Top Medical Billing Skills You Need for Success

Medical billing and coding is an important part of the healthcare industry. Trained professionals in this field take care of the paperwork that ensures patients have their medical bills properly paid through their insurance providers. They add the coding, diagnostic information and date to the paperwork, then send it to the insurance company for payment. They also collect payments and ensure the medical provider gets paid for services rendered.

This field is a popular one for people with strong attention to detail and a desire to work in healthcare but not necessarily to treat patients. Yet there are specific skills that are vital to be successful as a medical billing and coding specialist. From the hard skills, such as technology and industry knowledge, to the soft skills, like communication and organization, here are the skills you will need if you wish to enter this in-demand field.

Hard Skills to Succeed in a Medical Billing and Coding Career

Before you can have a successful career in medical billing and coding, you will need a few hard skills. These are absolutely essential to this line of work, so take some time to brush up on them or develop them if you do not already have them.

ICD-10 Knowledge

ICD 10 is the acronym for the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision. This manual is the industry standard for coding professionals. It contains codes for every illness, injury, procedure and diagnosis that a doctor could put in a patient’s medical records. Insurance companies use these codes to ensure they are being billed accurately. While it is not possible to memorize all 68,000 codes in the manual, you should know how to use it. You should also know some of the most frequently used codes, such as those for common medical procedures or conditions. The more you can commit to memory, the better, but the most important skill is to be able to use the manual to look up codes.

CPT Code Knowledge

Where the ICD-10 contains diagnostic codes, medical billers also must know the codes for procedures and treatments. These are the current procedural terminology codes, or CPT codes. Having a working knowledge of these is just as important as knowing the ICD-10 codes.

Billing and Coding Software

Medical billing and coding relies heavily on software. You must be comfortable using software to file insurance claims and collect payments. You also need to know how to generate invoices, check claims for errors, research in the ICD-10 and organize files within the software. Each job will have its own software so familiarize yourself with some of the top platforms to be prepared for your future role.

EHR Software

EHR stands for electronic health records. These software programs help medical providers manage and organize patient records. As of 2021, 88% of all doctor’s offices in the United States were using EHR systems, so anyone working in medical billing and coding will need to understand how to use them, as well as the security protocols that go with EHR software. Thankfully, the adoption of EHR can make the job of a coding professional easier because it lessens the risk of clinical error due to sloppy handwriting.

Basic Computing Skills

If you are going to take a job in medical records, you will need to know how to use a computer and basic computing programs, like word processing and spreadsheet programs. If you are not tech-savvy, you will need to take some basic technology and computer classes to ensure you can confidently use a computer to enter billing and coding information.

Medical Billing and Coding Training and Certification

Earning certification as a medical billing and coding specialist can open the door to a number of potential careers in this field. The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) offers medical coding examinations and certificates in many different aspects of this career field. Find one that fits your needs, and then take the exam to earn the certification. Add the certification to your resume to show that you have the hard skills necessary to work in this industry.

Soft Skills to Succeed in a Medical Billing and Coding Career

Hard skills are important in medical billing and coding, but you will also need some soft skills to ensure success in this field. Working in medical billing and coding means working with insurance companies, medical offices, providers and billers all at the same time. The following are some soft skills that will make the job easier.

Attention to Detail

One small error in medical billing can lead to major headaches for the insurance company, patient and provider, so attention to detail is paramount. Sometimes just one digit difference can lead to billing errors, and those errors can leave patients with bills to pay that they should not be responsible for. This causes undue stress, and it can cause you to have to do the job again to get the coding right. Attention to detail is absolutely essential.

Problem-Solving

Several problems can arise in the medical billing and coding world. For example, if an insurance claim is denied, you may have to find a creative way to push back with the insurance company to get it approved. If a patient cannot pay a large bill, you will put your problem-solving skills to work to create a payment plan that works for the patient’s budget and your medical office or healthcare provider’s needs.

Active Listening and Communication

Communication is key in this job. You will need to communicate with doctors and nurses about patient care and diagnosis so you can choose the correct codes for their accounts. You will need to communicate with patients about their bills and insurance coverage. Active listening is a part of this, too, because you will need to listen to responses to your questions to glean accurate information. For example, if claims are denied, you must listen to and comprehend the reasons in order to convey to the patient and doctor why they were denied.

Organization

Paperwork is a significant part of the work of a medical billing and coding professional, so you will need a way to stay organized. A planner or digital calendar is a must, or you will miss deadlines. A way to schedule calls is also important because much of your day will be spent taking calls from doctors and insurance providers. Along the way, you will need to learn how to multitask because you may get interrupted regularly while trying to input codes.

Time Management

Many medical biller positions are independent contractor positions, which means you will be working independently without someone looking over your shoulder. Some are traditional employment positions, but with quite a bit of time to work independently or the ability to work from home. This means you must have the ability to manage your workload and get the job done. Good time management will make you an asset to the patient care process, while poor time management will cause frustration for all involved. Learn how to work hard when you are on the clock and how to manage your time, balancing multiple tasks throughout the workday.

Adapt to New Technology

With the growing acceptance of electronic medical records containing patient health information, technology is central to this work. Yet that technology is constantly changing as new ways to enter information, store data and access the data are developed, and you will need to have the versatility to adapt. Staying up to date on your certification and taking continuing education when new tech comes to market can help.

Work as a Team

In the healthcare industry, you will partner with providers and insurance companies to create the best possible patient care scenario, or you may work as part of a medical billing and coding team. The ability to foster a sense of teamwork in these settings will help you succeed.

How to Learn Medical Billing and Coding Skills

The best way to learn medical billing and coding skills is to take courses in the field. You can get a diploma or associate degree in medical billing and coding to help you prepare for certification tests in this industry. These programs are often 100 percent online and designed to give you both the hard and soft skills you need for success in this field, introduce you to the technology and get you comfortable with medical terminology.

Start Your Journey Today

Bryant & Stratton College has a Medical Reimbursement and Coding Associate Degree and a Medical Billing and Coding Diploma that can give you the training for entry-level positions in this field. Both of these programs are available on-campus or online, giving you flexibility as you seek training in medical billing and coding. Request information today about our medical billing and coding programs and see how easy it would be to start your training in this in-demand field.