Kentucky boasts the highest average salary for many health care professionals in the region. This is especially true for the state’s medical billers and coders. At an average annual starting salary of over $32,500, Kentucky medical billing and coding professionals earn significantly more than their neighbors in Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were just over 2,730 medical billers and coders in Kentucky in 2012. This number is expected to jump between 15 and 20 percent over the coming decade. And while the average starting salary is good, those with experience, training and certification, including that of the AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) and AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association), can expect to earn well over $50,000 annually.
Sponsored School(s)
While the latest economic reports from first quarter 2013 are showing job growth and an improving economy in Kentucky, this recovery is not universal. While industries such as health care are growing, many such as construction and housing and manufacturing are still in decline. Many Kentucky residents have chosen to leave these types of industries for the better prospects of job growth and opportunity in health care. In fact, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov), the health care industry is one of the primary buoys lifting Kentucky’s economy.
Kentucky’s Medical Billing and Coding Schools
Most medical billers and coders who find success in the field have prepared themselves with an associate degree or certification program, often times either at a campus location near their home or online. Schools such as Kaplan University, Brown Mackie, Everest Institute, MedTech, MedVance, Anthem Career College and University of Phoenix have numerous campus locations across the state. Additionally, many of these schools, as well as a host of other institutions including Virginia College, Penn Foster and, Ashworth College and Walden University, provide degrees and certification online.
Depending on a prospective student’s location, schedule or present obligations such as family or current occupation, an online vs campus degree program can be an important decision. This site provides access to a great deal of important information regarding schools, programs and career choices. Go ahead and request information from each school that interests you. Use this information to find the institution with the best fit. The better prepared each applicant can be, the better the chances of obtaining that perfect career.
There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a medical billing and coding program in Kentucky. The right program will offer students a foundation in the basics of medical billing and coding, including billing procedures, medical coding fundamentals, billing and coding software training, medical insurance management and health care administration and management. Many of the courses provided including the following material:
- Medical Coding Software
- AAPC & AHIMA Certification Preparation
- Clinical Coding
- Operative Report Coding
- Health Care Information Technology
- Medical Billing Procedures
Kentucky Work Environment
In the recent era, medical billers and coders have various Opportunities to work in, like hospitals, facilities, retirement facilities, physician’s clinics, outpatient treatment, etc. Although, most of the billers and coders prefer working from their own residents. Due to continued improvements in technology, there is no need for medical billers and coders to be present at their owners’s workplace most of the time. This has enriched the work environment for various experts, such as those living in remote, rural areas, those taking care of children or elderly family members and those who choose to seek other fields of their interests, part-time working in the medical billing and coding field. A profession like medical billing and coding can provide a immunity from the rigid schedule and work environment allowing aspirants to work from their place an look after their families without giving up their earning capability.
For those interested, see below to find Medical Billing and Coding programs in the following areas: Lexington, Fayette, Elizabethtown, Bowling Green, Louisville, Jefferson County, Covington, Hopkinsville, Richmond, Florence, Georgetown, Henderson and Owensboro.