Becoming a Pennsylvania billing and coding specialist could provide you with a way to earn a stable living.
This vocational path might also lead you to other career opportunities, such as becoming a health care manager.
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Licensing Requirements to Become a Medical Billing & Coding Specialist in Pennsylvania
Instead of acquiring a license from the state of Pennsylvania, you will need to obtain certification that health care centers recognize.
Credentialing associations such as the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) provide medical billing and coding certifications.
For instance, you can study to earn the Certified Professional Biller (CPB) or the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) that the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) provides.
Otherwise, you could try for the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) credential provided by the National Health Career Association (NHA).
More specialized certificates also come from either the AAPC or the NHA, such as the physician’s coding or advanced electronic health records credentialing.
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) also provides several credentialing options, including the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) or the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) credentials.
Just like AAPC and NHA, AHIMA also provides supplemental coursework to help you ace your exams.
In addition, all three of these associations provide upper-level training, so you can even try for a management position someday.
5 Medical Billing & Coding Schools in Pennsylvania
1. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
This training covers all HIPPA patient privacy laws, and it shows you how to retrieve a patient’s medical history and current charts.
By the time you complete this instruction offered by Pennsylvania Highlands, you will also learn specific medical billing and insurance classification codes.
You will become instrumental in helping patients appeal claim denials and helping them make a new claim to health insurance carriers.
Increased awareness of treatments, diagnoses, and terminologies associated with working in a medical office will also come to you.
2. Penn Foster
Penn Foster offers training that prepares you for certifications offered by three primary associations: The CBCS from NHA, the CPC from the AAPC, and the CCA from AHIMA.
Learn all the topics related to retrieving a patient’s medical records and helping people collect the insurance reimbursement they are entitled to according to their policy terms.
You will also become proficient in the computer and information technology required as a biller and coder.
What is more, this instruction will introduce you to the HCPCS, ICD-10, and CPT coding sets required to classify a patient’s medical diagnosis, treatment, and records.
3. IMBC (Institute of Medical and Business Careers)
This 14-month certificate program introduces you to all the terminology, technology, and abbreviations associated with processing medical bills and insurance claims.
Learn ICD-10-CM, HCPCS, PCS, and CPT coding systems.
In addition, you will become acquainted with how the human body works and will gain an understanding of medical diagnosis, procedures, treatments, and privacy related to patient care.
Paid work opportunities are also available, and you will receive referrals for this when registering for this certificate program.
4. Laurel Technical Institute
The training that you receive at Laurel Tech will walk you through all insurance coding and billing procedures.
In addition, you will learn how to fill in patient forms, investigate unpaid claims and work with patients to appeal claims denied by insurance companies.
You also will become proficient in using the CPT and ICD-10 coding manuals.
In addition, you will receive foundational information about the diagnosis, diseases, and bodily functions or terms.
5. South Hills School of Business and Technology
The South Hills training prepares you for the CPC or the CPB offered by the AAPC.
In-person class sessions occur at either the State College or the Altoona campus.
This includes practice testing for your certification exams.
You also have the chance to participate in online learning, with at least part of your instruction scheduled on your own time.
Billing and Coding Schools in Pennsylvania – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Pennsylvania
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Highlands Community College | 101 Community College Wy, Johnstown, PA 15904 |
| Penn Foster | 14300 N Northsight Blvd #125, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 |
| Institute of Medical and Business Careers | 133 Jefferson Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15235 |
| Laurel Technical Institute | 200 Sterling Ave, Sharon, PA 16146 |
| South Hills School of Business and Technology | 480 Waupelani Dr, State College, PA 16801 |
Salary
The average salary for a medical coder in Pennsylvania is about $51,274 as reported by April 26, 2022.
Entry-level positions, especially when working as an assistant with the guidance of a certified professional, sometimes pay a lower salary.
If seeking new opportunities, you could start your employment search in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Chadds Ford, and Langhorne.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Medical Biller and Coders in Pennsylvania
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $44,000 |
| Pittsburgh | $40,500 |
| Allentown | $41,400 |
| Erie | $38,000 |
| Upper Darby | $44,000 |
| Reading | $40,900 |
| Scranton | $38,000 |
| Bethlehem | $41,400 |
| Lower Merion | $44,000 |
| Bensalem | $44,400 |
Regional Salary in Pennsylvania
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 440 | $51,570 | $24.79 | $71,280 | $37,770 |
| Altoona, PA | 80 | $42,590 | $20.47 | $58,950 | $29,800 |
| Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA | 60 | $47,390 | $22.78 | $64,480 | $34,630 |
| Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA | 80 | $50,960 | $24.5 | $75,020 | $33,260 |
| Erie, PA | 130 | $47,920 | $23.04 | $62,330 | $33,440 |
| Gettysburg, PA | 30 | $43,960 | $21.14 | $56,930 | $31,840 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 430 | $50,990 | $24.51 | $64,190 | $35,720 |
| Johnstown, PA | 90 | $44,270 | $21.28 | $66,910 | $32,030 |
| Lancaster, PA | 260 | $50,590 | $24.32 | $61,610 | $36,550 |
| Lebanon, PA | 60 | $51,530 | $24.78 | $72,680 | $36,560 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 2,840 | $54,680 | $26.29 | $77,700 | $37,830 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 2,060 | $48,260 | $23.2 | $63,720 | $37,210 |
| Reading, PA | 290 | $55,700 | $26.78 | $82,950 | $36,730 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA | 200 | $44,890 | $21.58 | $60,320 | $33,080 |
| State College, PA | 30 | $43,400 | $20.87 | $60,320 | $35,350 |
| Williamsport, PA | 60 | $46,270 | $22.24 | $60,800 | $37,150 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 260 | $48,700 | $23.41 | $65,590 | $35,910 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Schools by City
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will my Pennsylvania billing and coding training take?
It will take you a minimum of a few months if you sign up for an AAPC-approved course.
Some refresher classes may only take a few weeks, and you can continue learning until you have achieved all desired certificates.
If you decide to work toward an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, that will take you two to four years.
How much do PA billing and coding instruction cost?
The coursework and exam may cost you $2,000-$3,000 on average when working toward one certificate.
However, some of the instructions you receive might apply to more than one certification.
Instead of taking courses that would repeat the same information you know, you might want to take supplemental classes that just include updated information.
If you do, it might reduce your cost.
However, exam fees may be sold separately unless your school offers you a voucher to use toward that cost
What certification do I need to become a PA biller and coder?
It depends on your career goals.
If you do not know where to start, try the CPB or the CPC offered by the AAPC, which is the largest billing and coding association in the United States.
However, you may want to check out all the certifications offered by NHA or AHIMA before you begin your career journey.
