Medical Billing and Coding Professional: A Day in the Life

Great Careers Start Here
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

As a medical billing and coding professional, you make sure that your medical facility gets reimbursed for the services it provides and that patients get the benefits they’re allowed. You code medical records based on patient diagnoses, treatments, and procedures, and then use those codes to file insurance claims. The job requires knowledge of the healthcare delivery system, skills in the software used to code and bill, and the ability to stay organized and manage your time efficiently. Take a closer look at what a typical day looks like in the billing and coding profession to decide if it’s for you.

The Start of Your Day as a Billing and Coding Professional

As a Medical Billing and Coding Professional, your days are often predictable. You might start out by greeting your coworkers, pouring yourself some coffee, and powering up your computer. Your morning involves getting organized and reviewing any urgent tasks that came in overnight. Here are some of the day’s first tasks:

  • Check voicemail, emails, and system alerts, for updates from insurance companies, providers, or internal staff, including claim rejections or billing issues.
  • Review claim status reports and identify which claims need follow-up, were denied, or require additional documentation.
  • Log into the Electronic Health Records and billing software to make sure systems are up and ready, then start pulling up charts or pending claims to work on.
  • Prioritize workflow so you can create a to-do list based on claim deadlines, payment cycles, and any accounts you flagged from the previous day.

The Daily Routine of the Billing and Coding Professional

While some Billers and Coders spend much of their time behind-the-scenes, entering codes, you might find yourself in a bustling medical office. Onsite at a doctor’s office or hospital department, you greet patients, confirm appointments, and verify insurance information as they check in. You verify patient information and coverage and update records to maintain accuracy and avoid billing issues.

When patients go off to their appointments, you work on other tasks, such as:

  • Review completed charts and assign the correct CPT, ICD-10, and HCPCS codes based on the provider’s notes.
  • Enter codes into the billing system to ensure accuracy and prevent claim rejections or delays.
  • Collect copays or outstanding balances and issue receipts and answer basic billing questions.
  • Handle patient questions about billing, insurance, or appointments.
  • Answer phones and respond to inquiries.
  • Check the status of submitted claims, correct denials, or resubmit if needed.
  • Clarify documentation or coding questions directly with medical staff.

Lunch Break

As a Medical Biller and Coder, you likely work full time with regular benefits, including time off for lunch and PTO. During the day, you can take your lunch break to grab a bite, connect with coworkers, or get some fresh air. It’s important to keep yourself fueled, fresh, and sharp so you can do your job well. Accuracy ensures that your facility gets paid what it deserves, which keeps the institution financially healthy and able to hire and pay people like you.

Billing and Coding Professional: Ending Your Day

Throughout the day, you move between working directly with patients, taking their information and answering their questions, and working on your computer. Your job is to make sure that claims are accurate, compliant, and ready to submit. And at the end of the day, you may need to:

  • Finalize the daily coding to ensure that all patient appointments were accurately coded and documented.
  • Check and batch claims for electronic submission to insurance companies or clearinghouses.
  • Review claim rejections or denials and make a note to follow up the next day.
  • Update patient accounts and record copays or outstanding balances collected during the day.
  • Run reports on submitted claims and payments received for internal records management.
  • Reconcile payments and accounts receivable, post them to your system, and balance totals for the day.
  • Perform required data back up or security measures
  • Organize your desk, give yourself some to-do notes for tomorrow, and close for the day.

Do you want an in-demand career in the healthcare industry? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that Medical Billing Specialists will see much faster than average job growth through 2033. If a day in the life of a Medical Biller and Coder sounds like the kind of day you might like, a career as a Medical Biller and Coder might be the perfect fit for you. Reach out to Charter College today. We offer an Associate of Applied Science degree in Medical Billing and Coding that can prepare you for an entry-level job at a hospital, outpatient clinic, or private practice. Our faculty have experience in the healthcare industry and the program can be completed online for your convenience. Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form to learn more.