Remote Medical Coding Jobs

Remote medical coding is a popular alternative to in-house coding work, done in a medical office, hospital or other professional space. Remote jobs allow medical coders to work from home or most any location with a reliable high speed internet connection. While some medical facilities, health systems and other employers offer staff positions that allow remote work, most remote medical coding jobs are the result of outsourcing, where independent contractors or agencies are hired in order to reduce or eliminate the need for in-house coding staff. If you are interested in becoming a remote medical coder, here are some things you’ll want to know about entry-level remote coding jobs.

Entry Level Remote Medical Coding Jobs

If you are already an experienced medical coder, getting an entry-level position as a remote coder just means knowing where to apply. Online employment boards can be a great resource for finding remote job opportunities. The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) hosts a job listings board on their site, as does the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Other options include medical staffing companies who hire remote coders, and large health systems that offer telecommuting positions.

Where to Look for a Remote Coder Career

• AAPC
• AHIMA
• Health Information Management Services
• Online Medical Coding Services
• Healthcare Insurance Systems
• Medical Staffing Recruiters
• Online Remote Jobs Sites like flexjobs.com and upwork.com
• Online Employment Boards like indeed.com and monster.com.

If you are just entering the field, you may need to acquire some experience via an entry-level position in a more traditional office setting before you can move into a remote medical coding job. While there are some exceptions, most entry-level remote positions require at least a year of experience in the field, and a 2-year requirement is common. Additionally, many require that medical coding candidates hold professional certifications, and eligibility requirements for AHIMA or AAPC certifications include work experience. So where to get that experience?

Who Hires Entry Level Medical Coders?

As with any field, getting hired without experience is difficult, so being new to the field means doing some legwork. Generally, this means putting in a lot of applications before you get that first entry-level job. So where are those applications most likely to pay off? Small medical practices are a good bet, since they typically have tighter budgets than larger medical facilities, making a lower-cost, entry-level employee an attractive option. Independent coding agencies and healthcare staffing firms – to which many medical establishments outsource coding and billing – often offer entry level positions, as do some temp agencies.

How To Get An Entry Level Medical Billing Job

Medical billing jobs are also available as traditional office work or remote positions. As with coding, you’ll probably need at least a year of experience to qualify for a remote position. If you already have that experience, you can find remote job opportunities at many of the employment resources listed above. If you need to accumulate that experience, small medical practices, staffing agencies, temp agencies and coding/billing firms can be good options for finding an entry-level medical billing jobs.

Preparation is Key

Medical coders and billers who have a solid education will have the best chances in securing entry-level positions. If you are looking into college courses to become a medical coder/biller, choosing and associate-degree program that offers a well-rounded education in medical coding, billing, transcription, data processing, and record keeping is your best bet. If you have graduated from a certificate program, continuing on to earn an associate degree can give you better odds of getting your foot in the door in this very competitive field. Additionally, since professional certifications are necessary for many jobs, choosing an accredited associate-degree program that is designed to meet the standards of AHIMA and AAPC is also important, ensuring that you’ll be eligible to earn certifications through these organizations.

For information on medical billing and coding degree programs at Bryant & Stratton College contact the Admissions office. Our admissions team will help determine which degree program is the right path to your goal.