Prescription for a Healthy Future: Medical Coders are in Demand

Prescription for a Healthy Future: Medical Coders are in Demand

Due to an extreme lack of medical coders, now is the perfect time to take the necessary steps to enter this career field. The shortage is being driven by the federal adoption of the new coding standard ICD-10. That standard was adopted a year ago, and the demand is still unprecedented.

Why this job is so critical

There are two reasons why a coder’s job is so vital. First, they translate all of a patient’s record into codes that insurance companies use to determine how much the doctor or hospital is reimbursed for their services.

Secondly, the codes are used for analysis by health care providers to determine how effectively doctors and care facilities are treating certain ailments. This data can be broken down to analyze a specific doctor’s results. Thus, the codes must be correct.

Career potential

Currently, there is a near constant 20 to 30 percent shortage of medical coders. Some forecast the shortage going even higher in the coming year! This means there are plenty of opportunities to obtain a job in the field and make it your new career path.

That career path has a lot of growth potential in it as well. Earning your certificate in Medical Billing & Coding at American College of Healthcare and Technology puts you on the path to a bright future. Once you have experience as a coder you can increase your earning potential by becoming a peer reviewer, then move up to supervisor, then onto an auditor. If you have the desire and skills, some even go on to become consultants and pull down six-figure salaries.

When it comes to entry-level jobs you can look forward to a good start. According to the May 2015 wage estimates by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Medical Billing and Coding Specialists can earn somewhere between $34,000 and $42,000.

Job flexibility

Coders have a number of options to choose from when it comes to where their career path takes them. There are numerous locations where coders can work. These include hospitals, insurance companies, nursing care facilities, physician offices, and pharmacies. Perhaps the most enticing possibility for some is the ability to work from home.

What our vocational college course provides

Here at American College of Healthcare and Technology, we have an eight-month course designed to provide graduates the skills necessary to qualify for an entry-level position in the medical billing & coding field. One component of our program is work-site learning in a medical facility. This course is available at both our Riverside and Huntington Park campuses.

 

 

American College of Healthcare and Technology has two convenient locations.

Our Huntington Park campus proudly serves the following communities: Bell, Bell Gardens, Compton, Southgate, Los Angeles, Vernon, Maywood, Cudahy, Florence, South Central LA, Watts, Lynwood, City of industry, Lawndale, Paramount, Inglewood, Commerce, Downy, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Carson, Long Beach, Bellflower, Pico Rivera, Montebello, Whitter, Gardena, Hawthorne, El Monte, La Puente, Monterrey Park.

Our Riverside campus proudly serves the following communities: Corona, Moreno Valley, Norco, Lake Elsinore, Perris, La Sierra, Arlington, Jurupa Valley, Rialto, Pedly, Mira Loma, Runidoux, Blomington, Colton, San Bernardino, Redland, Wildomar, Temecula, Murrieta, Loma Linda, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Glen Avon.