Completing career training in medical billing may both qualify you for jobs and make you more competitive in the healthcare industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that many jobs in medical billing require only a high school diploma, making a college degree in this specialty a competitive advantage. Earning your bachelor's degree in medical billing through online education can qualify you for senior medical billing positions and other opportunities in healthcare payment systems. Online education programs in medical billing are likely to focus on the following courses:
- Medical records management
- Insurance and reimbursement
- Patient communications
- Medical coding
After earning your college degree online, you may qualify for medical billing positions at hospitals and physician's offices. It is possible to work onsite at a healthcare center, but it is also sometimes possible to work from home. A degree can give you more career options in medical billing.
Career Outlook
- Number of Medical Records and Health Information Technicians in the US: 186,300
- Most common employers: Medical and surgical hospitals; state, local, and private
- Mean hourly wage: $18.68
- Mean annual wage: $18.68
- States with highest employment: California, Texas, Florida, Ohio, New York
- Highest paying states: District of Columbia, New Jersey, Hawaii, Maryland, California
- Typical coursework: medical terminology, health care insurance reimbursement methodologies
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292071.htm