In Florida, the medical field is one with a steady demand for new employees in a variety of specialties.
Administrative jobs such as billing and coding are quite important for the healthcare system.
This is the right career path for those with a keen eye for details and who want to be certain they find employment as soon as possible.
Here you’ll learn more about the education and certification needed, as well as how much you can expect getting paid.
Article Table of Contents
What is Medical Coding?
Most medical reports need to be turned into pieces of information which can later be easier used for a variety of purposes.
The process is called coding, and there are 3 main code sets:
- CPT
- ICD
- HCPCS
Those who work as medical coders must know the meaning of the codes and the way they’re used.
CPT, ICD-10-CMN, and HCPCS Level II coding are the most used systems both in Florida and across the nation.
What is Medical Billing?
All procedures and treatments received by a person need to be paid for.
This can only be done through a bill.
Compiling the invoice is called billing.
Insurance companies also need a copy of the bills, in order to properly dispense the funds.
Those working in the medical billing field need:
- Specific knowledge of how insurances work,
- How to create bills
- To work with the medical code
Getting the Appropriate Education and Certification
In order to be a good candidate for a position as a medical coder or biller, you will need proper training and certification.
Generally, there is no law demanding this, but it is hard to get hired without it
Fortunately, there’s no requirement for higher education, but a high school diploma or a GED is mandatory to have.
AAPC is the institution issuing the certifications for medical coding and billing, regardless of where the training was done.
There are 2 separate certifications you can get:
- CPB certification for billing
- CPC certification for coding
Many individuals choose to obtain both for better employment possibilities and a higher paycheck.
The average duration for a training program in this field is 8 months, allowing you to get hired rather fast compared to other industries.
While many individuals choose to enroll in the programs organized by AAPC, other educational institutions also have such classes.
School Name | Address |
---|---|
AMERICAN COLLEGE FOR MEDICAL CAREERS | 5959 Lake Ellenor Lake Orlando, FL |
ATA CAREER EDUCATION | 7351 Spring Hill Drive, Suite 11 Spring Hill, FL |
BROWN MACKIE COLLEGE | 3700 Lakeside Drive Miramar, FL |
CITY COLLEGE | 177 Montgomery Road Altamonte Springs, FL |
CITY COLLEGE | 2000 W. Commerical Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL |
CITY COLLEGE | 7001 N.W. 4th Blvd. Gainesville, FL |
CITY COLLEGE | 6565 Taft Street Hollywood, FL |
CITY COLLEGE | 9300 S Dadeland Blvd. 2nd Floor Miami, FL |
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY | 19151 South Dixie Hwy # 205 Cutler Bay, FL |
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY | 8230 W Flagler St. Miami, FL |
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY | 8765 SW 165 Ave, Suite 114 Miami, FL |
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY | 5190 NW 167 Street Miami Gardens, FL |
CONCORDE CAREER INSTITUTE | 10933 Marks Way Miramar, FL |
CONCORDE CAREER INSTITUTE | 4202 W Spruce Tampa, FL |
DAYTONA COLLEGE | 425 South Nova Road Ormond Beach, FL |
EVEREST UNIVERSITY | 805 Wells Road, Orange Park, FL 32073 |
FLAGLER TECHNICAL INSTITUTE | 3535 Old Kings Road North Palm Coast, FL |
FLORIDA CAREER COLLEGE | 1321 SW 107 Ave Ste 201B Miami, FL |
FLORIDA EDUCATION INSTITUTE | 5818 SW 8th St Miami, FL |
FLORIDA TECHNICAL COLLEGE | 12900 Challenger Parkway Orlando, FL |
FORTIS COLLEGE | 6565 Ulmerton Road Largo, FL |
FORTIS COLLEGE | 560 Wells Road Orange Park, FL |
FORTIS INSTITUTE | 1630 South Congress Avenue, Suite 300 Palm Springs, FL |
FORTIS INSTITUTE | 4850 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Suite 224 Lauderdale Lakes, FL |
FORTIS INSTITUTE | 9035 Sunset Drive, Suite 200 Miami, FL |
FORTIS INSTITUTE | 5925 Imperial Parkway, Suite 200 Mulberry, FL |
FORTIS INSTITUTE | 9022 South US Highway 1 Port Saint Lucie, FL |
LINCOLN COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY | 2410 Metrocentre Blvd West Palm Beach, FL |
MATTIA COLLEGE | 13926 SW 47th Street Miami, FL |
MEDTECH INSTITUTE | 2000 N. Alafaya Trail Orlando, FL |
MERIDIAN COLLEGE | 7020 Professional Pkwy E Sarasota, FL |
MORE TECH INSTITUTE | 5352 W 16 Ave Hialeah, FL |
RASMUSSEN COLLEGE | 4755 Southwest 46th Court Ocala, FL |
SABER COLLEGE | 3990 W Flagler St., Ste 103 Miami, FL |
SOUTHEASTERN COLLEGE | 1756 North Congress Ave West Palm Beach Greenacres, FL |
SOUTHERN TECHNICAL COLLEGE | 1685 Medical Lane Fort Myers, FL |
SOUTHERN TECHNICAL COLLEGE | 1485 Florida Mall Avenue Orlando, FL |
ULTIMATE MEDICAL ACADEMY | 1255 Cleveland St Clearwater, FL |
VIRGINIA COLLEGE | 2810 South Federal Highway Fort Pierce, FL |
VIRGINIA COLLEGE | 5940 Beach Boulevard Jacksonville, FL |
VIRGINIA COLLEGE | 19 W Garden St Pensacola, FL |
The courses for this field can be attended both in-person and online, making things easier for the students.
It’s common to receive support when searching for a job once you graduate and pass the certification exam.
Expected Salary
In Florida, the salaries for medical coders and billers depend on their experience as well as the city they are employed in.
If you’re interested in getting started in this field, do know that the position is a versatile one, and working from home can easily be done.
Do know that in the demand for such specialists also depends on the city, as in some there are fewer available positions than in others.
Annual Salary Range:Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
---|---|
Jacksonville | $36,154 |
Miami | $37,292 |
Tampa | $36,499 |
Orlando | $36,442 |
St. Petersburg | $36,469 |
Hialeah | $37,005 |
Tallahassee | $34,744 |
Port St. Lucie | $36,107 |
Fort Lauderdale | $37,200 |
Cape Coral | $35,621 |
Regional Salary in Florida
Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 440 | $50,270 | $24.17 | $68,600 | $36,210 |
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 160 | $49,530 | $23.81 | $75,540 | $32,180 |
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 470 | $42,300 | $20.34 | $64,700 | $30,000 |
Gainesville, FL | 340 | $55,890 | $26.87 | $79,090 | $34,310 |
Homosassa Springs, FL | 40 | $44,100 | $21.2 | $80,030 | $29,830 |
Jacksonville, FL | 1,410 | $48,380 | $23.26 | $74,750 | $34,540 |
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 300 | $47,630 | $22.9 | $65,760 | $32,610 |
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 4,270 | $50,160 | $24.12 | $77,440 | $31,030 |
Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | 140 | $48,590 | $23.36 | $67,230 | $33,180 |
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | 440 | $51,500 | $24.76 | $76,750 | $35,880 |
Ocala, FL | 170 | $44,780 | $21.53 | $78,170 | $29,990 |
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 1,890 | $48,840 | $23.48 | $75,320 | $31,200 |
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 390 | $51,840 | $24.92 | $80,840 | $32,540 |
Panama City, FL | 120 | $41,640 | $20.02 | $60,660 | $29,680 |
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 360 | $44,260 | $21.28 | $64,200 | $29,600 |
Port St. Lucie, FL | 250 | $47,920 | $23.04 | $71,610 | $30,530 |
Punta Gorda, FL | 80 | $46,000 | $22.11 | $74,890 | $31,390 |
Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | 70 | $52,990 | $25.48 | $90,950 | $30,070 |
Sebring, FL | 50 | $41,410 | $19.91 | $64,040 | $28,180 |
Tallahassee, FL | 380 | $47,360 | $22.77 | $68,440 | $29,640 |
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 2,950 | $56,170 | $27 | $92,070 | $34,790 |
The Villages, FL | 60 | $41,670 | $20.03 | $66,910 | $30,180 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Other Info
Once you receive your certificate, you can start applying for a job with one of the following companies, as they’re the main employers in Florida for medical coders and billers:
- Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery: This company has several clinics across the state and expertise in the beauty sector of 3 decades.
- Mount Sinai Medical Center: This is the largest, private, independent, and not-for-profit teaching hospital in South Florida, with more than 50 years of experience.
- Tallahassee Primary Care Associates: This medical practice was founded in 1997 and offers ancillary programs and services.
- Boca Raton Regional Hospital: This is a not-for-profit hospital with about 3,000 employees and more than 1,000 volunteers.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Medical Biller and Coder