Medical Billing and Coding Jobs Paying $122,000 in the USA

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How to Become Successful in Medical Billing and Coding Jobs

Success depends on having a thorough understanding of medical vocabulary, coding schemes, and healthcare regulations in addition to being proficient with specialist software. Professionals with strong analytical skills can identify inconsistencies and guarantee error-free adherence to changing requirements. Clear relationships with patients, insurers, and healthcare teams are made possible by effective communication skills. Top performers in this profession are further distinguished by proactive problem-solving and the willingness to adjust to new technology, such as automation and AI integration. Programs offered by the top online colleges for medical billing and coding might help professionals who want to improve their industry credentials.

15 Highest Paying Medical Billing and Coding Jobs in the USA

• Surgical Coder

In the United States, surgical coders earn between $37,500 to $43,000 annually. For billing and medical records, a surgical coder sets medical codes for general surgery procedures. A specialist in this coding field is typically referred to by employers as a Certified General Surgery Coder. You issue codes for every operation and diagnosis for every patient after reviewing medical records and data as part of your job. To get more information or to confirm specifics regarding a test, diagnosis, or procedure, you may occasionally get in touch with doctors or other healthcare professionals. You make use of coding schemes like Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Managing all data in compliance with healthcare privacy laws is one of the duties.

• Remote Medical Coder

Remote medical coders earn between $37,500 to $47,500 annually. Medical coders who operate from home or other locations outside of healthcare institutions are known as remote medical coders. They convert patient data into medical codes made up of letters and numbers by processing things like diagnosis, services provided, and test equipment. Experts in billing and coding oversee this data to ensure that patients or their insurance providers receive accurate bills. Remote medical coders can work for big coding companies that have contracts with hospitals or other healthcare institutions, or they can work for themselves.

• Medical Billing and Coding Specialists

According to ZipRecruiter, this role pays from $37,500 to $48,000 annually in the US. Reviewing patient treatments and procedures and choosing codes to submit to insurance companies and other payers are the duties of a medical billing and coding professional. In this position, you might also review medical records, audit other coders’ work, get pre-authorizations and referrals, verify the accuracy and completeness of patient invoices, and investigate any outstanding claims. In order to obtain additional information, use electronic billing software, investigate disputed claims, respond to inquiries from patients or insurance companies, and assist with other financial transactions as needed, medical billing and coding specialists occasionally consult with healthcare providers. Sometimes employers will ask you to do additional tasks as needed.

• Outpatient Medical Coder

The pay range is from $52,500 to $52,500 per year. Currently, the majority of outpatient medical coder wages in the US are at $52,500 and $52,500, respectively, per year. Regardless of years of experience, location, or skill level, the majority of people in this position earn comparable pay. The United States’ outpatient medical coder job market is not extremely active, since few organizations are presently hiring for this position.  

• Inpatient Coder

Inpatient coders earn between $43,500 to $52,500 annually. Medical coding is the responsibility of an inpatient coder who works in the medical industry. To interpret and apply medical codes to patient files based on health and treatment records obtained from physicians and nurses, you must have completed substantial training, both in-class and on-the-job, as an inpatient coder. Codes are used for diagnosis, treatment, insurance, and invoicing by a range of medical professionals. You process claims using coding software; therefore, you should be well-versed in medical terminology of biology, pharmacology, and anatomy. Maintaining correct medical records is one of your main duties.

• Coding Team Lead

In a year, coding team leads earn between $37,000 and $55,500. Currently, the bulk of Coding Team Lead salaries in the US fall between $37,000 and $55,500 per year. Although some progression is conceivable, this moderate salary range indicates that remuneration in this profession will be consistent, independent of skill level, location, and years of experience.

• Remote Inpatient Coder

This role pays from $47,500 to $52,500 annually. All coding tasks for an inpatient institution are carried out remotely by a remote inpatient coder. One of their responsibilities is to input the appropriate codes for treatments and diagnoses into the classification system software for medical billing. A deep understanding of healthcare software and coding is necessary for this line of work. An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in health information administration, a reliable internet connection, and professional certification are possible further requirements for a remote inpatient coder.

• Coding Assistant

The pay range for a coding assistant is from $23,500 to $55,500 annually. Currently, the bulk of coding assistant wages in the US fall between $23,500 and $55,500 per year. This wide range of possible salaries indicates that, depending on years of experience, location, and skill level, there may be numerous chances for promotion and higher compensation.

• Coding Coordinator

The pay range for this role is from $56,000 to $56,500 annually. Currently, the bulk of Coding Coordinator salaries in the US fall between $56,000 and $56,500 per year. Regardless of years of experience, location, or skill level, the majority of people in this position earn comparable pay.

• Certified Medical Coder

The range of salary is from $45,000 to $61,500 annually. You are employed in a hospital or other healthcare facility’s medical records billing department as a certified medical coder. To bill or file claims with insurance or Medicare, you are in charge of giving medical billing codes to every treatment and procedure that is done for a patient. By the national medical billing coding system, you also review patient data and apply your knowledge to accurately classify all diagnoses and treatments.

• Hcc Coders

HCC coders earn between $43,500 to $62,000 annually. A person who uses standardized codes to enter a patient’s medical information into a database is known as an HCC coder, or hierarchical condition category coder. This covers diagnosis and treatment, and it is usually utilized for medical billing and insurance purposes later on. As an HCC coder, you can review a patient’s records to make sure they are accurate and check documents and records to make sure the codes were entered correctly. You usually work in a medical facility, such as a hospital. The HCC coder category includes a variety of positions, including analyst, manager, trainer, auditor, and specialist.

• Orthopedic Coders

In the United States, orthopedic coders make between $42,500 to $62,000 annually. Although they work only with orthopedic surgeons or other orthopedic specialists, orthopedic coders perform comparable tasks to those of other medical coders. An orthopedic coder verifies the accuracy of treatment recommendations made by doctors, matches the appropriate billing code to all surgical and non-surgical procedures, and submits the paperwork to the insurance company or other departments that need it. Additionally, you can be in charge of making sure patient records are up to date and resolving any inconsistencies you discover. Before transferring to a specialist office like orthopedics, many orthopedic coders begin their careers in a general medical practice or facility.

• Coding Specialists

Most coding specialists earn between $46,000 to $68,000 annually. Entering billing and coding data is the domain of a medical coding specialist. They are in charge of handling insurance billing and making sure that patient records contain the appropriate codes. Reviewing medical data and corresponding with insurance companies are part of the job responsibilities. Coding specialists need to be proficient in current procedural terminology (CPT), data collection, and ICD-10 code assignment. By becoming certified professional coders (CPCs), coding experts can learn about this and acquire essential abilities through on-the-job training.

• Medical Coding Specialists

The range of salaries is from $48,000 to $68,000 annually. A medical coding specialist makes sure that invoice payments are prompt by reviewing patients’ medical records and health information. As a medical billing specialist, your responsibilities include contacting insurance companies, billing offices in hospitals, and doctors’ clinics, as well as entering data using medical coding software. Using either the CPT or ICD-9 medical coding systems, you spend most of your working hours on a computer as a medical coding professional or health information technician. To be successful in medical coding expert positions, you must comprehend pathophysiology, medical terminology, and reimbursement procedures.

• Medical Coding Manager

Medical coding managers earn between $51,500 to $71,500 annually. Your duties as a medical coding manager include managing medical coding employees, clients, and projects. You recruit, train, and oversee coding experts, ensuring that output and quality stay at the desired level. You also create staff schedules that appropriately cover the frequency of clinic visits. In addition, you oversee the audit of coded medical records, discuss any coding concerns with the relevant clinical personnel, and find answers to problems on projects, procedures, or clients. Managing project money and reporting outcomes while abiding by corporate regulations are additional responsibilities. Along with writing and presenting reports on performance, compliance, and documentation concerns, you also onboard new clients and work with your team regularly to keep patients and customers satisfied.

How to Become a Medical Coder and Biller

• Try out your profession option by asking a few simple questions

Before choosing a career, it is beneficial to perform an initial self-evaluation. “Am I genuinely interested in healthcare?” should be your main question when it comes to medical billing and coding jobs. Attending medical school or obtaining a postsecondary degree in the life sciences is not mandatory. However, you will need to complete relevant coursework to comprehend medical terminology. To convert diagnoses, treatments, and supplies into medical codes that can be reported to both federal and commercial payers, medical coders examine clinical documentation, or doctors’ notes. This implies that you must be familiar with anatomy, pathophysiology, and medical terminology.

• Enroll in a training program for medical coding

To succeed as a medical coder, training is essential, just like in any new profession. Therefore, the first thing you should do is sign up for a medical coding training course. You must select the sort of medical coding you want to conduct from the four different certifications available. But don’t worry. This is a simple, entry-level choice. Depending on where you believe you want to work (e.g., doctor’s office, outpatient hospital, inpatient hospital, insurance business), you can choose which medical coding certification is an appropriate starting point for your career. Your choice does not force you to work in a certain healthcare setting for the rest of your career. It’s just the beginning.

• Prepare for the CPC exam

The majority of medical coding students decide to pursue careers as certified professional coders (CPCs). Therefore, let’s concentrate on this one career option to make the next steps easier to understand, even if they apply to all core certifications. It’s difficult to pass the CPC exam or any other medical coding certification exam. Because of this, employers favor certified programmers over those with degrees. Employers are aware of the CPC exam’s difficulty. The addition of these three letters to your name indicates that you have proven to be a reliable person. On test day, you are to prepare well. While you’re studying, think about using one or more study tools. This is to help you remember what you learn about medical coding.

• Become certified by the CPC

To confirm your proficiency, you should arrange your credentialing exam after completing your CPC program. Your ability to correctly apply ICD-10-CM, CPT®, and HCPCS Level II codes for a variety of services, such as evaluation and management (E/M), anesthesia, surgery, radiography, pathology, and medicine, will be evaluated on the CPC® exam.

What Differentiates Medical Coding from Medical Billing?

Despite their close relationship, medical billing and medical coding have distinct roles in the healthcare revenue cycle. Medical coders use systems such as ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS to convert healthcare services into standardized codes. These codes are necessary to guarantee appropriate reimbursement to healthcare providers. Medical billers, on the other hand, use those codes to generate bills for patients or insurance companies. Their role helps in guaranteeing prompt reimbursement for services. Billers manage the money transactions, while coders concentrate on interpreting procedures and diagnoses. When put together, they guarantee that providers get good compensation for their services. They also guarantee that the billing process functions without hiccups.

Because their work directly impacts the financial health of healthcare organizations, medical billing and coding jobs have a variety of duties that demand attention to precision. The high need for medical records specialists in healthcare systems is visible in the 191,500 medical records specialists working in the US as of 2023. Accredited online medical coding certification programs will assist you in obtaining the necessary training. This is if you have a passion for medical billing and coding jobs.

Conclusion

Medical coding and billing jobs are opportunities for people to work in the United States healthcare sector. These roles play a critical role in healthcare, ensuring that all medical records undergo accurate processing. Depending on the certification and study speed, becoming a qualified medical coder normally takes nine to twelve months.  Because certification programs are flexible, you can work at your own pace.  For individuals who are eager to begin their careers, the shorter timeframe to enter the industry is undoubtedly advantageous. Therefore, the rapid pace also implies that there may be a high learning curve.