What is Medical Coding?
Medical coding is the transformation of healthcare diagnoses, procedures, medical services and equipment into universal medical alphanumeric codes, according to the American Academy of Professional Coders® (AAPC).1 Put simply, this refers to the process of translating important medical information into simple codes for the purpose of documenting medical records and informing accurate medical billing.
Medical coders translate patient care into current procedural terminology (CPT) codes. Their primary responsibility is to ensure that the medical services provided are accurately coded.
Job outlook for medical coders in the United States
Medical coder job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis:
- The projected medical coder job growth rate is 11% from 2018-2028.
- About 23,100 new jobs for medical coders are projected over the next decade.
- Medical coder salaries have increased 8% for medical coders in the last 5 years.
- There are over 34,626 medical coders currently employed in the United States.
- There are 51,316 active medical coder job openings in the US.
- The average medical coder salary is $51,563.
Are medical coder jobs in demand?
Yes, medical coder jobs are in demand. Medical coder demand is projected to grow 11% from 2018 to 2028. Medical coders can find employment in a variety of professional environments, such as general and surgical hospitals, doctor’s offices, management offices, companies that offer accounting services, and nursing homes. The need for certified medical coders is expected to grow as the US population ages and medical records move to digital formats. These experts are essential to the efficient organization of patient data in healthcare facilities. Furthermore, over the next several years, it is anticipated that industry employment in medical coding will increase by 7%. This demand is fueled by the historic shift in the aging demographics of the United States, which presents healthcare difficulties, notably the projected shortage of physicians by 2030.