Whether you know exactly where you're heading, or you're still planning your next steps, it all starts with a simple conversation. Let’s talk.
If you want to work in a growing field that allows you to support the needs of patients and medical professionals while contributing to the overall improvement of the quality of healthcare delivered in your community, medical billing and coding may be the right fit for you.
One question that many people ask is whether or not you can do medical billing from home. While the answer varies from employer to employer, many companies are embracing the idea of medical billing from home, as well as hybrid medical billing work from home and work in-office models. If this sounds like something you’d like to do, read on to learn how you can prepare to pursue a medical billing and coding career that fits your lifestyle and professional goals.
Another advantage of medical billing and coding is the overall growth for this occupation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts employment of Medical Records Specialists to grow by 7% from 2021 to 2031, with about 14,900 projected job openings for medical records specialists each year, on average, over the decade.1 This growth is projected on a national level and local growth will vary by location. This projection is not specific to DeVry University graduates and may include earners at all stages of their careers.
The healthcare organizations you will ultimately be working for will most likely require you to be certified, so it’s a good idea to earn industry certifications for medical billing and coding, such as the ones we’ve described above, prior to launching your business.
If you need to secure financing to purchase software and computer equipment, make sure your finances are in order and your credit score is strong before heading to the bank.
Ultimately, whether you can work from home in medical billing will depend on the specific position you choose. If you’re curious about the opportunities available in your area, it can be helpful to do a preliminary job search to explore various roles along with the job responsibilities and any location or educational requirements. From there you can narrow down your search to the organizations and roles that best meet your needs.
Doing medical billing at home will depend on your role, level of experience and employer. While many places may allow medical billing specialists to work remotely, it is ultimately at the discretion of the employer. If working from home is important to you, discuss this with the hiring manager during your interview process. Keep in mind that while a job may start in-person, some employers may be willing to adjust the arrangement at a later date once you've further developed in your role.
Consider beginning by earning your Undergraduate Certificate in Medical Billing and Coding as well as industry-recognized certifications, such as the CCS, CCA or CPC. Once you've established your knowledge and skills, explore jobs online. Try including 'remote' as a keyword in your job search to pull up any opportunities that may allow you to work in medical billing from home.
At DeVry, we offer 100% online Medical Billing and Coding programs that can help you gain the knowledge you need to pursue roles in this dynamic field.
In this program, you will learn about essential skills such as:
According to the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC)’s 2022 Medical Coding Salary Survey, 51% of the respondents reported that technology enables them to work from home with HIPAA-compliant access to electronic health records. That being said, remember that remote work capabilities are ultimately at the discretion of each individual employer and opportunities may vary.
1 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm
2For the MBC certificate program, all but one course stacks into our Associate Degree in Health Information Technology. For the AHIT program, all but one course stacks into our Bachelor’s in Technical Management degree with a Specialization in Health Information Management. Program availability varies by location. At the time of application to the next credential level, an evaluation of qualifying transfer credit will occur and the most beneficial outcome will be applied.