Think about all of the different specialties that are part of the health care industry. People do not just go to the doctor once a year for their checkup. Many people have specialists that they see on a monthly or semi-annual basis. Doctors in different specialties deal with different diagnoses, treatments, and techniques. However, care providers in all specialties are still responsible for accurately billing for every service they provide to a patient.

It should be clear now why medical coding and billing is so important in Texas. Coding and billing technicians with a strong understanding of their field can save time and help practitioners see more patients. This field may continue to grow in importance as access to care becomes more important in Texas. In late 2015, Texas passed a law allowing low-income teenagers and women access to low-cost women's health care services (Dallas News, 2015). As more people have access, more records, documentation and billing orders are created.

Keep reading to find out more about medical coding and billing programs in Texas and what it takes to start a career in this field.

What to Expect in Texas Medical Coding and Billing Training

If you've never heard of the field of coding and billing before, you may want to look into the learning goals and outcomes of different programs in your area. By finding out what you are expected to learn by the time you graduate, you can get a good understanding of what responsibilities come with this job.

Many schools include extensive learning goals like accurately reading and interpreting different types of written data, understanding the intricacies of different types of medical coding, and developing the skills needed to work independently in a medical setting.

To help you become a successful professional in the billing industry, your school requires you to follow a set curriculum of courses and practical experiences. During your time as a student, you may take classes like CPT-4 Coding, ICD-10 Coding, Medical Office Management, and Concepts in Human Biology. As you consider different schools, make sure to check out what their practical experience requirements are. The more time you get to spend in a health care environment and working with real coding programs, the more prepared you may be for your new career.

In addition to school-specific scholarships, you may qualify for federal grants or scholarships awarded by local associations. The Texas Public Health Association awards several scholarships to health care students each year.

Working as a Medical Billing and Coding Professional in Texas

Upon graduating from a medical coding and billing program, you may have the knowledge you need to become certified in this field. You may choose to begin working right away, as certification is not required in medical coding and billing. However, pursuing certification may help you apply for more challenging jobs or qualify for positions at bigger institutions. AAPC oversees the certification process for coding and billing technicians.

Texas has an extremely bright job outlook for medical records technicians, which is great news for you when you get ready to go into the workforce. O*Net expects job openings to increase 30% by the year 2022 (2015). Texas medical records technicians currently earn an average salary of $33,800 per year (O*Net, 2015).

The health care industry of Texas serves millions of people. Starting a career in medical coding and billing gives you the opportunity to improve their health care experience. Go ahead and get started today by contacting medical coding and billing programs in Texas.