Is There Math In Medical Coding?
Math. It’s the bane of existence for many students. If you struggle with math, you’re not alone. According to a 2015 study by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), only three percent of 12th-grade students in the United States could perform math at an “Advanced” level.
For those interested in a career in medical coding, math is something to worry about. Is there math in medical coding? If so, how much? Can you succeed as a medical coder if you’re not good at math? We’ll answer all of these questions in this blog post, so read on to find out.
Medical Coding: Will There Be Any Math?
This is a question we receive often. Both prospective medical coders and billers wonder about this and the short answer is… not really. It’s easy to think that there’s lots of math involved in medical coding and billing because the books we use every day are so thick and heavy. Also, if you take a look at a three-day medical coding class and just take in a first impression of the computers and whiteboard, it’s easy to mistakenly think there are lots of numbers involved. But that’s not the case.
In reality, math is very minimal in medical coding. A tiny bit is required for the integumentary system and the musculoskeletal system, but for the most part, it’s not really a required skill set. The good news is that many of the instructors at MCA aren’t big fans of math either and will show you the best way to learn the little bit of math you do have to know.
Medical Coding Career Benefits
The perks of a medical coding career far outweigh the amount of math you may have to do, however. This is especially true when you compare medical coding and billing to similar roles in other industries that DO require lots of math. Here are just a few benefits to consider:
- Higher income potential: As a medical coder or biller, you can actually earn more than you would in a similar position in other industries, such as a dental assistant or a medical assistant (where you would have to do math).
- Job security: Your job isn’t dependent on your ability to do math, it’s dependent on medical coding and billing. The industry is thriving and job demand is high, so you’ll have plenty of job security.
- Convenience: In addition to not having to do much math, you can often work from home and dress comfortably.
If you’re interested in becoming a professional medical coder, take the first step by signing up for our online course today!
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in 2019. It has since been revamped and updated for clarity and accuracy.