Top 9 Attributes Of A Quality Medical Coder

Medical coding and reimbursement is a growing sector that could be a rather good fit for you if you want to work in the medical field but doesn’t particularly enjoy talking to patients or drawing blood.

Professional medical coders are the unsung heroes of revenue cycle management (RCM). They play a crucial role in the group. An excellent coder can aid healthcare providers, insurance companies, and patients in making sense of the myriad rules and regulations that govern medical coding companies.

The following characteristics are crucial for quality medical coding.

1. Education & Certification

It’s important to remember the gravity of your decision to enter the medical coding and billing sector. Therefore, it may not be best to hire someone because they have a high school graduation or GED. Employers should require applicants to have at least some postsecondary education, preferably in the form of a certificate or degree program, in medical coding. It is also acceptable to have a credential earned in the field after only six months of study.

It’s possible that a candidate with a 2-year degree in the field would be the best choice, though. Certificates from organizations like the AHIMA and AAPC are examples of credible certifications.

2. Sound Understanding Of The Human Body

To submit claims to insurance companies, doctors and hospitals must rely on their billing and coding staff to provide patient information. Complex anatomical and physiological terms are included in this data. This is why it is so fundamental for coders and billers to have a basic understanding of human anatomy and physiology.

They can process claims and payments more quickly if there is no ambiguity surrounding these phrases. The faster and more accurately insurance claims can be coded, the more these phrases may be learned.

3. Active Listening Skills

The ability to actively listen is a significant asset in the role of medical billing specialist. The successful candidate for this position shall have strong listening and note-taking skills because they will be gathering information from healthcare providers, insurance agents, and payers.

To ensure they are billing for the correct services, medical billers should consult with healthcare providers on the necessary processes and any relevant special considerations. In addition to assisting coders in their work, this trait facilitates open and fruitful dialogue between coders and insurance agents.

When an insurance company rejects a claim, the medical coder is responsible for determining why. It is essential to get as much data as possible about rejections before reprocessing. Conversations with overdue patients benefit from the speaker’s active listening skills.

4. Problem-Solving Skills

There is more to medical billing than just writing checks. They need to be able to communicate effectively and problem-solve in order to deal with patients and insurance companies. Their primary responsibility should be to collect money expeditiously. The function requires an individual to have a laser-like focus on resolving the payment issue.

To facilitate payment, insurance firms must receive, process, and maybe revise claims. However, many patients may not have cash on hand, in contrast to insurance corporations. Medical billers in such situations should engage with the patient and the company to create a payment plan that meets everyone’s needs.

5. Strong Moral Character

Since programmers are a direct source of income, it is crucial that they maintain the highest levels of honesty and morality in their work. They regularly have access to private medical information and are in a position to abuse that trust. As a result, moral integrity should be considered by hiring managers as an important factor in preventing confidential information from falling into the wrong hands.

It might be challenging for hiring managers to make an honest evaluation of a candidate’s character with just one interview. Therefore, it is imperative that you get references in order to learn more about the candidate’s ability to handle sensitive information responsibly. In order to avoid legal trouble, medical coders should code in an anonymous manner, avoid conflicts of interest, and follow all applicable coding rules.

6. Time Management Skills

The majority of medical coding positions are self-directed. As long as they are producing satisfactory results, their superiors will only check in occasionally to make sure everything is on track.

Since their pay is contingent on output rather than input, they are given wide latitude in determining how they spend their time. Therefore, it is crucial for medical coders to develop the self-control and focus necessary for efficient time management.

7. Attention To Detail

To be successful in medical billing, one must be able to pay close attention to every detail. In order to process claims efficiently, the coder must ask pertinent questions and collect all necessary information. Furthermore, it is imperative that they submit correct data in the appropriate format before any problems arise.

When making a claim with an insurance company, they should take extra care to avoid leaving any information blank. Medical billers and coders must be thorough in their approach to data entry because of the sheer volume of information they deal with on a daily basis.

8. Deciphering Information Without Provider Access

Skilled coders are able to breeze through medical records. They don’t need to contact the doctor or nurse to get the right codes; they may just look at the record. Assuming the file’s notes are complete and readable, a competent coder will be able to discover the proper codes without having to pause the process to gather additional information.

9. Staying Familiar With New Code Procedures

The currently applicable codes are dynamic, evolving to reflect new legislation and sector mandates. An excellent medical coder’s education doesn’t end after they graduate from school.

In order to maintain their credentials, members of the American Health Information Management Association are obligated to participate in ongoing training. It is estimated that around 68,000 diagnosis codes will be included in the new system, which is more than five times the existing quantity.

Conclusion

Having a full-time medical coder on staff can help your business save time and money by deciphering the jargon used by doctors and other medical professionals to record patient diagnoses, treatments, and procedures and then assigning those digits to insurance reimbursement forms.

Moreover, hiring a medical coder can help improve your cash flow by decreasing the number of denied claims, increasing your collections rate, and shortening the time it takes to obtain payment.