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An online medical billing and coding associate degree is a two-year program that helps you prepare for jobs in physicians' offices, hospitals, medical clinics, and insurance companies. The curriculum taught in this associate degree program helps familiarize you with medical insurance billing and claims procedures.

In a medical billing and coding program, you'll explore the U.S. medical coding system known as the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (), which includes the Current Procedural Terminology (). You'll also become familiar with the most current International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (), which is ICD-11. These complex systems use unique strings of numerical codes to identify specific diagnoses for insurance claims, billing, and data analysis.

It takes approximately two years for full-time students to complete the required 60 semester credit hours in an online medical billing and coding associate degree program. Coursework generally includes 15 general education, 15 elective, and 30 core program credit hours. Programs typically don't include a capstone project as part of the graduation requirements. Students should qualify for entry-level billing and coding jobs and industry credentialing exams after graduating from a medical billing and coding associate degree program.

Choosing a program at an accredited school is also imperative. Employers often require their applicants to hold degrees from accredited institutions. In addition, it can allow you to transfer credits to another program if you choose to return to school. The U.S. Department of Education can verify a school's .  

Courses in an online medical billing and coding degree program support the curriculum that aims to prepare students with a thorough understanding of physiology, anatomy, biology, billing and coding technology, and medical terminology. This knowledge is imperative to understanding how to apply diagnosis and procedure coding to healthcare records, file insurance claims, and bill patients for services rendered by providers.

• Clinical Documentation: Integrity and Quality: Coursework covers the importance of having accurate and complete data for analysis and presentation. Topics may also include quality assurance, utilization review, risk management, reimbursement, and ethics in the healthcare industry.
• Computer Software Applications in Healthcare: Instruction explores the most commonly used software tools and applications used in healthcare data processing (including billing and coding), such as computer-assisted coding. Coursework also addresses the need for security in regard to health information.
• Healthcare Delivery Systems: This course introduces students to organizational, financial, and regulatory issues that may impact different healthcare delivery systems. Topics may include continuum of care, evolution and trends in managed healthcare, staffing, productivity, and quality improvement methods. 
• Insurance Claims, Processing, and Adjudication: Discussions acquaint students with the various types of insurance programs available and the billing formats and claim forms used by each. Assignments can help develop students' skills in mastering insurance billing and adjudication and reimbursement methodologies while maintaining regulatory compliance. 

An associate degree in medical billing and coding can prepare you for a career as a biller and coder in a variety of health organizations. Although job titles may vary from organization to organization, roles are similar.

• are healthcare information specialists compile, process, and maintain patients' medical records and classify and code diagnoses for billing and data analysis. They play an integral role in the revenue cycle.
• In smaller offices, may be responsible for coding and billing along with scheduling appointments, recording medical charts, and reporting.
• While about one-third of work in hospitals, others apply their extensive knowledge of coding classification systems to patient records in physician offices and outpatient care centers. Some may work as registrars in clinics that treat specific populations, such as cancer patients, reviewing patient records and pathology reports for accuracy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary of those in this position is $50,250 and the job growth projection is 7% through the next decade. 

Earning additional certifications or a four-year degree may help you with career advancement. For example, an online associate degree in medical billing and coding may be only the first step on your career path toward a bachelor's degree in healthcare administration or a healthcare management degree. These degrees can help prepare you for medical and health services manager roles. Furthering your education may help you obtain mid- to advanced-level billing and coding positions or other jobs within the healthcare system. 

According to the BLS, no U.S. state requires medical billers and coders to have certification. However, many employers prefer to hire certified applicants to demonstrate competencies. Additionally, becoming certified may increase your earnings potential and opportunities for job growth. 

Several organizations offer medical billing and coding certification exams for credentialing. Some of the most popular are the AHIMA, the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), and the National Healthcare Association (NHA).

• Certified Coding Associate (CCA)
• Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)
• Certified Coding Specialist - Physician-Based (CCS-P)
• Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)
• Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)
• Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner (CDIP)

• Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
• Certified Outpatient Coder (COC)
• Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC)
• Certified Professional Biller (CPB)
• Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC)

• Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)
• Certified Billing & Coding Specialist (CBCS)
• Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS)

The potential value of a medical billing and coding program will ultimately depend on your financial goals, career interests, and aptitudes. 

The skills employers look for when hiring billers and coders include customer service, technical aptitude, data entry, accounting, and attention to detail, to name a few. If these skills are in your wheelhouse and you have an interest or prior experience in the medical field, billing and coding may be a worthwhile pursuit. However, there are other pros and cons to weigh when making this decision: 

Benefits

• You can complete a medical billing and coding program online. This can be a convenient way to learn targeted job skills if you have a busy schedule or live far from an accredited school. You can also take your certification exam online. 
• Medical billing and coding is a growing field at a critical time. As healthcare becomes increasingly reliant on digital data, more health information specialists will be needed to organize the influx of information. Additionally, as the U.S. population continues to age, people will require more medical services, resulting in additional data needing to be processed. 
• Several large national employers hire medical billers and coders, according to data from Burning Glass Technologies. For example, Guidehouse, Anthem Blue Cross, UnitedHealth Group, and Humana employ a majority of billers and coders. 

Drawbacks

• Coding is not as easy as it may seem. Tens of thousands of codes have been created to apply to various diagnoses and health conditions, and more are added each year. Each symptom and diagnosis is assigned a code, which are strung together to paint a clear picture of a patient's health. These coding structures often change, and it's up to you to keep your skills current beyond your initial training. 
• To land a job, you may need certification and work experience in addition to education. While U.S. states do not require licensure for coders and billers, employers may only employ those who are certified, even for entry-level positions. Others may also want to see practical work experience, such as internships or externships. 
• Medical billing and coding is a sedentary job, which can be unhealthy. This type of work requires sitting for long periods and typing, which can be and lead to health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. It'll take active measures to avoid these health risks, such as utilizing a standing desk or taking regular screen breaks.