One important element that job seekers should look out for before deciding on a career path is earning potential. No one wants to be stuck in a job that doesn’t pay well or doesn’t have the potential of paying well.
A medical billing and coding career has recently become one of those careers with high growth potential. In 2018, the median salary was ranked at $40,350 which is considerably higher than most jobs. And, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, it’ll increase by 11% by 2028.
Medical billing and coding professionals work in a medical team to help identify diagnoses, handling patients’ medical records, and ensure that all third-party billings are documented and reimbursed.
A medical coding and billing career offers a lot of advantages that find themselves in that path. However, to be qualified, you need more than postsecondary education. One major advantage of this program is that you don’t have to attend time-consuming college education. You can get the required qualification from an online associate program.
We’ve put together a list of the top 5 online programs for medical billing and coding that you can take advantage of.
1. Ultimate Medical Academy
Ultimate Medical Academy offers one of the medical billing and coding online programs available. You can earn your diploma or associate degree within the space of 11 to 18 months from home and according to your schedule.
Enrolling as an online Medical Billing and Coding student at UMA teaches you medical terminology, the insurance billing process, medical diagnostic codes, and more.
Another highlight of this online program is that it prepares you for the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam.
2. American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
The AHIMA is one of the foremost medical billing and recording organizations that exists. It has over 100,000 members with affiliations in 52 states.
It offers different certification programs ranging from medical records management, professional and facility coding, documentation improvement, and privacy and security.
The program and certification give knowledge in inpatient and outpatient coding, specifically for hospitals and inpatient facilities.
This certification is recognized across all states in the U.S, therefore with this, you have a higher chance of making more money from your career. However, the AHIMA has different levels of certifications.
So, the higher your certification (like the Registered Health Information Administrator Exam), the higher your chances of getting high-paying jobs.
The higher-level courses require some previous experience and will cost around $299 each.
3. Northland Community and Technical College
One of the online courses offered at the Northland Community and Technical College is the Medical Coding Specialty course. It includes a range of training processes that equips students to understand common medical billing processes, patient account management, diagnosis and procedure coding, and insurance claim processing.
When you enroll, you must complete 60 credits for a period of 2 years as a full-time learner.
One unique thing about the course is that it adequately explores the medical insurance system and gives you an edge to delve into the different types of coverage and billing policies.
You also get a medical simulation course which gives you the internship experience that you need. Once you’re done with your program, you can go on to take entry-level national coding certification exams.
4. Hutchinson Community College
Although Hutchinson Community College is a structured college situated in Hutchinson, Kansas with various degrees and programs to pursue, it offers an online medical coding and billing program that gives you a Healthcare Coding Specialist Certificate. You can earn this in three semesters after completing 45 credit hours.
You also have the opportunity to further your education with your credits and proceed to a Health Information Management Associate in Applied Science degree.
However, to get into this program, you need to have had a strong previous academic performance as a high school graduate. You need a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale for a minimum of 12 semester hours of college, or a minimum GED average standard score of 58.
The program is quite affordable, ranging from between $5,220 to $6,615 for the certification.
5. Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
The Continuing Education Office of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University offers a medical coding program that’s only accredited online. One fascinating element of this program is that it’s self-paced and allows students to complete the program based on their preference.
The entire program consists of three courses for each of the three modules. In the end, you get a Medical Coding Certificate of Completion. You can then go on to decide what exam you wish to sit for.
The entire program costs about $2,000, although you can register for the individual modules.
