{"id":100290,"date":"2022-02-04T22:23:35","date_gmt":"2022-02-05T06:23:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/?p=100290"},"modified":"2022-02-04T22:23:37","modified_gmt":"2022-02-05T06:23:37","slug":"will-medical-coding-become-obsolete","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/will-medical-coding-become-obsolete\/","title":{"rendered":"Medical Coding In 10 Years: Will Medical Coding Become Obsolete?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Medical coders are professionals who use their knowledge of medical terminology, medical codes, and computers to update the medical records of patients in the form of codes. They work alongside other medical professionals and insurance companies in the healthcare industry to provide adequate billing information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of the automation of so many things in the tech world, It\u2019s hard to look around not ask yourself if medical coding will become obsolete in 10 years. Medical codes have facilitated the development of several advancements in the healthcare industry. Its services have also facilitated the medical billing process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But with advancements in technology, will medical coding skills become obsolete? Will the need for medical coding become obsolete in the future? If so, you\u2019re probably asking when will medical coding become obsolete altogether? Read on to find out the answers to these questions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Medical Coding?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Medical coding is an aspect of health information management that involves inputting and maintaining healthcare equipment usage, diagnoses, treatment procedures, and other medical services in codes to optimize access and storage. These medical codes are extracted from the health records maintained by doctors or medical transcriptionists.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Department of Health and Human Services determines the current technology for medical coding and the regulatory requirements for healthcare facilities in the United States. The purpose of medical coding is to ensure accuracy in transaction reports and the accuracy of claims from all billing parties involved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The medical coding process works when healthcare professionals document the services they provide to their patients. This documentation is what determines the billing class of the patient and the amount the insurance pays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will Medical Coding Be Replaced by Future Technology?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Medical coding has been in existence since the 17th century in London, England. Medical professionals of that era used a system called the \u201cLondon Bill of Mortality,\u201d a document containing weekly statistical data analysis of the deaths in the city. Over the years, this method evolved into what became the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the invention and advancement of machine learning and artificial intelligence, many are wondering if there will be a need for medical coders. Medical coding has gone through several revisions and amendments due to a health information technology revolution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the newest form of medical billing has grown in popularity and efficiency and the likelihood of more medical coding technology advancements is high. Because of this, we are certain that medical coding won\u2019t become obsolete in the near future, and here\u2019s why. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction of ICD-11<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The International Classification of Diseases is the standard used by several countries, including the United States, for classifying diseases. This ICD standard specifies the codes to be used for the coming years. And with a new ICD standard, ICD-11, taking effect starting January of 2022, it is clearly still relevant to the global healthcare industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The introduction of this new ICD standard, which will include electronic health record management, signifies a long-term commitment to maintain the medical coding practice. This is because new ICD versions are only introduced after each decade of using the previous versions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Growth of the Medical Coding Market<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ever since medical coding was introduced, it has seen steady growth in market size. According to comprehensive medical coding data research and analysis conducted by Zippia, there are more than 92,702 professional medical coders<\/a> in the United States, and this number doesn\u2019t look to be declining anytime soon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This might be because medical coding is currently worth over $16.4 billion<\/a> and is expected to experience a compound annual growth rate of about eight percent between 2021 and 2028. This field has experienced a steady market growth rate since 2018 and should continue until 2028. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work Flexibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Medical coding isn\u2019t likely to become obsolete anytime soon because it\u2019s managed to adapt to technological advancements in the health, finance, and tech industries as well as other global events. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced many practices and processes to adapt or become obsolete, the medical field saw an active amendment and implementation of the medical coding process. So, we can safely state that medical coding will remain relevant, even in the next decade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n