The future is getting brighter for the field of medical coding with the use of electronic medical records. Ann Barnaby, CPC, CPCO, CRC, CASCC, managing director, Project Resume, leaves us with these words of wisdom and inspiration: I see continued growth opportunities for coders in the future! Medical coders assign codes to clinical diagnoses and procedures. “I do not see volume of visits or need for coders to change that much but be prepared for constantly learning new codes attached to new programs,” she advises. Here’s what surfaces to the top of our list: These mergers do not consolidate the need for medical coders, however. Individuals in the medical field may be well aware of the fact that there have been a number of coding changes in the recent years. This group convened as part of AHIMA’s transformation, a process that involves the creation of the “Coding Change Story,” a task force designed to envision the future of co… “Why the Current Healthcare Industry Outsourced Coding Model Delivers a Suboptimal Result.” Sept. 3, 2019. https://himaginesolutions.com/why-the-current-healthcare-industry-outsourced-coding-model-delivers-a-suboptimal-result, AHRQ newsletter Issue No. Be prepared to go solo – could you today? “AI is important,” she says, “but I do not think it has reached the level of accuracy required to code neurosurgery, for example.”, Optum’s survey may be a bit overzealous. … “The key is to always be evolving in your role. Using a wave analogy, certain trends in healthcare have been swelling for some time now and will peak soon, while others are still stirring underwater, waiting for the right time to surface. Paddle harder toward the wave and ride it out. 8. Renee has more than 20 years experience in print production and content management. A medical coder extracts the information from patients’ medical records and converts … It is the unrealistic demands placed on many coders that have led industry leaders to look for ways to automate claims processing. The international classification of diseases (ICD) segment is expected to register a significant share, in terms of revenue, over the forecast period, owing to the increasing demand for trained medical coders. Be an expert in your business and industry, not just your role. All Rights Reserved to Mordor Intelligence. 3. Will medical coding be completely outsourced eventually? Medical coding is an upcoming in-demand field in the stream of Healthcare Administration. To help you with this, we did some research on industry trends and spoke to several long-time AAPC members to get their perspectives on the future for medical coders. “In facilities using AI,” Aubry says, “I see the coder’s role becoming more of an auditor responsible for reviewing cases to be sure the software performs accurately.”, Physician coding auditor, educator, and consultant Angela Clements CPC, CEMC, CGSC, COSC, CCS, AAPC Fellow, is also optimistic. Hence, this segment is expected to grow in the future, due to the rising growth of medical coding across the world. The reason medical billing exists is so physicians and medical entities can be paid. Only now is ‘surprise billing’ a topic that is recognized, discussed, and hopefully eliminated. Even with AI or with health systems absorbing smaller practices, coders are still needed to help the software developers correctly develop programs, review for glitches, and help with updates as industry requirements change. The truth, … The current international standard for medical coding is ICD-10 (the tenth version of International Classification of Disease codes), from the World Health Organization (WHO). 2. “The experts in coding are needed to ensure these solutions are accurate and up to date with the most recent guidance,” Gianatasio continues. There are many other factors influencing the future role of the medical coder in the United States, probably more so than AI. And in healthcare, there are multiple descriptions, acronyms, names, and eponyms for each disease, procedure, and tool. COVID-19 has certainly fast-tracked healthcare into the “digital age,” but it also has required us to regroup and reassess our priorities. To understand geography trends, Download Sample Report. The current international standard for medical coding is ICD-10 (the tenth version of International Classification of Disease codes), from the World Health Organization (WHO). Medical coding is an in-demand job The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the job outlook between now to 2024 for health information technician and medical records is 15%. CPT 2021 Update: New Lab, Category III Codes, Major Stimulus Bill Pumps Funds Into Healthcare, COVID-19: Be Informed, Take Precautions, Stay Calm, and Carry On, Telemedicine Takes Healthcare Into the 21st Century, Don’t Let Telehealth Claims Derail Your Accuracy Rates, 40 percent – monitoring data from Internet of Things devices, such as wearable technology, 37 percent – accelerating research for new therapeutic or clinical discoveries, 37 percent – assigning codes for accurate diagnosis and reimbursement. In the North American region, the United States holds the largest market share due to factors, such as an increasing geriatric population, along with a growing number of chronic diseases in the country, which is anticipated to stimulate the demand in this region. Medical coders are sought after in a variety of healthcare organizations, and those opportunities and avenues continue to grow. I believe it is going to teach us a lot more about how/where we are deficient, both clinically and operationally.”, For example, Aubry explains, “Healthcare does not prioritize investment in the business-end of the industry whether it is in- or outpatient. ICD‑10 has … Make sure to invest in yourself from both a financial and time perspective. After spending time with so many HIM professionals at the AHIMA Annual conference, I’ve come back thinking about the future of medical coders. “Additional complexity associated with ICD-10 implementation, regulation, and the shift to value-based reimbursement models more than offset CAC productivity gains, and coding complexity continues to increase.”, The science will continue to evolve, however, and so too will coders’ job responsibilities. That wouldn’t be advisable, writes KIWI-TEK Chief Operating Officer Bill Wagner in a 2018 blog for Healthcare IT Today. I have not seen a decrease, but rather an increase in coding opportunities, as we have moved from the paper world to the electronic world.”, As with all new technology, there will be a learning curve. There is a high demand for medical billers and coders in the current job market. Medical coding is the step in the medical billing process that assigns codes to insurance claims so that a patient’s insurance can be correctly billed. According to BLS, employment for medical records and health information technicians (i.e., medical coders) is projected to grow 8 percent from 2019 to 2029, which is “much faster than average.”. Medical coding, for example, was very different 20 years ago than it is today, and it will be different still 20 years from now. No doubt, many HIM professionals are moving … Coders will need to code, work coding edits, work coding denials, and appeal denials. A successful medical coding and billing process will always need meticulous, educated employees to manage the data and apply expertise. As the health care system turns increasingly to electronic health records, billing and coding … Gaze into our crystal ball …. 6. Good companies should welcome that communication and be willing to work to meet that challenge.”, Melissa Kirshner, MPH, CPC, CDEO, CRC, CPC-I, Approved Instructor, AAPC Fellow, sees EHRs limitations daily. Medical coders play a vital role in these companies. Thus, coding-related jobs are expanding, due to the growing landscape of the business side of healthcare, along with their efficiency to automate large amounts of work. Overall, medical billers and coders still have a future in continuing to help the US healthcare system save money, improve patient care and lead the world in efficiency. Therefore, the high demand for specialist coders and the presence of a favorable healthcare system are the key factors that are anticipated to drive the market growth. “Coding is contextual (not consistent) and utilizes non-text inputs pulled from various sources, all of which encumber NLP efforts,” Erickson says. How Technology is Shaping the Future of Medical Coding The implementation of electronic health records is reshaping the field of health information management and opening up many new opportunities. The trend with the most potential to change the healthcare industry is artificial intelligence (AI). What we learned is encouraging, especially for those of you who are not afraid to tread in uncharted waters. “This places coding professionals in a wonderful place to start or expand their careers. Therefore, medical providers have started … Medical Coding Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2020 - 2025), International Classification of Diseases (ICD), Healthcare Common Procedure Code System (HCPCS). Employment of medical secretaries, including medical billing and coding specialists, is projected to increase 22% from 2016 to 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Some medical coders may even teach a class to show healthcare employees how to avert coding errors in the future… History tells us that every shift to automation creates new jobs. “As our insurance reimbursement methodologies continue to shift toward quality over quantity, we need people who are trained in documentation improvement and are able to not only abstract information from a record but also go back to the providers to teach them when there are documentation shortfalls that will become costly in the future,” says Kirshner. Thus, leading offshore coding firms are building a secure environment for the coders to work in. Earn CEUs and the respect of your peers. Medical billers submit the codes to insurance companies for reimbursement of medical services. Obtaining new certifications shows your dedication to your profession and gives you the edge in securing new and exciting opportunities.”. According to an Oct. 30, 2020, post on AAPC’s Facebook private group page, productivity and accuracy expectations run the gamut across settings — anywhere from two charts per hour to 1,000 charts a day! In the future… Nobody can really predict the future, but you can master your own destiny (see sidebar for tips). What does AI mean to medical coders? Take electronic health records (EHRs), for example. Also, most entities are seeing increased denials because the provider has documented conditions that do not appear supported by clinical evidence. Click here. Veteran auditor, inpatient coder, and college professor Dorothy D. Steed, CCS, CDIP, COC, CPCO, CPUM, CPUR, CPHM, CPMA, ACS-OP, CCS-P, RCC, RMC, CEMC, CPC-I, CFPC, PCS, FCS, CRCR, CICA, CPAR, is not convinced that AI alone is capable of improving accuracy and efficiency in medical coding. ICD-10 means more accurate medical billing and coding, which could translate to more jobs and higher medical billing salaries. Medical coders are sought after in a variety of healthcare organizations, and those opportunities and avenues continue to grow. The push for quality data is placing an emphasis on the role of medical coders to serve as a go-between with CDI specialists and clinicians. The need for ICD is increasing across the world, owing to a growing prevalence of diseases. Solve your employer’s challenges, not just your own. Based on everyone’s comments on the post, the consensus is that quotas depend on the specialty and place of service (POS) — radiology and inpatient coders are expected to process far more claims than family practice coders, for example. Aubry tells us, “Even with health system mergers and acquisitions, there are still going to be providers seeing patients, so I do not believe the volume of visits decreases, but we have learned to expect the unexpected. “Open and receptive communication from clinicians, HIM/coding/billing front-line professionals, back to the vendor is essential for improvement in accuracy and functionality of software. DUBLIN, March 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- . Technology has advanced medical coding and highlighted the importance of medical coders. Not everyone is ready to ride the AI wave, though. But to stay relevant, you must keep your eye on industry trends that will affect your role and then educate yourself accordingly — depending on whether you want to ride the wave or create waves. We would be remiss to overlook the elephant in the room. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported in its Occupational Outlook Handbook, updated Sept. 1, 2020, that the healthcare and social assistance sector is leading the pack in job growth, and the demand for medical coders is growing at more than double the average rate across all industries. Nobody can truly predict the future, though, and COVID-19 proved that. “However, as any computerized program, it can only process what is entered. See what actually is going on in the healthcare business job market. “My advice to coding professionals is to continue to stay abreast of the changes we are experiencing. But, once again, Erickson sees opportunity. But fear not. As technology continues to disrupt healthcare, there are bound to be changes in the way medical billing and coding … Grow your network – you’ll absolutely need it. The "Medical Coding Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2019 - 2024)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.. Audits still need to happen to ensure accuracy of information. This system of medical coding ensures that healthcare … AAPC National Advisory Board President-elect Colleen Gianatasio, CPC, CPC-P, CPMA, CPC-I, CRC, CCS, CCDS-O, sees these trends as opportunities. EMRs will not be able to interpret a provider’s thought process for medical decision making or work with them to do a better job at documenting it.”. “Had EHR vendors asked more doctors and nurses how they used charts during the initial software development process, there would be far fewer user complaints and burnout now,” Aubry contends. And then there’s the compliance factor. “The key is to be a coder who is flexible and can change with the times. Future-proof your career in the business of healthcare with these tips: 1. In addition, data security is a major concern for healthcare organizations, and offshore coding companies are also becoming aware of these data security concerns while understanding that breach in a client's data is likely to result in the loss of business. “Our jobs have continued to evolve even with the increase of electronic medical records [EMRs],” Kirshner says. Examples include acute blood loss anemia with no evidence of transfusion of blood products or iron supplements; and acute respiratory failure with no evidence of vent, BIPAP, CPAP. Required fields are marked *. As a contributor you will produce quality content for the business of healthcare, taking the Knowledge Center forward with your knowhow and expertise. This shortfall has created a need for added roles where coding skills are needed — clinical documentation improvement (CDI) and medical scribing, for example. If you want to do the same thing next year as you did this year, you should be scared.”. Thus, the market seems to be highly fragmented, due to the presence of many local providers offering a wide array of services. The field of medical billing and coding is growing as a result of a number of factors, chief among them being an aging population, an increasing focus on health data and informatics, and the digitization of health records. Ever-evolving medical billing and coding services, complicated healthcare RCM and stressful account receivables have become more complex. So, what does that mean for medical coders? “Telehealth has experienced explosive growth during the coronavirus pandemic, with telehealth claims lines increasing 3,552% from August 2019 to August 2020,” according to FAIR Health. Medical coding is a key component of revenue cycle management. Medical coding is thus being increasingly used in the present scenario, to create a proper record of patient care, streamline the medical billing process, accelerate payments to physicians, and identify the healthcare areas that require focus. Technological advances are making it easier and faster for medical providers to access a patient’s … The Medical Coding Market has been segmented by the Classification System (International Classification of Diseases and Healthcare Common Procedure Code System), Component, End User, and Geography. A panel of coding experts and health information management (HIM) professionals met in early June to answer this question and others. “Coding Accuracy: Study Reveals Differences Between Domestic and Offshore Coding.” 2018. https://www.healthcareittoday.com/2018/03/23/coding-accuracy-study-reveals-differences-between-domestic-and-offshore-coding-him-scene/#google_vignette, Wagner, Bill. In the near future an entry-level associate degree or coding certificate likely won't be enough education to land a job. Medical coding … Let’s consider that for a moment. Medical coder is a highly paid job profile as far as US healthcare industry is concerned, and this practice is now spreading across the world in a fast pace, creating millions of new job opportunities. “I believe coders will always be needed,” she told us. There’s an increased demand for managers in the billing and coding field who can offer first-hand experience. I see problems with current versus history of conditions based on provider statements. We believe the outlook is bright for billers and coders. This guide can help answer your questions about how to start a career in medical billing and coding. And that’s a good thing! Reserve a block of time each week to read up on changes and updates in your field. Hence, the escalating demand for coding jobs is likely to drive the market studied across the world. 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