The dynamics of Medical Coding and Billing

Future of medical coding and billing Medical coding is a dynamic field which is in greater demand now than ever before. The job growth for medical coders is expected to increase by 22% from 2012 to 2022, according to the US Department of Labor. And thejob growth of medical billers is expected to rise by 18% from 2012 to 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  

What Is Medical Coding and Billing
With the increase in aging population, there is a simultaneous increase in insurance claims and health information technicians. Health information technicians include medical coders and billers.

When a patient undergoes any medical check-up or procedure , it is the medical office that handles the work related to the claims of patients and insurance companies. The medical biller is the one who submits and investigates claims to get the payment for services rendered by health care provider. This requires the knowledge of codes representing medications, symptoms and diagnosis which aids in the processing of claims. Proper training for medical billers and coders is necessary for the work.

To explain in an easier way, basically the medical billing and coding workers are health care professionals and their main duty is to process patient data like treatment records and insurance information. The billers code patient’s diagnosis and request payments from the insurance company of the patient. The medical billers and coders are required to be skilled, qualified and be very accurate in assigning codes and maintaining track of patients' accounts. Medical billing and coding are two different jobs
Medical billers are in charge of confirming that everyone is billed correctly. They have to be in touch with patients and insurance companies to make sure all the accounts are handled and invoices are paid on time. An understanding of coding language is necessary and the biller should know how to read medical invoices. The biller has to work with people (on the phone) and also has to assess invoices and other data.

On the other hand, the medical coders don’t have to interact with patients and insurance companies. They only have to assess and code the required data. There is a specific code for every duty in the medical office and these codes have to be used accurately for proper billing.
The medical coder and biller usually work in sync with each other smooth functioning, ensuring that correct invoices being paid. Small medical offices often have one employee for both billing and coding.