As a medical coding and billing specialist, you will be responsible for the invoices, payments, and insurance claims at the facility where you are employed.
The day-to-day job requirements for this position include properly sending invoices or claims for payment as well as using the correct techniques to code services, procedures, diagnoses, and treatments.
This is a challenging career, with sufficient career advancement opportunities, a rewarding career, and a work-life balance.
5 Medical Billing & Coding Schools in Maryland
The following schools offer courses in medical coding and billing in the state of Maryland.
Fortis College Landrover
The school, as the name suggests, is located in Landover, MD, and has been accredited since 2007.
The student population is fairly small at just under 800 students and the school offers a certificate course in medical billing and coding.
The medical billing and coding course tuition is $13,810 without financial aid.
This course covers a range of topics in the medical administrative field including office management, medical coding techniques, as well as medical terminology.
Students attending this course may expect a balance between traditional classroom lectures and small group instruction.
The training provided helps students to adjust to working in office and hospital settings by exposing the students to real-world situations.
Furthermore, students are provided with the necessary knowledge and experience to work in entry-level positions.
Hagerstown Community College
The school is located in Hagerstown, MD, and has been accredited since 1968.
The student population is fairly large at just under 7 000 students and the school offers a certificate course in medical billing and coding.
Course fees start at $4,596.
Students attending this course may expect a combination of lectures with competency-based training in third-party reimbursement procedures, diagnosis coding, and medical procedural coding in order to prepare them for a career as a medical billing and coding specialists.
The course is divided into two areas of study, including lectures and laboratory work.
Students are expected to undergo a criminal background and fingerprint check before being admitted to the course.
In addition, in order to sit for the national exam, students must provide proof of a high school G.E.D.
Upon successful completion of the course, and after having met the requirements, students are eligible to sit for the following national exams: the Certified Professional Coder-Apprentice (CPC-A) exam, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam and the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC) exam.
Upon successful completion of one year of employment, candidates are eligible to advance certification to Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) status or Certified Professional Coder (CPC) status.
Tesst College of Technology Baltimore
The school is located in Baltimore, MD, and has been accredited since 1957.
The student population is just over 700 students and the school offers a certificate course in medical billing and coding.
The course prepares students for an entry-level position as a medical billing and coding specialists with the required knowledge and skills to be successful in this field.
In addition, upon completion of the course, students are eligible to sit for the national exam.
As of the date of writing this article, no information could be found online to indicate the course fees.
Allegany College of Maryland
The school is situated in Cumberland, MD, and has been accredited since 1961.
The school has a substantially larger student population, including 3,700 credit students as well as over 15,000 continued learning students.
Allegany College of Maryland offers a one-year medical billing and coding certificate course and the tuition per year is $4,912.
Students learn how to code patients using ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS Level II, the process of completing insurance forms and obtaining pre-authorization for patient visits and procedures, post payments, collecting unpaid balances, updating patient records and payment records, as well as how to accurately code diagnoses and procedures in various work situations such as doctor’s office, hospital office, physician office, and out-patient offices.
Upon successful completion of the course, students are eligible to take the AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam.
Montgomery College
The school is situated in Rockville, MD, and has been accredited since 1983.
The school has an extremely large student population of 55,000 students.
The school offers a medical billing and coding certificate course and the tuition is $201.00 per credit hour.
Students are trained in compiling, interpreting, and utilizing hospital and health care statistics, coding symptoms, diseases, and operations as per classification systems, abstracting and retrieving medical information, as well as how to analyze and evaluating health records and reports.
In addition, students are prepared for an outpatient setting by familiarizing the student with specialty coding and electronic billing requirements.
Students must complete the course within the three-year period prior to graduation.
Upon completion of the course, students are eligible to take the national exam.
Billing and Coding Schools in Maryland – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Maryland
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Fortis College Landrover | 4351 Garden City Drive, Landover, MD 20785-2223 |
| Hagerstown Community College | 11400 Robinwood Dr, Hagerstown, MD 21742 |
| Tesst College of Technology Baltimore | 1520 South Caton Avenue, Baltimore MD 21227 |
| Allegany College of Maryland | 12401 Willowbrook Rd, Cumberland, MD 21502 |
| Montgomery College | 51 Mannakee Street, Rockville, MD 20850 |
Salary
Candidates may expect an entry-level salary of $38,267 as well as a median salary of $51,241.
On the high end of the scale, top earners may expect to take home $68,151 per year.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Medical Biller and Coders in Maryland
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Baltimore | $42,200 |
| Frederick | $44,100 |
| Gaithersburg | $45,500 |
| Bowie | $45,600 |
| Rockville | $45,600 |
| Hagerstown | $41,600 |
| Annapolis | $43,500 |
| College Park | $45,700 |
| Salisbury | $43,700 |
| Cumberland | $37,600 |
Regional Salary in Maryland
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 1,610 | $63,190 | $30.38 | $84,430 | $39,110 |
| California-Lexington Park, MD | 30 | $55,230 | $26.55 | $71,450 | $38,020 |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | 40 | $50,200 | $24.13 | $64,330 | $36,880 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 130 | $57,430 | $27.61 | $88,060 | $37,140 |
| Salisbury, MD-DE | 150 | $50,290 | $24.18 | $72,520 | $33,170 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of employers require coders?
Coders are required by an individual doctor’s office, out-patient facility, hospital, or clinic.
Are coders in demand in Maryland?
Coders are in demand nationwide with exceptional growth in demand in the future.
Do I need a license or qualification to be a coder in Maryland?
Neither are required but a formal qualification does help to secure a better job with a good company.
