5 Reasons to Start a Medical Billing and Coding Career

You don’t have to be an occupational expert or a news junkie to know that the heath care field in America is undergoing significant changes. If you’re someone who is looking to start a new career (or even your first one), this industry may be appealing to you. This is also true even if you don’t relish the long hours and constant pressure associated with being a doctor, nurse, or physician’s assistant. One of the more popular but lesser-known health care positions is known as a medical billing and coding specialist.

What Does a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist do?

Medical billing and coding professionals are the individuals responsible for taking all of the health care procedures, treatments, medications, and other processes and submitting them to insurance companies and other payers for reimbursement. Since these workers are a key component of the revenue stream for medical providers, they make up a vital part of doctor’s offices, hospitals, pharmacies, and other health care institutions. Here are five reasons why a medical coding and billing career may be right for you.

1. Job Flexibility

As a medical billing and coder specialist, you can work full-time or part-time for a hospital, doctor’s office, or other health care services provider (like a radiologist, laboratory, MRI technician, etc.). Or you can freelance for any one or more of these types of employers. You can either work a traditional 9-to-5, five-workday schedule or make your own hours to suit your lifestyle. Most importantly, you have more control over how much money you can earn than you would in most “salaried” careers.

2. The Ability to Work from Home

Because the vast majority of medical billing and coding is done electronically, you don’t necessarily have to perform your job duties at the physical location of health care providers. About one out of every three medical billing and coding professionals works from home, and that number could rise as the attractiveness of telecommuting increase and stubbornly high gas prices persist. Working from home allows you to earn money while being a stay-at-home parent or a caregiver for an elderly or sick family member.

3. The Allure of Being a Business Owner

Have you ever worked for a supervisor or company that has given you an unpleasant or negative employment experience? Then the idea of owning your own business (or “working for yourself”) might be very appealing to you. While being a business owner does come with certain responsibilities, the concept of using your own skills and abilities to make a living may be very attractive and rewarding. And successful business owners can also be influential and helpful in their communities as well.

4. Online Education

With medical billing and coding, most or all of the necessary educational requirements can be completed in online classrooms. So you don’t have to deal with the hassle of commuting to colleges, vocational schools, or training centers on a weekly or daily basis, and you can learn a new career in the comfort of your own home. You may even be able to receive job placement or assistance via your computer as well.

5. Vibrant Market Outlook

As the heath care industry changes, medical billing and coding professionals will continue to be in high demand. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics data predicts that medical billing and coding positions will jump by 21 percent between now and the year 2020 – or almost twice the average growth for all American jobs over that period. A big reason is that baby boomers will grow older and require more health care services, which in turn will increase the need for companies to hire medical billing and coding professionals.

If you’re interested in exploring a medical billing and coding career, take the time to research the instructional opportunities available. Create an education plan and strive to complete all reading, training, and exercises in a timely manner. Once you complete your coursework, apply that same solid work ethic toward building your business and fulfilling your job duties. You’ll be on your way toward a successful and rewarding career in the medical billing and coding industry!

Author Bio:

Sandra Mills has written numerous articles on the health care industry, including palliative care, medical billing and coding, and holistic treatments.