Job searches can be both times consuming and frustrating, especially since not all 
careers are in high demand. That’s why it pays to choose a profession that has a continual need for new workers. Medical billers and coders are in high demand in the medical profession as they both provide an important service. Competitive pay and job stability are just two of the perks that come with a future as a medical billing and coding professional.
Job Prospects and Potential Pay
Medical billing and coding professionals in Kansas earn an average salary of $35,590 per year. The higher end salaries for medical billers and coders in Kansas is $53,460 annually. There is room for advancement as a host of new medical biller and coder job openings are available each year. Over the next eight years, there expects to be an 11% increase in medical billing and coding jobs in Kansas.
Some Kansas cities you may look to for medical billing and coding education information: Hutchinson, Lenexa, El Dorado, Wichita, Colby, Great Bend, Overland Park, Arkansas City, Chanute, and Highland.
Top Kansas cities/areas for medical billing and coding careers: Kansas City, Manhattan, Topeka, Wichita, and Lawerence.
Just a few employers of medical billers and coders in Kansas:
- Children’s Mercy
- Saint Luke’s Health System
- KVC Hospitals
- Hays Medical Center
- Lawrence Memorial Hospital
- Kansas Heart Hospital
- Kindred Hospital Kansas City
- Overland Park Regional Medical Center
Overview of a Kansas Medical Biller
Medical billers play a key part in making sure health care facilities are compensated for the services they provide to patients. This is done by making sure that insurance companies and other payers are billed appropriately. Kansas medical billers take the information at hand and turn it into a claim that is sent out to various insurance providers. Those claims are paid to the healthcare facility and keep it operating on a day to day basis.
Medical billers itemize claims with medical codes that represent all of the services provided to a patient. There are occasional claims disputes, which call for the intervention of a medical biller. It is the job of the medical biller to explain these claims and interact with both patients and insurance companies. This combines clerical and customer service skills. That is why Kansas medical billers have strong communication skills as they are frequently asked to explain some of the more complex details involved in the billing process.
Medical billers are also expected to be very thorough when putting together a claim. Medical billers rely on a strong foundation of medical terminology, medical codes, proper healthcare documentation and other skills specific to their job.
Overview of a Kansas Medical Coder
Medical coders perform job duties different from medical billers. Medical coders in Kansas are the ones responsible for providing the accurate codes used in the billing process. That process begins when coders are provided with reports, documents, notes and transcriptions created by doctors and other health care providers. It is the coder’s responsibility to then take that information and translate it into the appropriate codes. There are codes that represent every kind of diagnosis, procedure and treatment provided to patients.
Medical coders have an adept knowledge of the international health care coding system. That system is used in their everyday job assignments and it is crucial that these codes are always precise. In the event that some of the reports provided to a medical coder are unclear, then coders must consult the health care provider who provided those reports. Medical coders interact with other health care professionals, although a good portion of their work can be done independently.
For that reason, Kansas medical coders are self-motivated and capable of working on their own. Medical coders are also good with numbers and have strong memorization skills. They also possess a close attention to detail, particularly since they are required to interpret and review a copious amount of documents over the course of a workday.
Education Requirements
Candidates who are looking to pursue an education in medical billing and coding are recommended to have earned a high school diploma or GED equivalency. There are also rarely any background checks performed by any of the Kansas post-secondary schools that offer an education in medical billing and coding.
State License Requirements
Kansas has not instituted a statewide license that is required to work as a medical billing and coding professional. Kansas medical billers and coders are able to work in any hospital, family practice or other health care center without receiving any licensing approval from the state medical board. Certifications for medical billers and coders are not considered licenses in Kansas.
Kansas Medical Billing and Coding Certification Requirements
Certifications are available for medical billing and coding in Kansas in different forms. Certification programs are offered by technical colleges, vocational institutes and community colleges. These certification programs usually take one year to complete, while some require an even less amount of time. It is important to ensure that whatever post-secondary school is offering this certification is accredited. Certifications are then used as a credential in the search for a medical billing or coding job in Kansas.
There is also the option of pursuing an Associate’s Degree in Medical Billing and Coding. This option takes a minimum of two years to complete. These two-year programs go into a little more detail and combine medical billing and coding into one curriculum. The coursework concludes with the awarding of an Associate’s Degree, which is considered a formidable type of certification.
Kansas health care facilities set their own standards for hiring medical billers and coders. However, most medical billing and coding jobs require some form of certification. Requirements vary according to each agency and certifications can also affect pay rates.
Kansas medical billers and coders can pursue a national certification from organizations like the AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association) or AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders). These individual medical billing or medical coding certifications are not required in Kansas, but can be an asset when applying for a job.
Resources
Check out which Kansas health care companies are searching for new medical billers.
Kansas Health Information Management Association
Medical billers and coders in Kansas can take advantage of all the resources provided by this association.
Kansas Board of Regents Medical Coding Standards
The Kansas Board of Regents oversees the state’s higher education and has established its own standards for medical coding education.
Learn more about the medical coding jobs that are available throughout the state of Kansas.