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Medical Coding News and Info |
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As a medical coder, you will assign specific numeric codes to medical services, procedures and diagnoses. Allied’s Medical Coding teaches you how to apply the right code in the right place and streamline the medical billing process. From knowledge of ICD-9-CM and CPT codes to reimbursement issues, you will be ready to play an important part in a medical office.
Friday, February 5, 2010
As you begin to search for employment opportunities as a medical coder, networking is a key element to landing the job you are looking for. Talk to as many people as you can to get the word out and obtain leads, and start conducting your own research using a variety of available resources. You can do your own independent networking by perusing the phone book to find offices and facilities you can contact to find out whether or not they are hiring. Also, check for jobs posted in local newspapers and magazines, and be sure to attend job fairs offered in your community. A local chapter meeting of the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) is an excellent venue for networking with other coders in your area who may be aware of possible job openings. You can also increase your exposure by attending medical-related and hospital events. The AAPC offers Project Xtern to newly certified coders to give them a head start in the workplace. The program matches beginning medical coders with facilities that are willing to give them experience and perhaps even their first coding job. The following online resources can be valuable tools in your job search: The AAPC Job Database enables you to sort through hundreds of possible jobs to find the ones that suit you best. You can also post and maintain your resume for employers searching for qualified candidates, and sign up for job alerts. Just indicate where you want to work, choose your job category, and you will be notified when positions that meet your specifications are added to the network. Online Forums are used by AAPC members to gain access to employment prospects through jobs listed by fellow members. They are also utilized for posting resumes, qualifications, job availability, and even consulting opportunities. Since the network consists of more than 80,000 coders, this is a tool that can make your job search easier. Members can also utilize the local chapter forum to connect with hundreds of coders in your region who may be able to give you advanced notice of openings before they are announced. Computer Web sites such as monster.com and careerbuilder.com maintain an extensive list of available jobs and are constantly updated. Once you create an account, you can search through the postings to stay current with job openings. Ready for the job interview? Here are a few helpful tips to succeed: Plan Ahead – Be sure to do your homework prior to the interview. Research the company, the position and, if possible, the people you will be meeting with. Be prepared to give examples of past accomplishments listed on your resume, and rehearse your response to potential questions. Dress Appropriately – Since first impressions are critical, be sure to dress in a professional manner, even if the workplace is casual. Neat and conservative is always your best bet. Communicate Clearly – Focus on your strong points as you discuss your skills and experience, and make sure you use correct grammar. Answer questions honestly and concisely, without rambling on. Be Professional – Remember… The way you dress and how you act reveal just as much to a potential boss as verbal communication. Send a Thank You - A handwritten note or e-mail, short and to the point, is sufficient and also appreciated. There are many resources available to you - you just need to do your research and prepare for the next step. Now that you've completed your medical coding training, it's time to land that ideal job! (Source: AAPC)
Read Full Article>> Your Medical Coding Training is Done, Now Land that Job!
Friday, January 22, 2010
 The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is an annual nationally representative survey of patient visits to office-based physicians that collects information on use of electronic medical record/electronic health record (EMR/HER). Here are some findings: 2008 41.5 percent of physicians reported using all or partial EMR/EHR systems (not including systems solely for billing) in their office-based practices. (The figure for 2007 was 34.8 percent.) In 2008, about 16.7 percent of physicians reported having systems that met the criteria of a basic system, and about 4.4 percent reported that of a fully functional system. (The figures for 2007 were 11.8 percent with a basic system and 3.8 percent with a fully functional system.) -Basic systems include: patient demographic information, patient problem lists, clinical notes, orders for prescriptions, and viewing laboratory and imaging results -Fully functional systems include: all functionalities of basic system plus medical history and follow-up, orders for tests, prescription and test orders sent electronically, warnings of drug interactions or contraindications, highlighting of out-of-range test levels, and reminders for guideline-based interventions Preliminary 200943.9 percent of the physicians reported using all or partial EMR/EHR systems (not including systems solely for billings) in their office-based practices. About 20.5 percent reported having systems that met the criteria of a basic system, and 6.3 percent reported that of a fully functional system. ConclusionThese data indicate that physicians have been increasingly adopting EMR/EHR systems. From 2007 to 2008, physicians’ use of any EMR system increased by 18.7 percent. Within the same period, the percentage of physicians reporting having systems that met the criteria of a basic system increased by 41.5 percent. The 2009 preliminary estimates did not change significantly from 2008. Samples of 3,200 and 2,000 physicians were selected for the core in-person NAMCS and the supplemental mail survey. (Source: National Center for Health Statistics)
Read Full Article>> Just the Facts: How Many Doctors Today are Using Electronic Health Records?
Friday, January 15, 2010
 According to the HWS Labor Market Pulse Index, the health care industry is on the rise throughout the nation. This quarterly barometer is used to measure the growth of the health care workforce in local markets. In the fourth quarter of 2009, it shows that there was a growing demand for health care workers in a number of regions, including California and parts of the Midwest and Southwest. Here are some findings: - Demand is growing fastest in Sacramento, Riverside and San Bernardino, Calif., and in other national cities, including Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Dallas - A large percentage of the growth is due to newly announced plans to expand existing organizations and larger facility openings - The HWS Labor Market Pulse Index tracks the 30 largest markets - there was a 19.5 percent increase overall in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to the third quarter of 2009, and was up 17.3 percent compared to one year ago What does this mean for your medical coding career? As the health care industry continues to expand and grow, there will be opportunities for trained professionals nationwide. Call (888) 822-2923 to learn more. (Source: Healthcare Finance News, Richard Pizzi, Editor)
Read Full Article>> California, Midwest Show Signs of Job Growth Within the Health Care Industry
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Planning for the ICD-10 transition? With the implementation set for October 2013, there is still a lot of preparation and readiness ahead. In the midst of planning and preparing for the new system, it is important to look ahead at the advantages of adoption and how ICD-10 implementation will benefit the entire health care industry. Advantages of Transitioning to ICD-10 Codes Greater accuracy - Health care providers will have a better ability to accurately describe diagnoses, including documentation of new diseases and more precisely describing existing ones. With the number of codes increasing from 17,000 to 155,000, the codes will more accurately describe patients' diagnoses and conditions. Room for expansion - While the current system is outdated and doesn't allow for growth, the new ICD-10 coding system has room to accommodate new codes and advancement in the health care industry. International compatibility – Other countries have been successfully using the ICD-10 coding system for many years. With implementation in the U.S., there will be a uniform medical coding system, which will make it easier to share health information and increase compatibility. More specific codes - The increased depth and specificity of the coding system will enable patients' records to be more precise and detailed. The ICD-10 code set has been expanded and includes codes tailored to current times (the old code set was established in the late 1970s), with new terminology and clinical concepts that are more relevant to today. Reduced errors – The ambiguity of the current codes can cause increased errors. With the ICD-10 coding system in place, health care providers will have access to codes that more accurately describe their patients' diagnoses. This can result in less re-payments, incorrect payments, etc. Shorter claim cycle – The increased accuracy of the codes can mean that fewer claims are sent back with a request for more information. There would be less legwork involved and claims would be more quickly paid. Stronger case for procedures – With patients' having more in-depth information included in their claims, there will be more supporting documentation and reasoning for medically-necessary procedures and services. There will be tangible benefits to the implementation of ICD-10. From more detailed codes to thorough documentation, your career as a medical coder or health care provider will become easier, more streamlined and precise. Stay focused as you prepare - the new codes are designed to improve quality care and enable providers to communicate more effectively with each other. This is a win-win scenario for the industry as a whole! (Source: AAPC)
Read Full Article>> Benefits of Implementing the New ICD-10 Coding System
Friday, December 18, 2009
According to the American Academy of Professional Coders, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that several states will receive federal matching funds for planning activities necessary to implement the electronic health records(EHR) incentive program established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The Recovery Act provides 90-percent federal matching dollars for state planning activities to administer incentive payments to Medicaid providers, to ensure their proper payments through audits, and to participate in statewide efforts to promote interoperability and meaningful use of EHR.
Several states have already received word on the amount of funding they will receive. The states and funding dollar amounts are as follows:
California - $2.48 million
U.S. Virgin Islands - $232,000
New York - $5.9 million
Montana - $239,000
Idaho - $142,000
Texas - $3.86 million
Iowa - $1.16 million
Georgia - $3.17 million
Based on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the government is striving to digitize patient health recaords within the next five years. With nationwide focus, electronic health records is an ideal career training option for today's medical coders to prepare for upcoming changes in the way health care providers process medical claims and maintain patient records.
*CMS posted news of these federal matching funds to states in the press releases section of its website.
Read Full Article>> States Receive Funding for Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentives - Creating Opportunities for Today's Medical Coders
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Want to know the truth about medical coding salaries? Find out what 12,000 industry professionals had to say about their own salaries in the 2008 Salary Survey conducted by the American Academy of Professional Coders:
The average range for most medical coders is from $39,400 to $46,500. The amount of compensation differs based on factors such as geographical location, employer, level of training, complexity of work, and more.
The average annual wage for a credentialed coder is $43,000, compared to $36,500 for a non-credentialed coder. Certification is still considered optional for many medical coders - although about half of the respondents are required to be certified in their current jobs. In fact, 89% have some type of CPC certification.
Their average medical coding salaries also vary based on length of time spent working in the field: $14.73 per hour for starting pay, $19.33 per hour after five years, $21.75 per hour after 10 years, and $23.37 after 15 years.
The type of coding specialty also appears to influence average salary levels - the more specialized the medical services, the more a medical coder may earn. Here are some of the top earners in the field based on their specialty: neuropsychiatry - $62,500, rheumatology - $57,800, nephrology - $50,900, and plastic surgery - $47,200.
The survey showed that the larger the organization and scope of medical coding services, the more the coding professional usually earns. For example, a medical coder for a 1-to-5 physician practice earns approximately $39,400, a medical coder for a hospital earns approximately $44,700 and a medical coding consultant earns approximately $73,000.
Remember a lot of factors can influence medical coding salaries - from how long the medical coder has worked to their type of medical specialty. However, the AAPC survey shows that medical coders can earn a solid salary at every stage of their career. Even better news? Medical coding salaries increased more than 11% since the 2007 survey - meaning opportunity is on the rise!
Read Full Article>> Curious About Medical Coding Salaries? Here's the Low-Down on the Opportunity and Potential that Await You!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The world of medical coding is one of the fastest growing in the medical field, but many would-be medical coders do not realize the full spectrum of employment opportunities. Do you picture a medical coder sitting in a doctor's office all day long, placing diagnostic codes on claims and submitting them to insurance companies for payment? While this is certainly one of the career tracks available to today's medical coders, it is by no means the only one.
Consider some of the other opportunities available to those embarking on a medical coding career:
Laboratories
These days a large percentage of medical testing, from routine blood tests and x-rays to complicated diagnostic tests, are outsourced to private laboratories. Each of these laboratories has a need to submit claims to both government entities and private insurance companies - meaning that they have a need for medical coding personnel.
Insurance Companies
The job of a medical coder is often to ensure that insurance companies pay the claims submitted by medical providers, but there is a flip side to this as well. Each year millions of medical dollars are wasted, either through fraud and abuse or unwarranted tests and unnecessary procedures. As a result, most major health insurance providers have departments dedicated to the detection of fraud and other wasteful practices. Medical coders, with their experience and expertise, are able to ferret out these problematic billings better than most individuals, and are always in high demand by the insurance industry.
Hospitals
It is not just private medical practices who need to submit claims for reimbursement. Hospitals, nursing homes and other large institutions submit thousands of medical claims every single day, and they need to know that those medical claims are coded properly and that they will be paid on time. As a result, many medical coders will find themselves employed by these large institutions, helping hospitals and other providers continue to provide vital care to the community.
No matter where they work, medical coders are a vital part of the health care industry and demand for their services will only continue to grow - especially with the projected increase of medical procedures for today's aging population. There has never been a better time to start a medical coding career - these professional team members can enjoy excellent job security in a variety of employment opportunities nationwide. What could be better? Labels: medical coders, medical codes, medical coding career, medical field, medical practice, medical testing
Read Full Article>> Looking to Start a Medical Coding Career? There are Opportunities Beyond Working in a Traditional Doctor's Office
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