Medical Coding and Billing in Maine

One of the biggest issues in the field of health care is payment. Health care profes-sionals have to get compensated for the work they do, but it is also important for proce-dures to be billed for accurately to avoid overcharging patients. That’s why medical coding and billing professionals are such an important part of the Maine health care industry—they take care of these tasks so doctors do not have to.

As Maine legislators adjust their expectations, priorities, and funding sources, the med-ical industry will need billing professionals who can adapt to changes and learn about new specialties. In Maine, for example, opiate addiction is a serious problem (Press Herald, 2015). As a result, legislators all over the state are asking for millions of dollars to fund opiate addiction treatment programs. As these pro-grams take root in Maine communities, medical coding and billing specialists who can accurately process these procedures may become a big asset to the field.

If a career in medical billing suits your skills and interests, you can take the next step now and check out our list of medical coding and billing programs in Maine.

What to Expect in Maine Medical Coding and Billing Training

When you start working in coding and billing, you never know what to expect. You may get assigned to a specialized wing or department, which involves learning the procedures and diagnoses that are common in that department. You may work in emergency care, which requires a broad overall understanding of medical coding. No matter what your career brings your way, you should be ready to address it.

Depending on where you live in Maine, you may have plenty of coding and billing pro-gram options. Some schools even allow you to complete most of your coursework online, freeing up time for work, family, and other applications. You may want to look at course listings for different schools to find out what each program can teach you. Clas-ses that are commonly required include Health Information Management, ICD Coding Systems, Physician Coding, Medical Billing and Reimbursement, Ambulatory Care Coding, and Health Care Delivery Systems. Hands-on experience is an essential part of your training, and you should find that it makes you more confident about entering the workforce.

Maine schools, organizations, and government agencies award a handful of health care scholarships each year. You may want to look into associations in your city or county. For example, the Western Maine AHEC devotes thousands of dollars to scholarships each year.

Working as a Medical Billing and Coding Professional in Maine

When you start getting close to the end of your education, it is time to start aggressive-ly planning for the job search. For many students, a big part of this is certification. In Maine, medical billing specialists do not need to be certified or licensed to legally prac-tice. However, because of the high standards represented by certification, many em-ployers prefer certified employees. The application and testing process goes through AAPC, a national certification organization in this industry.

Currently, there are over 1100 medical records specialists working in Maine (O*Net, 2015). By the year 2022, O*Net believes that job openings may increase by 12%. Their records indicate that the average salary in this specialty is $33,500 per year (O*Net, 2015). If you bring specialized experience or certification to the table, you may find that your earning potential is positively affected.

You can use your career to strengthen the medical industry of Maine. Make your move now by contacting medical coding and billing schools in Maine.