Wisconsin (WI) Medical Billing and Coding Schools and Job Description

The time to get started in a medical billing and coding career is now as there is an abundance of job openings across the country. That kind of demand has made it a very appealing career choice. And getting started does not involve years of schooling or high tuition rates. A future as a medical biller or coder presents the potential to earn a competitive salary, benefits, and the luxury of job stability for many years to come.

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Wisconsin Medical Billing and Coding Certification Requirements

Medical billers and coders in Wisconsin are not required to hold a certification according to state guidelines. However, health care facilities in Wisconsin rarely hire medical billers and coders without a certification or degree. There are so many specific job responsibilities of a medical biller and coder that it is integral for those in this industry to be properly trained. Training involves technical aspects of the job that is essential to the everyday functionality of the health care industry in Wisconsin.

Since healthcare facilities rely so heavily on medical billers and coders, there is a great deal of emphasis placed on the training process. Accredited post-secondary schools and colleges in Wisconsin feature medical billing and coding programs. A program in a post-secondary school lasts anywhere from six to twelve months while colleges offer Associate Degree programs in Medical Billing and Coding that take two years to complete.

To enhance one’s overall credentials, certifications are also available from the AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association) and AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders). These organizations provide certifications with the distinction of RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician) for medical billers and CPC (Certified Professional Coder) for medical coders. Earning a certificate or degree will serve as ample preparation to take these certification exams.

General Overview of a Medical Biller and Coder

Medical billers and coders in Wisconsin share some similarities, although each job has its own set of responsibilities. While the two jobs are different, one individual can perform both duties. However, in health care facilities that are extremely busy, that can become an arduous task. That has led many healthcare facilities in Wisconsin to hire medical billers and medical coders to perform the individual assignments that come with each job distinction.

Medical billers in Wisconsin are at the heart of the billing process. These professionals are entrusted with preparing patient claims that represent all of the services provided to them by a healthcare facility. Many of those claims are sent to insurance companies, which requires medical billers to be familiar with a vast amount of insurance policies and procedures. Medical billers in Wisconsin routinely deal with programs like Medicaid and Medicare.

The nature of the job requires medical billers to correspond with insurance companies and patients on a frequent basis. Not every claim will be sent out and paid without issue. There are claims disputes and denials that are a common part of the job. Medical billers help facilitate those issues with their regular correspondence to insurance companies and patients. That requires medical billers in Wisconsin to possess strong communication and people skills.

Medical billers are also very accurate as their type of work is very detail oriented. It is a job that requires multi-tasking as there are a host of responsibilities taken on by medical billers. Reviewing patient histories, setting up payment plans and answering patient inquiries are all tasks performed by Wisconsin medical billers.

Medical coders in Wisconsin deal with reports and numbers more so than people. It is their responsibility to translate medical reports into codes. The codes are what is used on patient claims to identify what a patient is responsible for paying. However, doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals do not record the services they provide with actual codes. They create audio recordings that are transcribed in addition to written reports and notes. Medical coders then review these documents and assign the appropriate codes.

Medical coding is very detailed and involves a long list of codes, subcodes and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Medical coders can instantly identify the exact code that matches each medical procedure, diagnosis and prescription. That demands accuracy as medical coders in Wisconsin are very thorough. They are also independent workers who are capable of completing assignments on their own.

Wisconsin License Requirements

In the state of Wisconsin, medical billers and coders are not required to hold a license in order to work in a healthcare facility. There are certain medical professionals that need to attain a license, although medical billers and coders are not among them. There have also been no indications that the state of Wisconsin will change that guideline anytime in the near future.

Education Requirements

A medical billing and coding education in Wisconsin begins with a high school diploma or GED equivalency. This equips students with a background education that will be useful on their way to earning a medical billing and coding certificate or degree. There are no post-secondary school credits required to start out an education as a medical biller and coder in Wisconsin.

Job Prospects and Potential Pay

The average annual salary for a Wisconsin medical billing and coding professional checks in at $40,340. The potential to earn more on a yearly basis can increase as experienced medical billers and coders in Wisconsin have earned salaries as high as $59,430. The number of medical billers and coders in Wisconsin continues to grow as there is an anticipated 3% job growth during each of the next eight years. Those jobs are spread out all across the state with opportunities not being limited to one specific location.

Wisconsin cities with medical billing and coding education institutions: Shell Lake, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Madison, Wausau, La Crosse, Fond du Lac, Appleton, Pewaukee, and Fennimore.

Top Wisconsin cities/areas for medical billing and coding careers: Madison, Bloomington, Kenosha County, Milwaukee, Waukesha, West Allis, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Appleton, and Green Bay.

A few potential employers of medical billers and coders in Wisconsin:

Resources

Wisconsin Medical Billing Jobs

Check out all the latest medical biller job openings in Wisconsin on this website.

Wisconsin Medical Coder Job Listings

The vast amount of medical coder jobs in Wisconsin can be viewed and applied to online.

Wisconsin Health Information Strategies

This state-operated website reveals health information strategies used in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Hospitals

This website offers direct links to all of the hospitals located in the state of Wisconsin.

Steps to Become a Medical Biller and Coder in Wisonsin