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As this nation faces a severe recession, many workers are rethinking their career options. Young people need to make wise choices for a career path. While other jobs are in decline, there will always be demand for medical billing and coding specialists. As baby boomers age, this field will continue to grow.

Medical billing and coding are closely linked. It is impossible to create statements without coding knowledge. Training used to be done on-the-job; however, today that is uncommon. This is a career, not a job, thus, you must be thoroughly educated. The training is complicated. It is an interesting field and can be lucrative. Excellent coders are highly respected and often paid well.

Select a credible course, whether through the Internet or a degree plan through your local community college. Your education should culminate in a certificate or associates degree. If you are experiencing economic hardship, you may be eligible for financial aid; explore all options.

Step one is learning physiology and anatomy. This is more daunting than you think. The body consists of many physiological processes. You must master medical terminology, a specialized language, much of it based in Latin.

In any qualified course there will be many homework assignments and much testing. Do not expect this to be easy. Stick with it; you can do it! You will study disease and condition diagnoses, so it is vital to have a firm grasp of bodily systems. You will learn to use the ICD-9, which will become your bible. All diagnoses are assigned a number, which drives the insurance industry. Accuracy is imperative or your practitioner's bill may be denied by the insurance company, which often leads to an appeal process.

As electronic charting and the use of voice-recognition dictation grows, the need for medical transcriptionists declines. The transition from transcription into coding is a much easier one to make, as the transcriptionist already understands physiology, disease processes, and medical terminology. More transcriptionists will switch to proofreading for voice-recognition software, editing such reports, or retrain for medical billing.

The pay is good in this field. A recent survey sanctioned by the American Academy of Professional Coders showed that since 2007 the average salary has grown by 11%, which is significant in a recession. A credentialed medical billing coder averages $43,100; a noncertified coder averages $36,500. Continuing education is important.

Location and size of the practice influences salaries. On average, though, beginning coders average $14.73 per hour to start, and after 15 years in the field the average rate is $23.37.

In summary, this is a rewarding field with good pay and in demand. As you gain experience on-site you then have the potential to telecommute.

Learn more about this author, Joyce Beckman.
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