Health Information Management, Billing, and Coding Careers
If you want a career that is vital to the healthcare system and uses your keen organizational and communication skills, then health information management, billing, and coding (HIMBC) may be right for you. You can enter this medical office field in as little as 11 months with a Health Information Management, Billing, and Coding diploma from Blue Cliff College. And in just a few additional months, you could earn a degree in the same subject that could set you on a path to a higher-earning position in this field.
Read on to learn about health information, billing and coding, including what these professionals do, how much you could earn, and more.
What HIMBC Professionals Do
Health information, billing, and coding (HIMBC) professionals provide non-clinical office services in a medical facility. From communicating with patients to handling insurance and billing to ensuring all electronic health records are up to date, they’re essential to every medical facility.
HIMBC specialists bring many skills to the table, which may make them eligible for a variety of jobs. A few job titles they may have include:
- Coding specialist
- Insurance claims specialist/analyst
- Front desk receptionist
- Billing and collections specialist
- Patient care coordinator
- Health information technician
Do I Need a HIMBC Degree or a Diploma?
While some medical offices offer on-the-job training, you could have a leg up on the competition with a diploma or degree. With an associate degree, you could qualify for more advanced jobs.
HIMBC vs. Similar Fields
Health information, billing, and coding overlaps with a couple of similar fields.
- Medical office administration (MOA): Medical office administrators focus on the paperwork and process and personnel needs of healthcare facilities. HIMBC specialists perform more in-depth services with individual patients and focus on the billing aspects of the relationship.
- Clinical medical assisting (CMA): CMAs can also update health records and provide basic medical assistance to physicians. However, HIMBC specialists can’t engage in clinical work like CMAs might. HIMBC specialists can also perform many office services beyond health records updates.
If you earn a Clinical Medical Assisting diploma at Blue Cliff College, you can transfer some of those credits to our HIMBC associate degree program.
Where HIMBC Specialists Work
All sorts of healthcare facilities need capable office workers. This means that health information management, billing, and coding specialists can work in:
- Community health organizations
- Hospitals
- Medical specialists’ offices
- Nursing homes
- Primary care offices
- Other medical offices
Essentially, any business or organization needing expertise in medical administrative tasks may want to hire someone with a HIMBC diploma or degree.
Health Information, Billing and Coding Salaries and Job Growth
The amount that people working in medical offices earn depends on their exact job, where they work, their years of experience, educational background, and more. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are the salary ranges and job growth expectations across the nation for related job categories:
| Overarching Field | National Salary Range (2023) | National Median Salary (2023) | Expected Job Growth (2023-2033) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
$35,080 – $77,810 |
$48,780 |
9% |
|
|
$38,310 – $107,650 |
$62,990 |
16% |
|
|
$27,190 – $52,880 |
$37,060 |
-5% |
|
|
$31,900 – $57,340 |
$40,640 |
Unreported |
Is a HIMBC Career Right for Me?
A career in a medical office may be right for you if you thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment, are highly organized, and are comfortable communicating in person, in writing, and on the phone. HIMBC specialists may spend a good amount of time on the phone with insurance companies or patients to ensure everything is in order.
Working as a clinical medical assistant may be a better fit if you want to work in a medical office while helping doctors and nurses directly. And a medical office administration role could be a better fit if you want to spend more time on helping a medical facility run, from budgeting to staffing.
Career Development Services at Blue Cliff College
At Blue Cliff College, you can access several career development services to help you perfect your resume, practice your interview skills, and learn how to hunt and apply for jobs. Though we can’t guarantee you will gain employment, we assist you in putting your best foot forward.
Get Started Today!
