Medical Billing and Coding Degrees

Medical billing and coding degrees are typically offered at the certificate, associates, and bachelors levels. There are several degree options available for individuals interested in pursuing a career in medical billing and coding. These include:

1. Certificate Programs – Certificate programs in medical billing and coding are designed to provide students with the fundamental knowledge and skills needed for entry-level positions in the field. These programs can typically be completed in less than a year and may be offered online or in-person.
2. Associate’s Degrees – Associate’s degree programs in medical billing and coding typically take two years to complete and provide a more comprehensive education than certificate programs. In addition to core coursework in medical billing and coding, students may also take general education courses in subjects like math, English, and social sciences.
3. Bachelor’s Degrees – Bachelor’s degree programs in healthcare administration or health information management can provide students with a more in-depth education in medical billing and coding, as well as other aspects of healthcare management. These programs typically take four years to complete and may also require students to complete an internship or other practical experience.

When choosing a degree program, it’s important to consider factors such as program length, cost, accreditation, and career outcomes. Students should also ensure that the program is recognized by relevant professional organizations, such as the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) or the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).

How Long Does a Medical Billing and Coding Associates Degree Take?

• Accelerated Online Associates Programs: There are online associates in medical billing and coding programs that can be completed in as little as 12 months. These are typically referred to as accelerated degree programs and are offered online exclusively. It is important to note that the shortened timeline typically means that the courseload is fairly heavy and may not be suitable for all students.
• Accelerated Campus Campus Programs: Most campus based accelerated associate medical billing and coding degrees can be completed in 18 months.
• Traditional Bachelors Programs: A traditional campus or online associate’s degree in medical billing and coding takes two years to complete assuming the student is carrying a full load of 15 credit hours per semester.

Benefits of a Medical Billing and Coding Associates Degree:

An associates in medical billing and coding typically takes longer to complete than a certificate program. There are a number of benefits to having an associates degree in medical coding and billing, which is why it remains a popular choice:

• Broader education: An Associate’s degree program provides a broad education that covers a range of topics related to medical billing and coding. This includes courses in medical terminology, anatomy, healthcare law, and insurance billing. This broad education can be helpful in providing a well-rounded understanding of the field and can prepare graduates for a variety of positions within the healthcare industry which may not be available with a certificate in medical coding and billing.
• Career advancement: An Associate’s degree can be a stepping stone to career advancement in medical billing and coding. With further education and experience, graduates may be able to take on higher-level positions or specialize in a specific area of medical billing and coding.
• Transferable credits: An Associate’s degree may provide credits that can be transferred to a bachelor’s degree program in health informatics, healthcare management or related fields. This can open up additional career opportunities in the future.
• Higher earning potential: According to the BLS, individuals with an Associate’s in medical billing and coding earned a higher median salary than those with a certificate in the same field. The thousands of dollars of additional income, spread over a lifelong career can add up to a very significant difference.
• Employability: Some employers may prefer candidates with an Associate’s degree over those with a certificate in medical billing and coding, as it indicates a more comprehensive education and a higher level of dedication to the field.

What Can You Do With A Medical Billing and Coding Associates Degree:

An Associates in Medical Billing and Coding Degree opens up a pretty wide range of career options in healthcare. Some of the most common careers include:

1. Medical coder: Medical coders use specialized software to assign codes to diagnoses and procedures for billing purposes. They must have a strong understanding of medical terminology and coding systems, as well as an understanding of healthcare laws and regulations.
2. Medical biller: Medical billers are responsible for submitting claims to insurance companies and ensuring that healthcare providers are properly compensated for their services. They must be knowledgeable about insurance billing processes and regulations.
3. Health information technician: Health information technicians manage patient health records, including maintaining the accuracy and confidentiality of medical records, coding and categorizing patient information, and ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations.
4. Medical records technician: Medical records technicians are responsible for maintaining patient records and ensuring that they are accurate and up-to-date. They must be knowledgeable about medical terminology, coding systems, and healthcare regulations.
5. Medical office specialist: Medical office specialists may perform a variety of administrative tasks in a medical office, including scheduling appointments, managing patient records, and processing insurance claims.
6. Medical administrative assistant: Medical administrative assistants perform administrative tasks in medical settings, such as scheduling appointments, maintaining patient records, and managing medical billing and coding processes.
7. Medical billing reviewer: Reviews the work of medical billers to confirm it complies with the proper standards before final approval. Also reviews disputed claims to confirm they were done correctly.

This is just a sample of the many careers that having a Medical Coding and Billing Associate’s Degree prepares you for.

What degree does someone who wants a bachelors in medical billing and coding get?

Many colleges offer a bachelors level degree for someone who is interested in medical billing and coding, however, because these degrees are primarily suited to enable someone to enter into leadership or management roles, they are all titled slightly more broadly. Here are some common bachelors in medical coding and billing degrees:

• Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Information Management (HIM): This degree program typically covers a broad range of topics related to healthcare management, health information technology, medical billing and coding, and healthcare law and ethics.
• Bachelor of Science (BS) in Healthcare Administration: This degree program focuses on the business side of healthcare, covering topics such as healthcare finance, healthcare operations management, healthcare policy, and healthcare marketing. It may also include coursework in medical billing and coding and is suited for management level positions.
• Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Informatics: This degree program focuses on the use of technology to manage healthcare data and information, including topics such as healthcare data analysis, healthcare database management, and healthcare information systems. It typically also includes coursework in medical billing and coding.
• Bachelor of Science (BS) in Medical Coding and Billing: This bachelors degree program specifically focuses on medical coding and billing, covering topics such as medical terminology, healthcare reimbursement, medical coding systems, and healthcare compliance.

How Long Does a Medical Billing and Coding Bachelors Degree Take?

• Accelerated Online Bachelors Programs: There are accelerated online bachelor’s in medical billing and coding degree programs that can be completed in 18 months. Of note, these programs are almost exclusively offered online, and carry a fairly heavy course workload that may not be suitable for all students.
• Accelerated Campus Bachelors Programs: Most campus based accelerated bachelors in medical billing and coding degrees (whether healthcare management, healthcare IT, or healthcare informatics, among others) can be completed in in 2 to 3 years.
• Traditional Bachelors Programs: A traditional medical billing and coding related program, whether campus or online, is designed to be completed in 4 years. This assumes the student is attending full-time and taking 15 credit hours per semester.

Benefits of a Medical Billing and Coding Bachelors Degree:

The most common path for working in medical billing and coding is by obtaining a certificate or associates in medical billing and coding. However, obtaining a Bachelor’s in Medical Billing and Coding can provide several benefits over an Associates or Certificate program, which make it an attractive choice for some students. Here are some of the benefits:

1. Broader Education: A Bachelor’s program provides a broader education that covers a range of topics in medical billing and coding, as well as related fields such as healthcare management and policy. This broader curriculum can be helpful in providing a more comprehensive understanding of the healthcare industry and can prepare graduates for a wider range of careers, particularly management level jobs.
2. Career advancement: A Bachelor’s degree can give graduates opportunities for advancement in their medical billing and coding career. With a Bachelor’s degree, graduates may be able to pursue higher-level positions in healthcare administration or management, or specialize in a particular area of medical billing and coding.
3. Higher Salary: According to the U.S. BLS, individuals with a Bachelor’s degree in health information management (which includes medical billing and coding) earn a higher median salary than those with an Associates or Certificate in the same field.
4. Professional credibility: A Bachelor’s degree can provide professional credibility and demonstrate a higher level of dedication and competence in medical coding and billing. This can be important when seeking employment, particularly in a competitive job market.
5. Transfer credits: A Bachelor’s degree can provide credits that can be transferred to a Master’s degree program in healthcare or related fields. This can open up additional career opportunities at the management or executive level in the future.

What Can You Do With A Medical Billing and Coding Bachelors Degree:

A Bachelor’s in Medical Billing or Coding, whether that’s a BS in Health Information Management, a BS in Healthcare Administration, a BS in Health Informatics or a BS in Medical Coding and Billing, enables you to pursue a wide range of various leadership careers, including:

1. Medical and Health Services Manager (average salary: $106,070) – In this role, you would be responsible for managing the overall operations of a healthcare facility or department, including medical billing and coding.
2. Health Information Manager (average salary: $76,650) – In this position, you would be responsible for managing and organizing patient health records, ensuring that they are complete, accurate, and secure.
3. Medical Records and Health Information Technician (average salary: $47,390) – As a technician, you would be responsible for organizing and maintaining patient health records, ensuring that they are accurate and up-to-date. You may also be responsible for coding medical procedures and diagnoses for billing purposes.
4. Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (average salary: $44,090) – As a billing and coding specialist, you would be responsible for assigning codes to medical procedures and diagnoses for billing purposes. You would need to have a deep understanding of medical terminology and coding systems, as well as regulations related to medical billing.
5. Medical Billing Auditor (average salary: $70,180) – In this role, you would review medical billing and coding records to ensure that they comply with government regulations and insurance company policies.
6. Medical Claims Analyst (average salary: $69,580) – In this position, you would be responsible for reviewing and processing medical claims, ensuring that they are accurate and comply with regulations.

These medical coding and billing careers may be found in hospitals, private practice, third party billers, government agencies, non-profit organizations, consulting firms, nursing homes and others (Salary Data source: BLS 2020).

How Long Does a Medical Billing and Coding Certificate Take?

A certificate in medical billing and coding is the most common credential for medical billers and coders. It is offered in accelerated online formats, hybrid, and traditional campus each of which takes a different amount of time to complete.

• Accelerated Online Certificate Programs: There are accelerated online medical coding and billing certificate programs that can be completed in as little as 4 months.
• Accelerated Hybrid / Campus Certificate Programs: The typical campus based accelerated medical billing and coding certificate can be obtained in around 6 months.
• Traditional Certificate Programs: A traditional campus or online medical billing and coding certificate program can be completed in 11 to 16 months.

Benefits of a Medical Billing and Coding Certificate:

A certificate in medical coding and billing is the most common choice for medical billers and coders, for many reasons.

• Time and Cost: Certificate programs in medical billing and coding typically are faster and more affordable than associate’s or bachelor’s degree programs, allowing students to enter the workforce more quickly, with less student debt and begin earning a salary more rapidly.
• Practical Job Preparation: Medical billing and coding certificate programs are designed to give students practical and specific skills and knowledge needed for entry-level medical billing and coding positions. As opposed to bachelors programs, certificate programs may focus more heavily on practical, hands-on training and may be more targeted to the specific needs of employers.
• Flexibility: Many medical coding certificate programs are offered online or in hybrid formats, which offer greater schedule flexibility for students who need to balance their studies with work or other commitments.
• Career Advancement: While an associate’s or bachelor’s degree may be necessary for some higher-level medical billing and coding positions, many employers are willing to hire individuals with a certificate in medical billing and coding and provide on-the-job training and opportunities for advancement based on their on-the-job performance.

Overall, a certificate in medical billing and coding can be a great option for individuals who want to enter the workforce quickly and acquire the skills needed for an entry-level position in this field. However, it’s important to note that individuals who want to advance in their career may need to obtain additional education and training, such as an associate’s or bachelor’s in medical coding degree.

What Can You Do With A Medical Billing and Coding Certificate:

With a certificate in medical billing and coding, individuals can qualify for a wide variety of entry-level positions in healthcare. Here are some of the more common careers that someone with a medical billing and coding certificate is qualified for, along with the average annual salary for those careers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for 2020:

1. Medical Records and Health Information Technician (average salary: $47,390) – As a technician, you would be responsible for organizing and maintaining patient health records, ensuring that they are accurate and up-to-date. You may also be responsible for coding medical procedures and diagnoses for billing purposes.
2. Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (average salary: $44,090) – As a billing and coding specialist, you would be responsible for assigning codes to medical procedures and diagnoses for billing purposes. You would need to have a deep understanding of medical terminology and coding systems, as well as regulations related to medical billing.
3. Medical Office Assistant (average salary: $36,930) – In this role, you would be responsible for providing administrative support in a medical office, including scheduling appointments, maintaining patient records, and processing medical billing and coding.
4. Medical Transcriptionist (average salary: $36,850) – As a medical transcriptionist, you would be responsible for transcribing medical dictation into written reports, ensuring that they are accurate and complete.
5. Medical Billing Clerk (average salary: $38,490) – In this role, you would be responsible for processing medical billing claims and resolving billing issues with insurance companies and patients.

These are just a few of the most common careers for someone with a medical coding and billing certificate. Additionally, it’s important to note that the actual salary that someone earns, of course, is based on far more than the specific job that the hold, and is impacted by experience, performance, geography, and type of employer.