Medical Coding and Billing Programs in North Dakota
If you’ve been putting off the decision to go back to school and start a career in the health care sector, this is the time you’ve been waiting for. Throughout North Dakota, thousands of residents are using their new health insurance and trying to navigate the world of medical payments.
As the health care industry has struggled to keep up with national and statewide growth, costs have spiraled out of control in some areas. The cost of prescription medications has increased, and patients worry about meeting their deductibles or understanding their copays (CBS, 2016).
Becoming a medical coding and billing specialist puts you on a career path that lets you help these patients, free up doctors’ valuable time, and ensure that money is going where it needs to go within your institution. It all sounds complicated, but you can get started in a matter of months.
Check out our list of medical coding and billing programs in North Dakota to find the right educational path for you.
What to Expect in North Dakota Medical Coding and Billing Training
In exchange for one to four semesters of full-time study, you can get the knowledge you need to seek employment in a rapidly growing field. A great tradeoff, right? Between diploma, certificate, and Associate’s degree programs, you can usually become a medical coding and billing technician in less than two years.
The same topics are generally at the core of any coding and billing program: coding/billing software, ethics in health care, paperwork processing standards, and health insurance claims. To get the experience you need, you may take major courses like Pharmacology for Health Information Professionals, ICD-CM Coding, ICD-PCS Coding, Electronic Health Systems, CPT Coding, and Medical Record Systems. In quite a few of these courses, you’ll gain experience with coding software and different processes you may come across. You may also look at sample doctor paperwork, head into the workplace for real experience, and complete an internship.
If you’re like many students, you may be wondering how you’re going to pay for your education. Luckily, there are quite a few financial aid options in North Dakota. Your school may have grants to award, as may local health care employers. The Julie Buxa Health Science Scholarship is awarded by the North Dakota state government every year.
Working as a Medical Billing and Coding Professional in North Dakota
Upon completing your training and getting your diploma, certificate, or Associate’s degree, you can start exploring your job options. North Dakota is home to a variety of hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other medical institutions that rely on medical coding and billing professionals. Demand is usually very high in rural areas, so consider starting your search in remote parts of North Dakota.
Through AAPC, you can start exploring certification options. Getting certified in medical billing and/or coding can really take your career to the next level, especially if you want to work in specialty settings and medical departments. Make sure to study as much as possible, since AAPC testing is known for being very challenging.
The future of medical billing and coding seems bright in North Dakota. Per O*Net, job openings in this field may swell 22% by the year 2022 (2015). Their statistics show that the average salary in this field is $35,600 per year (O*Net, 2015).
Are you ready to earn a degree that gives you the chance to work in a variety of settings? Find out how you can become indispensable by contacting medical coding and billing programs in North Dakota.