Medical Coding and Billing in Georgia

With the Affordable Care Act, the need for many different health care professionals is growing. If you’ve been looking for a career opportunity that offers you a solid job outlook, this industry may have what you’re looking for! Medical coding and billing specialists in Georgia complete a number of tasks, from communicating with insurance companies and processing bills to checking patient records for coding accuracy.

What does this mean for you? If you have been waiting for the right opportunity to get involved in the health care industry, now is the time to act. Becoming a medical billing and coding specialist may allow you to work in many different settings, improve the care provided by health care practitioners, and develop specialized knowledge in this field.

Learn more about what it takes to become a medical billing specialist by contacting medical coding and billing schools in Georgia.

What to Expect in Georgia Medical Coding and Billing Training

One of the benefits of choosing this career path is the variety of degree programs that are available in Georgia. If you want to get started in the workforce as quickly as possible, you may want to consider earning a certificate or diploma. Both of these options often only require about six months of study. An Associate’s degree in this field involves two years of full-time study.

Although there are many educational options, they have very similar course requirements. Throughout your training, you may study customer service, human anatomy, medical terminology, and medical codes. Courses that may help you tackle these subjects include Pathophysiology, Medical Technology, Medical Terminology, Insurance Procedures, CPT-4 Coding, ICD-10 Coding, and Computerized Medical Billing.

In many of your courses, you’ll work with medical billing and coding computer programs to get familiar with the applications that many medical offices use. However, you may also get the chance to complete an externship or internship in your final semester of school.

Working as a Medical Billing and Coding Professional in Georgia

Once you have completed your education and you feel confident about your medical coding and billing skills, you may be ready to jump into the workforce. Salaries in this field vary widely, with a statewide average of $33,400 per year (O*Net, 2014). By the year 2022, job openings in medical billing are expected to increase 27%, which exceeds the national average by 5% (O*Net, 2015).

If you want to qualify for more jobs and possibly increase your income, you may wish to get certified in medical coding and billing. This optional program goes through AAPC. You receive your certification after passing a rigorous exam and supplying proof of your education.

The skills gained in a medical billing program can be used in just about any health care setting. Community clinics, specialty clinics, hospitals, and health insurance companies all utilize skilled medical coding professionals.

Are you ready to change your future and contribute to one of the biggest industries in Georgia? If you are, get started now by contacting medical billing and coding schools in Georgia.