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Health information coding is a high-demand medical specialty with modest education requirements and no patient-facing responsibilities. Widespread adoption of electronic health records (EHR) and the increasing demand for medical services are fueling opportunity for trained health information coders.

Health information coders support the efficient delivery of health care by assigning codes to patient medical information, usually for the purpose of insurance billing. As a health information coder, you will assign a code to each patient diagnosis and procedure using special classification systems software. This software determines the amount health care providers are reimbursed depending on the patient's insurance coverage. Medicare, Medicaid and most private health insurance companies rely on electronic health information coding to manage patient care billing and reimbursement.

While most health information coding occurs in the context of insurance billing, some coders work for researchers, public health agencies or nonprofits to track clinical outcomes. Cancer registrars, for example, assign codes for treatments to determine health care success rates.

Heath information coder schools

Health information coder schools can get you started in a medical coding career. An associate degree is the standard qualification for an entry-level position. Career changers with a degree in another field can get their start with a certificate in health information coding, which generally takes about a year to complete. Health information coder training online is available to accommodate working professionals and other busy students.

Graduates of an associate degree or certificate program can take the professional certification exam. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) offers the Registered Health Information Technician and the Certified Coding Associate credentials.

Careers in medical coding

Trained health information coders can look forward to "very good job prospects," according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts job growth of 20 percent in the 2008 to 2018 decade. Graduates of health information coder schools are eligible for entry-level jobs such as inpatient or outpatient coder, physician office coder and data analyst. With experience and certification, you can advance into job roles such as health information coding manager, coding instructor, auditor and consultant.

Health information coder salaries

The health information coder salary averages depend largely on the coder's credentials. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported an average salary of $35,010 in May 2010. The American Academy of Professional Coders' 2010 Medical Coding Salary Survey confirmed this number for non-credentialed coders, reporting a $37,746 average salary. But with certification, earnings jumped 20 percent: The AAPC Survey average was $45,404 for credentialed coders. A bachelor's degree, available through health information coder training online, bumped up salary averages to $51,389 with certification. Coders with the CPC-I (Certified Professional Coding Instructor) reported the highest earnings, with an average 2010 salary of $69,207.

Health information coder salaries vary by region. The Pacific states (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington) have the highest average salary of $51,428, while the East South Central Region (Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee) report the lowest average, $39,626, according to the AAPC. The BLS identifies New Jersey and Washington, D.C. as top-paying regions for medical coding.

The most economically advantageous places for health information coders combine high pay and a relatively low cost of living. High-value cities in the U.S. include:

• San Antonio, Texas: $40,380 (BLS) and 87 on ACCRA Cost of Living Index (100 is the national average)
• Rochester, Minn.: $45,940 (5th highest-paying city, BLS) and 99 cost of living
• Jefferson City, Mo.: $38,260 and 90 cost of living

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