How to Become a Medical Biller & Coder in New York

Medical billing & coding is a healthcare specialty that offers job stability without direct patient involvement. And, it often provides the flexibility of remote work.

Online Classes

To get started, you can complete one of the online courses from accredited school below.

Program Benefits

After graduating, you can take any of three major certification exams below.

Certified Professional Coder offered by AAPC

Certified Coding Associate offered by AHIMA

Certified Billing and Coding Specialist offered by NHA

You may enroll at anytime (as opposed to most community college programs)

How Long Does It Take?

It can be completed in 1 year or less, just depends on how often you can study.

What Will You Learn?

Classes cover topics such as:

• Medical Terminology
• Revenue Cycle Management
• Health Insurance and Reimbursement
• HIPAA Regulatory Standards
• Clinical Documentation Improvement
• Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, TRICARE, and Worker’s Compensation
• International Classification of Disease, 11th Revision (ICD-11)
• International Classification of Disease, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM)
• International Classification of Disease, 10th Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS)
• Current Procedural Terminology/Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (CPT)/(HCPCS)
• Medical office procedures
• Pathology and pharmacology
• Medical records software
• And more!

Cost

The course above will cost $3,200.  This includes a voucher for the exam of your choice.

Financing is available if you want to pay monthly.

Local Trade School Programs

Certification

Most employers prefer to hire candidates who have an official certification.

A medical billing and coding license can also make it easier to find higher-paying positions in the industry.

Medical billers and coders in New York usually apply for their licenses through one of the following certifying agencies:

• The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
• The New York Health Information Management Association (NYHIMA)
• The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)
• National Healthcare Association (NHA)

Exam Requirements

Each of these organizations has its own eligibility requirements that candidates must meet before they can apply to take the certification exam to earn their medical billing and coding credentials.

Generally speaking, applicants must at least have a high school diploma or GED and submit official transcripts from their medical billing and coding trade school program.

Specialized Billing and Coding Licenses

Those looking for specialized or advanced billing or coding credentials can also take exams to obtain the following licenses:

• Certified Coding Specialist-Physician Based (CCS-P)
• Certified Inpatient/Outpatient Coder (CIC)/(COC)
• Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)
• Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC)

Salary Range

The Bureau of Labor Statistics refers to the career as  “Medical Records Specialist”  and estimates the yearly pay in the state at $60,510.

According to ZipRecruiter, the annual salary is more like $53,814 while Salary.com has it $64,209

Below are some average salaries and hourly wages for parts of the state, according to the BLS.

Location	Per Hour	Per Year
Albany-Schenectady-Troy	$27.37	$56,930
Binghamton	$26.14	$54,370
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls	$26.68	$55,490
Capital/Northern New York	$25.43	$52,890
Central East New York	$24.33	$50,600
Glens Falls	$25.23	$52,470
Ithaca	$26.46	$55,050
Kingston	$28.04	$58,320
New York-Newark-Jersey City	$31.15	$64,790
Rochester	$25.92	$53,910
Southwest New York	$24.60	$51,170
Syracuse	$25.55	$53,140
Utica-Rome	$22.69	$47,190
Watertown-Fort Drum	$23.25	$48,370

_{Occupation: Medical Records Specialists (SOC Code292072)
source: data.bls.gov}

Higher Salaries in Urban and High-Cost Areas

The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area reports the highest average salary at $64,790 annually ($31.15 per hour). This aligns with the region’s higher cost of living and greater demand for healthcare services.

Similarly, Kingston offers a competitive salary at $58,320 annually ($28.04 per hour), suggesting strong job opportunities in smaller but well-developed healthcare markets.

Mid-Range Salaries in Larger Upstate Cities

Major cities in upstate New York, including Albany-Schenectady-Troy ($56,930), Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls ($55,490), and Ithaca ($55,050), report salaries slightly above the state average.

These areas have well-established hospital systems and medical networks, supporting consistent demand for skilled medical billers.

Career Growth and Competitive Salaries

With the high demand for medical billing professionals, salaries in New York vary based on experience, specialization, and job responsibilities.

Entry-level roles start at around $18-$22 per hour (as seen at Medical Management Resources), while experienced specialists in revenue cycle management can earn $50,000-$70,000 per year (M&D Capital Premier Billing). Specialized positions, such as ophthalmology billing at P.M. Medical Billing, also offer higher compensation for niche expertise.

Additionally, benefits like 401(k) matching, dental and health insurance, paid time off, and flexible scheduling are increasingly common, making medical billing an attractive long-term career.

Job Description

What Do They Do?

Generally speaking, medical billers and coders are responsible for ensuring that each employee in a medical facility, including the doctors, nurses, EKG technicians, medical and nursing assistants, and even the housekeeping staff and patient transporters, get paid.

Medical Billing vs Coding

Although most facilities hire one person to perform this task, medical billing and coding are actually two separate duties.

Coding Duties

Coders begin the process by analyzing a patient’s medical records, which include the patient’s health history and each test, medication, or procedure they received while at the medical facility.

Using the standardized classification system for their location, coders apply the appropriate diagnosis code, service code, or medical hardware code to each exam, treatment, and medicine the patient received.

Billing Duties

Next, the medical biller views the coder’s data to calculate the cost of the patient’s medical care. Duties for medical billers typically include:

• Communicating with healthcare providers and insurance companies to get pre-authorization for certain treatments and procedures
• Going over the coder’s report with the healthcare provider and coder to ensure accuracy and work out any disagreements or discrepancies about the level of care
• Submit reimbursement claims for the facility’s services
• Add any uncovered medical costs to the patient’s bill
• Work with patients to set up affordable payment plans as needed

What Employers in New York Are Looking for in a Medical Biller

Medical billing is a critical function in healthcare, ensuring that providers are accurately reimbursed for services rendered. In New York, demand for skilled medical billers remains high as healthcare facilities seek professionals who can handle complex billing systems, navigate insurance claims, and manage revenue cycles efficiently.

Employers across the state—such as Medical Management Resources, Sunrise Medical Group, and M&D Capital Premier Billing—are actively recruiting professionals with specific skills and experience in the field.

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Key Skills and Software Proficiency

Employers in New York expect medical billers to be proficient in industry-standard billing software and electronic health records (EHR) systems.

Many organizations, including Medical Management Resources, specifically seek candidates with experience in EPIC, Centricity, and SIS software, which are commonly used for medical billing and facility reimbursement (Medical Management Resources).

Similarly, Sunrise Medical Group prioritizes applicants with experience in EMR systems to ensure efficient claim processing.

Other companies, such as Apex Covantage, require knowledge of Medent EHR, eClinicalWorks, NextGen, and Athena, demonstrating how essential it is for candidates to be comfortable working with different platforms in a fast-paced healthcare environment. Additionally, employers value strong Microsoft Excel skills, which help in financial reporting, payment reconciliation, and data management.

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Core Responsibilities in Medical Billing

Medical billers in New York are expected to perform a variety of tasks, including:

• Insurance Reimbursement & Claims Processing – Ensuring that insurance companies correctly process claims and reimburse providers on time.
• Payment Posting & Reconciliation – Tracking and managing payments, including applying insurance adjustments and patient payments.
• Charge Review & Coding – Reviewing medical charts and assigning the correct ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS codes to prevent denials.
• Denial Management & Appeals – Working closely with insurers to dispute claim denials and submit appeals when necessary.
• Customer Service – Communicating with patients and insurance companies to resolve billing concerns.

For example, M&D Capital Premier Billing in Middle Island, NY, focuses on claims follow-up for out-of-network providers, handling appeals, and managing pre-negotiated agreements with third-party payers.

Their ideal candidates are those who can analyze Explanation of Benefits (EOBs) and understand federal arbitration processes for out-of-network claims.

Similarly, P.M. Medical Billing in Oyster Bay specializes in ophthalmology billing, requiring expertise in medical billing for eye care services, as well as knowledge of HICFA, UB04, NPI, and Tax ID requirements.

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Crossover into Other Healthcare Disciplines

Medical billing is not limited to just physician offices and hospitals. Professionals in this field often work in specialized healthcare sectors, such as surgery, internal medicine, ophthalmology, and behavioral health.

Some positions, like those at Austin Medical Assistant Training and the Ideal School of Allied Health Care, even extend into education, where experienced billers train students in medical coding, insurance reimbursement, and healthcare compliance.

Furthermore, medical billing professionals with expertise in revenue cycle management (RCM) are highly sought after by healthcare consulting firms and insurance companies, where they contribute to financial forecasting, compliance audits, and payment negotiation strategies.

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Conclusion

Employers in New York are looking for medical billing professionals with technical expertise, analytical skills, and industry knowledge to keep healthcare organizations running smoothly. With a strong demand for billing specialists, competitive salaries, and opportunities for career advancement, this field provides a stable and rewarding career path for those with the right qualifications.

As the healthcare industry continues to expand, professionals who develop expertise in billing software, medical coding, and revenue cycle management will remain highly valuable across multiple disciplines.