Medical Coding and Billing in Arkansas
Health insurance is a huge part of the medical industry, and it takes a highly trained specialist to ensure that procedures are accurately recorded and paid for. As the Affordable Care Act continues to change health care in Arkansas, take advantage of the opportunities created by this growth and learn more about medical billing and coding.
If you have been waiting for the right time to get trained in medical billing and coding, this is what you have been waiting for. The Department of Health and Human Services recently required all medical care providers to switch over to the ICD 10, which contains thousands of new medical codes and diagnoses. Completing your training now means that you’ll develop the specialized and up-to-date knowledge required by Arkansas employers.
The medical industry is growing, and you can benefit from this growth by starting a new career. Find out more about medical coding and billing programs in Arkansas.
What to Expect in Arkansas Medical Coding and Billing Training
One of the benefits of studying this field is how quickly you can complete your education and get out into the workforce. While many health care careers may require degrees that take four or more years of full-time education, medical coding and billing is a field in which you can gain proficiency in as little as six months. If you want an Associate’s degree, you may complete 60 credits over the course of two years. Shorter programs often lead to diplomas or certificates.
No matter which type of degree you decide to earn, course requirements tend to be similar between programs. By the time you graduate, you should be skilled at quickly and accurately coding, processing billing information, checking for errors, communicating with insurance companies, and working with medical professionals for accuracy.
Courses that help you reach these goals include Procedural Coding, Diagnostic Coding, Advanced Coding Skills, Health Claims and Insurance, Health Office Expectations and Standards, and Electronic Health Records. Once you complete these courses, you may be ready to go through an internship or externship. This type of work experience helps you discover how to apply your skills while also giving you the chance to network with medical professionals.
Across Arkansas, there are numerous organizations and associations that award health care scholarships. You may want to look into opportunities like the Murray T. Harris Healthcare Scholarship.
Working as a Medical Billing and Coding Professional in Arkansas
Unlike many other health care careers, medical billing and coding is not a field that requires licensure or certification. However, there are many certification programs that may interest you. Although these programs are completely optional, they are often a good way for employers to assess your skills and figure out how much you really know. The largest certification agency is AAPC.
As is the case in most other states, the demand for medical billing specialists is growing in Arkansas. Between 2012 and 2022, O*Net hopes to see a 19% boost in job openings. They report that the average salary for an Arkansas medical billing technician is $29,800 per year (O*Net, 2015).
The future of Arkansas health care depends on dedicated, highly trained professionals. Medical coding and billing programs in Arkansas can help you become one of them.