Myth Buster: The Truth About Medical Coding From Home

Medical coding has been around for a long time, but recently it has gained quite a bit of attention.

It has been widely touted to the public that it is an “easy work from home, data entry job that has low requirements and high earning potential.” However, this statement is only partially true.

Before spending time and money on education and certification, take a moment to do some more research in this field and its potential.

Myth 1: Coding is easy

Most people who are hearing about medical coding for the first time believe that it is easy to learn and / or perform. Most people who have tried to learn or do medical coding would disagree.

To be a medical coder you must be very detail-oriented and organized.

Medical coders should also have a broad knowledge base of medical billing, medical terminology, general anatomy, insurance policies, practice management, coding guidelines, HIPPA regulations, how to use each coding manual, and more.

In addition to being knowledgeable, medical coders must also have the ability to read and understand detailed and extensive medical records and operational notes. The ability to communicate with doctors and insurance companies is also essential.

Myth 2: work from home

Many people hear that medical coders work from home and therefore enter this field based solely on this.

While many people do medical coding from home, there is more to it than is advertised often.

To perform medical coding from home, individuals must first be certified as a CPC or CCS. After certification, individuals must gain work experience.

Most companies that allow medical coding from home require 2-3 years of work experience as minimum.

Most coders who do home medical coding are also independent contractors. Freelance hiring should also be researched and considered before investing in this career.

Myth 3: data entry work

Medical coding is a learned skill. The only thing that data entry and medical encryption have in common is the fact that they both use 10 keys.

Performing medical coding requires a knowledgeable person to first read, interpret and understand the medical record and / or the operational note. Then they must determine what information is relevant and what is not. Then the relevant information must be translated into codes using three large manuals.

Translating this information into codes requires that medical coders know how to use the coding manuals, as well as apply the coding guidelines that determine things like; when a code can and cannot be used, sequencing multiple codes in the correct order, linking codes with other codes, when multiple codes are required for a single piece of information, etc. etc.

Medical coders should also be aware of insurance-specific coding guidelines and determine which guidelines should apply in each situation.

Myth 4: small requirements

The government has not yet mandated any specific requirements that one must first meet to be a medical coder.

However, employers have taken action on their own. Most employers will not hire someone as a medical coder without at least a CPC or CCS certification. Many employers also require at least some work experience in addition to this.

Individuals who wish to become medical coders and / or perform medical coding from home must be employable.

To be employable in this field, individuals must follow a career path similar to many other careers.

Proper education is the best place to start. Taking a course in medical terminology and general anatomy should be the first step, followed by a course in medical coding that will prepare you specifically for one of the two certification exams.

Once the education has been obtained, individuals must take the CPC exam offered by the AAPC or the CCS exam offered by AHIMA. Employers will not recognize any other “medical coding certification.”

After obtaining the CPC or CCS credential, individuals must gain work experience. As with most other careers, starting as a medical coder will require people to start in entry-level positions and work their way up.

Due to the sensitivity of this job and the direct impact it has on revenue entry and reimbursement, newly certified coders often find that they must take unrelated positions while learning from medical coders in the coding department. Only after they have proven themselves do they begin to earn medical coding duties and receive promotions.

Working as a receptionist in a doctor’s office, working in the medical records department, or entering data in the medical billing department are common ways that newly certified medical coders get started.

Myth 5: High earning potential

Earning potential varies due to many factors, such as geographic location, years of experience, type of specialty, economy, etc.

Starting out as a medical coder in an entry-level position often pays very little.

However, if people can hold out, earn a lower than desired salary, and gain that critical 2-3 year experience, the floodgate will be thrown wide open.

Currently, the field of medical coding is experiencing something of a phenomenon. The market lacks experienced medical coders and the positions are not filled. This is causing employers to offer high pay to bring experienced workers into their organization.

In response to this need, many people have taken educational courses and obtained their certification. This action has caused an over-saturation of newly inexperienced coders in the labor market.

Newly certified coders are finding that getting their first coding job is becoming a competition. Additionally, the entry-level positions they are seeking are also being filled by experienced and more qualified individuals due to a sluggish economy.

As a result, newly certified coders are unhappy due to the fact that they have incurred an expensive education, invested time, and cannot afford to invest more in a low-paying position.

In today’s market, landing your first medical coding job is the key. If a newly certified coder can land an entry-level position, do whatever it takes from it, and get the 2-3 years of experience employers are looking for, there will be no limits to both his career and his earning potential.

Example: Personally, I started out as a front desk clerk. My first entry-level coding job paid $ 10 – $ 12 for. hour. After gaining the required experience, I chose to do medical coding from home, earning over $ 50 per. hour.

In conclusion, medical coding is not exactly the “easy work from home, data entry career that has few requirements and high earning potential” as the career that is often sold, but there are some truths to this statement.

Medical coding is similar to most other careers and requires education, dedication, hard work, and experience. The more you work, the more successful you will be.

For those who have the sole purpose of doing medical coding from home, remember to research this field before investing time and money. Make sure this is the right job for you and that you can and you are willing to complete the necessary requirements to become a medical coder.