Overview of Medical Billing and Coding Certification Courses

Best Courses/Institutions

• Multiple reports provide the best medical billing and coding certification courses based on varying metrics and standards. The notable reports include those published by The Best Colleges, Verywell Health, and The Balance Careers.
• The Best Colleges provides the 6 best online medical billing and coding courses across different categories or metrics including accessibility, affordability, comprehension, and others. Below, are the best online medical billing and coding classes of 2020.
• The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC): Best Overall
• The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA): Runner-Up, Best Overall
•  Community Care College: Best for Accessibility
•  University of Alaska Fairbanks: Most Affordable
•  Drexel University: Most Comprehensive
•  Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College: Most Flexible Continuing Education Options
• The Best Colleges also provides the best or top medical billing and coding courses based on the weighted average of the admission rate, default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percentage of students enrolled in online classes. Through this, they published that the top 10 online medical billing and coding programs are:
•  Central Texas College 
•  Northwest Technical College 
•  Minnesota State Community and Technical College 
•  Laramie County Community College 
•  Keiser University — Ft. Lauderdale 
•  Minnesota State College Southeast 
•  Guilford Technical Community College 
•  Hazard Community and Technical College 
•  Northland Community and Technical College 
•  Dakota College at Bottineau 
• Verywell Health also provides the best 6 online medical billing and coding courses in 2020 across different categories as below. The ranking was based on student reviews, satisfaction amongst graduates, the spectrum of courses offered, costs, accreditation, and networking/mentoring opportunities. They are:
• American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA): Best Overall
•  Hutchinson Community College: Best Budget
• American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC): Best Variety
•  Florida A&M University: Best Self-Paced
•  University of Cincinnati: Best for Structure
• Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI): Best for Professional Development

Costs

• "The cost of medical billing and coding classes varies widely, depending on the type of education chosen. Also, the pricing structure is different between schools, with some charging per credit hour and others charging a flat fee for the entire course."
• According to Lessons.com, "it costs as little as $749 to get the certification to become a medical billing specialist online, as most local trade schools and programs cost between $1,000 and $2,500 to attend.
• "The average cost for an online medical billing and coding associate's degree from an accredited college is around $15,000 for a two-year program. Less expensive options come in as little as $5,000, with high-end schools costing about $25,000." According to Lessons.com, "accredited medical billing and coding associate programs at colleges cost between $8,000 to $19,000."

 

Source

 

• The national average cost for medical coding and billing certification cost is $1,210 while the national average range is $749  to $1,895. Hence, "depending on where and how an individual enrolls, the certification cost is approximately $1,000, which includes all the materials and books required to complete the course. The total cost will depend on any additional programs taken to further one's certification."
• "The first governing body is the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), which offers certificates that focus on medical coding/billing, as well as health information management. Its prices vary depending on the chosen credentials ranging from Certified Coding Associate (CCA), the entry-level, to Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA). The entry-level credential costs $199 or $299 for members and non-members respectively while the cost associated with a bachelor's degree in health information management (HIM) is around $30,000 per year.
• "The Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) offers certificate programs centered around professional services, including inpatient/outpatient coding and billing. Both the AAPC and the AHIMA are recognized on a national and international scale." It's certification courses range from $1,295 for Certified Professional Biller to $2,195 for Certified Professional Coder. The prices will increase depending on the bundles or packages chosen by an individual.

Trends

• According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, "the employment of medical records and health information technicians is projected to grow by 8% or 29,000 from 2019 (341,600) to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. A key driver of this trend is the increasing demand for medical services and health information technicians for the aging population.
• "Prospects will be best for those with a certification in health information, such as the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) or the Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR). As EHR systems continue to become more common, health information technicians with computer skills will be needed to use them."
• "The AAPC has a membership base of over 156,000 worldwide, of which nearly 104,000 are certified."
• "In 2019, there were 7,945 certified CCA professionals (AHIMA)." During the same period, there were 1,756 first-time testers with a pass rate of 82%. These numbers declined from the previous year, where there were 1,787 first-time testers and a first-time pass rate of 77%.
• In 2019, there were 32,714 certified Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) professionals (AHIMA), 2,160 first-timer testers, and a 76% first-time pass rate. In 2018, there were 2,519 first-time testers while the pass rate remained the same.