You do not need health career experience to become a South Dakota billing and coding specialist.
However, it could become a stepping stone to another area in the medical field, such as a health information manager, if you’re looking for a change.
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Licensing Requirements to Become a South Dakota Medical Billing & Coding Specialist
Your primary concern should be about certification through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), or the American Information Management Association (AHIMA).
They set the standards and South Dakota employers acknowledge these credentialing bodies.
The state of Dakota does not offer a license, and they do not require the certification either.
However, you do increase your chances of getting hired if you complete at least six to 12 months of a certificate training program.
Make sure you know the minimum age required to enter a college, which usually is 18.
You will also have to wait until after you have completed your high school education.
5 Medical Billing & Coding Schools in South Dakota
1. Devry University
Many campuses, including Devry, offer billing and coding training online throughout the nation.
You do not have to live in the same location as this school.
You can earn the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) certificate offered by AHIMA or the Certified Professional coder (CPC) offered by AAPC.
Make sure you also participate in some hands-on experiences too, such as working as an assistant for a certified professional in a healthcare setting.
2. Keiser University
Keiser has an online billing and coding training associate degree program.
You can use this training to earn your AAPC certificate.
This instruction prepares you to become an apprentice working for a healthcare facility.
You would answer to someone who already has a certification until you earn your first one.
Become accustomed not only to the alphanumeric abbreviations required for classifying patient conditions and treatments on medical records, but also learn how to handle insurance claim disputes between patients and insurers.
3. Dakota State University
DSU has a health care coding certificate program you can enroll in.
This training will teach you the standard for classifying medical diagnoses.
You also will translate the information about patients’ conditions and the treatment into CPT and ICD codes.
Your training will help you prepare for either the Certified Coding Specialist or Certified Coding Specialist-Physician (CCS-P) exam.
This instruction will also introduce you to patient privacy and medical care best practices.
With your coursework, you will receive some preliminary information about medical terms and parts of the body.
This will help you understand the codes you use.
4. National American University
NAU has a medical billing and coding online diploma program.
After you complete your training, you could work in a doctor’s office, specialized care center, or an emergency room.
Sometimes, nursing homes and third-party billers will hire those who have this training.
You will have entry-level knowledge of coding systems and how to process claims.
In addition, you will receive advice about how to handle both patients and insurance companies disgruntled about the claim process.
You can receive certification through AAPC or AHIMA when completing this coursework.
5. Bryan University
You can take this training from anywhere.
It prepares you for one of several employment opportunities, such as becoming a medical secretary, healthcare office administrator, or biller and coder.
If you choose the biller and coder option, you will learn the CPT, HCPCS, and ICD billing and insurance classification systems.
In addition, you will become accustomed to filing patient claims and processing healthcare invoices.
Billing and Coding Schools in South Dakota – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in South Dakota
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Devry University | 1200 E Diehl Rd, Naperville, IL 60563 |
| Keiser University | 1500 NW 49th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 |
| Dakota State University | 820 Washington Ave N, Madison, SD 57042 |
| National American University | 3800 Fairway Hills Dr, Rapid City, SD 57702 |
| Bryan University | 350 W Washington St, Tempe, AZ 85281 |
Salary
An April 2022 report states that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota Medical Coder makes an average of $36,121.
Typically, salaries range from $40,007-$54,081.
You can earn more money than this after a few years and when you earn multiple certificates or a degree.
Other cities where you can find work in SD include Rapid City, Pierre, Bismarck, and more.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Medical Biller and Coders in South Dakota
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $36,900 |
| Rapid City | $35,700 |
| Aberdeen | $33,500 |
| Watertown | $36,300 |
| Brookings | $36,300 |
| Mitchell | $36,300 |
| Pierre | $34,100 |
| Yankton | $35,500 |
| Huron | $34,900 |
| Vermillion | $34,600 |
Regional Salary in South Dakota
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, SD | 170 | $49,770 | $23.93 | $63,690 | $31,530 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 570 | $55,830 | $26.84 | $82,290 | $34,080 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are billers and coders in high demand in SD?
Overall, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 9% job growth for medical records and information specialists until 2030.
A total number of open positions each year until this time will total $34,300.
You may find the highest demand in South Dakota’s hospitals or other large medical facilities because of the higher population.
On the other hand, some small communities may not have as many job applicants.
Do SD billers and coders work at home?
Billing and coding specialists sometimes work from home, which can help people with disabilities.
However, these positions are sometimes hard to come by – very competitive.
Do South Dakota Medical Billing and Coders have chance for advancement?
With the right training and a little hard work, you can accomplish your health career goals.
For instance, you maybe want to start out as a biller and coder.
Then, you might want to move into management of other people, including whoever would replace you.
What certifications do I need?
That depends on you.
If you just want to continue in billing and coding, just renew that certification.
However, you could consider advanced health information technology certificate training.
If you do, you will become eligible for supervisory or instructional positions.
What do billers and coders in SD do?
They review patient diagnostic and healthcare records.
Then, they assign the appropriate codes to them.
The three most common coding systems include ICD, CPT, and HCPCS alphanumeric abbreviation systems.
