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Coding salary compared to MLS/ Is it worth the cost of school? - Coming from a TL/QA position at Nuance

Posted: Nov 22, 2014

I currently work at Nuance. Was a TL (transcription lead), now in Quality, getting paid hourly. Everyone is moving to production pay soon which is scaring the bejesus out of us all. Is the difference in salary as a coder (even as entry level) worth it enough to invest in schooling and change careers or should I just be looking for an entirely different career? How long before you can start making more? How hard is it to get licensed? I am a pretty quick study and believe I could pass any licensing exam with the proper amount of time and effort invested. I am a single mom and live in an expensive part of the country and really either need to find a way to go into business for myself, get a second job possibly, or find a way to make more and actually work for a company that gives pay increases. Any advice is welcomed! thanks!

Here we go again, lol, but - salaries are better, yes.

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I said "here we go again" because this question has been asked many times before and attracts an astonishing number of anti-coding arguments. Just skim through the old posts. You should find at least one fight a month. lol

Yes, in general pays better than MT. Salaries vary regionally and according to the type of coding and employer.

Coding is just like any other field, you know, in that you should expect to start in entry-level jobs. You should also expect employers to want experience. However, both of those factors can be overcome with better training and credentials. I also think you will be unable to find the "entirely different career" where that is not the case. The unemployment rate for coders is lower than the national average for all occupations. Unemployment for new coders is lower than other occupations--unemployment for new RNs is so bad it is a national concern.

Coding is part of health information management, which provides lateral and upward career moves into other areas of HIM. HIM itself is considered to be a superb career field with a number of subspecialties. You can start with coding, then continue your education toward the RHIA level. The knowledge you have now of medical language, A&P, etc., and the content of medical records is a good foundation for that.

You can go to www.ahima.org for more information about careers in coding and HIM. They do a salary survey every year.

Go to www.aapc.com for their salary survey and career information.

There is no licensing required in coding, but you will need to be credentialed. You should expect to get the CPC at a minimum, with the CCS allowing for more job opportunities. You can usually pass the CPC with a 4-month course and be qualified for a job doing outpatient coding. There are no requirements for taking it other than a high school diploma. Job opportunities are better and salaries higher with a CCS, but you cannot qualify to take it without completing certain coursework that even some college coding programs do not offer. (Andrews School does qualify, I believe, and at least some of their students have been passing it.)

Moving upward from an entry-level position and salary can occur fairly rapidly. You can see that from the salary surveys.

Coding is interesting and challenging. It is not clerical work. It requires constant learning and offers variety and multiple career paths. It does make use of computer technology and those advances are opening new opportunities for coders in higher level areas, including informatics. At the same time, those advances are relieving coders of some of the more tedious aspects of coding. Don't choose coding if you dislike change or hate computers.

Be advised that not all coding courses teach the same thing. You get what you pay for, but avoid for-profit colleges and career colleges that charge a fortune but deliver little. Also avoid schools that teach solely online with no instructors -- you really need assistance with coding to keep from going down the wrong path.

My advice is Andrews, which is actually a bargain all things considered. They offer a good program covering both inpatient and outpatient coding, have instructors, and provide everything you need. You can complete their course while working in a year or less if you put your mind to it. That is advisable because there is expected to be a hiring push next summer before ICD-10 is implemented on October 1, 2015. It is also advisable to take your certification exams before they change to ICD-10 afterthat date.

GREAT info. Very helpful! - Thank you!

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: )

salary ranges available on both AAPC and AHIMA sites - ex-Nuance now coder

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I am at the beginning pay and it is less than my salary 10 years ago; however, after N took over it is now better and MUCH better benefits/holiday time off/etc. than MT or QA (have done both). I am doing outpatient right now, which is lower salary, but applying for an inpatient internship and crossing my fingers! I just started my new career this year so my salary reflects this (15.50/hour) but there are many opportunities for increased pay in this field, unlike MT. Hope this helps.

Yes, it helps a lot! - Thank you! (more)

[ In Reply To ..]
Would you be willing to email me where you are working? how long it took you to find a job? Are you licensed? If so, which licensing do you have?

Thanks again!

There is no licensing for coding. - Ex-Medquist now cder

[ In Reply To ..]
Not the person above, but I got my first job before I finished Andrews. It is on-site, but I have the option of working remotely. The pay and benefits are very good.

There is no licensing required for coding. The first response you got explains that and also explains what you do need (certification). You should look at the AAPC and AHIMA sites, which explain everything you need to know. Those are the ONLY recognized certifications for coding and HIM.

Are you looking for at-home work? If so, coding might not be a good choice. Most jobs are on site, although employers like hospitals may let you work remotely. Jobs that are remote with HIM consulting companies will most often require AHIMA credentials. Those are harder to get.

MModal pays entry level coders $16/h - hope that helps

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x

MT to - Coding

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I am another MT who transitioned to coding who posts on this board from time to time. I made my transition close to a year ago when my transcription job was outsourced. I have an associates degree in health information technology and am certified as an RHIT and a CCA. I dont feel comfortable including the name of my facility on here but I do work for a rural medical center in the northern part of the country. I code outpatient professional fee level encounters which is basically clinic. I work onsite but some coders do work at home. I am not comfortable listing specifically what I make on here either but it is somewhere between 16 and 19. Places do pay more if you are certified. I found the transition to be huge and continue to learn more every day. I would stay away from any online schools unless they are accredited by AHIMA or AAPC. Those are the professional organizations associated with coding and they have more information on their websites as well. I am one of few actual coders that comes on here and would be willing to answer any further questions. I wish you the best in your decision.

Neither AHIMA nor AAPC "accredit" coding - schools or programs

[ In Reply To ..]
Not trying to be contentious here, but this is important. We don't want to confuse everyone and have them looking for things that do not exist.

As an RHIT, your college program had to be accredited by CAHIIM. RHIA programs must also be accredited by CAHIIM.

CAHIIM does not accredit or approve coding programs.

AHIMA "approves" coding programs. Approval is not a guarantee of quality, but just an indication that the course contains certain material. Not being approved is no indication that the school is not good. It may just be that the type of school is not eligible, that the school does not want to pay exorbitant sums to get it, or even that the school teaches too much and therefore does not fit the AHIMA mold. Some CAHIIM colleges do not have approval on their coding certificate programs. Some superb coding schools, like Andrews, are not approved. Some awful schools have been approved.

AAPC does not accredit *or* approve coding programs. They only certify instructors, by which they mean they license their training materials to them. Their training courses do not include as much as desired. (I took one, so I am sure.)They cover only enough ICD coding for outpatient work, but cover CPT adequately. They do not cover enough A&P, pathophysiology, pharmacology, or reimbursement methods, and thus people who complete them cannot qualify for the AHIMA coding exams. That is also why 25% of their graduates cannot find a job.

You need to consider each school on its own merits.

Thank you - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Much appreciated and very helpful info. Still an MT, but looking at Andrews for coding soon.

Nuance coder - Anonymous 99

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First, I don't know how anyone can be expected to do QA on production and do a good job, I understand your concern about not being able to make any money. If you think you would like coding, then I would advise it. If you are thinking of pursuing it purely because it pays well, I would advise against it. I would suggest trying to find an onsite job in HIT or HIM while you are studying coding so that you can network, learn and apply for internal positions, you will need a foot in the door for a better chance of being hired for a coding job. Every situation is different but there are a lot of newly credentialed coders who can't get that first job - that is not sour grapes, it is true. However, once hired will start at a lower salary but the earning potential is good. I don't know how you feel about working at home later on, but there is at least one MTSO (Amphion, M-Modal) that offers an MT to coding program so that might also be worth looking into. I'm not coding although I took a course but do work in HIM. Going to school and working full-time will be tough if you plan to do that. Personally, I had trouble switching gears between MT and coding, but that's just me. From what I have read, Andrews is a good school, but AHIMA also offers coding in addition to RHIT and RHIA programs. Investigate them all and make your own decision. Talk to people (in person) who are actively working in the field for more feedback. Good luck with your future plans.

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