Medical Billing & Coding Certification in 2024

In 2024, Certification is Critical

The healthcare system in the US today is more complex and complicated than ever. The healthcare revenue system in the US cannot function properly without highly competent billing & coding specialists. These specialists help ensure proper reimbursement to healthcare providers.

A medical billing and coding certification indicates that the practitioner has full knowledge of medical billing and coding procedures. There are complex regulations for both the billing AND coding industry. A specialist's medical billing coding certification is an assurance for employers, insurance companies, health care providers and patients.

Students may enroll in medical billing and coding classes. There are courses on-campus and online. These courses impart the many skills are needed in the industry. Students receive certificates and/or Associate degrees upon graduation. The industry offers national medical billing and coding certification online.

There are several options for earning certification. Students may enroll in medical billing and coding courses and finish in anywhere from 8 weeks to 9 months. Those who want to earn an associate degree need about two years. Students may graduate with a four-year bachelor’s degree. These qualify them for management positions in the medical billing and coding field.

Which Certification is Best?

The American Academy of Professional Coders(AAPC) is BY FAR the most widely accepted certification for employers who hire billing & coding specialists. If you search any online job board, most require AAPC certification.

Being certified provides an advantage in the job market. Many employers prefer candidates with certification. It gives them the assurance that a prospective employee has the expertise for the job.

For those who have had experience working with physicians and/or healthcare facilities, a medical billing and coding certification in a specialty can further improve one's career.

Through these specialty certifications, medical coders may be promoted to management positions. They may also land higher paying jobs that require special expertise.

Most Common Certifications

The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) offers several types of medical billing and coding certification:

Certified Professional Coder (CPC)

A Certified Professional Coder must pass the academy's medical billing and coding certification exam. The exam is on the correct application of CPT, HCPCS procedure and supply codes. This includes the ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes for billing professional medical services to insurance companies. A CPC must have two years coding experience. Continuing education requirements need to be renewed yearly.

Certified Professional Coder-Hospital (CPC-H)

A Certified Professional Coder-Hospital (CPC-H) must pass the academy's coding certification examination. The examination covers the correct application of CPT and ICD-9-CM diagnoses and procedure codes. A CPC-H must have two years coding experience. Continuing education requirements need yo be renewed yearly.

Certified Professional Coder-Payer (CPC-P)

The Certified Professional Coder-Payer (CPC-P) credential certifies the practitioner's capability in adjudicating provider claims. Claims reviewers, management and benefits staff, provider relations and customer service staff view a practitioner's coding. A CPC-P must have two years coding experience including work with CPT, ICD-9-CM, or HCPCS code sets. The practitioner must maintain the yearly continuing education requirements.

The AAPC also offers specialty credentials in areas including the following:

Anesthesia
Cardiology
Ambulatory Surgical Center
Cardiovascular and Thoracic
Emergency Department
Internal Medicine
Pediatrics
Gastroenterology
Rheumatology

Certification: Online or In-Person?

Though many people still struggle with the notion that traditional, classroom based education programs are somehow more valuable than online programs, the reality is that online programs have made incredible advances in the past several years. Most professionals fully recognize that legitimate online programs of study provide a good education and cover the same content that is learned in more traditional classroom settings.

Regardless of whether you choose to enroll in an online program of study or one that takes place on a college campus, you will be receiving exactly the same level of education. The same courses are taught to all students and you should receive an identical degree or certification. No distinctions are made between degrees that are earned online versus those that are earned on a college campus.

Bearing these factors in mind, the biggest consideration is which type of education format is the best choice for you and your specific needs. If you currently work a full-time job, have a family, or other types of obligations or demands on your time, then enrolling in an online medical billing program might be the most convenient option for you.

With online programs of study, you are able to attend classes and complete your course work on days and at times that are convenient for you. This extreme flexibility allows many people the opportunity to attend school when they otherwise simply wouldn’t have the time.

Another strong consideration for many people is the extra expense involved with attending classes in a face-to-face environment on campus. With the economic situation continuing to decline and gas prices rising steadily, lots of people are finding it more difficult to justify extra activities that place a greater strain on their budgets.

One of the biggest benefits to taking classes on campus is the personalized interaction you would receive from your instructors while taking classes.

If you are someone who functions best when you are able to have in-person contact with your instructors, then you might seriously consider enrolling in a medical billing program on a local college campus. This is really the only significant distinction between the two different types of classroom formats.

Should My Program Be Accredited?

The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) programs are accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). ABHES is a nationally recognized accrediting organization that specializes in healthcare education. They provide accreditation to postsecondary institutions and programs that offer medical billing and coding, as well as other healthcare-related education.

AAPC offers a variety of certification programs in medical coding and billing, including Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Outpatient Coder (COC), and Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC). The accreditation from ABHES serves as recognition of the quality and rigor of AAPC's programs, as well as the competency of their graduates.

Having an ABHES-accredited medical billing and coding program is a sign of a quality education, and can help graduates achieve greater success in their careers. The accreditation process involves a comprehensive evaluation of the program's curriculum, faculty, and resources, ensuring that the program meets high standards for quality and prepares students for successful careers in the field.

Medical Billing & Coding Salary

Job Scope

Medical coders and billers are much more than medical office assistants. Generally, these professionals serve as consultants, earning almost double to that of what office staff earn. Exact job definitions could have a large impact on your overall salary. For example, office staff are reported to earn from $62,944 to $79,103. On the highest end, medical billing and coding consultants earned from $78,636 to $98,026 yearly.

Work Environment

A medical billing & coding salary can differ greatly, according to the workplace setting – including small private practices, long term facilities and large hospitals. On the low end, home health care salaries ranged from $54,167 to $67,965, while those who worked in payer environments earned $88,750 to $84,100 annually.

Geographic Location

Perhaps one of the biggest variables in terms of increasing your salary relates to where the job is located. Economic conditions determine how much revenue a business is able to acquire. This greatly affects the payroll budget for any company. The following are the average reported salaries by region:

South: $51,863
Midwest: $61,235
Northeast: $66,643
West: $78,150