You have your reasons for considering a medical billing and coding degree in New York.
Maybe you no longer want to have so much contact with patients and need a change, for instance.
This could provide a new opportunity in a field you already know.
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Billing and Coding Licensing Requirements
The state of New York does not require individual medical billers and coders to have a license.
Most states, however, would make securing a business license for people who want to start a third-party billing company and work as an independent contractor.
Three primary coding organizations have established the standard for this profession, and they offer certifications.
AAPC Certification
You can earn one of several certifications through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).
Popular certificates earned include Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Professional Biller (CPB) or Certified Outpatient Coder (COC), and Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC).
The AAPC has its own training programs, but they recommend other schools that provide certificate programs approved by them.
AHIMA Certification
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) provides exam preparation materials to help you earn a Certified Coding Associate (CCA) certificate.
Once you have gained enough work experience, you would also qualify for the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), and the physicians-based version of this training, the CCS-P.
Eventually, you could achieve one of several other certificates, such as the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) or the Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security (CHPS).
NHA
The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) will help you prepare for achieving Certified Billing Coding Specialist (CBCS) credentials.
You also could study for the Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS), which covers the advanced healthcare industry and records topics.
5 Medical Billing & Coding Schools in New York
Cambridge Business Institute
The Cambridge Medical Career Training Institute offers information about how to receive medical billing and coding training.
They may not offer it directly at their school, however.
The different healthcare educational tracks they do offer, however, pertain to related healthcare careers.
You will also take courses that teach you medical terms related to billing and insurance claims.
The City College of New York
CCNY offers a 185-hour online Certified Billing and Coding Specialist program.
It provides you with many of the details you need to perform your insurance claim and patient bill transactions.
Learn related courses, such as ICD-10-CM and CPT Coding.
Also, become proficient in Medical Terminology and learn Basic Health Insurance, and Managed Care concepts.
They also have a Cloud-Based Computerized Billing course.
LaGuardia Community College
LaGuardia provides a continuing education learning program that teaches you the anatomy and physiology courses required to operate as a biller and coder.
In addition, your classes will introduce you to the International Classification of Diseases-10, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes.
Additional coursework includes an introduction to Procedural Terminology of the American Medical Association (CPT-AMA) codes.
You also will receive mention of various medical procedures commonly documented that relate to your coding or billing position.
New York Medical Career Training Center
The New York Medical Career Training Center provides a Medical Billing certificate program that takes about 60 hours to complete.
Learn medical terms, healthcare, and insurance best practices, and all that is related to passing your billing and coding certificate exams.
This school also has an associate degree program that teaches you detailed medical office management skills in case you want to run a billing department someday.
Loris Medical Center
This third-party billing and coding provider has teamed up with the AAPC.
You can train through them and prepare for your certifications related to working for them or for a local medical center.
It would provide all the hands-on experience you need to enhance your classroom training.
Billing and Coding Schools in New York – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in New York
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Cambridge Business Institute | 50 Clinton St #303, Hempstead, NY 11550 |
| The City College of New York | 160 Convent Ave, New York, NY 10031 |
| LaGuardia Community College | 31-10 Thomson Ave, Queens, NY 11101 |
| New York Medical Career Training Center | 136-20 38th Ave Suite 5F, Queens, NY 11354 |
| Loris Medical Center | 3655 Mitchell St, Loris, SC 29569 |
Salary
An entry-level biller and coder can make an average of $43,266 per year as of March 29, 2022.
You may start out a little lower while training as an assistant before you become certified.
Places where you can find jobs in all five bureaus of “The City”, including The Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, or Staten Island.
You could also try other cities, such as Buffalo or Albany.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Medical Biller and Coders in New York
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $49,300 |
| Buffalo | $39,200 |
| Rochester | $40,400 |
| Yonkers | $47,300 |
| Syracuse | $40,400 |
| Albany | $41,500 |
| New Rochelle | $47,100 |
| Mount Vernon | $47,300 |
| Schenectady | $41,500 |
| Utica | $39,300 |
Regional Salary in New York
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 510 | $56,930 | $27.37 | $79,430 | $38,520 |
| Binghamton, NY | 70 | $54,370 | $26.14 | $80,280 | $34,580 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY | 740 | $55,490 | $26.68 | $81,310 | $37,120 |
| Elmira, NY | 60 | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - |
| Glens Falls, NY | 50 | $52,470 | $25.23 | $73,890 | $37,790 |
| Ithaca, NY | 70 | $55,050 | $26.46 | $71,750 | $39,630 |
| Kingston, NY | 50 | $58,320 | $28.04 | $94,010 | $40,250 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 6,590 | $64,790 | $31.15 | $94,440 | $41,170 |
| Rochester, NY | 440 | $53,910 | $25.92 | $71,710 | $39,270 |
| Syracuse, NY | 370 | $53,140 | $25.55 | $69,890 | $38,060 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 170 | $47,190 | $22.69 | $63,150 | $32,260 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | 40 | $48,370 | $23.25 | $58,470 | $32,720 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Schools by City
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find out more about billing and coding in New York?
The state itself has documentation on insurance, billing, coding, and medical records issues.
Most of this information relates to children, but it does apply.
It is also wise to check out the AAPC, AHIMA, and NHA websites for more information before taking classes and studying for exams.
What is an entry-level biller and coder?
If employed in this position, you would have become certified.
By now, you will already know how to use the coding manuals directly related to your job.
You will start out as an entry-level biller and coder after receiving the minimum amount of training and hands-on experience.
What are the different types of billers and coders?
The different types of billers and coders are professionals who have acquired specializations in one or more categories.
For instance, you could become a biller and coder who works in a doctor’s office, so you would become familiar with the coding manuals and apps relevant to that.
You also could work in an emergency room or an outpatient clinic, which would call for a different type of coding expertise.
How long does billing and coding training take in NY?
You can complete your first certificate for an entry-level position in about four to six months.
However, you may continue on to achieve an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Health Information Technology and Business Administration.
The advanced degrees you seek would prepare you for a mid-level or upper-level administrative role.
What qualifications must a billing and coding specialist have?
You must demonstrate proficient written and verbal communication skills.
Even if you do not work with patients all the time, you will still need to have enough training to answer their insurance and billing questions.
Patients also help, so you can deal with their insurance claim frustrations.
