Is anyone here in Medical Billing and Coding?

I'm currently in school to get my associate's in medical billing and coding. I graduate next summer, and I was just wondering if you enjoy your job, what kinds of hours do you work, and how much you get paid (if you don't mind sharing such information) Thanks!

Is anyone here in Medical Billing and Coding?
I have been a Medical Billing Manager for over 7 years, with 17 years of experience However; I have been in the field on both sides. The insurance side and the billing side. I enjoyed being challenged. You would have to like to be challenged. I enjoyed the challenged you have to be detail originated, organized, and know your compliance laws. The best part of it; I would have to say is that I loved being an advocate and a liaison for the patients. Coding is fine. But, it can become very boring. Unless, it is mixed with either billing or Medical claim examining. To answer the pay part. It all depends on where you live. When I was living in Wisconsin with experience. High 30's to over 65 per year. Starting out...per hour about $12.00. And that depends on where you live. Hospitals are one of the best places to start.
Reply:Hi, good luck to you in medical coding. I went to a JC for a medical coding program. Couldn't find a job with no experience. I had to pass the CCS (not CCA, CCS!!!) to even get an interview!





Finally got hired, did medical coding for one year and stopped. I found it very difficult and stressful. One really has to know so much about disease and surgeries, surgical techniques, etc. For example, having to read coronary bypass surgeries and count how many arteries were bypassed, were autogenous saphenous veins used or mammary artery or thoracic artery, was extracorporeal circulation used (heart lung machine)? Was there prolonged mechanical ventilation after the procedure? Not to mention after training you are expected to meet daily production standards.





But for new coders, they usually start you on outpatient encoutners. The hardest part for me was the CPT modifiers, like -52 reduced services, -59 distinct seperately identifiable procedure, how to tell when an new patient office visit should be coded counsultation or a new patient office e/m, when not to code an e/m code when a simple procedure is performed...





All I can say is study, study, study.. Good luck.
Reply:My cousin has a job in medical billing and has worked for the same company for over three years and still can't find another job opening. The field seems to be saturated (as well as medical assistant jobs) and/or technology is taking over. She also said that she has to haggle with the insurance companies to try to get claims paid and that that can be quite frustrating. With coding, I've heard that the person needs to have passed the certification exam(s) and have a couple years of experience doing that type of work. Wish you well!