What Does a Medical Coding Specialist Do?
A medical coding specialist is part of the the medical records billing department of a healthcare organization, such as a hospital or a clinic, classifying diagnoses and procedures to facilitate billing and reimbursement from Medicare or health insurance companies. Medical coding specialists must hold an associate's degree and certification in order to work.
Career Overview
A medical coding specialist works in the medical records billing department of a healthcare organization, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, www.bls.gov). Some professionals in this field choose to specialize in a certain type of medical coding, such as cancer treatment. The primary responsibility of a medical coding specialist is to assign a code to each type of treatment and diagnosis. The coding system tracks each patient's diagnosis and treatment and assigns them to a specific diagnosis-related group (DRG). Medicare and health insurance programs use the coding to reimburse hospitals. Typically, medical coding specialists work in a normal office environment and have 40-hour workweeks. In some hospitals with 24-hour health information departments, some coding specialists may also be required to work at night and on the weekends.
Important Facts about Medical Coding Specialists
| On-the-Job Training | Not provided |
| Licensure | Some states require cancer registrars to be licensed |
| Key Skills | Analysis, attention to detail, interpersonal skills, ability to use appropriate computer systems and software, discretion with confidential material |
| Similar Occupations | Medical and health services managers, medical transcriptionists, receptionists, medical assistants |
Education Required
The degree needed to become a medical coder can vary. Medical coding specialists must hold a postsecondary certificate or an associate's degree and receive certification. Many employers prefer candidates who are certified by the Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT) organization. Community colleges in the U.S. offer two-year programs in medical coding. Generally, a program dedicated to medical coding will include coursework in:
- Health data standards
- Coding and abstraction of data
- Quality improvement methods
- Medical terminology
- Anatomy and physiology
- Aspects of health information
Career Outlook and Salary Information
The BLS reports that employment of medical records and health information technicians is expected to increase by 7% between 2021 and 2031. The primary reason for this better-than-average growth is the demand for additional healthcare services as the population ages. The BLS additionally reported the median annual salary for such technicians as $46,660 in May 2021, noting that those employed by insurance carriers made the most money, averaging $64,170 a year.