Table of Contents

Introduction:

The Healthcare industry has transformed and transitioned to the next level using technology at its best; it has come under the roof of the global sector.

Hence, Medical coding jobs are on-demand now, and the institutes offering medical coding courses are also growing with rocket speed as they serve the purpose. The competency and the skill requirement are in a higher range.

Medical coding courses provide you with the required knowledge and opportunity for you to step into the healthcare industry.

Based on the information, from The Bureau of Labour Statistics, medical coding is one of the top twenty fastest-growing jobs.

The percentage of medical coding jobs will increase by 12% to 30 % by 2030. In the view of Pandemic, the requirement has reached its peak as the healthcare industry stands at the center.

Who benefits from the Medical Coding Course :

On the whole, the medical coding course is launched to benefit not only the professionals in the health department but indirectly help the insurance payers, legal advisors, and insurance consultants also.

The medical coding course syllabus and framework of exams and medical coding course fees are designed and decided in such a way to reach the needs and demands of the industry.

With the advancement of Computer Assisted Coding (CAC), the job of a medical coder has become easier. It helped to increase accuracy in the coding process.

Why Medical Coding Courses

Medical Coding Courses are in demand for several reasons:

Job Opportunities: Medical coding is an essential part of healthcare administration. Completing a medical coding course can open up various job opportunities in hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, and other healthcare settings.
Accurate Billing and Reimbursement: Medical coders play a vital role in translating medical procedures, diagnoses, and patient care and treatments.
Quality of Patient Care: Accurate medical coding contributes to the overall quality of patient care by ensuring that medical records are complete and accessible.
Career Advancement: A certified medical coding course can enhance your credibility in the healthcare industry and open the door for better career opportunities. Deep Study in Medical Coding will boost your medical coding career advancement.
Remote Work Opportunities: A medical coding course equips you with the skills and knowledge necessary to work from home or in a virtual setting.
Continuous Learning: Healthcare is constantly evolving, and medical coding courses provide opportunities for continuous learning and professional development. Staying up-to-date with the latest coding practices and technologies is essential for success in the field.

1. What should you mind before you decide to become a medical coder:

Different factors influence the person to become a successful medical coder – how deeply you desire to become a medical coder, how much time you can invest in learning, and how many skills you acquired.

The first point you understand is that no job is a bed of roses and can not be a cakewalk so, you must acquire and upgrade skills according to the needs and demands of the industry. Acquire certifications and enjoy having challenges and learning yourself to overcome hurdles.

Since there is a global-wide demand for medical coders, the chances of getting hired abroad are more, but only when you are sophisticated.

Know the job responsibilities that a medical coder holds and the work hours per week.

Know the pros and cons of being a medical coder- of course, as a medical coder, you play a crucial role at your workplace but may not handle patients directly.

Research on the medical coding course syllabus and the medical coding course fees.

Find out the institutes that offer training plus certification. Find out the process of enrolling in a medical coding course.
Know the companies in and around you who are actively recruiting freshers.

2. Who are Medical coders? What do they do?

As per our knowledge, the hospital body is just a doctor, a nurse, a receptionist, a lab technician, and a druggist. We also know that hospitals treat diseases, but they do a lot. It is high time to know hospitals not only deal with treating diseases but also do documentation.

Without the paperwork, no job is called a complete job. The health industry has employees who work at the back end to do the paperwork. They are called medical coders, and their day-to-day job is to work at the desk and document the health records of patients, review clinical statements, and translate them into a coded language.

They need to pay greater attention to the details, and a small error may cause serious damage.

The Job description of Medical coder:

The job of a medical coder is to do the documentation and store the data in an electronic device for future purposes. This document not only helps the physician to understand the health condition of a patient but to keep track and further treatments also.
Medical coders must code and decode the data based on the international classification of diseases. The ICD system is agreed upon by the standards of the world health organisation and a few countries.

The health data of patients including reports of diseases, tests undergone, treatments given, administered drug data, equipment that has been used, insurance bills e.t.c are stored in a unique and accurate coded language with the help of manuals. The medical coders need not memorise all the codes or coding language.

Each specification has its user guide or manual to follow.

For example, the diagnosis of the disease and the treatment codes come under the ICD manual; codes for outpatient services and procedures are found in the CPT (common procedural terminology) manual. It is highly advised for a medical coder to use unique coding language to enter the data but not to guess any codes.

If a medical coder finds any difficulty in understanding and evaluating the health record of the patient, they must research to convert the data into coded language.

Besides doing the documentation, medical coders play a significant role in connecting healthcare industries with insurance companies.

They also work alongside the medical billers who use the correct codes for the billing process. Sometimes coders do the job of billers at some places.

Where do they work:

Hospitals- front desk
Nursing homes- with physicians.
Health care centers.
Rehabilitation centres
Insurance companies.

3. What is the pay scale for a Medical coder in India and abroad

Candidates with CPT knowledge are in demand in the USA, Canada, Singapore, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Brazil

In India, If you enter as a beginner:

The starting salary is 190 rs per hour or 1,50,000 per annum. With the experience, it changes and reaches up to 15,00,000 per year.

In the USA, the average salary for a fresher:

22$ per hour. 42,900 $ per year.

In Dubai, the average salary for a fresher:

6,330 AED per month and can extend up to 13,500 AED.

In Canada, Singapore, Newzealand, and Brazil, the average pay is just like the same in the United States of America.

4. Medical Coding Course Qualification

Medical Coding Course Qualification:

Who can pursue the medical coding course in India or Abroad?

Do you require any post-graduation degree or graduate degree to continue as a coder?

Medical coding course qualifications require patience and dedication like any other course or job requires. Time management, Organisational skills, problem-solving skills, and communication skills are basic transferable skills that also are in need.

If the person has a basic knowledge and understanding of science and medical terminology would be an added advantage.

You must have analytical skills to analyse the data(in terms of the medical history of patients), read the physician’s notes, and communicate with the physicians.

If you come from a background in non-life sciences, like B-Tech, MBA, or Post-graduation in English, etc…then you might need to do a few certification courses besides medical coding to understand the field better. This implies that there is no strict and bound rule for eligibility.

There is no legally mandated rule for a person who possesses a bachelor’s degree in the medical field to continue as a medical coder. The medical coding course qualification is that a person must complete schooling and graduation.

If you wish to continue your career as a medical coder, yes, the so-called degrees or certifications will help you stand the first in a queue.

Learning can happen at any time, so there is no age limit to do a medical coding course in our country. Age is just a number, and it does not impact your learning if you are determined to achieve it.
The person can join the medical coding course after the 12th and he can choose to do the course after a regular degree or at the age of forty.

Medical coding course after the 12th and the course duration:

There are various options available for you. Aspirant people can choose either postgraduate diploma programs or diplomas or graduate in medical coding courses after the 12th standard.

The duration of the course usually changes based on the type of study or program that the person chooses.

Those who take up medical coding courses after the 12th standard are called bachelor degrees. The duration of the course is approximately three to four years.
It is a complete path to becoming a professional as the person will be exposed to various other branches of the health and medical industry, and they study in detail.

If a person decides to join a certification course after graduation or post-graduation, or for the person who has been working in the health industry is the quickest route.
The duration is only about 150 hours or six to eight months. Certificate courses focus on the basics of medical coding like medical terminology, coding systems, and procedures. It is a kind of training for quick employment.

Whatever program and institute you choose, check the accreditation.

CPT is the benchmark for a medical coder to become a professional.

5. Medical Coding Course Fees

If you join institutes that offer training programs alone, the fee structure varies; if you choose training plus certification or credential the fees change. So, the medical coding course fee varies from program to program, package to package. It also depends upon whether you opted for in-person or online mode programs

The approximate Medical coding course fees in India for AAPC membership candidates- are Rs 30000/- to 40000/-.

Non-AAPC membership candidates- Rs 35000/- to 45000/-

6. How to enhance skills to become a successful Medical Coder

To become successful in the industry, you must follow a few steps-

Complete the basic education or medical coding course after the 12th.
Earn a credentialing certificate.
Work in the industry for about six to seven months to gain experience.
For this, you can join as an intern in any hospital or work with a physician.

Why should you earn credentials:

There are chances of getting a 30 percent higher salary for a person who possesses the credentials than the person who does not.

To keep the career in its stead, you must attend online courses/ workshops and attempt to secure certifications.

The institutes that are accredited by AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders), and AHIMA (American Health Information and Management Association) are offering advanced certification programs.

Medical coding course qualification or Medical Certification Program also changes based on the type of industry you want to join or the branch of the field you wish to work in.

Given below are some of the certification programs offered in India and abroad:

Certified Professional Coder
Certified Coding Specialist
Certified Medical Coder
Certified Outpatient Coder
Certified In-patient Coder
Certified Professional Medical Auditor
Certified Risk Examining Coder.
Certified radiology coder.
Certified rheumatology coder.
Certified cardiovascular coder.
Dental coding
Postgraduate Diploma in medical coding.
Executive Diploma in medical coding.
Health information management software.
Medical writing.

There are a few institutes offering courses online too. The requirement and medical coding course fee vary from institute to institute.

7. What Do you study in the course? What is the medical coding course syllabus?

You know, how the taste and the price of cuisine will change based on the time it gets cooked and the restaurant you go to.

Similarly, the medical coding Course Syllabus also varies from program to program. However, all the institutes must follow the basic guidelines and curriculum given by either the Commission of Accreditation for Health and Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM) or AAPC and AHIMA.

Whatever the background of education you have, if you select any of the above courses you will study the basics to understand the human body and the required coding language.

Human Anatomy
Physiology
Pathology.
Anesthesia
World of Healthcare
Medical coding literature – the terminology – Etymology.

(CPT, ICD 9-CM, ICD -10 CM, DSM, CDT, APC, and HCPCS)

CPT – Current Procedural Terminology

ICD – International Classification of Diseases

DSM- Diagnostic and Statistical manual

CDT – Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature.

APC- Ambulatory Payment Categories.

HCPCS- Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System

7. Different Coding Procedures – for example, digestive system coding, urology coding, reproductive and endocrine system coding, pulmonology coding, musculoskeletal coding, comprehensive surgery coding anesthesia coding e.t.c

8. Health Insurance Policies.

9. Health insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

10. Evaluating medical services, procedures, and guidelines.

11. Documenting medical records.

12. Medical Ethics.

13. Anaesthesia.

14. Case Studies and Projects.

Is the Medical Coding Course successful in India?

Medical coding is a vital skill that involves translating medical diagnoses, procedures, and medical services into universal alphanumeric codes.

These codes are used for billing, insurance claims, and maintaining patient care records.

In recent years, there has been a growing demand for medical coders in India due to several factors:

Healthcare Industry Growth: With the expansion of the healthcare industry in India, there is a corresponding increase in the demand for professionals with medical coding skills. Mastering a Medical Coding Course from a reputed Institute will help you meet the current requirements in the Health Care Industry.

Regulatory Compliance: Healthcare regulations, both in India and internationally, require accurate and standardized medical coding for billing and compliance purposes.

Remote Work Opportunities: Medical coding can often be done remotely, which opens up opportunities for individuals living in different parts of India to work for global healthcare companies.

Career Growth: Studying Medical coding can serve as a stepping stone for various career paths within the healthcare industry, including healthcare administration, health information management, and clinical research. Enhance your career scope with a Certified Medical Coding Course.

Success in the field of Medical Coding in India depends on various factors such as certified courses from a reputed training institute, the quality of the curriculum, the candidate’s aptitude and dedication, and updating with the latest coding guidelines and regulations.

How to get a credential, certified professional coder, and certified coding specialist in India?

To get a Certified Medical Coder Credential:

Eligibility– A person with a life sciences background/ pharmacy graduate or diploma holder can appear for the training and exam. The person must have been in the industry with prior work experience.

If the person does not submit the work experience certificate, he/she will be awarded CPC- A certification.

Fee: As I said, it depends on the institute you join, but I would like to mention the approximate exam fee- 530$ (including taxes).

Mode of test: The paper contains 100 multiple-choice questions that assess 17 areas of knowledge. You have to answer a minimum of 70 questions correctly.

It is crucial to pass the exam. If you fail on the first attempt, you have a chance to retake the exam a second time. If you fail again, you have no chance to attempt. It is suggested to focus on gaining knowledge and attempt the test once you are confident.

The test Duration: is 5 hours 40 minutes.

The CPC credential is valid for up to 10 years.

To get a Certified Coding Specialist credential,

eligibility: A person must be in the industry with a minimum of two years of work experience with certifications.

Fee: The AHIMA membership candidates are to pay -299$, and for non-membership candidates – 399$.

Mode of the test: The test has a format and focuses on objective questions and descriptive questions that focus on knowledge, and experience.

You must score 300 in four domains.

The four domains are – Coding knowledge and skills

Coding documentation

Provider questions

Regulatory compliance.

8. Points to consider before enrolling in any of the courses or institute

You must go through and compare the medical coding course syllabus and curriculum. -check whether it matches with the current demand in the industry.
Duration of the course- how much time the institute is spending on each area and the overall duration
Know your Trainer- Go through your trainer’s profile, where he/ she has worked earlier? What certifications are there in his or her training bag? Work experience? How long have they been in this industry and their achievements?
Accomplishments of the Institute: How many people received training; how many people landed in their job positions successfully?
Internship Program- a few institutes only offer internship programs. As a beginner, you must gain practical experience. Hence, you must enquire about the internship program.
Placement support- What kind of placement support does the institute provide? How long are they going to support it? What are the companies they tied up with?
Testimonials of previous students- If possible, talk to the person who has passed out from the respective institute and listen to their experience.

9. A few top institutes offer Medical coding Courses unlike conventional degrees

Henry Harvin Institute – Bangalore
Medical Coding Training – Pune
NIMC Medical Coding Training- Chennai
Academy of Medical Coders- Noida
Apex Medcom & Training Institute – Bengaluru
Transcode Solutions- Hyderabad
Resolve Medicode -Medical Coding Training Process
Cardea Medical Coding Training Centre
Joshi Medicode Technologies- Hyderabad, Telangana
Sigma Healthcare Academy

When I researched to find the best medical coding training institutes keeping the above points in mind, I came across Henry Harvin Institute’s medical coding course.

10. Top 10 global companies that are actively recruiting medical coding employees India-wide and their locations:

Visionary RCM infotech- Chennai, Coimbatore, and Hyderabad
EPI source.- Chennai and Mumbai
Omega Healthcare. Chennai and Bangalore
GeBBS healthcare solutions. Mumbai and Aurangabad
AGS health Chennai
Cognizant Technologies Chennai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad
Advanced Gujarat.
3Gen consulting services Pune
IKS health Mumbai
Global Healthcare billing partners- Chennai.

Conclusion:

Health industry is one of the major industries that stands globally, and yes, it is in need of medical coders. So, it is better not to be late and take up the course and race your career with skills.

FAQs

Q.1 I come from a non-life science background and want to pursue medical coding. Am I eligible?

Ans: Yes. A life science background is preferable. However, non-life science students are also eligible.

Q.2 Do I have to have any computer knowledge to join the course?

Ans: To join the course you do not require any computer skills. However, during the course, you will learn.

Q.3 Is the CPC exam mandatory to become a professional coder?

Ans: CPC certification is the benchmark for medical coders. If you pass the exam once, you do not need to retake the exam.

Q.4 What is the basic salary for a Medical coder?

Ans: 1.5 lakh per annum in India

Q.5 Is medical coding professional rewarding?

Ans: The Bureau of Labour Statistics states that by 2030, there will be a 9.5 percent increase in demand for health information and medical records specialists.

There will be ample employment prospects, as this growth is marginally more than the average growth for all industries.