Healthcare is a great field to enter into if you’re looking for a dependable job that can lead to a long-term, lucrative career. You don’t have to be a doctor or a nurse to be an important part of the healthcare industry. Medical billers and medical coders are crucial to the healthcare field. There are some vital differences between the two positions, but both play a major role in the daily functions of doctor’s offices and hospitals.
Medical Coders
Medical coders are given the important task of reviewing the notes from a doctor or hospital visit and deciding which procedure and diagnosis codes are appropriate for the visit. They often need to communicate with physicians and other medical staff to clarify which procedure was done so that the proper codes are billed.
They may also need to instruct other office staff on how to bill for certain services or how to correctly document medical records for a doctor’s visit or hospital stay. If a patient has a question about why a particular procedure or diagnosis was chosen, the medical coder will speak with that patient and inform them of the decision or correct any errors that may have occurred when coding the visit.
Medical Billers
Medical billers take the procedures and diagnosis chosen by the medical coder and bill the insurance company by using the appropriate billing software. They are also responsible for making sure the patient’s insurance information, address, phone number, and other demographics are correctly entered into the system.
Once a claim is billed, the medical biller is responsible for following up on the claim and ensuring payment has been received by the doctor’s office, hospital, or patient. They are also in charge of answering any questions from insurance companies or the patient regarding a particular claim.
Working Together
Medical coders and medical billers work in tandem to ensure the correct procedures are being billed to insurance companies with the correct diagnosis. They are also both responsible for staying up-to-date on current coding and billing software so that they may educate other office staff and physicians. These two positions play a vital role in how a doctor’s office or hospital are run.
Jobs in healthcare will always be necessary, but if medical or nursing school is not on your plans, getting into medical coding and billing can set you up for a secure and fulfilling career.