10 Jobs That You Can Do With a Medical Billing and Coding Certificate

Medical billing and coding are important to understand to ensure that patients are receiving the appropriate medical treatments and are accurately billed for those treatments. Earning a certificate in medical billing and coding gives professionals access to job opportunities that they might not have been eligible for without it. If you want to learn how to create a more streamlined treatment process for doctors, medical staff members and patients, you might consider earning a certificate in medical billing and coding. In this article, we list some jobs you can do with a certificate in medical billing and coding.

10 jobs you can do with a certificate in medical billing and coding

Earning a certificate in medical billing and coding can provide many job opportunities because there are so many fields from which to choose. Here's a list of 10 jobs you can do with a certificate for medical billing and coding:

1. Medical biller

National average salary: $31,287 per year

Primary duties: A medical biller is someone who submits a coded transcript that contains a summary of a patient's visit to their insurance company to file a claim. They work directly with medical coders who create the medical coding for them to translate using specialty software so that it can be sent to the insurance company for review. Medical billers act as a liaison between insurance companies, health care providers and patients, so they typically have a lot of knowledge of both insurance and health care. Some of their duties include reviewing patient bills, setting up payment plans and appealing dismissed claims.

Related: Learn About Being a Medical Biller

2. Medical records technician

National average salary: $38,482 per year

Primary duties: A medical records technician is responsible for ensuring that a patient's medical records are accurate so that a medical coder can use them to create coding used for insurance claims. They track and update a patient's medical history, past claims, treatments and other confidential information so that health care providers and their patients can receive the appropriate reimbursement from insurance carriers. Medical records technicians may also transcribe these records into code based on acceptable coding guidelines and policies.

Related: Learn About Being a Medical Records Clerk

3. Billing analyst

National average salary: $38,676 per year

Primary duties: A billing analyst is in charge of making sure that a patient receives the correct amount on their bill. They also act as customer support because they communicate with customers directly by answering their questions and addressing their concerns. Billing analysts are responsible for reviewing invoices and correcting any discrepancies, which may include seeking clarification from other departments or an insurance carrier. They also evaluate existing billing procedures and software and provide feedback to management on ways to improve them.

4. Medical collector

National average salary: $38,811 per year

Primary duties: Medical collectors collect overdue payments from patients for their medical services such as routine visits, hospitalizations and overnight stays, surgeries and other forms of treatment. They can work directly for a medical facility as in-house collectors or for collection agencies. Medical collectors are responsible for communicating with patients and offering alternative methods of payment to make it easier for patients who can't pay immediately.

Related: Learn About Being a Collections Specialist

5. Medical records coordinator

National average salary: $44,587 per year

Primary duties: Medical records coordinators are senior-level medical professionals who are responsible for managing and maintaining confidential patient records. They work with doctors, nurses and other medical staff members to ensure that they're accurately recording, organizing and maintaining secure data. These coordinators are also responsible for maintaining the specialty software used to manage a patient's medical data and information. They provide patient records to doctors and nurses while also protecting any confidential information on the records.

6. Coding specialist

National average salary: $48,224 per year

Primary duties: A coding specialist is someone who creates medical coding that contains a summary of a patient's visit so that a medical biller can submit an insurance claim. They use these codes to record information such as a patient's symptoms and diagnosis, prescribed medications, therapies, surgeries and other necessary treatments. They work with doctors, medical assistants and medical billers to ensure that a patient's visit summary and other information is transcribed accurately to avoid insurance claim discrepancies.

Related: Learn About Being a Medical Coder

7. Coding educator

National average salary: $55,628 per year

Primary duties: A coding educator is someone who teaches students how to code starting with the basics. They develop curriculum and prepare lesson plans to present in the classroom. They attend coding and reimbursement meetings and other related events to remain informed of current trends and information. They also create training material such as study guides and handbooks to help students complete their courses.

8. Coding auditor

National average salary: $61,016 per year

Primary duties: A coding auditor is responsible for overseeing coding operations to verify that the information is accurately transcribed so that all medical bills a patient receives are accurate. Coding auditors also record consistent coding mistakes and report them to management. They support medical coders by providing feedback on their performances when necessary, educating and training them and offering useful tips and techniques for how to become better at coding.

9. Lawyer

National average salary: $74,205 per year

Primary duties: A lawyer who operates in the medical law industry acts as a support for clients who need help navigating billing fraud cases. For example, a lawyer may advocate for a client in a case where a certain medical code is purposely entered incorrectly to add or remove a service or treatment from a patient's visit summary. Lawyers review medical documents, files and bills in connection with a medical lawsuit.

Related: Learn About Being a Lawyer

10. Clinical informaticists

National average salary: $83,979 per year

Primary duties: A clinical informaticist is a professional who uses information technologies such as data entry software and visual image storage systems to help doctors provide optimal treatment for patients. Informaticists train staff on how to use specialized software and systems. Clinical informaticists are IT specialists who troubleshoot, install and integrate new systems across different departments to help increase their functionalities. They also improve the workflow by assessing existing software and systems and adjusting them as necessary.