Would you prefer to work at home in an occupation that’s in excessive demand? Do the medical and healthcare fields curiosity you? Then maybe a work at home medical coding and billing job is your calling.
To work as a medical coder and biller, you’ll must have familiarity with well being data administration (HIM), medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and medical file coding, and you need to be detail-oriented.
Most employers require billers to acquire an expert coding certification. Fortuitously, certification is feasible in a matter of 4-12 months with on-line coaching obtainable.
Whereas expertise within the medical subject isn’t required, if you happen to’ve labored in healthcare earlier than, changing into a coding and billing specialist is an effective way to use your abilities and information with the flexibleness of working from residence.
What’s Medical Coding and Billing?
Each time a health care provider interacts with a affected person, a code is assigned to their motion. Bodily exams, lab checks, procedures, and coverings are all assigned a code. These numeric codes are known as “Present Procedural Terminology” or CPT codes. Every analysis can also be coded with the “Worldwide Classification of Ailments and Associated Well being Issues” or ICD-10 code. This common numeric language ensures that docs, healthcare suppliers, and insurance coverage firms use constant terminology and codes.
Your job as a medical coder and biller is to evaluate the charting completed by the physician, nurse, or medical specialist and be sure that it goes onto a “invoice” or kind submitted to insurance coverage firms for reimbursement. Some coders test for accuracy and overlapping codes, whereas others deal with insurance coverage laws and billing necessities. Medical billers and coders should sustain with ever-changing codes and evolving data within the healthcare business. Medical billing specialists assist stop fraud, waste, abuse, and errors inside the medical business by making certain sufferers and insurance coverage firms are invoiced appropriately.
How A lot Do Medical Coders and Billers Earn?
Medical billers and coders are in demand! In line with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the outlook for medical data and well being data specialists is projected to develop at a fee of 8% within the subsequent ten years. As a result of this progress, revenue and alternatives for medical billing and coding professionals are steadily rising. On common, medical coders earn $22.69 per hour with a median wage of round $47,180 yearly. Coders and billers can earn greater pay by persevering with to coach and concentrate on areas like psychiatry, oncology, rheumatology, and extra.
Unbiased Contractor vs. Worker Standing: What You Have to Know
Many work from home medical billing specialists work as unbiased contractors. This implies they’re answerable for setting their very own hours and costs. It additionally means as a 1099 contractor, they’re in command of reporting revenue and submitting their very own taxes. Unbiased contractors tackle as many or as few jobs as they like. Contractors are sometimes answerable for offering their very own tools (together with computer systems and printers) and invoicing the contracting enterprise for his or her providers.
Workers, alternatively, work for an organization immediately. The corporate dictates hours and parameters comparable to pay and advantages. Being an worker provides construction and stability however at the price of flexibility. There are professionals and cons for each conditions, however if you happen to’re working from residence as an unbiased contractor, you’ll have the liberty and the chance to work with a number of shoppers.
Analysis the professionals and cons of changing into a 1099 contractor earlier than you start. Remember the fact that classifications can differ by state, so remember to test together with your native Labor Division and the Division of Workforce Growth.
Medical Coding and Billing Schooling Necessities
To turn into a medical coder and biller, most employers require certification via the American Academy of Skilled Coders (AAPC) or the American Well being Info Administration Affiliation (AHIMA).
As a result of the job is extremely detailed and there’s loads of data to soak up, even these with a medical background comparable to nursing will discover it useful to take a medical billing coaching program.
Many certification packages are supplied on-line and embody graduate assist providers to help with job placement. The one we suggest is CareerStep, the place you possibly can full your coaching on-line in as little as 4-6 months. Additionally they provide fee plans, navy reductions, and training, they usually have an A+ ranking with the Higher Enterprise Bureau.
CareerStep prepares college students for the next certification exams and even provides them a free voucher to take one of many following:
- Licensed Skilled Coder (CPC) – licensed by AAPC
- Licensed Outpatient Coder (COC) – licensed by AAPC
- Licensed Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) – licensed by the Nationwide Healthcareer Affiliation (NHA)
- Licensed Coding Specialist Doctor-Based mostly (CSS-P) – licensed by AHIMA
In line with nurse-turned-medical-coder Tricia Mitchell:
“Certifying is the important thing to success for people who’re new to medical billing and coding as a result of it proves you’ll be able to full the job and CareerStep teaches you all the must know the data with a purpose to move the certifying examination. They despatched me the contact data for my present employer, and I used to be capable of finding a distant coding place proper after graduating.“
What Corporations Rent Distant Medical Coders and Billers?
Should you’re in search of medical billing and coding jobs, there are just a few assets it’s best to discover. Should you had been beforehand employed within the healthcare business, you may wish to community together with your former employers and coworkers. Ask how they’re at present dealing with their workplace billing and in the event that they’re outsourcing via an organization or dealing with all of it in-house.
Should you’ve accomplished a program like CareerStep, their community of potential employers could give you loads of alternatives to discover. An alternative choice is to peruse the work from home job listings on the websites under.
One factor to notice: like many different professions, many healthcare firms will need you to have no less than 1 yr of expertise. This may occasionally imply that you just’ll must work in a conventional workplace setting to get some expertise below your belt.
1. Aviacode
Aviacode is without doubt one of the largest medical coding firms within the US. All coders have to be AAPC or AHIMA licensed and move a preliminary check. Employment is obtainable part-time, full-time with advantages, and per diem (work 1-40 hours per week) foundation.
- Most positions require expertise
2. Change Healthcare
Change Healthcare actively recruits coders from July to November. You could have CRC, CPC, or CCS-P certification via AHIMA or AAPC.
- Hires new and skilled coders
3. The Cigna Group
The Cigna Group hires distant HCC coding auditors, medical coders, and Medicare medical data coders. Coders should have some sort of coding certification, comparable to CPC, CCS-P, CCS-H, RHIA, or RHIT.
- Most positions require no less than 1 yr of expertise
4. Conifer Well being Options
Conifer Well being Options hires inpatient coders, edit coders, in addition to senior and specialty coders. You could have a level in Well being Info, Nursing, or formal coding coaching. Positions include advantages like paid break day and a retirement plan.
- Most positions require 1-3 years of expertise
5. CSI Corporations
CSI Corporations is a staffing company that connects companies with medical coders and billers. To find the work-from-home positions, filter your search by checking the distant and medical coding checkboxes. Positions are location-dependent, and also you’ll begin off working as an unbiased contractor.
- Most positions require 1-3 years of expertise, however I’ve seen postings for entry-level staff
6. CVS Well being
CVS Well being hires licensed medical coders to work at home! Typically, these positions are a part of the Aetna, Medicaid, or Medicare partnership with CVS. Most of those distant jobs may be completed from any state within the US.
- Most positions require 3 years of expertise and coding certification from AAPC
7. Gainwell
Gainwell often hires licensed coders to carry out audits of medical data to find out the accuracy of the codes billed on insurance coverage claims. Some positions are absolutely distant, whereas others are hybrid work preparations.
- Most roles require 2 years of expertise
8. Humana
Humana hires distant coding specialists and supervisors. For these positions, you’ll want a CCA, CCS, CPC, or CPC-A Certification via AAPC or AHIMA. These positions are location-dependent, and Humana supplies all kinds of advantages.
- No expertise is required; nonetheless, they do want candidates with 2 years of expertise or an affiliate’s diploma.
9. GeBBS Healthcare Options
GeBBS Healthcare Options hires medical coders from the US, India, and the Philippines. Positions are typically location-dependent and require the suitable certification and coaching. Full-time positions additionally include a bunch of advantages.
- Most positions require 1-3 years of expertise, however I’ve seen postings for entry-level positions
10. iMedX
iMedX hires quite a lot of medical coders from Atlanta, Georgia. They’ve part-time and full-time positions, requiring people to have gone via a proper coding program.
- Most positions require 3-5 years of expertise
11. Mayo Clinic
The Mayo Clinic hires licensed coders in one of many following areas: Registered Well being Info Technician (RHIT), Registered Well being Info Administrator (RHIA), CPC, or CCS.
- New coders should work onsite for one yr after which are eligible for distant work choices
12. R1
R1 hires distant coders primarily based within the US. Many of the positions are for full-time hours and require CCS-P or CPC certification.
- Positions require prior coding expertise
13. TCN
TCN hires distant coders in quite a lot of specialties. You could stay and work within the US and have one of many following certifications CPC, CCS, RHIA, RHIT, or RCC.
- Should have 3-5 years of expertise
14. UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth Group hires distant, US-based coders in all kinds of specialties. Coders should have a highschool diploma and CPC, CCS, RHIT, or RHIA certification.
- Should have prior expertise
Should you’re nonetheless struggling to search out work at home medical coding and billing jobs, you possibly can all the time attain out to medical practices, healthcare amenities, medical insurance firms, staffing companies, and doctor places of work in your space to see if they’re hiring. FlexJobs, Certainly, Glassdoor, LinkedIn, Upwork, and Monster are different locations to search out distant medical coding and billing jobs.
Watch Out for Medical Coding and Billing Scams
Sadly, many scams exist that prey on college students searching for coaching within the medical coding and billing business. In truth, there are such a lot of scams on the market that the FTC has launched an investigation and crackdown on lots of the scammers. Bear in mind there are a lot of scams promising on the spot work or 30-day coaching packages.
Should you hear of alternatives that sound too good to be true or assure employment immediately, your radar ought to go off. Medical billing and coding positions require months of coaching and certification. They might additionally require you to be taught on the job or acquire some expertise earlier than you discover work-at-home alternatives. The coaching service must be related to and endorsed by skilled teams just like the AAPC or the AHIMA. Search for medical coding and billing coaching firms accredited by the Higher Enterprise Bureau as nicely.
Distant Medical Coding and Billing Wrap-Up
Turning into a medical biller or coder is a superb work from home alternative. There are actually many positions obtainable if you happen to’ve gone via the suitable coaching and certification. Should you’d get pleasure from working within the medical subject, billing and coding is a superb space to discover!
Try this submit for extra work at home careers within the medical subject.
Have you ever thought of working as a medical coding and billing specialist? Are you aware somebody who’s working on this subject? Drop us a observe under; we’d love to listen to from you!
Initially revealed March 26, 2018. Content material up to date November 2023.