young man working on laptop at home
Revenue Cycle Candidate Blog Updated October 3, 2022

Can I Learn Medical Coding at Home?

Medical coding (and billing) continues to be a high-demand field. That’s because nearly every healthcare provider uses coded documentation and records. In fact, a single hospital may have several coders working at any given time.

But hospitals are just one of the potential work environments for medical coders and billers. Inpatient and outpatient facilities, urgent and semi-urgent care facilities, clinics, nursing homes, mental health facilities and doctor’s offices are among the places where well-trained coders can find a career.

What Do Medical Coders Do?

In general, medical coders are the healthcare professionals in charge of processing patient data, such as treatment records and related insurance information. Increasing demands on providers and allied health clinicians with decreasing reimbursement require medical offices to invest in highly skilled medical billers.

Medical coding professionals are involved in the reimbursement cycle, working to ensure that healthcare providers are accurately and efficiently paid for the services they perform. It’s important to have an intimate understanding of medical insurance, the claims process, the appeals process, and the impacts on hospital or medical provider revenue.

Can You Become a Medical Coder Through Self-Study?

The short answer is “yes.” However, if you’re starting from scratch, you’ll need to do your homework. Literally.

Coders are trained in intricate classification systems that have been created by the healthcare system to translate medical information into codes that are put into billing systems and patient’s medical records.

Get Started Today

These classification systems are ICD-10-CMHCPCS Level II and CPT. The process ensures that everybody who touches a patient’s records has an understanding of the patient’s diagnosis, as well as the tests and procedures that were ordered and delivered. It’s the medical coder’s job to ensure that the correct code is identified and recorded.

woman working on computer at desk
See Also
How to Become a Contract Medical Coder

 

Medical Coding Certification Programs Available Online

Although each online medical coding curriculum program differs from the next, you’re likely to take similar courses no matter where you attend school. Here’s a sample of courses common to these programs:
• Anatomy
• Pharmacology
• Medical Office Procedures
• Medical Records

Online self-study training programs for medical coding can offer scheduling flexibility that allows you to study when you’re available as long as you complete your coursework. You can access programs anywhere without leaving your home, and these programs are often less costly.

Becoming certified as a medical coder can take as little as four months or as long as fifteen months. These courses prepare you for taking the tests needed for the following credentials:

Here’s an excellent resource for aspiring medical coders that includes a variety of online medical coding certification programs to help you choose the self-study training course that’s right for you.

Want more information? Reach out to the medical coding experts at AMN Healthcare Revenue Cycle Solutions. We have the expertise to answer your questions and provide the industry insights and knowledge needed to set you on the right career path.

Search Current Coding Jobs

Additional Revenue Cycle Resources:

Latest News

Case Study: Establishing a Strong Financial Foundation through a Commitment to Quality
Revenue CycleNovember 22, 2024

Case Study: Establishing a Strong Financial Foundation through a Commitment to Quality

Our recent cases study showcases how a healthcare organization in the South tackled issues with its quality scores and revenue by implementing a Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) program in

The Ultimate Playbook for Mastering Claims Denials and Winning Appeals
Revenue CycleMarch 25, 2024

The Ultimate Playbook for Mastering Claims Denials and Winning Appeals

This comprehensive guide examines the complexities of appeals and denials and offers critical strategies for navigating toward a more financially stable future for healthcare organizations

Continuous Quality Improvement: Using the PDSA Cycle to Solve Claims Denials
Revenue CycleMarch 25, 2024

Continuous Quality Improvement: Using the PDSA Cycle to Solve Claims Denials

One effective Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) model is the PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act).

Webinar: Protecting Your Healthcare Data: Uncovering Vendor Cyber Security Threats
Revenue CycleMarch 15, 2024

Webinar: Protecting Your Healthcare Data: Uncovering Vendor Cyber Security Threats

In this recorded webinar, you will discover how to safeguard your data, the top qualities to look for when selecting a secure vendor, and cyber security best practices to protect your valuable

Case Study: Advent Health Reduces Avoidable Days to Improve Patient Satisfaction & Drive Savings
White PaperSeptember 21, 2023

Case Study: Advent Health Reduces Avoidable Days to Improve Patient Satisfaction & Drive Savings

Download the full case study to discover how AdventHealth partnered with AMN Healthcare Revenue Cycle Solutions (RCS).

3 Strategies for Cultivating a Culture of Connection, Development, and Loyalty in the Modern Workplace
BlogNovember 08, 2022

3 Strategies for Cultivating a Culture of Connection, Development, and Loyalty in the Modern Workplace

Explore job satisfaction: Learn 3 strategies for fostering connection, development, and loyalty in our white paper.

Outpatient Clinical Documentation Integrity Solution
White PaperMarch 16, 2022

Outpatient Clinical Documentation Integrity Solution

The current trajectory of U.S. healthcare points to the growing number of outpatient visits and procedures. As a result, alignment of quality measures, data accuracy, and revenue integrity are

The Five Pillars of Trauma Revenue
White PaperMarch 15, 2022

The Five Pillars of Trauma Revenue

AMN Healthcare's Trauma Billing Program provides a method for recovering the cost associated with the Trauma Service and a pathway to a stronger financial future.

Article search

Take the first step to starting your new career.

* Indicates Required Fields

 

I agree to receive emails, automated text messages and phone calls (including calls that contain prerecorded content) from and on behalf of AMN Healthcare, and affiliates. Show more I understand these messages will be to the email or phone number provided, and will be about employment opportunities, positions in which I’ve been placed, and my employment with AMN companies. See privacy policy or cookie policy for more details. Show less

* Indicates Required Fields

 

I agree to receive emails, automated text messages and phone calls (including calls that contain prerecorded content) from and on behalf of AMN Healthcare, and affiliates. {{show_more}} I understand these messages will be to the email or phone number provided, and will be about employment opportunities, positions in which I’ve been placed, and my employment with AMN companies. See privacy policy or cookie policy for more details.

Complete Your Application!
Continue to NurseFinders to complete your application and profile.