ByMegan
Shedding Light on Medical Billing & Coding
What’s about this Medical Coding & Billing?
Driven by demand and fueled by growing dearth of professionals, the process of medical billing and coding is fast unfolding into one of the most sought-after operations in the medical industry. No wonder it attracts limelight and much following among medical support professionals. Medical coding and billing field promises to be one fruitful career option. Here, we have attempted to discuss about a few facts that will throw some light on the various pros and cons involved in the process.
Why choose this field of Coding?
There are a lot of opportunities that present themselves across the globe in this particular field. A real shortage of qualified medical coders is being felt across the world as of now. In the coming years, the demand is expected to rise by almost double- making the availability of expert coders to be around a mere 50% of the requirement.
Medical coding has been marked to contain great career advancement – with great number of progressive opportunities along with experience. When you are qualified with appropriate education, there are additional chances of growth as well.
Comparatively better salary and perks – possibility to make a decent living. Having a good entry point, medical coders may earn good amounts along with other employment benefits.
Role of Training & Certification
Medical standards require high standards to be maintained and various codes to be adhered to. Evolving legal compliances and claim procedures necessitate certification and industry-specific training. There are online certificate programs that better hone the caliber of coders and enable them to be industry-worthy. AHIMAA approval is one such requirement.
Building Credentials
As many employers seek people with proper certification, it is better to gain CCA and CPC credentials that will fetch better job prospects. In fact, such certifications mostly enable job seekers to get started right away.
Industry-based Training
Most employers look for people with experience – a hands-on experience in any job activity is naturally welcome by employers, more particularly in the medical billing and coding segment.
Medical Billing and coding is especially good for those who seek a meaningful career in medical industry without having to directly get involved in patient care.
BySam
Challenges in Medical Billing & Coding
It requires proper training, staffing, and education to be able to face the changing demands of medical billing and coding. There are a lot of challenges such as updated infrastructure, talent retention, and occasional personal mistakes that crop up, apart from the major problem of having to engage fewer people for performing more work. The quality and output of medical billing and coding processes have to be maintained effectively while crossing these barriers.
In modern medical industry, there are bound to be frequent changes in medical coding and billing needs, forcing medical facilities to adapt to contemporary scenario and training existing resources in order to keep abreast of the demands. Care has to be taken to prevent strain on other departments and elements due to a possibly increased pressure on coding segment. Spending more time with coding activities may lead to reduced time available for facing changes and subsequently, to a reduction in time being afforded for quality coding process.
For effectively resolving this issue, a number of organizations regard outsourcing to be one beneficial way. Those with restrictions on budgetary provisions are more aligned to struggle with in house resources, even if they happen to be understaffed. There are certain obvious reasons for loss of staff in the medical coding sections of organizations, such as firing, downsizing, retirement, and optional termination from the business. These different factors, singly or in combination, may end in coding departments falling short of the necessary strength and support.
In rural locations, getting seasoned coding and billing professionals may be a little difficult because of the variation in coding and billing standards and practices according to industry verticals. This may pose challenges to many billing coders, combining outpatient and inpatient services.
Disruptive Elements
Over the years, with modernization taking place in the medical industry, reporting needs are found to be increasing, and medical practices are seen to migrate more toward electronic means of record maintenance. These changes cause slowdown and reduced productivity, especially due to billing coders having to perform their functions under hybrid systems comprised of paper as well as digital records.
Sometimes double entry made by billing coders into billing and clinical systems may occur, causing confusion and inconvenience. Although information may be obviously visible, certain electronic records may be lacking an easily viewable summary capable of providing coders the necessary information. The fact that information needs to be captured from different sources may also be reason for the eventuality of missing out some data and errors being committed.
Striking a balance between quality work and sustaining expected productivity has always been a challenge in medical billing and coding process, making it necessary for seeking professional and economical means of carrying out such processes. Medical facilities that include unique processes and formalities are the ones that face the bigger challenges. For properly maintaining the revenue cycle, it is of utmost importance to fix certified coding and billing professionals, apart from following standards.
How to Resolve the Problem
By focusing on constant updating and keeping abreast of training and educating professionals following ongoing guidelines and adhering to quality, the existing workforce may well be utilized without increasing workload. This way, risk of reduction in workers strength can be minimized while reliable output may be achieved.
Turnover and attrition are ongoing, but filling the gap created by terminated people, when handled with diligent care, and by searching and finding experienced and trained individuals may prove vital for the success of the business.