Medical Billing and Coding Education in Hawaii - HI

By Joanna Pelletier, allied health world contributing writer
Published: January, 15 2010

Kona coffee, a low-key lifestyle, and consistently beautiful weather is enough to make visitors consider becoming permanent residents of Hawaii. The State's population has grown 6.3 percent since the year 2000 (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/15000.html), and is expected to increase as more people retire to the islands. The population influx means that Hawaii's medical facilities will be performing more medical procedures, increasing the amount of information in their databases, and outputting more bills than ever before. This increase creates an hot job market for Medical Billing Specialists, who can gain from a work-from home environment and consistent job growth.  This makes a Hawaii medical billing certificate a valuable commodity when considering a medical career in this state.

How to Become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in Hawaii

1. Obtain a secondary education. A high school diploma or general education degree is the first step in becoming a Medical Billing Specialist. Students who are interested in becoming Medical Billing Specialists should try to gain a strong understanding of human anatomy and enrich their English language, communication, mathematical reasoning, and analytical skills. Working adults can hone these skills by conducting independent research in human anatomy, grammar, and basic mathematics; they should also consider participating book clubs or discussion groups to foster better analytical skills.

2. Get a certificate or Associate's degree from an AHIMA or CAHIIM-accredited program. Medical billing and coding certification in Hawaii earned through a community college or program accredited by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) or the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM), is the minimum requirement for an entry-level job as a Medical Billing Specialist. Medical billing certificate programs focus on giving students a strong knowledge of health care laws, ethical issues within the field, and standard billing practices and procedures. Associate's degree programs require students to follow a combined curriculum, which includes general education classes, internship opportunities, and major classes.

3. Join AHIMA. AHIMA is one of two accrediting agencies for the health information management profession. Medical Billing Specialists who join and gain certification and credentials through AHIMA are active in their fields, gaining leadership, volunteer, and continuing education experience through activities organized by AHIMA and State chapters. Initial membership includes an exam, application, and a fee for the exam and application. Medical Billing Specialists can gain more certifications as they gain more experience, and seek other opportunities within the organization.