Medical coders specialize in translating medical procedures or diagnoses into the proper codes, ensuring accurate billing and reimbursement. The codes are used for billing purposes, healthcare analytics, and tracking the patient's progress. As the healthcare sector continues to expand, there are an increasing number of opportunities for qualified and licensed medical coders. All medical professional coders in the US follow the standards established by AAPC when coding medical records. Due to the fact that it covers a wide range of disciplines, including cardiology, oncology, and pediatrics, the CPC certification is one of the most well-liked among medical coders. The fact that AAPC and AHIMA offer certification programs underlines the need of using a professional approach during medical coding. Certifications offered by the AAPC include Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Outpatient Coding (COC), Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC), and Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC). However, the majority of states do not call for medical coders to hold a license.
medical coding companies