With healthcare reform, accessible care, and affordable medical treatment at the forefront of the American political agenda, it should come as no surprise that careers in the healthcare field continue to be among the most sought after positions for those looking for new careers. A career in the healthcare industry offers stability and the potential for limitless growth, yet also offers the fulfilling opportunity of helping people help themselves. The medical field extends far beyond the doctor’s office, with medical careers ranging from nurses and phlebotomists to office assistants and those in charge of medical coding and billing.
Medical billing and coding is a term that many may have heard, but few are actually familiar with the roles and responsibilities of this integral job. Today, we wanted to look at a couple integral responsibilities of the medical billing and coding specialists and those that play the role of an unsung hero in the medical office.
Bridging the Gap Between Office & Insurance
Those in charge of medical billing and coding really play an integral role between what a doctor may recommend and the actual steps that turns the confidential records into a tangible set of notes that the insurance company will then pay. The medical coding office is responsible for taking the appointment and the corresponding records and essentially translating them into an abstract for the insurance provider. By coding, professionals are able to take the medical information and appropriately assign the claims for each action. This step is crucially important to protect privacy, and ensure the uniformity of records. The range of codes which a coder might see generally depends on the type of facility–an outpatient office might see dramatically different patient notes than that of a clinical facility. However, no matter what types of scenarios a medical coder may encounter, they are a critical component of any medical office, and an exemplary skill for a medical office specialist.
Streamlining the Medical Coding Process
By ensuring that records are kept using succinct and uniform codes, medical coding and billing specialists streamline the process for insurance agencies and billing offices, but also help standardize records and keep records. Medical professionals tend to rely on the work of certified medical billing and coding specialists to provide records of symptoms, medical histories, test results, and medications, in addition to just billing or payment. Medical offices rely on experience with medical billing and coding to keep things efficient.
Medical billing and coding specialists can help improve processing time, with a meticulous eye for detail and improving efficiency, while keeping the wheels turning in a crucial part of any community — the medical office. For more information about medical coding and billing, contact us today.
