Posts Tagged ‘medical billing training online’

According to a survey done during 2011, despite the tough economic climate, medical billing and coding salaries for skilled coders are climbing and those who have invested in themselves with further education and professional development can get even more.

Particularly with health reforms and electronic health records (EHRs) coming in as well as the upgrading of ICD-9 codes to ICD-10, coders can work in a variety of careers including coding and billing, auditing, management, compliance, charge entry, educator, consultant, and claims adjudicator. They can also work in a variety of specialities such as family practice, emergency medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology general surgery, or a combination of all of the above. The survey showed 62% work as doctor-based coders, while 10% work as hospital coders and 16% do both.

Even with the national employment rates hovering around 9-10%, coders were far less likely to be unemployed and those who were among the unemployed, according to the survey, 75% were new to the industry and looking for their first job in coding.

Now the key question – how much can I earn?

Certification Pays

This survey showed that coders tend to be better educated than most Americans, 88% of those who responded had spent some time at college, with 50%+ having a degree or technical training. And, there was a $10,000/yr. difference in earnings between those with only a high school diploma and those having a bachelor’s degree. Benefits were also considerably better.

According to the 2011 survey, the average salary for a CPC (Certified Professional Coder) was $46,800 and over half said they made more than $40,000/year, even those without the professional coder certification (CPC).

However over half said that the certification (CPC) was required for their position, but only about 25% of those responding actually held any higher certification.

Coders who held both CPC and CPC-H (Certified Professional Coder-Hospital Outpatient) earned more than $54.700 per year and those who had a CPC-I (Certified Professional Coder-Instructor) earned $76,000+ per year.

Salaries (Averages) Vary by Region 2011

Region – Pacific $53,334
States within region – Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii

Region – Mountain $44,330
States within region – Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico,

Region – West North Central $41,848
States within region – North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri,

Region – West South Central $43,919
States within region – Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana,

Region – East North Central $42,434
States within region – Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio

Region – East South Central $39,830
States within region – Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama

Region – Mid Atlantic $47,508
States within region – New York, New Jersey, Delaware

Region – South Atlantic $43,906
States within region – West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, N. Carolina, S. Carolina, Georgia, Florida

Region – New England $47,852
States within region – Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island