Essential Computer Skills for Medical Billing and Coding

A medical coder or biller acts as a liaison between medical practices and insurance providers. These professionals help healthcare facilities manage insurance claims, payments, and invoices. They're responsible for updating patient information needed for billing purposes.

Numerous skills are required for this job, including interpersonal and computer expertise. Learn more about the essential skills medical billers should have and how medical coder training can help you excel in the field. 

Personal Skills Needed for Medical Billing and Coding

Medical billing is more than codes and numbers — it's about working with people. When navigating daily interactions with patients, providers, and insurance companies, you will need strong personal skills. Here are some essential soft skills for medical billing and coding.

Effective Communication and Teamwork

Medical billing specialists work with customers, other professionals, insurance providers, and more. High-quality communication and listening skills contribute to a simpler billing process, answering questions, explaining patient bill charges, and clarifying insurance policies.

Problem-Solving and Conflict Management

A medical biller will need problem-solving skills to reach a solution and be resourceful in a crisis. In general, negotiating patient payments can be tense and will require conflict management skills. When working with customers, practice listening and empathy to understand their unique circumstances.

Organizational Skills

Medical billing and coding include numerous steps and accuracy requirements for each case. People in this field need attention to detail, organizational skills, and quality time management to keep tasks and codes straight.

Computer Skills Needed for Medical Billing and Coding Jobs

On top of interpersonal skills, you will need various computer and medical billing skills to complete your work. The computer skills needed for medical billing and coding include:

• Quick and accurate typing: Accurate and fast typing is required for entering patient data and coding information. These skills are also helpful for efficient communication and collaboration online, including email, instant messaging, and project management.
• Data entry and management: The foundation of medical billing includes accurate data entry. Medical billers must efficiently input patient information, procedure codes, and insurance details into patient records and other software.
• Health record software proficiency: Medical billers must know how to navigate computers and technology to track patient payments, billing, and insurance claims. Electronic health records (EHRs) are the industry standard medical billing coding software for streamlining these processes and require familiarity as quickly as possible.
• Spreadsheet software knowledge: This job will require data analysis using standard word processing and spreadsheet software, such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. You will need to understand how to use formulas and functions to track payments, identify trends, and generate reports for billing efficiency.

What Software Does a Medical Biller Use?

Medical billers use either electronic or paper coding methods, but often use billing software and EHR systems to streamline processes and ensure accuracy for patients and healthcare providers.

The specific software a medical biller uses depends on their practice, but can include Medisoft, Flash Code, Eclipse, AdvancedMD, Epic, and other electronic billing and coding software. These programs help medical billers fill in the procedure and codes for the corresponding patient. You may even be able to look up codes using built-in tools to help you find the correct code for the procedure. However, medical billers can also reference their coding manuals to ensure they use the correct code.

Working with billing and coding software has many benefits, including:

• Tracking claims
• Calling up old reports to check for errors
• Tracking data over long periods
• Evaluating performances
• Improving organization and turnaround regarding reimbursement

 The billing software you use as a medical biller will depend on your practice, but most software helps improve the billing process's efficiency, accuracy, and speed. We recommend researching the best laptop for medical billing and coding to support the software you need. Medical billers can access information more efficiently to provide patients with quality customer service and communicate efficiently with healthcare professionals and insurance providers. 

Become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist With AIMS Education

AIMS Education offers a medical billing and coding certificate program. This program is designed to help individuals prepare for work as medical billers, teaching necessary skills, including filing claims, solving billing issues, appealing claims, completing insurance forms, and more. Individuals will leave with plenty of knowledge regarding medical coding, ensuring they're adequately prepared to enter the field. 

You can complete the program in as little as three months, allowing you to enter a new career in less than six months. You'll have plenty of job opportunities, from doctors' offices and clinics to ambulatory centers and medical billing companies. Contact us to learn more about our program today by scheduling a virtual appointment.