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How to Get a Job in Medical Billing in 2018

medical coder at desk

The medical billing industry is growing and is expected to have continual positive growth in job opportunities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you are looking for a medical billing job or medical collections job, these are things you need to know as you begin your job hunt:

Medical Billing Job Pay Scale and Job Availability

Based on 2018 data from payscale.com, the average medical billing specialist earns between $14.00 and $22.00 an hour, equalling a yearly income salary between $28,000 – $48,000. If you are looking for a medical billing job in Arizona, expect to be at the higher end of this pay scale. Currently, in Arizona, the demand is very high for Physician office-based billers and coders. At Desert Medical Careers, we have several opportunities available throughout the Phoenix metro area, many of which pay $17.00 – $20.00 an hour and include good benefits.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Medical Records and Health Information Technician field is expected to continue to have above-average job growth of 15% through 2024, compared to the average job growth rate of 7%. This is likely to result in 29,000 additional jobs by 2024.

Get Medical Billing Training

Although it is possible to acquire a medical billing job without formal training, those that have official training receive significantly higher pay. There are many places to get trained for a medical billing job. We recommend going through the AAPC’s Online Medical Billing Course. You can complete the training in your home on your schedule. The AAPC is an industry-recognized entity for medical billing and coding. Make sure the AAPC or AHIMA accredit the course in which you wish to enroll. To confirm the accreditation claim is real, go to the AAPC’s website or the AHIMA’s website and verify the course’s accreditation rather than merely taking the word of the organization that claims to be accredited.

Medical Billing Certification

The next step to take to improve your pay rate significantly is getting certified in medical billing after you complete medical training. Along with medical billing training, the AAPC also offers a Certified Professional Biller credential.

Another way to earn certifications for this career is to register for courses at your local community college. Phoenix College in Phoenix, Arizona has a Hospital-Based program to prepare students for hospital settings and requirements. They also offer a Physician-Based program to give students the tools to handle billings in smaller settings like clinics and offices.

Paradise Valley Community College, also in Phoenix, provides students the opportunity to earn an Associates in Healthcare Technology Systems. There is also a Certificate available from the program for those who already have an Associates or Bachelors.

Gateway Community College of Phoenix, Arizona has a Medical Billing and Coding program that gives an overall view of the medical billing profession and is connected to Estrella Mountain Community College’s Allied Health Institute.

If you would like to be placed in a medical billing job,
please fill out the form below or call us at 602-468-6300.

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Ways to Get a Medical Billing Job

  • Job Boards and Employment Sites

    When applying for jobs online and submitting your resume to potential hiring managers, your resume will go through an applicant tracking system that compares you to others based on specific keywords or skills. This means you need to know how to prepare your resume for their system, which can be tricky. Here are some tips on developing a resume for an automated tracking system.

  • Networking With People within the Industry

    The healthcare industry is saturated, which can be intimidating when looking for a new job. If you have friends in the medical billing industry, they can provide valuable connections, review your resume for you, let you know which skills are in high demand, and might be able to let you know about jobs that aren’t being advertised online.

  • Work One-on-One with an Agency Specializing in Healthcare Jobs Placement

    This is our approach at Desert Medical Careers. We believe in it because we have found that our method, which is free for the person seeking a medical billing job, ends up getting people placed quicker and in better positions than when someone searches on his or her own. This is because all we do is work in the healthcare industry and we’ve been doing it for over two decades, so we have relationships with employers who come to us first to find employees for them.

    Also, when we work with someone seeking a job, we review your resume for you, and we give you interviewing tips based on our experience placing thousands of people in medical billing positions.

    We also find out what you want from your employer, which allows us to match you with the perfect fit for your needs. We are based in Arizona and work with healthcare employers in Arizona and throughout the nation. If you would like to be placed in a medical billing job, contact Desert Medical Careers at (602) 468-6300.

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