Interesting Jobs You Can Get With A Medical Coding Degree

Medical coding is a fascinating field within healthcare administration. It takes a lot of knowledge and skill to get a degree and pass the certification exam. But once that's done, there is a whole world of opportunities waiting for new coders in need of employment.

We did a little research and discovered that there is more to medical coding than spending all day sitting behind a computer in the back office of your local primary care practice. That sort of work is available if you want it, but there are other choices too.

Below are some of the more interesting jobs you can get with a medical coding degree, compliments of the Indeed.com website:

Coding for Insurance Companies

Medical coders at a hospital transcribe provider notes into codes the billing department turns these into invoices. Coders working for insurance companies work in the opposite direction. They take invoices and billing statements and decode them for adjusters who must make the final decision on subscriber claims.

A medical coder might look over medical records in search of discrepancies. They might decipher codes and compare them with the subscriber's policy to see if claims can actually be covered.

Coding in the Legal Industry

Medical coders working in the legal industry do work comparable to that of the insurance company coder. Medical bills are decoded for the purposes of assessing fraudulent claims, erroneous medical bills, inconsistent codes and so forth.

This sort of work is necessary for a variety of reasons. For example, a medical practice may turn to its attorneys while facing legal action from CMS. The law firm needs to fully understand the medical bills in question in order to properly defend the practice. Medical coders would be instrumental in providing that information.

Educational Careers for Coders

In order to obtain a medical coding degree, individuals go to college. Some of their instructors are undoubtedly medical coders themselves. All the information they gleaned through their own education and on-the-job training is passed along to new coders just getting into the industry.

An education position requires more than just a medical coding degree. Here's the reason: there is a lot more to medical coding than can be learned in the classroom. To stay current, coders need plenty of hands-on experience. Educators need to have a certain level of experience in order to properly teach in a classroom setting.

Technology Careers for Coders

Of all the possibilities mentioned by Indeed, one of the more fascinating is using a medical coding degree to get a job in healthcare information technology. Healthcare IT companies are largely responsible for developing the software used across the industry by medical providers and their billing services.

Understanding medical billing codes and procedures gives coders a bit of extra insight that software developers may not have. They know how software typically works. They know what would make life easier for medical coders and billing specialists. They can help direct new software development accordingly.

Plenty of Possibilities

You might be interested in getting your medical coding degree so you can go work for a hospital or private practice. Maybe you have your eyes on a local coding and billing firm that serves some of the area's largest providers. Go for it. But if that's not the kind of work you're looking for, there are other possibilities.

Get your degree and see what is out there. You do not necessarily have to spend your day looking up ICD codes and NPI numbers. You could be working for a law firm, a technology company, or even a college.

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