Medical Billing & Coding

Coding Resources

Medical coding is the process of representing physical descriptions of medical ailments into computer code (typically in using alphanumeric depictions). Although medical diagnoses and ailment symptoms are typically messy fields to quantify, using codes to depict symptoms has helped medicine become a more quantifiable, precise field.

Medical billing involves a holistic understanding of both medical and technical aspects of health information management. It is used to follow up on claims made by health insurance companies to pay providers for their health services. Although not required, medical billers are encouraged to take a certification exam, which helps streamline the knowledge of employees entering the medical billing field.

Given ICD-10’s emphasis on efficient and accessible coding, there are many resources to help you keep up to date and learn the basics of medical coding and billing. Below is a wide range of resources which will cover the details of the fields.

Medical Coding Resources

Board of Medical Specialty Coding & Compliance

  • BMSC Homepage
  •  Provider of medical coding certifications for medical coders, clinicians, and professors. Routinely updates certification standards to maintain a high degree of integrity among the medical coding community
  • BMSC Credentials – Resource for finding the available certifications BMSC offers. Includes certifications for entry-level coders and ACS certifications for professionals with 3-5 years of experience.
  • BMSC Test Taking Tips – An overview of the materials needed to take accreditation exams. Will be overhauled with the certification process for ICD-10 implemented.
  • BMSC Accreditation Study Materials – A collection of study outlines and skill assessment quizzes for the different exams that BMSC offers.

American Health Information Management Association

  • AHIMA Coding Home – AHIMA’s overview of of medical coding. A respected resource among the medical information community for up to date news on medical coding developments.
  • Coding Profession Overview – Outline of different medical coding career options, such as outpatient/inpatient coder, coding manager, and data specialist. Links to AHIMA’s career assister, and career assessment tools, which help you decide the best career option.
  • Coder Networking Opportunities – Simple resource for finding medical coding networks. Links to both local and online networking opportunities.
  • Systems of Coding – Overview of the nuances of ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes recognized by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
  • Coding Education and Training – AHIMA offers a comprehensive collection of training resources for medical coders. Includes books, electronic resources, and in-person training.
  • AHIMA Standards of Coding – AHIMA’s ethical overview of medical coding. Aims to maintain integrity among health information professionals.
  • Journal of AHIMA – AHIMA’s publication which covers recent developments in the field of medical coding. Serves as a development tool for health information professionals.
  • AHIMA Certifications – List of coding certifications that AHIMA designates. AHIMA offers certifications for Certified Coding Associates, Certified Coding Specialists, and Certified Coding Specialists-Physician Based.

American Association of Professional Coders

  • Medical Coding Overview – AAPC’s description of the medical coding field. Provides links to certifications and resources offered by the AAPC.
  • Code Sets – Links to prominent code sets used in health information today. Includes overviews of both ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes.
  • Certified Professional Coder – AAPC’s certification program, which trains health coders as CPCs. According to AAPC, CPCs, on average, earn 20% more than non-certified coders.
  • Reference Materials for Certification (PDF) – List of approved reference materials to be used during the CPC exam. AAPC highly recommends test takers to use resources to help them succeed during testing.
  • Medical Coding Job Searching Tips – Resources to help health information specialists to find jobs in the field of medical coding.
  • Medical Coding Salary Survey (PDF) – AAPC’s most current salary information for medical coders. New data is collected annually, and 2010 is the most current version.
  • Job Portal – AAPC’s hub for medical coding jobs. Search through job titles, skills, specialties, and location.

Medical Billing Resources

American Medical Billing Association

  • ABMA Home – Provides technical and regulatory education resources for medical billers.
  • ICD-10 and 5010 Implementation – Medical billers need to worry about the 5010, which has a deadline of January 2012. The 5010 is a revised billing standard which will help usher in the ICD-10 overhaul.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

  • HIPAA Standards – Overview of the HIPAA, signed by President Clinton in 1996 to usher in electronically-stored medical data with high levels of security and privacy.
  • Medicare Enrollment – Manuals covering the enrollment process to receive payments for Medicare services.
  • Electronic Claims – Tutorial on claiming payments from Medicare contractors.
  • Medicare Fee For Service – Fee for service options are becoming increasingly popular among the health care community. This resource contains requirements and standards of FFS payments.

Get Ready 5010

  • Get Ready 5010 Home – Comprehensive resource to help medical billing specialists make a smooth transition to 5010 billing standards by January 2012.
  • Announcements – Keep up to date with new webinars, conferences, and news from Get Ready 5010.
  • AMA Overview of 5010 (PDF) – Coverage of the new developments in the 5010 billing process compared to 4010.
  • 5010 Errata (PDF)- Document covering “errata”, documents which were created after billing problems were discovered by the Department of Health and Human Services in 2009.
  • AMA Financial Advice (PDF) – Resource helping medical billers make a smooth transition to 5010 without disruptions in cash flows.

Blogs and Forums

  • ICD-10 Trainer – Independent resource focused on medical coding. Includes a frequently-updated blog, tools, quizzes, and links to prominent health information websites.
  • Just Coding Forums – Includes links to several forums covering a wide range of health information systems topics.
  • AAPC Medical Billing and Coding Forums – As one of the most established health information resources, AAPC’s forums are home to one of the most popular health information forums online.
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics – BLS’s overview of the medical records and health information technician field of work. Contains census data on the nature of work, education and training requirements, job outlook, and expected salaries.

Find a program near you
Select a State

Being a stickler for details is very crucial for employers of medical billers and coders. Pupils that are training to receive their medical coding and billing degree or certificate in Alabama should not take that fact lightly. You should know … Programs in Alabama Medical Billing and Coding Training

Being a stickler for details is very crucial for employers of medical billers and coders. Pupils that are training to receive their medical coding and billing degree or certificate in Alaska should not take that fact lightly. You should know that … Programs in Alaska Medical Billing and Coding Training

Employers that hire medical biller and coders look for people that have natural attention to detail or have acquired to have good attention to detail while they earn their medical and billing training in Arizona. You should know that the … Programs in Arizona Medical Billing and Coding Training

Being a stickler for details is very crucial for employers of medical billers and coders. Students that are training to get their medical coding and billing degree or certificate in Arkansas should not take that fact lightly. You should know … Programs in Arkansas Medical Billing and Coding Training

Being a stickler for details is very crucial for employers of medical billers and coders. Students that are training to obtain their medical coding and billing degree or certificate in California should not take that fact lightly. It is vital … Programs in California Medical Billing and Coding Training

Employers that hire medical biller and coders look for individuals that have ready attention to detail or have acquired to have good attention to detail while they earn their medical and billing training in Colorado. Students of medical billing and … Programs in Colorado Medical Billing and Coding Training

Employers that hire medical biller and coders look for individuals that have natural attention to detail or have acquired to have good attention to detail while they earn their medical and billing training in Connecticut. You should know that the … Programs in Connecticut Medical Billing and Coding Training

There are many aspects to medical billing and coding training. However, the supreme concern for employers of those with medical coding and billing training that were acquired in Delaware is attention to detail. Students of medical billing and coding should … Programs in Delaware Medical Billing and Coding Training

Employers that hire medical biller and coders look for people that have ready attention to detail or have learned to have good attention to detail while they earn their medical and billing training in Florida. You should know that the … Programs in Florida Medical Billing and Coding Training

Employers that hire medical biller and coders look for individuals that have ready attention to detail or have learned to have good attention to detail while they earn their medical and billing training in Georgia. You should know that the … Programs in Georgia Medical Billing and Coding Training

Employers that hire medical biller and coders look for individuals that have ready attention to detail or have learned to have good attention to detail while they earn their medical and billing training in Hawaii. It is vital for anyone … Programs in Hawaii Medical Billing and Coding Training

Being a stickler for details is very crucial for employers of medical billers and coders. Students that are training to obtain their medical coding and billing degree or certificate in Idaho should not take that fact lightly. Students of medical … Programs in Idaho Medical Billing and Coding Training

Being a stickler for details is very important for employers of medical billers and coders. Students that are training to acquire their medical coding and billing degree or certificate in Illinois should not take that fact lightly. You should know … Programs in Illinois Medical Billing and Coding Training

Being a stickler for details is very important for employers of medical billers and coders. Pupils that are training to obtain their medical coding and billing degree or certificate in Indiana should not take that fact lightly. It is vital … Programs in Indiana Medical Billing and Coding Training

There are many views to medical billing and coding training. However, the supreme concern for employers of those with medical coding and billing training that were obtained in Iowa is attention to detail. Students of medical billing and coding should … Programs in Iowa Medical Billing and Coding Training

Employers that hire medical biller and coders look for people that have natural attention to detail or have learned to have good attention to detail while they earn their medical and billing training in Kansas. Students of medical billing and … Programs in Kansas Medical Billing and Coding Training

There are many views to medical billing and coding training. However, the paramount concern for employers of those with medical coding and billing training that were acquired in Kentucky is attention to detail. Students of medical billing and coding should … Programs in Kentucky Medical Billing and Coding Training

There are many views to medical billing and coding training. However, the paramount concern for employers of those with medical coding and billing training that were acquired in Louisiana is attention to detail. You should know that the job could … Programs in Louisiana Medical Billing and Coding Training

Being a stickler for details is very important for employers of medical billers and coders. Pupils that are training to receive their medical coding and billing degree or certificate in Maine should not take that fact lightly. It is vital … Programs in Maine Medical Billing and Coding Training

There are many aspects to medical billing and coding training. However, the supreme concern for employers of those with medical coding and billing training that were obtained in Maryland is attention to detail. You should know that the job could … Programs in Maryland Medical Billing and Coding Training

There are many aspects to medical billing and coding training. However, the overriding concern for employers of those with medical coding and billing training that were acquired in Massachusetts is attention to detail. It is vital for anyone in this … Programs in Massachusetts Medical Billing and Coding Training

Being a stickler for details is very important for employers of medical billers and coders. Pupils that are training to get their medical coding and billing degree or certificate in Michigan should not take that fact lightly. Students of medical … Programs in Michigan Medical Billing and Coding Training

Employers that hire medical biller and coders look for individuals that have natural attention to detail or have acquired to have good attention to detail while they earn their medical and billing training in Minnesota. It is vital for anyone … Programs in Minnesota Medical Billing and Coding Training

There are many aspects to medical billing and coding training. However, the paramount concern for employers of those with medical coding and billing training that were acquired in Wyoming is attention to detail. It is vital for anyone in this … Programs in Wyoming Medical Billing and Coding Training

There are many views to medical billing and coding training. However, the overriding concern for employers of those with medical coding and billing training that were obtained in Mississippi is attention to detail. Students of medical billing and coding should … Programs in Mississippi Medical Billing and Coding Training

Employers that hire medical biller and coders look for individuals that have natural attention to detail or have acquired to have good attention to detail while they earn their medical and billing training in Missouri. It is vital for anyone … Programs in Missouri Medical Billing and Coding Training

Being a stickler for details is very essential for employers of medical billers and coders. Students that are training to receive their medical coding and billing degree or certificate in Montana should not take that fact lightly. It is vital … Programs in Montana Medical Billing and Coding Training

There are many aspects to medical billing and coding training. However, the supreme concern for employers of those with medical coding and billing training that were acquired in Nebraska is attention to detail. Students of medical billing and coding should … Programs in Nebraska Medical Billing and Coding Training

There are many aspects to medical billing and coding training. However, the dominant concern for employers of those with medical coding and billing training that were acquired in Nevada is attention to detail. You should know that the job could … Programs in Nevada Medical Billing and Coding Training

Employers that hire medical biller and coders look for people that have ready attention to detail or have learned to have good attention to detail while they earn their medical and billing training in New Hampshire. Students of medical billing … Programs in New Hampshire Medical Billing and Coding Training

Employers that hire medical biller and coders look for individuals that have natural attention to detail or have acquired to have good attention to detail while they earn their medical and billing training in New Jersey. You should know that … Programs in New Jersey Medical Billing and Coding Training

There are many aspects to medical billing and coding training. However, the overriding concern for employers of those with medical coding and billing training that were obtained in New Mexico is attention to detail. It is vital for anyone in … Programs in New Mexico Medical Billing and Coding Training

There are many views to medical billing and coding training. However, the paramount concern for employers of those with medical coding and billing training that were acquired in New York is attention to detail. It is vital for anyone in … Programs in New York Medical Billing and Coding Training

There are many views to medical billing and coding training. However, the overriding concern for employers of those with medical coding and billing training that were obtained in North Carolina is attention to detail. It is vital for anyone in … Programs in North Carolina Medical Billing and Coding Training

Being a stickler for details is very essential for employers of medical billers and coders. Students that are training to receive their medical coding and billing degree or certificate in North Dakota should not take that fact lightly. You should … Programs in North Dakota Medical Billing and Coding Training

There are many aspects to medical billing and coding training. However, the paramount concern for employers of those with medical coding and billing training that were obtained in Ohio is attention to detail. Students of medical billing and coding should … Programs in Ohio Medical Billing and Coding Training

Being a stickler for details is very important for employers of medical billers and coders. Pupils that are training to acquire their medical coding and billing degree or certificate in Oklahoma should not take that fact lightly. It is vital … Programs in Oklahoma Medical Billing and Coding Training

Employers that hire medical biller and coders look for people that have natural attention to detail or have acquired to have good attention to detail while they earn their medical and billing training in Oregon. Students of medical billing and … Programs in Oregon Medical Billing and Coding Training

There are many aspects to medical billing and coding training. However, the dominant concern for employers of those with medical coding and billing training that were acquired in Pennsylvania is attention to detail. Students of medical billing and coding should … Programs in Pennsylvania Medical Billing and Coding Training

Employers that hire medical biller and coders look for people that have natural attention to detail or have learned to have good attention to detail while they earn their medical and billing training in Rhode Island. Students of medical billing … Programs in Rhode Island Medical Billing and Coding Training

Employers that hire medical biller and coders look for people that have natural attention to detail or have acquired to have good attention to detail while they earn their medical and billing training in South Carolina. Students of medical billing … Programs in South Carolina Medical Billing and Coding Training

Employers that hire medical biller and coders look for people that have natural attention to detail or have acquired to have good attention to detail while they earn their medical and billing training in South Dakota. You should know that … Programs in South Dakota Medical Billing and Coding Training

Employers that hire medical biller and coders look for individuals that have natural attention to detail or have learned to have good attention to detail while they earn their medical and billing training in Tennessee. It is vital for anyone … Programs in Tennessee Medical Billing and Coding Training

Employers that hire medical biller and coders look for individuals that have natural attention to detail or have acquired to have good attention to detail while they earn their medical and billing training in Texas. It is vital for anyone … Programs in Texas Medical Billing and Coding Training

Being a stickler for details is very important for employers of medical billers and coders. Pupils that are training to obtain their medical coding and billing degree or certificate in Utah should not take that fact lightly. You should know … Programs in Utah Medical Billing and Coding Training

There are many aspects to medical billing and coding training. However, the paramount concern for employers of those with medical coding and billing training that were obtained in Vermont is attention to detail. You should know that the job could … Programs in Vermont Medical Billing and Coding Training

Being a stickler for details is very important for employers of medical billers and coders. Pupils that are training to get their medical coding and billing degree or certificate in Virginia should not take that fact lightly. Students of medical … Programs in Virginia Medical Billing and Coding Training

Employers that hire medical biller and coders look for people that have ready attention to detail or have acquired to have good attention to detail while they earn their medical and billing training in Washington. It is vital for anyone … Programs in Washington Medical Billing and Coding Training

There are many aspects to medical billing and coding training. However, the overriding concern for employers of those with medical coding and billing training that were acquired in West Virginia is attention to detail. It is vital for anyone in … Programs in West Virginia Medical Billing and Coding Training

There are many aspects to medical billing and coding training. However, the overriding concern for employers of those with medical coding and billing training that were acquired in Wisconsin is attention to detail. It is vital for anyone in this … Programs in Wisconsin Medical Billing and Coding Training