What is medical billing and coding?

Medical coding is the process of converting diagnoses and treatments into codes. Medical billing involves sending claims to insurance companies or other responsible parties for payment. Depending on the office, medical billing and coding can be separate jobs or one job.

As of 2014, training is not required by law for medical billing and coding, but finishing a certification course is encouraged. In offices where medical billing and coding are performed by separate employees, the employees often work together to make sure the invoices are accurate. Medical offices can also outsource billing and coding. In small offices, an employee that handles billing and coding could also be required to assist patients.