A Day in the Life of a Medical Billing and Coding Professional

Medical billers and coders are key players in healthcare, even though they rarely, if ever, interact with patients. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers for medical records specialists are expected to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, meaning there are thousands of opportunities across the country for these professionals to pursue their passion.

Is a behind-the-scenes healthcare role the right career path for you? Take a look at what your daily schedule may look like and get ready to start your educational journey with AIMS Education today.

Morning: Starting the Day

With a variety of in-person, virtual and hybrid job opportunities for these professionals, a day in the life of a medical coder starts with logging in online. As in many careers, medical billers and coders will be expected to keep up with industry communications and current projects. To start their day off organized, many of them check their emails first thing and follow through with any updates from the previous day, such as insurance responses on certain claims.

From there, medical coders can move on to current daily tasks, such as organizing electronic health records (EHRs) and coding for new patient encounters.

Midday: Core Job Functions

As they move into their workflow, a typical day for a medical billing and coding professional will include:

• Coding: Medical coders will be tasked with translating medical care into standardized codes as outlined by systems like ICD-10 and CPT.
• Billing: Medical billers may spend much of their day submitting claims, disputing denials and following up on delinquent or unpaid claims.
• Communication and collaboration: Medical billing and coding are some of the least understood healthcare practices, even for doctors and medical professionals. Medical records specialists must make sure all doctors, nurses, insurance representatives and patients understand documentation and verification procedures.

Afternoon: Audits, Reports and Continuing Education

As they complete their medical billing and coding daily tasks, professionals can move on to less time-sensitive work, such as:

• Conducting internal audits to evaluate accuracy.
• Updating past records.
• Generating financial reports.
• Staying current in the industry through research and continuing education courses.

Wrapping up the Day

Most medical billers and coders can expect a stable schedule that allows them to live a fulfilling life around it. As they reach the end of their day, these professionals complete final checks and follow-ups and organize themselves to prepare for their next workday. 

When you choose this as your career, you can rest assured that you're doing your part to help healthcare patients while maintaining a steady work-life balance. It can all start today when you get your certificate through AIMS.

Start Your Medical Billing and Coding Career Today

AIMS Education has helped countless medical billers create a stable, flexible career they can be proud of. Prepare yourself for this next stage of your life by learning more about our program and how we support you through every stage of your healthcare career.