What are the Different Types of Medical Billing and Coding Jobs Available to Me?

All medical billing and coding jobs do not fall under one title or type. Generally, medical billing involves billing for goods and services rendered at health care facilities, while medical coding involves assigning numeric codes to patients’ diseases and conditions for the purposes of filling out insurance forms.

Medical billing and coding jobs vary by a number of different factors including:

1. experience
2. specialized knowledge
3. customer contact
4. work environment and
5. field: medical or insurance.

Variations in Medical Billing and Coding Jobs

Within medical billing and coding jobs, individuals may work in multiple areas or they may work exclusively in one area such as:

1. medical field – such as cancer, pediatrics or dental
2. insurance – such as Medicare, Medicaid or other insurance program
3. coding system – such as nursing care facility, surgery center or physician’s office
4. type of patient – such as inpatient, outpatient or emergency

Hours and location: Medical coding and billing jobs may require a variety of hours and environments. Most jobs occur during standard business hours, although some positions may include second- or third-shift hours (if the facility is open 24 hours). Most positions are for a 40-hour work week, although some positions may offer part-time hours and/or may be at-home, independent contract work.According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job locations may vary as well and include a:

1. hospital
2. physician’s office
3. insurance company
4. long-term care facility
5. outpatient care center
6. home health care agency
7. Federal government agency

Examples of Medical Billing and Coding Jobs

Here is a sampling of jobs:

Medical Billing Clerk

This job involves customer medical billing. People who enjoy helping others and speaking with customers may want to investigate this option. In this job, the clerk maintains records of charges for goods and services used by patients at a health care facility and then prepares invoices and prints bills for payment from patients, insurance companies, merchants or service providers.

Customer service representatives: Medical billing clerks are customer service representatives who work for a variety of companies in the insurance and medical fields. In this type of job, the biller takes calls by customers and answers questions regarding how to properly fill out medical bills and paperwork. Billing clerks may also explain to customers how the customers’ insurance claims and policies work, help customers fill out insurance forms so the customer can be refunded, organize patient records, and ensure that the payment and billing process is smooth and efficient.

Medical Coding Specialist

Another medical billing and coding job is the medical coding specialist. In this job individuals review medical documentation to obtain information about a patient’s disease or condition. They then translate that information into diagnostic and procedural numerical codes that are used in making insurance claims and complying with federal regulations.

Insurance company billing: An example of a niche job for a medical coding specialist is working directly for the insurance company. The specialist might work in the company’s office filling out medical billing forms or work with medical personnel on the insurance company’s behalf. In addition to medical coding education, this person needs specialized and proprietary knowledge of the insurance company’s policies and procedures related to medical billing and coding.

Clinical Data Specialist

Clinical data specialists review, edit and correct data generated by internal computer systems to ensure accurate and compliant medical billing information according to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations.

Related Jobs

In addition to traditional medical billing and coding jobs, there are a variety of related jobs that require medical records and health information skills and expertise: trainer and educator, administrator, auditor, insurance verifier, medical transcriptionist, terminology manager, data analyzer and collector, information systems coordinator and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) coordinator.