Trade Schools
Medical billers and coders are an important part of the healthcare system.
They perform many duties that may become mundane or stressful.
Learning thousands of codes when they start their job and learning new ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes as they come out can lead to several issues.
Sitting for most of the workday can lead to health problems.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is another health issue that can affect medical billers and coders.
These issues, plus the low entry-level salary, may lead medical billers and coders to seek alternative careers.
The top five alternative careers for medical billers and coders can help them to have a smooth transition and rewarding career.
List of Alternative Careers
People who earn medical billing and coding certificates have several fields to choose from if they want to change careers.
Exploring their options and completing the requirements can help them to easily transition to a new career.
1. Medical Records Technician
Description
Medical records technicians or medical records specialists compile patients’ files.
They maintain patients’ files and review them for accuracy and completeness.
Some other duties of medical records specialists include assigning clinical codes for patients’ diagnoses and services, entering information into an electronic health records system, and safeguarding the medical records of patients.
Transferable Skills
Medical billers and coders perform some duties that are similar to the duties of medical records technicians.
Making sure that patient records are complete and accurate, using computer skills daily, and communicating with healthcare professionals and insurance companies are some transferable skills.
The other transferable skills include having good communication skills, being detail-oriented, and knowing how to ensure the confidentiality of patients’ records.
Potential Requirements
Medical records specialists do not need to have a college degree.
Some employers may require their medical records specialists to earn a degree.
Earning an associate’s degree is required for people who need to have a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certification.
Sitting for the exam gives medical billers and coders an edge when they want to transition to a new career.
Benefits
Medical records technicians work in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, physician’s offices, and private companies.
People who choose this career may work any shift, which allows people to choose the best shift for their needs.
The career has an excellent job outlook, with job growth projections at much faster than average, compared to other professions.
2. Medical Claims Processor
Description
Insurance companies hire people to process claims and to work directly with medical practices for billing and payments.
Medical claims processors already need to have extensive medical billing and coding knowledge.
Medical claims processors are also responsible for verifying each patient’s eligibility and details of their coverage.
They are responsible for ensuring the completeness and accuracy of claims.
Transferable Skills
Medical billers and coders have many skills that are required of medical claims processors.
Ensuring the accuracy of patient information, having medical billing and coding knowledge and experience, having computer skills, and having organizational skills are examples of some transferable skills.
Potential Requirements
Employers may require that their medical claims processors already have extensive medical billing and coding experience.
They need to know the latest ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes.
Medical claims processors may need to have an additional certification.
One example is the Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist (CMRS) certification.
Benefits
The site salary.com indicates that, as of December 1, 2024, medical claims processors earn an average salary of $65,520.
The salary that they earn is more than the average salary for medical billers and coders.
Salary.com lists the average salary for medical billers and coders as $44,467.
Medical claims processors do not need to have a four-year college degree.
Some employers may require them to earn a certification.
Earning a certification can increase the opportunities for advancement.
3. Medical Assistant
Description
Medical assistants have many duties, including scheduling patients’ appointments, measuring patient vital signs, and entering patients’ vital signs and test results into the patient’s records.
Some other duties include helping physicians with medical examinations, giving patients medications or injections, as directed by the physician, and in accordance with state laws.
Transferable Skills
Medical billers and coders have the communication skills, organizational skills, and interpersonal skills that are needed by medical assistants.
Medical assistants use their multitasking skills and are detail-oriented, which are some skills that are used by medical billers and coders.
It is important that medical assistants, like medical billers and coders, understand the importance of maintaining patient confidentiality.
Potential Requirements
Medical assistants usually complete a certificate program.
Many medical assistants earn an associate’s degree.
Medical billers and coders may need to take additional classes if they have not completed courses in anatomy.
They may be able to learn new skills through on-the-job training.
Benefits
The 2023-2033 job outlook for medical assistants is much faster than average.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that there will be a 15 percent growth in the medical assistant field.
Medical billers and coders who want to work as medical assistants and who have an interest in working in a specialized area may have the opportunity to work at children’s hospitals or clinics, ophthalmology practices, orthopedic practices, or endocrinology practices.
4. Coding Auditor
Description
The duties of medical coding auditors include overseeing coding operations, training medical coders, and providing them with feedback.
Coding auditors also have the responsibility for performing audits.
They inspect documents for errors, correct mistakes, and report repeated mistakes to management.
Transferable Skills
Coding auditors, like medical billers and coders, need to be detail-oriented, have organizational skills, and need to maintain their coding knowledge.
They need to know the ICD codes, and they need to know any changes to the codes.
Potential Requirements
Medical coding auditors need to have several years of medical billing and coding experience.
Some employers require medical coding auditors to have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in coding or a related area.
Coding auditors need to earn a certification.
The AAPC offers the Certified Professional Medical Auditor (CPMA) certification.
Benefits
The average salary for coding auditors, as of December 1, 2024, was $66,905.
Coding auditors who have more experience or who live in certain areas of the U.S., may earn as much as $85,914 per year.
People who work as coding auditors have a good path to career advancement.
5. Medical and Health Services Manager
Description
Medical and health services managers are sometimes known by other names, such as healthcare administrators.
The duties of these healthcare executives include managing a certain department or area or managing an entire medical facility.
The responsibilities of medical and healthcare services managers may vary according to the employer.
They usually include recruiting and training staff, creating work schedules, and making sure that the department or facility complies with state and federal laws and regulations.
Medical and health services managers also set the policies and goals for their department or facility.
Transferable Skills
Medical billers and coders have several transferable skills that allow them to make a smooth transition to a medical and health services manager career.
Organizational skills, communication skills, attention to detail, and being able to work with various medical professionals are some transferable skills.
The transferable skills also include maintaining records and maintaining patient confidentiality.
Potential Requirements
Medical and health services managers need to earn a degree.
The required education varies by the employer.
Most medical and health services managers have a bachelor’s degree, although some may have an associate’s or a master’s degree.
Employers usually prefer applicants to have experience working in an administrative role or a clinical role.
Some medical and health services managers have experience working in medical offices, care facilities, or hospitals.
Certification is not required for medical and health services managers.
Many of them choose to earn a certification to demonstrate their expertise so that they have a good path to career advancement.
Benefits
The average salary for health services managers in 2023 was $110,680.
Compare this salary to the salary of medical billers and coders, which averages less than $45,000.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the job growth outlook for medical and health services managers to be much faster than average when compared to all other occupations.
The bureau indicates that there will be an estimated 61,400 openings for medical and health services managers each year, over the next decade.
Tips for Transitioning Careers
- Learning a few tips can help medical billers and coders make a smooth transition into an alternative career. Earning a certificate in medical billing and coding often opens doors that can lead to a new career.
- Leveraging their existing skills, both in resumes and interviews gives medical billers or coders an advantage when they want to change careers. Gaining experience in the field also helps with the career transition.
- Changing careers may require earning a degree or a certification. Checking the educational requirements and the job requirements for a new career is important for anyone in the medical billing and coding industry who wants to change careers.
- Exploring freelance opportunities can help with transitioning into a new career. It gives people with medical coding and billing experience the opportunity to learn about their desired career and to gain experience.
Conclusion
Medical billing and coding is sometimes a considered stepping stone for people who want a healthcare career.
Some people who work in medical billing and coding change careers because of low pay, the repetitive nature of the job, or for other reasons.
Various alternative careers offer a higher salary, opportunities for advancement, and a good job outlook.
Transitioning to a new career may require earning an additional certificate or degree.
Some alternative careers require that employees earn a certification.
Taking the steps to learn about alternative careers and to meet the requirements can help people who work in medical billing and coding to have a smooth career transition.
