Sometimes, life takes us down unexpected paths.
Maybe you are not even sure what inspired you to consider a medical billing and coding career, but you’re here.
It could become the start of a stable financial future for you.
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State Requirements for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists
The state of Missouri does not have a licensing protocol that the entire region complies with.
The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), on the other hand, maintains a standard for all those working in medical billing and coding positions.
Credentials offered by the AAPC include Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC), and Certified Outpatient Coder (COC).
The AAPC also provides the Certified Professional Biller (CPB) certification and several other specialized certificates, such as the Certified Professional Medical Auditor (CPMA) or the Certified Documentation Expert Inpatient (CDEI) certificate.
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) also provides a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT®) certification, which you would probably earn after already achieving the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) certificate.
Several other certificate offerings, including the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) or Certified Coding Specialist – Physician-based (CCS-P), are available.
5 Medical Billing & Coding Schools in Missouri
Missouri State-West Plains
If you complete the Missouri State-West Plains Medical Coding Certificate program, you will learn how to accurately assign codes to specific medical procedures.
This training also applies if you have an interest in health care information systems, which also includes becoming knowledgeable about privacy, security, and payment laws and regulations.
Debra Seyfried
Debra Seyfried serves as primary contact for courses provided by the CPC in KC educators platform.
This course teaches you some anatomy, medical terminology, medicine business issues, and these coding protocols: CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS.
Classes run for 12 weeks, and returning students usually get a discount.
Northwest Missouri State University
Northwest Missouri State University offers a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist certificate program.
It teaches you how to apply the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS).
In addition, you will receive an introduction to CPT II and ICD-10 codes.
After you complete this program, you will have the chance to become CPC, CCA, or CBCS Certified.
Ozarks Technical Community College
Ozarks Technical Community College offers the Health Information Technology coding program.
This 39-credit certificate learning track includes three medical coding classes.
In addition, it prepares students for work in healthcare positions that call for accurate patient record-keeping, which includes proper assigning of codes for insurance claims.
Additional areas of concern addressed include the following: information data protection, electronic record deployment, billing legislation compliance, and medical document management.
This Ozarks training also prepares you to take the AHIMA certification test for Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).
Online Training
PhysiCode Healthcare Solutions and Ohana Coding offer 12-week medical billing and coding courses approved by AAPC.
They prepare you for one of a variety of certification exams and learn coding classifications for medications, diagnosis, supplies, and reimbursements.
You will learn the anatomy, physiology, and other medical terms required for the processing of insurance claims and patient bills.
Billing and Coding Schools in Missouri – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Missouri
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Missouri State-West Plains | 128 Garfield Ave #2715, West Plains, MO 65775 |
| Debra Seyfried | 402 N Ranson Rd Greenwood, MO 64034 |
| Northwest Missouri State University | 800 University Dr, Maryville, MO 64468 |
| Ozarks Technical Community College | 1001 E Chestnut Expy, Springfield, MO 65802 |
| PhysiCode | 75 Washington St. #413 PO BOX 413 Fairburn, GA 30213 |
Salary
The average medical billing and coding salary in Saint Louis, Missouri total about $39,702 as of March 29, 2022.
The billing positions typically pay less than the medical coder positions.
You can start your job search in these cities: Saint Louis, Boliver, Columbia, and Kansas City.
Those may not have the only positions in the state, however.
Look wherever is closest to you.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Medical Biller and Coders in Missouri
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Kansas City | $40,178 |
| St. Louis | $40,338 |
| Springfield | $38,707 |
| Independence | $40,135 |
| Columbia | $39,890 |
| St. Joseph | $39,823 |
| Lee's Summit | $40,025 |
| St. Charles | $40,120 |
| St. Peters | $40,032 |
| Florissant | $40,272 |
Regional Salary in Missouri
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | 50 | $40,780 | $19.6 | $62,190 | $27,610 |
| Columbia, MO | 210 | $51,540 | $24.78 | $65,300 | $39,350 |
| Jefferson City, MO | 40 | $46,090 | $22.16 | $65,100 | $27,650 |
| Joplin, MO | 50 | $39,400 | $18.94 | $57,330 | $27,900 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 1,180 | $51,320 | $24.68 | $76,420 | $33,180 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | 100 | $56,220 | $27.03 | $76,560 | $40,120 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 1,710 | $48,900 | $23.51 | $64,920 | $30,640 |
| Springfield, MO | 400 | $48,680 | $23.4 | $62,630 | $31,550 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Schools by City
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the demand for medical billing and coding specialists still there?
Around 416,400 new billing and coding positions opened in 2020.
According to researchers, an average of 34,300 new positions may require billers and coders until 2030.
Employment in this occupation may grow by 9% from 2020 to 2030.
Where should I look for medical billing and coding jobs?
You might want to check with local hospitals, urgent care centers, blood banks, or non-profit clinics.
Some schools, nursing homes, doctor’s offices, and assisted living complexes have them too.
What frustrations might a medical biller and coder face?
Slow claim processing times, paperwork overload, busy intake times, and billing errors sometimes occur.
Computer technical failures and incompatible coding systems along with ever-changing patient data make this position a challenge.
In routine checkup clinics, you might experience boredom entering the same information for most patients all day long.
Will I have a good chance of finding a remote position?
More companies have turned to remote work after 2020, so you might find new opportunities that may originally not have existed before this time.
Possibilities span from temporary employment work to full-time remote positions that do not require traveling like traditional office jobs.
However, you might not find them as soon as you become certified.
The AAPC says that experienced workers usually end up with remote and work-at-home positions ahead of entry-level hires.
How long does billing and coding training take?
It depends on your career goals.
Usually, you will need at least 6-12 months of hands-on experience with at least four months of classroom certificate training.
You could also enroll in an associate or bachelor’s degree program to broaden your medical knowledge and keep earning new certificates to expand your expertise, which will open you up to more opportunities and pay.
