Medical Billing and Coding Schools in Tennessee (Programs & Salary Information)

The economy in Tennessee is at about the same level as most American states.

The healthcare industry didn’t register an increased demand for personnel in recent years, but things are expected to change.

One of the easiest occupations to enter is medical coding and billing, an administrative branch of the healthcare system.

If you are interested in a career in this medical field, here you have all the info you need!

Medical Billing – Requirements, Exam, Certification

Medical billers are the ones who create the invoices helping the patients pay for the treatments and other services they received in a medical facility.

These professionals need to meed these requirements:

• Graduating from a training program for medical billers
• It’s recommended they earn an Associates degree
• Previous knowledge or learning:
  • Anatomy
  • Medical terms
  • Pathophysiology
• Registering as an AAPC member
• Sit through the exam and obtain a minimum score of 70%

AAPC is the institution that administers the medical billing exam.

The exam costs $399 but can be retaken for free in under 12 months, by those who failed.

Passing means receiving the certification for a professional Biller (CPB).

Medical Coding – Requirements, Exam, Certification

AAPC also oversees the medical coding which is created to improve certain processes.

There are 4 specializations in this occupational field:

• Certified Outpatient Coder
• Certified Inpatient Coder
• Certified Risk Adjustment Coder
• Certified Professional Coder

Coders are in charge of transforming medical records into code for later use.

Medical coders work with these codes the most:

• CPT,
• ICD-10-CM,
• HCPCS Level II

The requirements for becoming a medical coder are:

• High school diploma, which can be replaced by GED
• Knowing anatomy
• Knowing medical terms
• Earning the AAPC certification

To earn the certification, candidates must score at least 70% on the test overseen by AAPC.

The exam has 150 questions and is 5 hours and 40 minutes long.

The following books are allowed during the exam:

• AMA’s CPT Professional Edition
• An ICD-10-CM code manual
• An HCPCS Level II code manual

Getting Trained

AAPC provides training classes for all the subjects you’re expected to know as a future biller and coder.

These classes include:

• Medical billing
• Medical coding
• Anatomy
• Medical terms
• Pathophysiology

It’s worth noting that such programs can also be found at various other schools across Tennessee.

Enrolling in one of the other schools gives you the possibility of earning a degree.

It’s not uncommon for billers to also be coders and vice-versa.

This is done by enrolling in both training programs and passing both exams.

Some of the subjects a medical biller will learn includes:

• Medical codes
• Types of insurance plans
• Local and national coverage determinations
• Payer policies,
• Billing rules and regulations in the healthcare industry
• The life cycle of a medical bill claim

Regardless of their specializations, future medical coders will learn about:

• The sets of codes they’ll work with
• The rules these follow
• The organization of the code

AAPC offers a time slot of about 6 months for those enrolled, to finish their training program.

Expected Salary and Other Information

In Tennessee, the average salary for a medical biller and coder is $34,865 per year.

Accumulating more experience and having 2 certifications will reflect in a higher salary.

The cities where the salaries are higher include Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Murfreesboro, and Hendersonville.

Regional Salary in Tennessee

Those who obtained their certifications and live in Tennessee can start applying first at these facilities:

• TriStar Health System, especially its TriStar Ashland Medical Center branch
• Cookeville Regional Medical Center
• East Tennessee Children’s Hospital

All these employers offer perks such as time off, at least one retirement plan, usually the 401(k), along with various health and life insurance plans.

As a medical coder and biller, you have the possibility of working from home.

Medical Billing and Coding Classes by City

Medical Billing and Coding Classes by State