Medical facilities are always in need of qualified workers on their revenue cycle management team, and right now, more companies than ever are looking to employ remote workers. If you’re looking for an at-home position in the healthcare industry, consider medical billing and coding. Check out our tips on how to get a medical billing and coding jobs, which can help you get prepared and get your foot in the door.
What Is Medical Billing and Medical Coding?
Medical billing and coding are administrative positions that deal with the revenue side of healthcare. Medical coders work with translating medical services into current procedural terminology (CPT) codes, and medical billers create the claims based on CPT codes. Remote billers and coders also access patient records to obtain the information needed. There is some overlap between the two positions, where an individual needs to know elements from both fields. As a remote biller or coder, you can be hired as an independent contractor, part-time, full-time, or per diem depending on the company.
Education, Training, Certification, and Experience for Remote Medical Billing and Coding Positions
While not strictly necessary, having official training can lead to significantly higher pay for remote billing and coding jobs. One of the places you can get trained in medical billing and coding is through the AAPC’s website, where they offer online courses. This is an at-home program that you can complete on your schedule. Whatever training you decide to take, make sure that it is accredited by either the AAPC or AHIMA as some employers may not recognize your degree if it’s not from an accredited university. You can check to verify a course’s accreditation at either the AAPC’s website or the AHIMA’s website. You’ll also need either your GED or high school diploma to enroll in one of these postsecondary institutions.
After training, you can choose to get certified, which will increase your potential earnings. Along with medical billing training, the AAPC also offers a Certified Professional Biller credential. While these positions can be done at home, many companies will require at least one year of office experience. You can also find opportunities via externships, which can help you get valuable experience in a medical billing or coding position.
What Do You Need to Be a Remote Medical Biller or Coder?
As a remote coder or biller, you get to have flexibility in your working hours and can work most places so long as you have high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi access. For most companies, you will also need to be able to connect via a secure connection for HIPAA compliance. As a remote worker, you’ll need a computer, fast internet connection, and you may need to purchase coding software as it may not be provided by the company you work for.
When looking for remote workers, companies look for candidates who are self-motivated, organized, deadline-driven, and able to work independently. Employers will want to know that you have a high attention to detail, especially in billing and coding, to ensure the documents are correctly executed. Emphasizing that you have a quiet place to work, ideally, a home office, where you won’t be interrupted, will help assure companies that you will be able to focus on your work.
Tips for Getting Remote Medical Billing and Coding Jobs
Medical billing and coding is a saturated job market as it can be done remotely, which means it can be tough to get a coding or billing job right away. When you’re ready to start looking for medical billing and coding jobs, be sure to update your online presence and profiles. Head over to your social media profiles and make sure they look professional, and keep personal photos private. Update your profiles to reflect your latest training and certificates if you’ve completed any. Presenting yourself professionally helps a company know that you are serious in your search for employment.
Building a network when you’re getting experience in office as a medical biller or coder can help when you’re ready to work remotely. Recruiters and agencies can also help connect you with companies who are hiring for remote positions. At Desert Medical Careers, we have experience for over two decades and have formed relationships with employers who come to us first to find remote workers for them.
Interview Questions for Remote Medical Billing Jobs
With any job, it’s essential to do your research on the company you are applying to. Be prepared to demonstrate your skills and expertise. Companies may want to know what type of management programs you use for billing and coding and what your average case volume is. With a remote position, it’s important to emphasize your ability to focus, reliable internet, and quiet working space.
Medical Billing and Coding Salary and Job Outlook
The average medical billing specialist earns a rate between $15 – $20 per hour, which comes out to a yearly income between $30,000 – $40,000. Medical coders can expect to make between $28 – $35 per hour, though some companies will pay by the chart, so the faster you are, the more you can expect to make. Your experience will also increase your potential earnings.
We Can Help Place You in a Medical Billing or Coding Position
Working with an agency with long-term relationships with healthcare employees is the fastest way to find the best jobs available. DMC has connections with companies looking to hire remote billers and coders and can help you avoid scams. Often, you’ll discover work-at-home scams posted online; using an agency ensures you won’t fall victim to one of these scams that are trying to sell you something. At Desert Medical Careers, we can help you get a medical coding or billing job. With over 20 year’s experience placing healthcare employees, we are experts at matching healthcare workers with their ideal working environment.
If you’re looking for a remote healthcare position as a medical biller or coder, contact Desert Medical Careers at (602) 468-6300 or fill out the form below to get contacted by a DMC expert.
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