As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment prospects for medical billers and coders are strong, with an anticipated growth rate of about 9 percent through 2030.
The two primary factors for this growth are an aging population with an increased demand for healthcare, and an expansion of medical testing that results in earlier detection and treatment of disease and illness.
How to Become a Medical Biller & Coder in Florida
Accredited Training Programs
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Associate Degree in Medical Administrative Billing and Coding
Education
As per the AAPC, there are no mandated education requirements to become a medical biller or coder in the state of Florida. However, the AAPC does advise that there is a specific foundation of knowledge and skill set that can best obtained only by enrollment in an accredited training program.
Florida currently has more than forty AAPC-approved classroom training programs available for in-person instruction. Prospective students can also obtain certification online through programs similar to those offered by the AAPC.
What Employers Prefer
Employers also prefer to hire those who have attended formal training at an accredited program since this attests not only to a candidate’s knowledge of the field, but also to their commitment to this career. This is particularly important for medical coding, because a medical coder must have deep knowledge of thousands of medical terms and insurance codes, which takes time and effort to learn.
Associate’s Degree
Accredited programs are offered in both community and four-year colleges. Obtaining an associate’s degree in Medical Billing and Coding will provide you with a competitive advantage in seeking employment over those candidates with a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma (GED).
An associate’s degree will also enable you to start at a somewhat higher salary. These programs are designed to provide a broader education and are a good choice for those interested in continuing their education as credits will count fully towards a bachelor’s degree. A typical associate’s degree in this field will take 1 to 2 years to complete and cost up to $20,000.
Bachelors Degree
A bachelor’s degree in the field of Medical Billing and Coding will give you the opportunity to enter the field at a higher level, such as management or administration positions. In these positions you will be responsible for supervising the work of medical billers and coders.
Certification
Certificate programs are tailored toward people who already have either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in another field and are undergoing a career change.
How Long Can it Take?
The length of study will vary from three months to one year depending on whether you participate in the program on a full or part time basis. The cost of obtaining your certificate is about $3,000 (conservative estimate).
What Courses Do You Take?
Coursework in each of the above-mentioned programs will include the following:
- anatomy and physiology,
- medical terminology,
- clinical pharmacology,
- CPT coding classification systems and software,
- medical office management,
- insurance claim processing
Hands On Experience
Most programs will also include a practicum experience that provides students the opportunity to gain “real-world” experience as a medical biller and coder within a hospital setting or private physician office.
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) accredits programs in medical billing and coding.
Both the American Medical Billers Association (AMBA), and the AAPC offer courses for students interested in taking medical billing and coding certification exams. The courses are shorter and cost less, however they do not typically count for college credit.
School vs Association
If you plan on continuing your education you should consider completing your training at a school rather than a professional association.
Certification Requirements
As per the AAPC, there are no mandatory certification requirements to begin a career as a Medical Biller and Coder. However, the credentials that come with certification are the gold standard in medical coding and billing.
What is the Value in Certification?
They are nationally recognized by employers, medical societies and government organizations. Additionally, a 2005 survey conducted by AHIMA showed that over 73% of employers nationwide perceive certification of medical billers and coders as highly valuable in terms of obtaining employment and advancing the professionalism of the field.
Do You Need Medical Billing and Coding Certification in Florida?
In some cases, the only education requirement for medical coders and billers in the state of Florida is a high school diploma or equivalent. However, it’s important to note that many medical billing and coding jobs in Florida require you to have some form of certification to obtain a position. In short, job seekers often have an easier time finding a job with at least one certification.
Certification Organizations
Certification as a medical biller or coder may be obtained from either American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), or the American Medical Billing Association (AMBA).
Types of Certification
AHIMA grants the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) credential, AAPC awards the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and Certified Professional Biller (CPB) credentials, and AMBA awards the Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist (CMRS) credential.
Exams
The coding exams offered by AHIMA and AAPC consist of 150 multiple choice questions. The CPB exam consists of 200 questions and the CMRS exam consists of over 800 questions.
Apprenticeship & Certification
Those who are new to the field with less than two years experience will be granted the designation CPC-A (Apprentice) by the AAPC. To obtain full certification as a CPC, you will need to have over two years work experience as a medical biller and coder, submit two letters of reference from employers or one letter of recommendation which verifies that you have satisfactorily completed 80 hours of continuing education over the two years.
Cost of Certification in Florida
The cost of certification for the CPC and CCS credentials is $300. To recertify your CPC credential you must complete 36 continuing education units (CEUs) every 2 years and pay the recertification fee of $125. Recertification of your CCS credential requires 30 CEUs, an annual self assessment and payment of the $50 recertification fee.
In order to take the CMRS exam you must be a member of the American Medical Billing Association. Membership dues are $99 annually.
For more details about AAPC certification, visit http://www.aapc.com/certification/cpc.aspx.
Career Overview
Medical billing is the process by which a doctor or hospital receives payment for their services. Medical coding is one step of the medical billing process, during which the treatment is assigned a special code used by insurance companies to process a claim.
While medical billing and medical coding are technically two different jobs, they are often done by the same person. That’s why training programs often group these skills under a single program titled “Medical Billing and Coding” or “Health Information Technician.”
Medical coding is a surprisingly complicated procedure. It requires broad medical knowledge that encompasses various forms of treatment, diseases and thousands of different medical codes.
Insurance companies use these codes in their investigations and the payment of any associated costs.
As per the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), medical coders need to be familiar with different types of insurance plans, regulations, compliance, and the coding community’s three critical resource books: CPT®, HCPCS Level II and ICD-9-CM along with their corresponding codes and guidelines.
Job Description
Duties & Responsibilities
The job of the medical billing specialist is also an important one. When a person receives any treatment, the physician, clinic or hospital responsible needs to get paid.
The medical biller collects the relevant information, produces a bill and forwards it to the appropriate person or organization. They are also responsible for maintaining billing records and following up on any queries.
Typical steps of the medical billing process include:
- Data entry: The medical biller inputs all pertinent patient information into a database.
- Code assignment: The medical coder assigns an appropriate code for the procedure based on the classification system used by insurance carriers.
- Insurance Claim: Once a specific code has been assigned by the medical coder, an insurance claim form can then be completed by the medical biller and submitted to the insurance provider.
- Processing: The claim form is then reviewed by a claim’s processor and either approved or denied.
- Claim Approval: If the insurance claim is approved, the insurance company will reimburse the healthcare provider as per the rates set for the specific code that has been assigned.
- Claim Denial: If the claim has been denied by the insurance company, the medical biller must determine the reason why and notify the health care practitioner. The medical biller then creates an invoice for the patient.
- Collection: Medical billers may also be responsible for collection of unpaid bills and working with insurance carriers to investigate cases of possible fraud.
Who Can They Work For?
The largest employers of medical billing and coding professionals are hospitals. However, there are also opportunities to work for private physicians, health insurance companies, medical billing companies, outpatient health clinics, nursing care facilities, home health agencies, pharmacies, as well as work from home.
Billing vs Coding
While often defined as two different jobs, one worker sometimes performs the duties of both roles.
At its most basic level, a medical biller and coder is responsible for taking a person’s health information and converting it into codes. This process takes place so that the provider can receive reimbursement from health care insurance companies. In instances where two individuals perform the duties of this job, they work together to ensure each invoice receives accurate payment.
Coding Side
When it comes to the coding aspect of the position, employees start by reviewing a patient’s clinical statements and records. This person must also review all transcribed notes from the doctor and any lab or radiology results. Afterward, a medical coder must assign standard medical codes to every service or diagnosis according to a classification system.
Billing Side
As for medical billing, this part of the job deals with various financial responsibilities. Medical billers translate the given code into medical claims before sending the information to insurance companies. Employees then follow up on the claim to ensure the provider gets the correct reimbursement for their work.
Salary
How much money can you make?
The table below provides the median salaries for Medical Billers and Coders in select major cities in Florida.
| Medical Biller | Medical Coder | |
| Jacksonville | $42,000 | $39,000 |
| Ft. Lauderdale | $39,872 | $51,784 |
| Miami | $43,000 | $40,000 |
| Sarasota | $39,047 | $50,712 |
| Tampa | $42,000 | $39,000 |
Career Outlook
Healthcare organizations are one of the largest employers of medical billing and coding specialists in the United States. With the demand for medical attention increasing, physicians and hospitals are looking to hire additional skilled front-office staff. As a result, careers like medical billing and coding in Florida are growing to meet that demand.
Once you have completed your training look to the AAPC, AHIMA, and AMBA websites. All are excellent sources for information that will help you move forward. Here you will find links to job listings, conferences and events, continuing education, along with various publications and other resources.