Medical Coder

What they do :

Medical coding is a specialized profession within the wider field of healthcare administration. Professional medical coders review the documentation contained in patients’ medical records, then they translate the written documentation into universally accepted, industry-standard medical code. These codes are used to submit claims to third-party payers and to gather statistical information, both by tracking incidents of specific diseases and by detecting developing trends in treatment procedures. Accurate medical coding is essential to the healthcare industry. It is how claims for payment are reported for appropriate reimbursement of provided medically necessary services.

Licenses/Certifications :

  • Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)
  • Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)

Education needed :

  • Associate degree in Health Information Science or Bachelor degree in Health Information Management OR Completion of courses in coding from an accredited coding program

Local schools offering this program :

  • Loma Linda University
  • Santa Barbara City College
  • Westchester College of Nursing and Allied Health

Organizations :

Orientation and Training