Opportunities in Health Care: Get Your Medical Billing Education Online

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities in the health care industry are going to grow rapidly over then next ten years due to rising health care costs and an increase in medical services used by aging baby boomers. Because of the specialized knowledge required, medical billing services job opportunities will grow quickly, while other types of billing will be automated and those jobs will disappear. If you're already working as a billing clerk in another industry or just want to get into a career with growth potential, consider taking a home study course in medical billing.

Online Medical Billing Training is Convenient and Valuable

Home study courses are a great way to jumpstart your career. Most medical billing courses allow you to work at your own pace, so you can finally fit school into your schedule, instead of the other way around. You'll take courses in anatomy and physiology, math for business, and of course, classes in medical terminology and how to read codes on a medical claim. Once you've finished with your online training, you may want to take the certification exam offered by the American Health Information Management Association. Although it isn't required, this certification may help you land a better job. According to the American Association of Professional Coders, the average salary for a certified coder (or billing specialist) is $39,000.

Jobs Available With Online Training in Medical Billing

Once you've finished your training, you can choose from a few work environments. You could work for a hospital or medical clinic, generating medical bills, or you might want to work for an HMO or an insurance company interpreting bills received from medical facilities. Another career option is working for a medical billing clearinghouse, which generates bills for many different types of medical practices.
Don't feel there's no place for you in the health care industry if patient care isn't your interest. Take advantage of the growth by getting your medical billing education online.
Sources:
American Health Information Management Association
American Association of Professional Coders
U.S. Dept. of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Elizabeth Armentor is a writer and editor living in San Marcos, Texas.