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Steps to Become a Medical Coder
- Complete training on medical coding: After finishing your bachelor’s degree, you can take up any medical coding certification course online from popular organizations such as AAPC, AHIMA or American Health Information Management Association and CAHIIM or Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management education. The duration of such courses is usually less than one year. You can also do some certificate courses from any of the universities or colleges. All these programs will help you learn some basics of the disease process, treatment process, body systems and some basic coding in ICD. Another option is to go for an associate degree, which is usually 2 years, or any bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, which is a 3 years course.
- Give exam: To get the certification, you must qualify for specific exams. A certified medical coder has good job prospects and salary ranges compared to any non-certified medical coder. The programs that you will join will prepare you for those exams. You can give CPC exam, which AAPC usually conducts.
- Work experience: After getting your certification, the next is getting employed and gaining experience. Medical coders can also work from home, as many medical facilities get their medical coding outsourced.
Medical Coder’s Scope and Salary
Job prospects for medical coders will increase, with employment projected to increase by about 15 percent by 2024. Medical coders can get employed as
- Medical Records Coordinator.
- Coder
- Medical Coding Specialist.
- Medical Billing Specialist
- Medical Records Technician
- Health Information Specialist
- Medical Records Clerk
- Health Information Clerk
A medical coder earns an average salary of about Rs. 4 – 6 lakhs per year, and on gaining experience, they can earn up to 15 lakhs per year. In the United States, entry-level medical coders get an average salary of $35,000 per annum and experienced medical coders get about $58,000 per annum.
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