Medical Coding and Billing in South Dakota

Changing the health care industry is a pretty big task, no matter how you look at it. In South Dakota, this job means doing some serious brainstorming and planning to equalize medical services throughout the state. Hiring medical staff in a state like South Dakota can be tough. The population in most areas is very small, and reservations in South Dakota have different health care needs than many other parts of the state.

To serve the low-income population better, the government of South Dakota is considering expanding Medicaid throughout the state (Becker’s Hospital Review, 2015). With this decision comes tons of paperwork, since the federal government wants to know how its money is being spent.

While doctors and nurses focus on providing care to thousands more patients, they’ll rely on medical coding and billing specialists to bill and get payment for services, diagnoses, and treatments.

Interested in what it means to work in medical billing and coding? Keep reading and check out our list of medical coding and billing programs in South Dakota.

What to Expect in South Dakota Medical Coding and Billing Training

Although there are tons of employers and health care institutions in South Dakota, they all use standardized systems of billing and coding. This means that getting the right training now can benefit your career for years or decades to come. Some students choose to earn an Associate’s degree, which involves an assortment of general education courses. Others stick with a diploma or certificate program, both of which tend to focus only on medical coding and billing.

Course names and curriculum requirements are often very close between programs. Your curriculum may include diverse classes like CPT Coding, Medical Record Systems, Health Data Management, Health Care Reimbursement, and Health Insurance Principles.

The other side of your training is field experience. Working with coding and billing technicians in hospitals and clinics shows you what you still need to learn, what type of work setting is best for you, and what may be expected of you when you get into the workforce. Take advantage of this opportunity and use it to make professional connections.

South Dakota is home to numerous associations and government agencies with scholarship funds. The South Dakota Board of Regents is one school funding source to look into.

Working as a Medical Billing and Coding Professional in South Dakota

The outlook is bright for coding and billing technicians in South Dakota, which is just one good reason to stay in South Dakota and get established in your career here. Between 2012 and 2022, O*Net anticipates a 13% increase in medical records technician jobs (2015). They report that the average salary for a medical records technician in this state is $33,600 per year (O*Net, 2015).

Your salary may depend on which work setting you choose. Billing specialists are hired by many different health care employers, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and health insurance firms. The offers you get may vary based on your certification status and what type of practical experience you have.
Certification is not a required part of working in this field, which can save you time—it means you don’t have to be certified to start your career. However, it may make you look more professional and experienced to potential employers. Certification is a process that goes through AAPC.

You can use your interest in health care to improve services throughout South Dakota and benefit the industry as a whole. Get involved now by contacting medical coding and billing programs in South Dakota.