Medical Coding and Billing as a Career:

  Medical coding is the process of transforming descriptions of medical diagnoses and procedures into universal medical code numbers. The diagnoses and procedures are usually taken from a variety of sources within the medical record, such as the transcription of the doctor's notes, laboratory results, radiologic results, and other sources. Diagnosis codes are used to track diseases, whether they are chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and heart disease, to contagious diseases such as the flu, and athlete's foot. These diagnosis and procedure codes are used by government health programs, private health insurance companies, workers' compensation carriers and others.
Medical Coding Industry has met the cutting edge of information technology due to which there has been several channels opened towards placements in the health information field. These open doors has diversified and created platforms for the aspiring generation who have laid their career in the health information field.
Coders convert the physicians note into codes that is utilized by the insurance providers in compensating the health care provider. It aids in attaining judgment at a glance.
The growing involvement of micro computers and bigger databases made it possible to outsource the work.
Medical classification systems are used for a variety of applications in medicine and medical informatics knowledge-based and decision support system statistical analysis of diseases and therapeutic actions, Reimbursements, 

Types of Coding

• Diagnostic codes
• Procedural codes
• Pharmaceutical codes
• Topographical code

Medical billing is the process of submitting and following up on claims to insurance companies in order to receive payment for services rendered by a healthcare provider. The same process is used for most insurance companies, whether they are private companies or government-owned. Medical billers are strongly encouraged, but not required by law to become certified by taking an exam such as the Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist Exam (CMRS Exam).

Careers: 

As insurance companies and health care agencies require more highly detailed records of services provided to patients, the need for medical billing and coding career professionals has grown rapidly.

Medical coders assign alphanumeric codes to specific illnesses, injuries and medical procedures, under a system of medical coding that is used across the health care system, from doctors' offices and hospitals to insurance companies, federal agencies and international organizations. Hospitals and doctors use the codes for internal data collection and planning, while insurance companies and public agencies require the codes to reimburse health care providers. The codes are even used by international health organizations to track patterns of disease and the costs of health care.

Growth & Change in Medical Billing and Coding Careers

The whole medical billing and coding career field is growing much faster than the average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Salary.com reports built from HR data in November, 2008 indicate that the middle 50 percent of medical billers and coders earn between $35,999 and $44,562. Medical coders and billers in large organizations such as nursing care facilities and hospitals earned slightly more than those employed by physicians