Health care, the largest industry in the United States, is made up of lots of different components and professions. Medical billing, one of those components, is the process of submitting forms to insurance companies on behalf of a health care provider in order to receive payment for their services.
Schools with Medical Billing and Coding Degree Programs
- Everest University: Brandon
Carrington College: Albuquerque
Everest College: Aurora
It sounds simple, but because of the always-changing requirements of health insurance companies, available software programs that help ease the burden of filing claims and the complexity of the forms, medical billing requires specialized training and a degree or certificate.
Medical billing and coding degree programs may sound very specialized, but it will allow you to work in a variety of health care settings: hospitals, clinics and private medical offices are just a few of the options that will be open to you. Due to the kind of training you will receive, medical billing and coding specialists also find work in other industries. Insurance companies, for example, hire medical billers as claims examiners and data-entry operators.
Types of Medical Billing and Coding Degree Programs Available
There are a number of medical billing and coding degree program options open to you if this career interests you. You can quickly earn a certificate – usually in as little as three to six months – or pursue a more advanced medical associate or bachelor’s degree. Most medical billing and coding specialists have an associate’s degree, which can take anywhere from one to two years to earn.
If you are interested in a management positions, consider earning a bachelor’s degree. And, as is the case with most professions, those with associate and/or bachelor’s degrees typically start at a higher salary.
What a Medical Billing and Coding Degree Teaches You
In the most basic of medical billing degree programs, you will still learn a lot including keyboarding, medical terminology, medical insurance practices and hospital and medical practice coding. In addition, you will take technology classes that teach you basic computer skills, which are applicable to almost any job, as well as how to use the specific billing software available.
In the more advanced associate and bachelor’s degree programs, you will also take classes in biology, medical care, interpersonal communication, anatomy, disease, pharmacology and health care management.
Featured Careers
Questions to Ask About a Medical Billing and Coding Degree:
1. Am I comfortable performing repetitive work?
2. Small coding errors can cause serious delays for both doctors and patients. Am I a detail-oriented and organized person?
3. Do I want to pursue a career in the health care industry, working to help patients and doctors on a daily basis?
Still have more questions about types of medical college degrees? Need to talk with one of our college experts about a college degree? Call us at 1-866-305-8525 and we can assist you in your search for schools & colleges that offer medical billing and coding college degrees.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Psychologists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos103.htm (visited November 1, 2011)
