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Medical Transcription versus coding/billing - curious

Posted: Jan 18, 2010

Does anyone have an idea which career might pay best, medical transcription or medical billing/coding? I am curious about which pays best.

DEFINITELY CODING! - OLD MT

[ In Reply To ..]
Our pay is decreasing but coders seems to be doing well!

But if you Google India and medical coding, you get a lot - of hits. sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm still thinking about switching to coding because the investment in time and money for the AHIMA online course is relatively small, and the openings seem to be plentiful at this point. But I'm concerned coding will go the way of transcription--being replaced by Indians and technology. The question is, sooner or later?

I am a recovering biller. - Trust me you do not want to go there.

[ In Reply To ..]
I got paid very well as a biller, but it cost too much. Far too many headaches. Insurance companies will do anything to stonewall, delay and deny payment, even for covered services that have been pre-authorized. You have to fight for every penny. So unless you really, really enjoy fighting, stay away from billing.

As I understand coding, it wouldn't have the same potential for stress as billing. But I am not a coder and haven't been one, so can't speak to that for certain. I am told, however, that it pays better than MT-ing.

Billing/Coding pays better BUT - travelinMT

[ In Reply To ..]
The trouble is it is even harder to break into than transcription. To get the good paying jobs you need to be certified and have a minimum of 2-3 years experience. The company I work for won't even talk to you without 3- years experience.

I was going to make the big switch a few years ago (in a former life I was a claims examiner so I figured with my terminology/anatomy knowledge and my claims examiner background that it would be pretty easy for me to learn. Then I started checking around and found out without the certification and experience no one wants to hire you; remember that job brings in their money and getting paid is already a big enough hassle for docs/hospitals. I figured with spending the time in school, getting certified and trying to find someplace to hire me with no acutal experience it just wasn't worth the cost/time to try to make the switch at this point in my career.

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