Medical Coding and Billing in Florida

With medical procedures on the rise in Florida, the need for medical coding and billing specialists in this state has never been higher. Florida, along with the rest of the country, recently switched over to ICD-10 for medical coding. This complete overhaul of the coding system requires an extensive knowledge of procedures and diagnoses.

Health care is a major focus for Florida legislators. In fact, health care is expected to be one of the biggest topics in the upcoming legislative year, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

As executives and legislators attempt to make health care more affordable for insurance companies and patients, billing and coding will be extremely important. Proper billing of procedures and services can minimize overspending and ensure that everyone is properly paid for their work.

If you are considering a career in the medical industry, you may be able to become a medical billing specialist in a matter of months. Find out how by contacting medical coding and billing specialists in Florida.

What to Expect in Florida Medical Coding and Billing Training

Getting the right training is the key to succeeding in a medical coding career. Courses cover many different skills and areas of knowledge. Upon graduating, you should be extremely familiar with human anatomy and physiology, different types of disease and injury, and different codes used in this industry. In fact, much of this field is memorization. There are tens of thousands of codes used for diagnoses and symptoms, and you should be able to recall and use them fairly quickly.

A thorough, well-rounded curriculum should give you the background you need to succeed in medical coding and billing. Some of the courses that you may have too take include Medical Office Terminology, Computerized Medical Billing, Medical Claims Reimbursement, Medical Insurance Principles, Medical Coding, and Medical Office Ethics.

Clinical experience can be extremely beneficial in this field, and some Florida schools even require it. To get practical experience, you may go to a local hospital, clinic, or health insurance company. Your clinical hours may be spread throughout your education or they may be concentrated at the end of your education during an internship.

If you are unsure about going back to school because of the cost, you may want to look into financial aid opportunities. The Florida Public Health Association awards several scholarships each year.

Working as a Medical Billing and Coding Professional in Florida

Before you begin working as a medical billing specialist in Florida, you may want to look into different certification options. Since medical billing professionals do not work with patients as care providers, licensure is not required. However, employers may look for applicants who have obtained certification through AAPC. Getting certified by this group requires you to submit proof of your education, take a licensing exam, and maintain continuing education hours for as long as you want to stay certified.

In Florida, the job outlook for medical coding and billing specialists is in line with the national average. From 2012 through 2022, O*Net expects job openings in this field to increase 20%, leading to the creation of almost 400 new jobs per year. Their data shows that medical billing specialists earn an average of $35,100 per year (O*Net, 2015).

Are you ready to make a difference with your career? If you are, contact medical billing and coding programs in Florida for more information.