For any medical organization, skillful medical coders are necessary because they are the pillar of revenue cycle management. To streamline the RCM and increase the financial health of medical practices through professional coding, medical coders require some technical and non-technical skills. Such skills play a significant role in building a promising career for medical coders and are equally crucial for any medical facility in terms of accuracy, competency, compliance, efficiency, and reimbursement. A study published in the Journal of Medical Practice Management found that medical coders with knowledge of specific specialties & skills had higher accuracy rates in coding diagnoses and procedures. A medical coder can perform to his competencies and improve performance by having particular coding skills. Adding more, possessing the capabilities can also result in more positive feedback on your job, which enhances your self-esteem and motivates you to keep going. Moreover, having a diverse set of skills is vital for medical coders to ensure they can effectively and efficiently code for different medical services and diagnoses. When engaging in this medical position as a medical coder, some skills would help produce significant advantages.
One survey done by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) in 2018 states that medical coding professionals need to possess a combination of technical and critical thinking skills, as well as a strong knowledge of medical terminology and anatomy, to be successful in their field. Let’s talk about some soft skills for medical billing and coding and also explain some hard skills for medical billing and coding.
Medical coders communicate directly with healthcare practitioners and insurance companies. Interaction with practitioners is necessary to clear everything about patients’ charts, such as medical records, diagnosis, treatment, services, etc., to apply accurate coding. Interaction with insurance companies is also done by coders so that they can use codes and submit claims according to insurers’ rules and regulations. As this communication is a crucial and complicated task, a medical coder must have effective communicative capabilities.
Some significant elements of communication that are necessary are:
Coding is a complicated task that requires time, effort, and accuracy; therefore, medical coders must possess the skills to implement and adapt new technologies such as EHR systems, EMR systems, Document management software, Microsoft office, etc.
The primary benefit of modern technology is that it streamlines every task, saves time, lessens manual paperwork, and eliminates any errors that can impact the overall medical procedure. Moreover;
Provide a suitable platform: The technologies offer a proper system for medical practices to keep track of patient clinical records, including their history, diagnoses, and treatments. Quick insurance verification:The technologies efficiently determine the validity and eligibility of the insurance.
Improves coding process: It significantly enhances the payment and coding procedures by eliminating inconsistencies.
Accurate claims: It helps in making sure that insurance companies receive valid claims without the possibility of denial and assisting in the early payments of medical bills to the practitioner.
Strong computer skills are essential for medical coders because they use technology to access and input codes, navigate the software programs necessary for the coding process, and search for information and troubleshoot any issues that may arise.
The knowledge and understanding of medical terminologies are essential for medical coders as it is the foundation for assigning valid codes and ensuring reimbursement. According to a survey conducted by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the top skills needed for medical coders include knowledge of coding systems, such as ICD-10 and CPT, as well as proficiency in medical terminology and anatomy.
A survey conducted by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) found that “knowledge of medical terminology is the most important skill for medical coders.” The survey also found that “coders with a strong understanding of medical terminology were more likely to pass certification exams and to be successful in their careers.”
Active listening skills are necessary for medical coders to ensure accurate coding and billing for medical procedures and treatments:
Incomplete documentation causing inaccurate coding leads to revenue loss (Andrea Garcia, Lee Revere, et al., 2017). Therefore, attention to detail is an essential characteristic or skill set for any medical coder because:
Doctors are notorious for having poor writing that an ordinary man hardly understands. In contrast, a medical coder must have the capability to understand and read the report to implement correct codes.
A medical coder has the effective talent of understanding medical terminologies, anatomy, and physiology terms because they must transcribe this information into codes.
Time is the prominent factor in successful revenue cycle management. When coders apply codes timely, the claims will be sent to insurance companies on time, hence a quick billing process and reimbursement. Moreover, they must work within strict deadlines; therefore, time management is a crucial skill that a coder must possess to help medical organizations in proficient billing.
A recent study by ZipRecruiter, a job search platform, ranked Nevada as the fourth-best state for medical coders, with an average salary of $68,000 per year. This is significantly higher than the national average salary for medical coders, estimated to be around $50,000 annually. Additionally, various healthcare organizations in Nevada, such as Renown Health and the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, have been recognized as leading employers in the field, offering competitive salaries and benefits to their medical coding employees.
Medical coders daily deal with patients’ information and records for accurate coding and billing. Therefore, each coder needs to have the skills to keep this record private and stay compliant with HIPAA rules to maintain privacy. Staying compliant with HIPAA rules and maintaining the discretion of patients’ records is beneficial for coders and medical practices to escape heavy fines.
Having excellent typing skills allows medical coders to quickly and efficiently navigate through these records, reducing the risk of errors and increasing the speed at which they can complete their work. This is particularly important in busy healthcare settings where coders may be responsible for coding large volumes of medical records daily.
Medical coding is the field that changes the rules and regulations frequently, and hence medical coders need to stay updated with coding rules to ensure that the codes they assign are accurate and up-to-date and that claims are processed correctly. If a coder assigns an outdated or incorrect code, the claim may be denied or delayed, resulting in lost revenue for the healthcare provider. Additionally, staying up to date with coding rules helps to ensure compliance with regulations and laws; this can prevent penalties and legal issues.
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