Lydia S. Stewart, RN, BSN, currently serves as the Revenue Cycle Manager at a large regional medical center. Lydia has been a Registered Nurse for 23 years, 15 of those years specializing in Critical Care Nursing and supervision. She is responsible for Medical Audits, Charge Capture, and governmental compliance audits and reviews.

This career path highly supports remote work flexibility, allowing individuals to earn a good salary, make a difference in patients’ lives and become specialized within one year of certification completion. Obtaining a CPC, CCA, or CBCS certification implies that an individual has met competencies in the field of medical billing and coding. Students have an opportunity to make confident, informed decisions about the national certification they prefer.

Job Outlook for Medical Administrative Assistant

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical billing and coding specialists earn an average annual salary of $40,350 and work in one of the fastest growing professions. Finally, to prove that you are ready to go to work as a medical billing and coding specialist, you will need to pass a certification exam, such as the CBCS exam offered by the NHA. On the first pathway, you complete a training program dedicated to medical billing and coding. The program will be offered by a properly authorized school or course provider. The second pathway requires at least one year of work experience directly related to medical billing and coding within the past three years.

Her clinical experience includes working as a medical assistant for a network of rural health clinics, and as a medical coder, insurance claims specialist, and medical records auditor. She worked as a medical office manager for ten years, where she recruited and trained all medical assistants. Nancy holds a bachelor’s degree in vocational education and has developed and taught medical assistant programs. EHR clinical experience includes working as a medical assistant for a network of rural health clinics, and as a medical coder, insurance claims specialist, and medical records auditor. There’s a reason why the medical billing and coding profession is a rising star in today’s economy. Even better, they enjoy an average annual salary of $40,350 and they work in a profession where opportunity is growing faster than the national average.

Become a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant

The Governing Board is committed to providing equal opportunity for all individuals in education. Steven Carpenter is an instructor of the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist Course at UTSA. The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education is committed to providing equal access to continuing education programs for students living with permanent or temporary disabilities. Learn more about the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education program accommodations.

You will also be able to choose a voucher for the professional certification that best aligns with your interests and career goals. Medical billing and coding is one of the fastest growing work-from-home careers in the healthcare field! This 100% online course will prepare you for the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam, offered by the American Academy of Professional Online Medical Billing And Coding Voucher Included From National University Coders (AAPC). You’ll learn how to use the Healthcare Common procedure Coding System (HCPCS) and the CPT Category II and ICD-10 codes. This is an accelerated Medical Insurance Billing course which requires weekly homework and regular attendance. Medical Billers and Coders are responsible for processing patient data including medical records and related insurance.

How to Become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist

In this position, you will code a patient’s diagnosis and then request payment from the patient’s insurance company. You will play an important role in ensuring that healthcare providers are quickly and accurately paid for the treatment they give patients. The Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) is offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) and is currently an entry-level medical billing certification for physician practices. In the summer of 2021, the exam will transition to an entry-level billing and coding certification, with the inclusion of ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS Level II testing. The healthcare environment operates on the basis of professionalism, precision and dedication to patient welfare. Earning a CMAA establishes a medical assistant as a caring, responsible professional who has undergone a study and assessment program to validate their credentials.

Currently she is employed as an HIM Analyst for a long-term care establishment that is based out of Alabama. The two processes work closely together to form an important part of the healthcare system. By performing these important tasks, medical billing and coding specialists keep the healthcare industry operating efficiently.

NHA recognizes two pathways to preparing your knowledge and skills for medical billing and coding. Since we do not offer a clinical externship component for Medical Insurance Billing students, there is currently no requirement for Covid-19 vaccinations. You do not need a college degree to obtain employment as a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist. However, employers seek individuals who have training from a reputable Medical Billing and Coding Specialist program like that offered by UTSA. His healthcare experience includes 24 years of military service with the United States Army as an enlisted Medical Specialist and a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army Medical Service Corps.

A background check may be required for externships, clinicals and licensing, certification or registration with the appropriate governing board. The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) administers the official Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) credential. According to the NHA, you need a high school diploma or equivalency to begin your journey toward CBCS status. Be fully prepared to sit for the CPC, CCA, or CBCS exam, offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders.

Become a Certified Medical Billing and Coding Specialist

A Certificate of Training from UTSA and NHA Certification make you a more desirable job candidate. Employers prefer or even require applicants to have completed a reputable training program and certification before consideration for a job position. Our course outline will ensure our students are competitive for the 34,288 jobs that exist within the 28 employment regions within the state of Texas. Yolanda G. Villanueva is https://kelleysbookkeeping.com/is-an-invoice-the-same-as-a-bill-with-definitions/ an instructor of the Medical Billing and Coding Certification program at UTSA. Her teaching experience began at the Alamo Colleges District Northwest Vista campus in 2017. It continued with the Integrated Basic Education Skills Training (IBEST) program, where she successfully maintained an above-average student pass rate for the certification program and assisted in the student’s advancement in the healthcare industry.

• Essentially, these are two distinct skill sets used within a healthcare setting.
• She has a Master’s degree in Organizational Management, a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, and has served as a Registered Medical Assistant since 1994.
• This 100% online course will prepare you for a career in healthcare as a medical assistant and billing/coding specialist.
• The second pathway requires at least one year of work experience directly related to medical billing and coding within the past three years.
• The program will be offered by a properly authorized school or course provider.