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I apologize in advance if this is off topic.
I'm a recently certified coder with a CPC-A. I had a few questions about medical coding as a profession that I hoped someone might be able to help me with. I do not know any coders personally to ask.
All of my questions stem from my experiences with the AAPC externship program. All of the externships I've been able to speak to people about have not been for medical coding. One needed a customer service rep with knowledge of coding, one needed RN's with knowledge of coding for special projects, and another wanted a medical biller with knowledge of coding. So my question is, are there jobs for medical coders out there? Or do they have to do heavy phone work and just the occasional basic coding? The last externship I mentioned above was one that I was actually working at, but once they found out I did not want to be a biller (which included acting as collection agent and calling patients for payment), they let me go even though they were very impressed with my coding skills. It seems they didn't want an extern at all -- they wanted to train a coder (for free) for a billing position opening up.
All of this is very disheartening seeing as, though I am good at customer service, it really is low on the list of professions I wish to have. It is one of the things I'm trying to get away from and one of the reasons I chose to study medical coding. If any of you can share your experiences as coders, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thank you!
I'm a recently certified coder with a CPC-A. I had a few questions about medical coding as a profession that I hoped someone might be able to help me with. I do not know any coders personally to ask.
All of my questions stem from my experiences with the AAPC externship program. All of the externships I've been able to speak to people about have not been for medical coding. One needed a customer service rep with knowledge of coding, one needed RN's with knowledge of coding for special projects, and another wanted a medical biller with knowledge of coding. So my question is, are there jobs for medical coders out there? Or do they have to do heavy phone work and just the occasional basic coding? The last externship I mentioned above was one that I was actually working at, but once they found out I did not want to be a biller (which included acting as collection agent and calling patients for payment), they let me go even though they were very impressed with my coding skills. It seems they didn't want an extern at all -- they wanted to train a coder (for free) for a billing position opening up.
All of this is very disheartening seeing as, though I am good at customer service, it really is low on the list of professions I wish to have. It is one of the things I'm trying to get away from and one of the reasons I chose to study medical coding. If any of you can share your experiences as coders, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thank you!