If you are an organized individual who pays attention to important details when processing documents, then you might be an excellent fit for a Medical Insurance Billing and Coding (MIBC) technician position.
This occupation could provide you with more challenges and a stable income than your previous job.
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New Mexico Billing and Coding Licensing Requirements
New Mexico has not made licensing mandatory for individuals applying to billing and coding jobs to have a license.
However, three primary associations do set guidelines for high-quality healthcare services in this state.
You can acquire a certification from AAPC, AHIMA, or NHA to work in a medical coder or biller position.
AAPC Certifications
The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) provides training resources to help you to earn one of several certifications.
The most sought-after certificates include the Certified Professional Biller (CPB), Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC), and Certified Outpatient Coder (COC) credentials.
Each certificate you earn comes after completing required classroom training and hands-on practice.
AHIMA Certifications
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) offers a variety of credentials approved by Nevada medical institutions.
For example, you could start working toward a Certified Coding Associate (CCA) title.
Then, you could study for the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) exam.
After that, you could enhance your skills by becoming a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT®), and you can achieve the Coding Certificate Specialist – Physician-Based (CCS-P) title.
NHA Certifications
The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) offers the Certified Billing Coding Specialist (CBCS) certificate.
You could also broaden your professional horizons by training for the Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) test.
Beyond that, you could empower yourself with knowledge about health compliance audits.
In addition, you can equip yourself to handle advanced insurance processing cases by continuing other NHA educational programs.
5 Medical Billing & Coding Schools in New Mexico
IntelliTec College
You can learn to read & understand medical charts and become proficient in ICD-10 coding after you complete the Albuquerque IntelliTec College training.
This Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Program also introduces you to ICD billing and coding systems and instructors will introduce you to hands-on learning opportunities.
This training will prepare you for one of at least a couple of AAPC or at least one of three NHA certification exams.
University of New Mexico Gallup
The Gallup Certificate in Health Information Technology — Coding program prepares students for processing medical billing and insurance claims.
This training path will prepare you to take the AHIMA CCA certificate exam, and it includes the following courses: Medical Terminology, Beginning and Advanced Coding, Computer Fundamentals, Anatomy, and Physiology.
You also would learn about quality management and receive an introduction to legal issues related to your job.
This educational program also will teach you methods of reimbursement used by health insurance companies.
Brookline College
You can complete the Medical Insurance Billing and Coding program offered by Brookline College in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
In about eight months, this training will equip you for a future as a MIBC professional.
Learn how to help patients by correctly documenting medical visits, medications, and treatments to insurance carriers for financial compensation.
Moreover, become proficient in maintaining accurate health records for employers using appropriate coding systems, and prepare to take the AAPC’s CPC or CPB certificate exam.
Brookline’s MIBC coursework also prepares you to pass the AHIMA CCS exam.
University of New Mexico – Albuquerque
You will discover what daily tasks medical coders perform as you work through the University of NM Medical Coding Certificate course.
You will also learn how to locate medical codes for any disease, condition, therapy, or surgery when searching through the CPT or ICD-10-CM handbook.
This six-week instructor-led or three-month self-paced course also will prepare you for real-world examples.
In addition, you will gain opportunities to practice your new skills with patients.
It includes several medical terminology and anatomy sessions to give you context when classifying patient records and processing insurance claims.
R & R Coding Solutions, LLC
R & R Coding Solutions offers several courses for students preparing to take one of several AHIMA, AAPC, or NHA certificate exams.
For instance, this billing and coding company offers an Anatomy and Medical Terminology course, which is part of the CPC curriculum.
They also provide a variety of additional foundational courses meant to enhance understanding of diagnosis and treatment coding procedures.
Moreover, they offer an ICD-10-PCS Comprehensive course covering multiple code categorization system aspects.
Likewise, the CCS-P class prepares students for learning the code they would use in a doctor’s office or clinic that has a physician.
Billing and Coding Schools in New Mexico – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in New Mexico
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| IntelliTec College | 4575 San Mateo Blvd NE Suite K, Albuquerque, NM 87109 |
| University of New Mexico Gallup | 705 Gurley Ave, Gallup, NM 87301 |
| Brookline College | 4201 Central Ave NW Suite J, Albuquerque, NM 87105 |
| University of New Mexico – Albuquerque | Albuquerque, NM 87131 |
| R & R Coding Solutions, LLC | 9232 Hermit Peak Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87120 |
Salary
Coding, billing, and reimbursement professionals may start at annual salaries ranging from $35K to $45K with the average being about $47,972 for coders with experience.
Besides Albuquerque, other places you can search for jobs include Rio Rancho, Santa Fe, and Roswell or Los Alamos.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Medical Biller and Coders in New Mexico
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $38,400 |
| Las Cruces | $34,900 |
| Santa Fe | $38,800 |
| Rio Rancho | $38,300 |
| Roswell | $35,999 |
| Farmington | $38,000 |
| Alamogordo | $36,601 |
| Clovis | $37,000 |
| Hobbs | $36,600 |
| Carlsbad | $36,000 |
Regional Salary in New Mexico
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | 760 | $49,260 | $23.68 | $64,510 | $34,830 |
| Farmington, NM | 80 | $46,940 | $22.57 | $65,670 | $30,990 |
| Las Cruces, NM | 80 | $38,910 | $18.71 | $53,450 | $29,090 |
| Santa Fe, NM | 80 | $50,930 | $24.49 | $60,750 | $33,990 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where would I work as a medical biller and coder?
You might begin a successful career working with doctors, clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities.
Sometimes, you could also find positions at blook banks or schools and nursing homes that have certified medical staff.
Do medical centers still have a need for billers and coders?
Current predictions estimated the job growth rate for Medical Records and Health Information Specialists to perform at about 9% until 2030.
You may experience some competition for open positions after 2030, but there’s also the possibility of an increased need.
Will they need more billers and coders in the future?
It is hard to say.
However, the United States does have an increased aging population, which could cause the demand for qualified medical billing and coding specialists to climb higher than it did from 2020 to 2030.
Can I work at home as a biller and coder?
The AAPC has said that work-at-home or remote positions sometimes are harder to get than onsite ones.
However, an increase in remote and hybrid positions for many professions occurred after 2020, so you never know.
You might need at least a couple of years of experience before landing one of these flexible positions.
What qualifications must a medical biller and coder have?
Medical billing and coding specialists must provide correct medical code classifications, or patients might not receive the insurance reimbursement they are entitled to.
Even though they do not have much direct contact with patients like a health caretaker or doctor would, they also need to use a friendly tone when they do speak to patients.
In addition, they must endure both boring and busy hours throughout their shifts.
