As an Oregon medical billing and coding specialist, you may have to answer patient questions about insurance claims and treatment bills.
However, you will not have to draw blood, measure their vital signs or administer medications and give injections.
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- Licensing Requirements to Become an Oregon Medical Billing & Coding Specialist
- 5 Medical Billing & Coding Schools in Oregon
- Salary
- Schools by City
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What does an Oregon medical billing and coding specialist do?
- How do I know a credentialing association is legitimate?
- What certification do I need to become a medical billing coding specialist?
- How long does Oregon medical billing and coding training take?
- Are there any medical billing and coding advancement opportunities?
Licensing Requirements to Become an Oregon Medical Billing & Coding Specialist
You do not need a license to work as an individual medical billing and coding specialist in Oregon.
The only time you would need that is if maybe you decided to start your own business offering third-party billing services to medical centers.
Otherwise, your main “go-to” for certifications should be the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).
Through them is where you would earn the Certified Professional Biller (CPB) or Certified Professional Coder (CPC) credential, for instance.
You also can obtain a certificate via the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) or the Healthcare Billing & Management Association (HBMA).
Other reputable associations also give you chances to earn credentials recognized by Oregon healthcare centers.
5 Medical Billing & Coding Schools in Oregon
If you do not know what Oregon medical billing and coding training program you should sign up for, start with the AAPC.
They will refer you to the best schools, and they even have their own courses that hospitals, school nurse offices, and public clinics recognize.
In addition, the AAPC offers job leads, and they could confirm that your school of choice meets their standards.
If it does not, check with AHIMA, HBMA, or another non-profit credentialing organization.
1. Professional Medical Coding
Time spent in the Portland Community College Professional Medical Coding instruction makes you ready for an AAPC certification.
Continuing education topics include “Medical Coding B,” Anatomy or physiology, and other related medical terms.
You can complete your certificate coursework in about two to three semesters, and it includes mock exams and four courses you must attend in “real-time.”
When you finish this training, you will have received enough medical foundation to understand the codes used to process medical insurance claims and patient invoices.
2. Institute of Technology
This school has a campus in Salem, OR, and a hybrid training program that makes you ready for assisting in a medical office.
You will receive time to practice with a 10-key calculator and learn all the medical codes related to processing patient records and insurance claims.
Opportunities possibly open to you after finishing this instruction include work at both medical centers and dental offices.
It has an affiliation with the Higher Education Coordinating Commission.
The page that describes this educational offering does not indicate what certification exams it prepares you for, so you might want to contact The Institute of Technology directly to find out.
This learning experience does at least prepare you for work in an office setting.
3. Central Oregon Community College
The Medical Office Specialist one-year certificate program teaches you all the terminology and foundations for working in a healthcare office setting.
This training also prepares you for handling patient privacy and legal matters.
In addition, it introduces you to a variety of information sets regarding patient diagnosis and treatments you may later have to classify with codes when processing a medical bill or insurance claim.
The school also provides supplemental coding information and could become one of your best resources come time to gain hands-on experience and find full-time work and prepare for your certification exams.
4. Clackamas Community College
Clackamas prepares you for your CPB or CPC AAPC credentialing exams when you sign up for the Medical Billing and Coding certificate training.
This coursework will teach you the correct ways to submit insurance claims according to healthcare laws.
When enrolled in this program, you also learn how to track payments made and the claims related to them.
Additionally, you will receive references to the codes used for billing and insurance classification purposes.
5. OCHIN+
This training center provides you access to instruction that prepares you for AAPC billing and coding certifications.
What is unique about this coursework is that it also prepares you to handle federally qualified health center cases (FQHC).
The instructors also will connect you with paid internship opportunities, which you may need to start before you try to take your first billing or coding certification exam.
Billing and Coding Schools in Oregon – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Oregon
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Portland Community College | 705 N Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97217 |
| Institute of Technology | 4700 Silverton Rd NE, Salem, OR 97305 |
| Central Oregon Community College | 2600 NW College Way, Bend, OR 97703 |
| Clackamas Community College | 19600 Molalla Ave, Oregon City, OR 97045 |
| OCHIN+ | PO Box 5426 Portland, OR 97228-5426 |
Salary
After a year or two of training and education, you might earn an average of $53,338 in Portland, OR.
Billing positions that do not require advanced coding may pay at least $10,000 less, and you may also not earn as when working as an assistant to gain hands-on experience.
Besides Portland, other cities where you might find jobs include Salem, Tigard, Eugene, or Oregon City.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Medical Biller and Coders in Oregon
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Portland | $42,700 |
| Eugene | $40,100 |
| Salem | $40,500 |
| Gresham | $42,600 |
| Beaverton | $42,700 |
| Hillsboro | $42,600 |
| Medford | $39,200 |
| Springfield | $40,000 |
| Bend | $39,600 |
| Corvallis | $39,900 |
Regional Salary in Oregon
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bend-Redmond, OR | 140 | $62,400 | $30 | $125,030 | $39,110 |
| Corvallis, OR | 110 | $64,710 | $31.11 | $83,200 | $47,610 |
| Eugene, OR | 190 | $51,440 | $24.73 | $79,920 | $37,020 |
| Medford, OR | 150 | $55,030 | $26.46 | $77,180 | $38,100 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,270 | $60,610 | $29.14 | $86,880 | $41,330 |
| Salem, OR | 270 | $53,750 | $25.84 | $72,210 | $33,440 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Schools by City
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an Oregon medical billing and coding specialist do?
You will spend most of your day recording patient information.
In addition, you will assign codes to their insurance claims.
Also, be prepared to answer questions both patients and insurance providers may have.
Additionally, you need to know how to retrieve information for doctors and nurses regarding a patient’s medical history.
How do I know a credentialing association is legitimate?
If you have any doubt, you can check with the Institute of Higher Learning or with the Department of Education.
Other students can help you in your verification process too.
What certification do I need to become a medical billing coding specialist?
When not sure, it is best to stick with the CPC or CPB certifications offered by the AAPC.
You also can earn the CCA or CCS offered by AHIMA.
How long does Oregon medical billing and coding training take?
You can usually complete your coursework for obtaining your first entry-level certificate in about four months and become ready to take your exam by the sixth month.
However, you may wish to achieve additional certificates or acquire an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
Are there any medical billing and coding advancement opportunities?
Both AAPC and AHIMA offer entry-level and advanced certificates.
For instance, you could specialize in coding for physicians, dentists, or counselors.
In addition, you could broaden your certifications to include management training.
Eventually, you might even be able to take over an entire medical office or hospital wing.
