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In New Mexico, the demand for people trained for the medical field is foreseen to grow 13% by 2026.
Medical coding and billing is an administrative occupation but offers one of the easiest paths to take for those who want to work in the healthcare industry.
Here you can learn more about what it takes to enter this field.
Article Table of Contents
Medical Billing – Requirements, Exam, Certification
Creating invoices or bills is a pretty meticulous task, and requires a specially trained person.
The person hired on this position needs to also be certified a this increases their chances of finding employment.
The training is needed because the person must know:
- Coding aspects
- Or understand various types of insurance plans
- Payer policy, local and national coverage determinations
- Various healthcare industry rules and regulations
- The life cycle of a billing claim in the medical world
General requirements for the position include:
- An associate’s degree (not mandatory)
- AAPC membership
- Pay for, take, and pass the exam
The exam fee is $399.
The passing score is 70%, and those who pass become Certified Professional Billers (or CPBs).
Individuals are allowed to retake the exam for free if they do so within a year.
Medical Coding – Requirements, Certification
Coding was created to make certain processes in the medical industry easier.
The medical coding world has a few specializations, such as:
- Certified Outpatient Coder
- Certified Inpatient Coder
- Certified Risk Adjustment Coder
The person who receives the certification is in charge of turning the info from medical records into codes.
There are 3 main types of codes used more:
- CPT,
- ICD-10-CM,
- HCPCS Level II codes
Besides scoring a 70% on the test, there are no other requirements to become certified.
The test itself has 150 questions and lasts for 5 hours and 40 minutes.
Those taking the exam can reference the following books:
- AMA’s CPT Professional Edition
- Your choice of ICD-10-CM code manual
- Your choice of HCPCS Level II code manual
Getting Trained
AAPC organizes the training classes for both medical coding and billing, though there are a few other schools offering such courses as well.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| BROOKLINE COLLEGE | 4201 Central Ave NW-Ste J Albuquerque, NM 87105 |
| Carrington College | 1001 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107 |
| Clovis Community College | 417 Schepps Blvd, Clovis, NM 88101 |
| NATIONAL AMERICAN UNIVERSITY | 4775 Indian School Road NE Suite 200 Albuquerque, NM 87110-3976 |
| NATIONAL AMERICAN UNIVERSITY | 10131 Coors Boulevard North West Suite I-01 Albuquerque, NM 87114 |
| NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY | 2800 N. Sonoma Ranch Blvd. Las Cruces, NM 88011 |
The classes offered by AAPC are geared towards all the coding specialties mentioned earlier.
The classes for medical billing can be completed at your own pace as well, most schools might not offer this possibility, but you can still ask.
Despite all this, you will have a maximum of 6 months to complete the medical billing course through AAPC.
Future billers are expected to be familiar with the following:
- Anatomy
- Medical terms
- Pathophysiology
Future coders, only need to be familiar with anatomy and know medical terms.
Expected Salary and Other Information
Generally, your experience and location will influence how much you’ll earn.
Additionally, should you also hold a degree, your salary can significantly increase, as your chances of making a career out of this occupation.
The New Mexico cities where medical billers and coders earn more include Albuquerque and Santa Fe, as the table below shows.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $36,083 |
| Las Cruces | $32,620 |
| Rio Rancho | $35,968 |
| Santa Fe | $36,266 |
| Roswell | $33,656 |
| Farmington | $35,599 |
| Clovis | $33,996 |
| Hobbs | $33,107 |
| Alamogordo | $34,232 |
| Carlsbad | $33,656 |
Regional Salary in New Mexico
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | 630 | $50,160 | $24.11 | $70,700 | $35,380 |
| Farmington, NM | 70 | $50,750 | $24.4 | $71,480 | $34,140 |
| Las Cruces, NM | 80 | $40,360 | $19.4 | $55,250 | $30,920 |
| Santa Fe, NM | 70 | $53,200 | $25.58 | $66,750 | $36,080 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
The main employers in New Mexico for medical coders and billers are:
- Alta Vista Regional Hospital where the employees receive benefits such as paid time off, bereavement leave, tuition assistance, and others.
- Presbyterian Healthcare Services system has 8 hospitals, and those working here receive dental coverage, vision care, paid time off, and spending accounts for healthcare and daycare, among other benefits.
- Lea Regional Medical Center offers to its staff paid time off, dental, health, and vision plans, and a few more benefits.
There are many other types of medical facilities that are in need of both coders and billers, though they are more likely to seek out candidates who hold both certificates.
Medical coding and billing are tasks that can be performed from the comfort of your home.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Medical Biller and Coder
Medical Billing and Coding Classes by City
Medical Billing and Coding Classes by State