Medical Coding and Billing in North Carolina
Medical coding is a complex process that can involve sequencing co-mordid conditions and abstracting information from charts. Surprising as it is to the lay person, these issues can be important to payers — and also vital for the peace of mind of the residents of North Carolina. The work of medical billing and coding specialists is important for purposes beyond reimbursement and coverage. It can also help create statistical databases for health research.
Medical billing and medical coding are sometimes combined, especially in private practice and smaller physicians’ offices. Medical coding specialists may become experts in areas like cardiology. There are also opportunities to specialize in medical billing. Duties can include researching rejected charges to see if there is missing information which could reverse the denial. Specialists in medical billing and coding may also educate other staff members on compliance issues.
Medical billers and coders often start out on the same educational track, though they may pursue different certifications as they advance in their careers. Interested in exploring this career field? There are many paths and they start with a formal education.
Medical Billing and Coding Training in North Carolina
There are a lot of medical billing and coding schooling options, both within North Carolina and online. How do you know which is best for you? For an answer, one can look to North Carolina’s employers. Many positions do require certification. Usually this is through AHIMA or AACP, though there are other credentialing agencies. Some employers specify AHIMA. A person who wants to advance in the field, and plans to get a college degree, will want to consider programs that are accredited by CAHIIM.
Some positions may also ask for specialty medical coding credentials from the Board of Specialty Medical Coding. A recent job posting by Novant Health, for example, asks for specialty coding experience in cardiology. There are a number of BSMC certifications that relate to particular medical specialties, for instance, orthopedics, gastroenterology, and pediatrics. Others focus on job setting (home care) or business-related issues (evaluation and management auditing). People generally pursue specialty credentialing after they have been working within the field for a period of time.
A medical billing and or medical coding job candidate can expect to be tested. Minimum requirements vary. Some positions set standards high indeed at 95% coding accuracy. Jobs may even include testing in other related areas like data entry. Employers value more than just the ability to code and type, though. Jobs may specify good communication skills or even above average verbal skills.
Medical Billing and Coding Salary and Job outlook in North Carolina
There are opportunities to break into the medical billing and coding field in North Carolina, open to people with high levels of skill. Caromont Physician Practice, for instance, asks applicants to have a baccalaureate degree or three years of experience or some equivalent combination.
Medical billing and coding is a field where people may be paid partly on merit — in other words, through bonuses. This can work in different ways. Dynamic Health Center, for example, has advertised that there are opportunities for weekly bonuses, based not on individual performance, but on the performance of the whole clinic.
Medical billing positions, it should be noted, sometimes value work experience in billing, even if it is outside a healthcare setting. Thus, it can provide an opportunity to break into the field. There will be opportunities for advancement later. ECU Brody School of Medicine posted a position that included medical billing duties and asked for medical coding knowledge but considered prior office experience as job-related. Prospective medical billing and coding experts should be on the watch for positions like this and consider them an opportunity to shine! Nurses may also be at an advantage. Medical billing and coding can be a great second career. Ultimately, the pay is good for a medical billing or coding specialist in North Carolina. An AAPC survey placed the state average at $42,709.
Other places to look for medical billing and coding jobs as well as learn about what top employers are looking for include some of the largest employers in North Carolina. Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, Rutherford Hospital in Rutherfordton and Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville.
Getting into a medical billing and coding training program or a health informatics degree program can help you get a start in this career. Find a program below that fits your schedule and career goals. You may also want to check out the Medical Assistant programs in North Carolina. Medical assisting in North Carolina also offers promising job growth and earning potential.
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