2023 Best Online Associate in Medical Billing & Coding Programs

An online medical billing and coding associate degree is a two-year program that helps you prepare for jobs in physicians' offices, hospitals, medical clinics, and insurance companies. The curriculum taught in this associate degree program helps familiarize you with medical insurance billing and claims procedures.

In a medical billing and coding program, you'll explore the U.S. medical coding system known as the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS), which includes the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT). You'll also become familiar with the most current International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD), which is ICD-11. These complex systems use unique strings of numerical codes to identify specific diagnoses for insurance claims, billing, and data analysis.

It takes approximately two years for full-time students to complete the required 60 semester credit hours in an online medical billing and coding associate degree program. Coursework generally includes 15 general education, 15 elective, and 30 core program credit hours. Programs typically don't include a capstone project as part of the graduation requirements. Students should qualify for entry-level billing and coding jobs and industry credentialing exams after graduating from a medical billing and coding associate degree program.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for an associate degree in medical billing and coding are similar to other two-year degrees and generally include the following:

• A completed enrollment application and possibly a fee of approximately $50
• High school diploma or equivalent
• College and military transcripts, as applicable
• Standardized test scores, although many waive this requirement

Common Courses in a Medical Billing and Coding Program

Courses in an online medical billing and coding degree program support the curriculum that aims to prepare students with a thorough understanding of physiology, anatomy, biology, billing and coding technology, and medical terminology. This knowledge is imperative to understanding how to apply diagnosis and procedure coding to healthcare records, file insurance claims, and bill patients for services rendered by providers.

An associate degree in medical billing and coding can prepare you for a career as a biller and coder in a variety of health organizations. Although job titles may vary from organization to organization, roles are similar.

The average annual total cost is $10,300 for all two-year institutions. However, tuition costs vary depending on the type of institution. For example, annual tuition for in-district community colleges averages $3,400, while tuition at a private two-year college can be as high as $25,000. For additional perspective, in-state tuition at a public four-year university is approximately $9,308.

There are other costs associated with a college education, such as school supplies and books, that you should consider when creating a budget and estimating expenses. For example, the average cost for textbooks and supplies at a community college is $1,420 per year. You may also have to upgrade your computer hardware to be able to complete assignments and study billing and coding software applications. These costs can add up quickly.

The potential value of a medical billing and coding program will ultimately depend on your financial goals, career interests, and aptitudes. To help determine whether this program would be a suitable fit, Burning Glass Technologies, a data analytics company, has identified several skills employers look for when hiring billers and coders, which include customer service, technical aptitude, data entry, accounting, and attention to detail. If these skills are in your wheelhouse and you have an interest or prior experience in the medical field, billing and coding may be a worthwhile pursuit. However, there are other pros and cons to weigh when making this decision: 

Potential Benefits

• You can complete a medical billing and coding program online. This can be a convenient way to learn targeted job skills if you have a busy schedule or live far from an accredited school. You can also take your certification exam online. 
• Medical billing and coding is a growing field at a critical time. As healthcare becomes increasingly reliant on digital data, more health information specialists will be needed to organize the influx of information. Additionally, as the U.S. population continues to age, people will require more medical services, resulting in additional data needing to be processed. 
• Several large national employers hire medical billers and coders, according to data from Burning Glass Technologies. For example, Guidehouse, Anthem Blue Cross, UnitedHealth Group, and Humana employ a majority of billers and coders. 

Potential Drawbacks

• Coding is not as easy as it may seem. Tens of thousands of codes have been created to apply to various diagnoses and health conditions, and more are added each year. Each symptom and diagnosis is assigned a code, which are strung together to paint a clear picture of a patient's health. These coding structures often change, and it's up to you to keep your skills current beyond your initial training. 
• To land a job, you may need certification and work experience in addition to education. While U.S. states do not require licensure for coders and billers, employers may only employ those who are certified, even for entry-level positions. Others may also want to see practical work experience, such as internships or externships. 
• Medical billing and coding is a sedentary job, which can be unhealthy. This type of work requires sitting for long periods and typing, which can be stressful on the body and lead to health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. It'll take active measures to avoid these health risks, such as utilizing a standing desk or taking regular screen breaks.