Working with records kept by the Accredited Records Technician, Coding Technicians are professionals skilled in classifying medical data from patient records, generally in the hospital setting. These coding practitioners review patients’ records and assign numeric codes for each diagnosis and procedure. These codes, along with special computer programs, are then used to determine insurance reimbursement. Often the work of the Coder can significantly affect the patient and hospital reimbursement amounts from insurance providers. Organization and accuracy are essential to the profession of Medical Coding.
The American Health Information Management Association offers two certification exams for coders, the Certified Coding Specialist and Physician Based Coding Specialist. Potential candidates must possess a high school diploma. It is also recommended that an individual have at least three years of on-the-job coding experience and coding education from seminars and colleges.