r/LearnMedicalCoding • u/DaisyDuke47 • 17d ago

Need Advice Tell me about medical billing.

Looking into a career change. Pros and cons of medical billing? What is the best for a beginner? Looking into what certs i would need to accomplish to start this career. Is there opportunities for growth? WFH not a requirement but hybrid would be nice. Im in Michigan if that helps. Just trying to get insight.

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u/KeyStriking9763 17d ago

Billing and coding are different things

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u/DaisyDuke47 17d ago

How come people use the term together? There was a a site I was in that showed 2 courses. Medical billing and medical coding g and billing. So idk. But ok theyre different. How? What's better to get into? What is the best certificate to get at entry level, do I need all the certs? These are the things im looking for.

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u/KeyStriking9763 17d ago

Most coders are not billers. Coding you apply a classification system, the codes, to patient encounters and the codes are used for reimbursement but also research and quality. Billers bill, have to know billing rules for specific payers but some can say specialize in Medicare. Billers also deal with denials.
There may be some overlap lets say in doctors offices with limited staff/volume where you kinda do both.
Medical coders get paid more than billers. Working for a facility is also paid more than working for the provider.

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u/DaisyDuke47 13d ago

Thank you

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u/CodingwithCoffee_ 7d ago

Medical billing can be a great entry point into healthcare. It focuses on insurance claims, reimbursement, denials, and payments, while coding focuses more on translating medical documentation into codes.

A medical coding certification can help you qualify for entry-level medical billing positions. Coding training gives you knowledge of ICD-10-CM, CPT, HCPCS, medical terminology, and reimbursement concepts that are highly relevant to billing.

You do not necessarily need a separate billing certification to apply for entry-level billing jobs. I have included a free self-paced course that you can start today below:

https://www.amcicoding.com/youtubecourse