Medical Coding and Billing in Utah
As a patient of the health care industry, you likely have little experience with how much goes on behind the scenes to keep an institution running smoothly and profitably. While care providers and desk staff may be the medical professionals you interact with most often, there are dozens of other positions that work hard to ensure a stress-free patient experience.
This process has worked out well for Utah—in fact, reports show that Utah has some of the lowest health care costs in the entire country (Deseret News, 2015). On top of that, this state as a whole is healthier than many others.
Even if you are not interested in the patient care aspect of health care, you may be a good fit for other positions within this field. Medical coding and billing, a specialty which turns doctors’ notes and paperwork into understandable billing documents, is absolutely essential to the health care field.
Take a look at our list of medical coding and billing programs in Utah below to discover how you can start preparing for your new career.
What to Expect in Utah Medical Coding and Billing Training
Those who work in medical billing and coding spend little time with patients. In fact, you may only ever see patients if they have difficulty understanding a bill or if they are interested in setting up a payment plan for a bill they have received. This means that most of your training focuses on the technical aspects of coding and billing, rather than hands-on medical diagnosis.
Some of the topics you should thoroughly understand by the time you graduate include anatomy and physiology, the scope of practice of different care providers, medical procedures, and medical coding apps and programs.
The amount of time it takes you to become comfortable with each subject depends on which type of program you choose. Some schools have short programs that can be completed in one or two semesters, while others require you to attend school for two years to earn an Associate’s degree.
Some of the classes you may take as a medical billing student include Diagnosis Coding Systems, Procedure Coding Systems, Health Care Delivery Systems, and Medical Terminology.
The financial aid programs that are open to you are largely dependent on the school you attend. However, you may look into grants funded by the state of Utah, federal aid programs, and private grants. Groups like the Utah Public Health Association can also be a good resource.
Working as a Medical Billing and Coding Professional in Utah
In general, the demand for medical records technicians is extremely strong throughout the United States. However, Utah’s job growth statistics are extremely promising. Through 2022, O*Net anticipates a 33% increase in medical coding and billing jobs in Utah (2015). This growth rate is over 10% higher than the national average (O*Net, 2015). Medical records technicians in Utah report an average salary of $34,000 per year (O*Net, 2015).
One option you have as a coding and billing technician is whether or not you want to become certified. If you are not certified, you may need to gain experience at smaller institutions and departments before seeking employment with more fast-paced or challenging employers. Certification allows employers to quickly understand how much you know and how comprehensive your skills are. The process of becoming certified is regulated by AAPC.
This is the right field for you if you want to work in a variety of health care settings all over Utah. Get started by requesting information from medical coding and billing schools in Utah.