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Unbalanced equilibrium: US States facing shortage of Medical Coders in spite of high supply

As if hospital shortages of nurses and pharmacists were not enough, the shortage of medical coders has risen to high levels in some areas in the US and physicians need to act fast least they lose millions of dollars in unbilled charges. American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) has reported a nationwide shortage of certified medical coders in hospitals, physician practices, and other healthcare facilities, with the most critical shortage in the northeastern and western parts of the country.

President of Provider HealthNet Services Health Information Management Inc. estimates a nationwide shortage of almost 30%. According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. hospitals will need a large number of new medical record and medical health technicians to replace those who are leaving the field now.

Imbalanced scales

On the upside with the increasing demand for coders, their role in health management is expanding, however there is a nationwide shortage of credentialed coding professionals, Coders already present in the profession are facing a difficult time keeping up with the various changes demanded by the industry. There are a multitude of circumstances contributing to this shortage-most graduates are unaware about medical record coding professions, while ongoing changes in the coding profession make it difficult for even skilled coders to keep up. A recent American Hospital Association survey showed that about 18% of billing and coding positions remain unfilled due to a lack of qualified candidates.

Many hospitals are also beginning to implement internal measures to ease the shortage: upgraded pay scales; sign-on bonuses; flex-time and overtime opportunities; scholarship programs for coding education; online training programs; in-house training for internal employees; and increased use of freelance coders.

Increased demand for coders

Coding is highly critical to a physicians practice as any discrepancy in this area can result in high penalties. The scope of health information management (HIM) has grown significantly over the past five years. The health care system has employed a number of techniques to combat the shortage, including contract services. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical billing and coding demand is projected to increase by nearly 20% by 2018.

Coders are an integral part of a health care system playing a key role in reimbursement and processing claims. Medicialbillersandcoders.com is the largest consortium of medical billers and coders in the US providing updated knowledge, placement opportunities and analyzing current salary trends.

FAQs

1. Why is there a shortage of medical coders in the US?
There is a nationwide shortage of certified medical coders, especially in the northeastern and western parts of the US, due to increased demand and a lack of qualified candidates entering the profession.

2. How significant is the shortage of medical coders?
The shortage is critical, with about 18% of billing and coding positions unfilled. Nationwide, the shortage is estimated to be around 30%.

3. How does the shortage of medical coders impact physicians?
Physicians risk losing millions of dollars in unbilled charges due to the shortage, as coding discrepancies or delays can result in high penalties and revenue loss.

4. What factors contribute to the shortage of coders?
Several factors contribute to the shortage, including limited awareness of coding careers, ongoing changes in the field, and the increasing complexity of health information management.

5. What steps are hospitals taking to address the coder shortage?
Hospitals are offering improved pay scales, sign-on bonuses, flexible hours, in-house training, online education programs, and increased use of freelance coders to combat the shortage.

6. Why is the demand for medical coders increasing?
The demand is rising as health information management expands and the healthcare system relies more on accurate coding for reimbursement and claim processing. Demand is projected to grow by 20% by 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

7. How critical are medical coders to the healthcare system?
Medical coders play a crucial role in healthcare by ensuring accurate reimbursement, processing claims, and maintaining compliance with coding regulations, which directly impacts a healthcare facility's revenue.

8. What opportunities exist for aspiring medical coders?
With the increasing demand, opportunities for medical coders include higher salaries, placement opportunities, and continuous learning through platforms like Medicalbillersandcoders.com, which provides updated knowledge and career support.

9. How are coders staying up-to-date with industry changes?
Coders can stay updated through online training programs, in-house training, and educational resources that focus on the latest coding standards and changes in health information management.

10. Where can I find medical coders or get help with medical coding services?
Medicalbillersandcoders.com is the largest consortium of medical billers and coders in the US, offering coding services, updated knowledge, and placement opportunities for healthcare providers.

MBC
Published By - Medical Billers and Coders
Published Date - Jan-27-2012
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