Can I Learn Medical Billing and Coding Online?

medical biller and coder
medical biller and coder

Can I Learn Medical Billing and Coding Online?

If you’re ready for a rewarding career in healthcare but didn’t think you could train from home, think again. You can learn all about Medical Billing and Coding from home in less than a year. Then you can step into an important role on the administrative side of medicine where you’ll be a valuable member of a healthcare team. Ready to make a difference? Find out how you can learn medical billing and coding at home with an online program.

What Is Medical Billing and Coding?

As a medical biller and coder, you will translate patients’ medical records into codes used both in the industry and by the facility. You’ll look at the patient’s medical history, diagnoses, procedures, and treatments to determine the correct codes for their records. There are a few different code systems you’ll use:

  • ICD-10–The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, is the industry standard for classifying a patient’s condition as well as inpatient procedures.
  • Procedure Codes—There are two different types of procedure codes. One will provide more detail on a patient’s treatment and the other will describe any other services used on the patient such as medical equipment or ambulance rides.
  • Facility Codes—These are codes used by the hospital to note charges for prescription drugs, use of space and equipment, and anything else that contributes to the overhead costs of the facility.

Once the medical records are properly coded, the patient’s insurance company can then be billed. On the billing side, you’ll also collect co-pays and ensure that patients fill out the necessary insurance forms.

What Will I Learn in an Online Medical Billing & Coding Program?

As you can probably guess, some of the most important lessons you will learn in an online medical coding and billing program are the actual code systems. But what else will you need to know?

  • Anatomy and Medical Terminology—To work in the medical field, you’ll need to understand the basics of how the human body works and the proper terminology for it all.
  • Medical Office Administration—Since you’ll work on the administrative side of healthcare, you’ll need to know how to manage and organize medical records as well as the laws and ethics governing patient confidentiality.
  • Healthcare Reimbursement Methods—You’ll need to understand how the process of reimbursement works and how to fill out insurance paperwork, along with the issues you might encounter along the way.

What Can I Do with My Billing & Coding Education?

Once you complete your medical coding and billing program, what kind of job can you get with your training? Here are a few:

  • Medical records assistant
  • Medical secretary
  • Medical office assistant
  • Medical biller
  • Medical coder

You’ll most likely work in a hospital or a physician’s office, but some medical coders and billers work for insurance companies, law firms, or even government agencies.

 

Are you ready to get started? At YTI Career Institute, we offer an online Medical Billing & Coding program that will train you for the profession in as few as nine months. Fill out the form for more information.