Hiring a Remote Medical Coder: Job Description, Pay & More

Health records are becoming more digitized by the day. Because of this, we know there is a growing need for qualified medical billers and coders.

However, as many healthcare hiring managers are discovering, finding credentialed candidates in their local talent pool can be difficult. That is why a larger number of employers are turning to remote options when hiring these kinds of medical staff.

This article will review the role of a remote medical coder and the key details to include in a job description so you can successfully hire remote medical coders for your business.

Remote Medical Coders Help Healthcare Facilities Function

Medical coding is the backbone of every healthcare facility’s revenue management cycle.

They take notes from physicians (doctors, nurses, RNs, physicians assistants, etc.) and other important health information and translate it into universally understood and accepted code.

To do this, they parse through sensitive electronic health records (EHRs) and patient data to classify procedures, maintain records for medical reimbursement, and keep revenue cycle management systems running smoothly.

As more medical data becomes electronic, this role has become easier to do remotely.

What are the drivers behind this shift?

• Healthcare facilities are embracing electronic data: Research says that a single patient generates nearly 80 megabytes of data in electronic medical records, and over 73% of health data is collected electronically.
• Remote medical coders save resources: Healthcare facilities are finding that hiring remote coders helps free up valuable space within their hospital or clinical spaces. Medical coders can effectively conduct their roles from outside of the facility, and it saves onsite space for more patient-facing job functions.
• Remote workers offer a wider candidate pool: Opening your candidate pool to remote medical coders helps to widen recruitment efforts.
• Additional scalability: Without physical workplace restraints, facilities can scale their medical coding team as needed and hire faster. If the facility supports global healthcare operations, it can employ medical coders in various time zones and languages to create full coverage in a way that onsite work cannot match.

What to Include in Your Medical Coder Job Description

Medical coders’ daily responsibilities can involve a variety of data entry and record-keeping tasks.

When you’re creating a detailed medical coder job description, be sure to consider the data they will be responsible for and the ways the candidate will be expected to access and report on that data.

Some considerations to include in your medical coder job description include:

• What computers and software will the medical coder need to work remotely? Will they require prior experience using certain software?
• Medical coders need access to patients’ medical records. How will the healthcare facility provide secure remote access to patient data?
• In addition to patient data, medical coders need access to physician notes, reports, and lab results to appropriately assign codes. What non-patient data will the medical coder be accessing? How will they access it?
• If a medical coder has a question and needs to communicate with physicians or insurance companies, how will they do that? What middle person or third party will they use?

Additionally, when compiling your medical coder job description, be sure to outline all daily tasks.

Some common remote medical coder job functions include:

• Using classification systems to review patient records and assign clinical codes for diagnoses, medical services, equipment, and procedures.
• Translating medical documentation into standard medical codes.
• Maintaining and submitting records for insurance reimbursement.
• Extracting data from patient records to provide to insurance companies or government agencies.
• Ensuring the accuracy/compliance of patient records and identifying any discrepancies.
• Developing procedures that improve coding accuracy and storage.

What Skills Does a Successful Remote Medical Coder Have?

To be successful as a remote medical coder, candidates should have self-motivation working in a remote environment. They should also have a keen attention to detail to parse through medical documents and accurately categorize them while maintaining regulatory compliance.

Additionally, candidates should have a balance of self-reliance and interpersonal skills to be successful. While working remotely, the individual will need to work independently and be resourceful in their ability to track down patient data, ensure its accuracy, and code it properly.

They will also need to converse regularly with physicians, insurance providers, and payers to ensure claims are filed correctly and patient data is accurate.

Credentials and qualifications of a remote medical coder

Although there aren’t formal criteria to become a medical coder, many employers seek candidates with an associate or bachelor’s degree in healthcare or a related field.

Many technical schools and local colleges offer specialized degrees for medical records specialists, and there are several certifications available to ensure candidates have proper training:

• Certified Personal Coder (CPC)
• Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC)
• Certified Outpatient Coder (COC)
• Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC)

Coders can get specialized in certain areas of healthcare, like home health, dental, and more.

In addition to formal credentials, you should review candidates’ soft skills—like communication, attention to detail, and problem solving—to ensure they are a good fit for the role.

How Much Do Remote Medical Coders Usually Get Paid?

According to research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for medical coders was $46,660. Naturally, this adjusts with experience, volume of work, facility they work for, and where they live (for cost-of-living).

There is healthy job growth for remote medical coders in the coming years, with the BLS predicting a 7% increase in available roles by 2031.

Hire A Remote Medical Coder Today

We know that medical coders are in high demand—we hire a lot of them!

Insight Global has a qualified candidate pool of medical coders and dedicated staff to ensure you hire the coder with the right training and specialty background.