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Medical Billing

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Medical Billing and Coding

The program that I am currently in, is medical billing and coding. Some professionals that are medical coders with a minimum of an associates degree, are a part of an organization that is called AAPC. AAPC stands for American Academy of Professional Coders. In 1988, AAPC was founded to provide education and professional certification to physician-based medical coders (AAPC, 2014). In order to be a part of this organization, a member has to follow by a specific protocol. Another organization that is most known and recognized, is The American Medical Billing Association (AMBA).There's a list of different certifications that one could gain, as a medical billing and coder. Just to name a few more, CMRS (certified medical reimbursement specialist) specializes in insurance reimbursement. CHBME (certified healthcare billing and management executive) is geared toward managers, executives, and supervisors (A-T-M-B, 2014). Professional standards in the healthcare field, means having a certification or a license. Having a certification, means you indeed, have met the specific requirements. Depending on the specific job one chooses when entering into the healthcare field, in order to practice in the state that one lives in, it is mandatory that one has a license to practice within that state. The importance of professional standards in healthcare, is for one, to distinguish yourself from others who are not certified or licensed. It shows how dedicated you are to your career as a coder. It shows your managers that you have continued your education and you continue to do so annually with the renewal of your certifications. It shows your dedication to your responsibilities ethically as being a certified medical billing and coder. It also gives you an advantage in advancing further as a certified medical billing and coder. To show employers that you not only know the job, but that you met the certain requirements to become certified. Lastly, it increases your salary cap. There's a list of different certifications that one could gain, as a medical billing and coder (A-T-M-B, 2014).
Medical billing and coding is a job that is not required by the state or any federal law to be licensed to practice or have a certification. On the flip side, the chances of gaining a job without being certified or having a license as a medical billing and coder, are very slim. Employers look for skilled medical billing and coders who are certified. So having a certification or a license is almost a must, if one wants to gain a job as a medical billing and coder.

Works Cited

https://www.aapc.com/AboutUs/
http://www.all-things-medical-billing.com/

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