Medical Coding: Myths vs Reality

Considering medical coding as your career option? But when you were gathering the information, you might come across some rumors that can drive you away from your goals.

Medical coding is among the top-ranking and lucrative career options who are looking for a high-paying, recession-free, top-notch career. Although it’s been a long time since medical coding was introduced to the healthcare industry, the growth of this profession has shown tremendous in recent years.

Anything that gets popular comes with a lot of myths and misinterpretations. So in medical coding. So medical coders require to possess concrete and appropriate knowledge at a level of expertise that enables them to act with impeccable accuracy. so, Let’s investigate certain myths and the reality related to medical coding.

Myth 1: medical coding is same as the medical billing

A popular myth that spread among the learners is that medical coding is the Same as medical billing. but that’s not true actually. Although medical coders and billers work together, both are two different jobs.

Medical coding generally refers to translating medical records, services, procedures, diagnoses, and supplies into alphanumeric codes. These codes are generally used by the payers to accomplish multiple purposes like ensuring that healthcare providers get reimbursed for their services and supplies.

But on the other hand, medical billing refers to the submission of health insurance claims on the behalf of patients to various health insurance payors to acquire payment for services provided in a medical facility.

Myth 2:Work from home is permitted only for the experienced coders

In earlier days, working from home is a nightmare for everyone even for the experienced coder. But the COVID pandemic introduced the work-from-home option for everyone.

In previous days, the employers wanted everyone to work from office premises for smooth conduction of work and effective monitoring of performance. However, the experienced one has the access to perform their duties from the convention of homes.

The COVID pandemic situation becomes the testing period for employers and the work-from-home option becomes mandatory for everyone. When the coders started working from home, they were able to meet their productivity and quality as well. This build the trust of employers in fresher medical coders and it led to ease of the work from home even for the freshers.

Myth 3: Medical coding is the same as the data entry

As medical coding is a job that has mandatory use of a computer, anyone new to medical coding can be confused that it is just a data entry job. But the fact is the medical coder uses his medical knowledge of anatomy, and physiology to analyze the medical records and to apply the proper coding guidelines to assign correct codes.

To become a medical coder, One must spend more time reading, analyzing, and reviewing the physician’s notes for the proper assignment of the codes based on the service provided to the patient.

As you know, medical coding is a better career option, a survey indicates there will be a huge opening for medical coders and medical billers by 2024. So with proper training, learning, and good hands-on experience under the supervision of experienced coders, anyone can excel in their medical coding career. Remember, with proper dedication, hard work, regular learning, and expertise, you can lead a shining career in the healthcare industry.

Myth 4: It is easy for newly certified coders to get their first job

Medical coding is a very stable profession. Everyone in the world falls a disease many a time and visits a physician. Considering that every record of a patient must be coded, iso no doubt medical coders are in demand, and job growth is rising continuously.

As per a survey by the Bureau of Labour Statistics, there is a 7.7% increase in employment opportunities for medical coders in the next decade. So everyone has a myth that it is very easy to get a job in the field of medical coding.

But that’s not true actually. Every employer wants their medical coder to be an experience or professional one. So they employ those who have good hands-on experience in the desired field. Besides, experience plays an important role in the job. So the students need to gain some experience beforehand while doing the certification program.

If you are taking your coaching at Gulf Medical Coding, we help you to give your placement in numerous healthcare sectors that assist you in gaining some experience. Besides, we also help you gain the practical exposure that makes you able the work in the industry.

Myth 5: Medical coding is easy

Some people think that medical coding is much easier as medical coding is just about sitting behind a desk and just working on the computer without taking the blood pressure up or performing phlebotomy. But in fact, medical coding is the procedure of translating the medical diagnosis and procedure into alphanumeric codes that needs a strong understanding and knowledge of the human body and its system and the possible issues of a patient.

Besides, the current version of ICD has relatively 68,000 different codes in it. Although the medical coder may not need to memorize that, they should have the proper idea of where to find these codes and a certain level of comfort with the codes that are used regularly. Besides, as these codes are foreign languages, medical coders may need to be familiar with those codes.

If you ask a medical coder about their work, they will surely say that’s not easy. The fact is you need to be very tough, organized, and detail-oriented to become a medical coder. Besides, you should have a good understanding of medical coding, medical terminology, physiology, anatomy, and various insurance policies.

Conclusion

As you read the article this far, this might clear all the rumors that are rolling in your mind.
So are ready to take up your career in medical coding?

In the end, it is not a myth. At Gulf Medical Coding we offer you intensive, hands-on training to help you to achieve your medical coding career goals. If you want to start your career or change your career to a new one, we will be always there to help you in every step.

So if you are interested to start your training program, choose Gulf Medical coding undoubtedly.