Can You Work from Home as a Medical Coder and Who is Hiring

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My recent decision to work from home led me to explore the possibility of medical coding as a viable option. I needed to look deep into this.

Can you work as a medical coder from home? Who would hire you?Working from home offers multiple choices nowadays. Medical coding is a fulfilling career option that suits a remote worker very well.  It works great for both the worker as well as the company. There are many companies and institutions that require remote workers in this industry and you can easily find openings through various job portals.

One is bound to have questions regarding medical coding, what qualifications are needed, how easy or difficult it is to work from home, etc. I will proceed to share some valuable inputs with you.

Looking at all aspects of medical coding

What is medical coding?

Medical coding or medical classificationis the process of transforming medical diagnoses, procedures, equipment and services into an alphanumeric code that is internationally recognized and understood. After a physician examines a patient, his records as well as laboratory tests and findings contain these codes. The primary job of a medical coder is to apply the right codes to the patient’s records so that billing can be appropriately and accurately done. This job needs to be done with utmost care since medical insurance and processing will come into play.

History of Medical Coding

The need for medical coding has been felt since ages; even when the medical industry was nowhere near as humungous in size as it is now.  Way back in the 1800s, French physician Jacques Bertillon introduced the first medical coding system called Bertillon Classification of Causes of Death. It was renamed International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries and Causes of Death around the 1940s. This system was later streamlined and given shape by CMS (The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) to what it is today, in the form of ICD and CPT that became internationally recognized and accepted in these times.

Why are Codes Needed in the First Place?

Let us understand why codes are needed at all and why cannot just a simple diagnosis and treatment plan work. Even for the simplest of illnesses, there is a huge amount of patient data that is generated.  Imagine the number increase manifold for a patient with a history of medical problems and a serious illness with complications.  How exponentially the amount of data increases when this is applied worldwide is something beyond imagination.  How then are insurance companies supposed to keep track?

This is where coding comes in.  Firstly, they help encode huge amounts of data into manageable groups for insurance companies. Secondly, these codes are internationally recognized so a physician anywhere in the world can identify your case with your codes. Lastly, codes help big medical institutions into streamlining their services.

What are the Types of Medical Coding?

There are three types of medical codes in use within the medical community.

  1. ICD.This stands for International Classification of Diseases. These codes are mainly used for diagnostic purposes. It was created by the WHO in the 1940s. 
  2. CPT. This denotes Current Procedure Terminology. Any kind of medical procedure performed in a hospital or clinic has a CPT code. They are 5-digit codes divided into three further categories.
  3.  HCPCS. This stands for Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System. These sets of codes are based on CPT codes. They are used for services or procedures that are not covered by CPT codes.  They have further been classified into two levels.

Becoming a Medical Coder- Job Roles and Qualifications

 Job roles of a medical coder

  • Assign codes as per ICD and CPT rules.
  • Make sure the codes are accurate and in keeping with insurance rules.
  • Elaborate on the code information with online programs.
  • Cross check with physicists about codes.
  • Liaise with patient, hospital and insurer about any incomplete documentation. 

Preparing Yourself to become a Medical Coder

You need to have thorough knowledge of physiology, anatomy and medical terminology as a first step to becoming a successful medical coder.  You will have to finish a medical coding course and pass the exam to qualify as a CPC (Certified Professional Coder). There are various courses on offer to enrol for and study to become a medical coder. There are other certifications too besides CPC that one can study for, like COC (Certified Outpatient Coder), CIC (Certified Inpatient Coder), CRC (Certified Risk Adjustment Coder), RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician), CCS-P ( Certified Coding Specialist – Physician Based), etc. 

You can further choose to do specialty coding courses which enable you to be even more precise and niche in your work. There are many specialities to choose from:

  • Ambulatory Surgical Center – CASCC
  • Cardiology – CC
  • Evaluation and Management – CEMC
  • Hematology and Oncology – CHONC
  • Interventional Radiology and Cardiovascular – CIRCC
  • Paediatrics – CPEDC
  • Rheumatology – CRHC 
  • Emergency Department – CEDC

……and many other specializations offered by AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders).

Can You do a Coding Course Online?

There are multiple websites that offer certified coding courses that you can pursue online.  The only aspect you need to keep in mind is whether the certification provided is internationally recognized.

  • You have the freedom to study at home in your own time.
  • You can also prepare for this along with a parallel job that you are doing.
  • You get to save on costs of going into a structured college.
  • There is always help at hand online if you get stuck at some point.

How Can You Prepare for an Interview for Medical Coding from Home?

Here I have tried to give you an insight on how to prepare to face an interview for a medical coding job from home.

  • Thorough knowledge of medical terminology.
  • Having all kinds of medical code knowledge.
  • Stressing on your specialization area.
  • Convince the interview panel about your commitment towards the job.
  • Having a back-up plan in cases of technical glitches.
  • Having a plan ready on how to deal with domestic exigencies in the face of looming deadlines.
  • Impress upon them how you plan to keep up with the ever-changing medical scenario.

Working from Home as a Medical Coder

Different places where medical coders can find work

Health is an aspect of life that affects everyone. Even a healthy person requires periodic health checks in order to remain healthy.  In the case of those who unfortunately are not blessed with good health, medical assistance becomes a part of life. It is surprising how many different institutions from all walks of life employ medical coding personnel.

  1. Hospitals and physician offices.This is expected and they are the most common employers for medical coders. They need to sort and store immense amount of complicated data at a time.
  2. Insurance offices. This one is obvious too, since insurance companies need the services of coders to analyze and process patient claims. They need to look for any gaps in documentation.
  3. Government offices.There are many openings in the government setting for medical coders, working in jobs that are to do with healthcare schemes and programs run by any government.
  4. Educational institutions.In order to create a new generation of medical coders in sync with the latest updates in healthcare industry, there is need for qualified coders.  Teaching coding will require some years of experience in this industry before you can impart knowledge. 
  5. Healthcare consulting.With healthcare becoming bigger with each passing day, sometimes big hospitals require consulting services in order to design and implement solutions for better services.
  6. Healthcare IT development.Creating newer and more streamlined software to deal with this burgeoning industry needs IT developers to work closely with coders in order to understand the nuances, so that they can develop appropriate software.
  7. Law offices. Healthcare billing fraud is a big challenge that faces this industry.  With the help of a qualified medical coder, investigation into suspect claims can be done. One needs to have detailed knowledge of laws and rules along with coding information.
  8. Work from home coding.Last and definitely not the least, working from home as a medical coder is an established option. It is a job that can be easily done digitally.

Companies Hiring Work from Home Medical Coders

There are many companies that look for trained medical coding professionals to work from home. In addition there are big hospitals and medical corporations that look for medical coders to handle the immense volume of patient data and to interface with insurance companies. You need to search on portals online to look for jobs. Here are some companies who look for medical coders in remote settings:

  1. Aviacode
  2. Conifer Health Solutions
  3. The Coding Network
  4. Humana
  5. Maxim Healthcare Services
  6. United Healthcare Group
  7. Change Healthcare
  8. Himagine Solutions

As stated at the onset, these are only a few of many companies that provide work to home-based medical coders. Searching online is a very good way of looking for such jobs.

What Qualities do Companies Look for in Remote Workers?

Given the remote nature of work, companies hiring you will be looking for certain qualities aside from certification and education.

  • Precision.
  • Self-motivated.
  • Troubleshooting skills.
  • Analytical mind.
  • Moral values and respect for privacy.
  • Commitment to HIPAA compliance.
  • Technical awareness.
  • Communication skills.
  • Efficiency.
  • Ability to work with data.
  • Keenness to stay abreast.
  • Willingness to stick to deadlines.

Pluses and Minuses of Medical Coding from Home

Like with any other job description, medical coding work has its own pluses and minuses. We take a look at some of these in the context of working from home.

Pluses

  • Flexible hours.
  • It is in demand.
  • No need for on site visit.
  • Freelancing option.
  • Work from anywhere.
  • Part of healthcare setup.
  • Social impact.

Minuses

  • Long working hours.
  • Tedious medical study.
  • Memorizing innumerable codes.
  • Continuous focus needed.
  • Rejected claims reflect on you.
  • Technical glitches are a hassle.

Countering the Tedium of Working from Home

Once you finish studying for a medical coding course you have two choices: to work on site or from home. In case you choose to work from home on this job, you need to know that there is always the spectre of boredom in the long run. The sameness of your routine when working from home can hurt productivity in the long run. You need to be aware of this possibility and take steps accordingly. Here is a brief look at some ways to counter monotony:

  • Take regular breaks.
  • Move around your work area.
  • Keep your interests and hobbies alive.
  • Factor in exercise routine.
  • Keep in touch with real people.
  • Go out and get a change of scene.
  • Do some chores during breaks that will not only counter monotony but also tackle the work load at home.

Steps to Ensure Best Productivity While Working from Home

It must be kept in mind that tedium can cause loss of productivity in the run long. You need to take steps to be in top working condition.

  1. Plan out your day.You need to plan meticulously in order to handle the challenges that working from home can throw up.  There might be a kid in the picture who will need your attention. You might need to be present at school events or doctor visits at times. Planning your day with emergencies factored in will help you finish work smoothly without getting stressed with deadlines.
  2. Stick to a schedule.There needs to be a schedule as to what time of the day you begin work, what times you are free to interact with family, which times you are going to be off limits.  Reinforcing your schedule with family will ensure their cooperation.
  3. Make sure your family helps out.A little help goes a long way in ensuring you have a smooth experience when working from home.  Chores need to be delegated and deadlines clearly spelt out so as to elicit cooperation from family members.
  4. Get your workplace ready.You have to remember that you are on your own in a home setting. While it is true that medical coding from home requires very little readiness as far as infrastructure is concerned, you still need to be totally ready.  A functional computer, very good internet connectivity and a working phone are a must when working with medical coding.
  5. Make your workspace off limits when you work.You need to focus intensely when working on medical coding.  There can be lots of distractions when you choose to work from home.  It is your duty to ensure people do not walk in when you are working. Remember every distraction will affect your productivity and break the momentum of work.

How Much Can You Expect to Earn as Work from Home Medical Coder?

  • As per records from 2019, average annual salary for a medical coder according to the AAPC would be $46,000-$53,000. As can be understood, working from home gives you certain advantages as far as making money in this industry is concerned. How motivated you are, how many hours you can put in, the quality of your work, all contribute to how much you can ultimately make from working as a medical coding professional.
  • In addition to what you can earn, there are significant savings with working from home.  Not only do you save on travel to and from work, there is also the fact that you need not dress up for an on-site job or maintain a wardrobe.
  • There is no perceptible difference in salaries for medical coders working on site or from home as reported by various agencies. Hiring companies do not, as a rule, make a difference when engaging with remote workers as far as remunerations are concerned.

Securing Yourself for Online Jobs- Critical Questions

Is your online job offer legitimate? Working from home offers are dime a dozen these days.  Unfortunately, many of these are not legitimate and are labelled as scams. According to an estimate, 60% of online jobs could be scams. You need to ascertain this aspect before you dive in. Unlikely promises should warn you immediately. Also, beware of offers that ask for you to invest money before you can begin. Checking the online presence of companies as well as user reviews need to be taken into account.

How do you fortify your computer against virus and malware?Working online and accessing different websites in the nature of online work. You need to make sure your virus protection is comprehensive and updated to avoid any exposure to virus attacks and malware of different types.

We have tried to focus on varied aspects of working from home as a medical coder. This article will certainly help you land a job that meets your expectations.

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