Contact: Sharon Fisher
December 20, 2007

Certified medical coders in high demand

Big Stone Gap, VA -- You can add medical coding to the long list of good paying job opportunities available in the growing medical industry, an occupation especially attractive for those who want to work in the health field but do not feel suited for direct patient care.

Being a certified medical coder is becoming more important and pays more. Medical establishments that bill for services under Medicare guidelines are more likely to hire the coder who is certified.

Certified medical coders make more money than their non-certified counterparts - up to 17% more, according to the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).

Graduates of Mountain Empire Community College’s Medical Office Coding & Procedures certificate program recently sat for their Certified Professional Coder exam. This was the third and largest cohort of students to complete the program and sit for certification since its inception in 2006.

The Big Stone Gap chapter of the American Academy of Professional Coders proctored the five-hour exam.

Students in MECC’s program can complete their training in three semesters and gain entry-level skills for employment in the health care industry as medical coders, medical office assistants, medical secretaries, insurance billing specialists, or medical records technicians.

The curriculum provides basics in medical, diagnostic and procedural terminology and coding, medical office procedures, and the reporting of data to third party payers, insurance companies and government agencies for reimbursement.

New classes for the program will begin January 14. Anyone interested in pursuing training in this highly-skilled field should contact Victoria Ratliff, Dean of Business & Information Technology at Mountain Empire Community College, 276- 523-6434 or vratliff@me.vccs.edu.

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