Archive for the ‘Medical Coding Salary Surveys’ Category

Certification Protects Members from Recession

RECOGNIZED AS PROFESSIONALS, CODERS WEATHER ECONOMIC STORM

By Brad Ericson, CPC, COSC, and Jennifer Rothlisberger

View the entire 2009 Medical Coding Salary Survey.pdf

Credentialed coders prove recession-proof in this year’s AAPC Salary Survey, which shows your salaries rose 4 percent to an average of $44,750. And even non-certified coders benefited from their affiliation with AAPC, with a 2 percent average salary gain to $37,290.

And this, mind you, in the midst of bank failures, foreclosures, layoffs, and a housing bust.

“It appears certified coders are more recession proof than others, that multiple specialty credentials improve your career, and that education, of course, adds to that benefit,” Reed Pew, AAPC president/CEO, told Coding Edge. The type of credential makes a difference, too, when paired with work venue. Those who work in the insurance industry or facilities are naturally more likely to make more than those in a smaller physician practices. But the results of this and another study are encouraging not only for those who are certified but for all those who are AAPC members. Read more »

Sunlight on Coders’ Compensation

By Brad Ericson, CPC, CPC-ORTHO

Ask coders what they do and how much they make, and their answers are as varied as how sensitive to the sun they are. Some are easy burners, with salaries and careers that show the results of outside forces quickly. Some are seemingly immune to the forces that buffet our careers. All-in-all, we’re doing pretty well; and, it appears that average salaries have increased more than 11 percent since our survey in 2007.

Sunning the Fruit Trees
This year’s survey was completed by more coders than ever and conducted via the internet during July and August. Over 12,000 coders participated. Like trees in the sun, the information continues to bear fruit, but here are some highlights. Read more »

Coders Cash In With Credentials

You cracked the books to study for the certification exam, you’ve pored over Coding Edge quizzes to earn CEUs, you’ve made it to every local chapter meeting — and it was worth it. The results of our 2007 Salary Survey reveal that certified coders earn an average of 17 percent more than their non-certified counterparts.

The 5,155 coding professionals who responded to our survey offered insight that might surprise some coders, and gave concrete proof that certified coders are in high demand. Read more »

Who Wins The Earnings Race?

Earnings Across the U.S.

Certification takes the gold medal in the race across the starting line for a coding professional looking for a satisfying job with enormous career potential.

Quickly disappearing are the days that an employer fills a coding position in the absence of accreditation or considers the position as simply one that focuses on the application of alphanumeric combinations for claims reimbursement.

Coding has arrived and certification, combined with education, is key to a career fueled by the growing number of regulations governing health care delivery and reimbursement and the focus on service accountability.

Experience becomes its own best negotiator. Read more »