Are you looking for a new career in healthcare? Medical billing and coding may be the answer you’re looking for. Medical billing and coding functions are used across a wide range of healthcare settings. For students in Michigan, Campus offers an Online Medical Billing and Coding program designed to provide foundational training in medical billing and coding and support preparation for entry-level opportunities in the field. This program runs about ten months and teaches students procedural coding, ICD-10 codes, CPT coding standards, medical billing claims processing, and includes a 160-hour hands-on medical billing and coding externship. Before we go any further, let’s explain what medical billing and coding is all about.
What is Medical Billing and Coding?
Medical billers and coders take the details of a patient visit and encode them into universally used alphanumeric codes. These codes are used by all medical insurance companies (known as “payers”), government agencies, and all healthcare facilities in the US. The codes are then used to update medical records, and prepare and submit reimbursement claims with the patient’s insurance company.
Medical billers and coders must choose codes with the highest specificity, to ensure accuracy, and also to mitigate claim denials. Accuracy is extremely important, because insurance companies can adjust or even deny claims if there are errors in the reimbursement claim.
Medical billers and coders are technically two specific roles, but they both can be done by the same person in some organizations.
Medical coders are responsible for gathering the details of patient visits, usually from the healthcare provider, and recording the details in alphanumeric codes that can be understood by every medical facility, insurance company, and government agency. These codes represent diagnoses, treatments, procedures, prescriptions, medical supplies and medical equipment that goes home with the patient. The medical codes are used to prepare reimbursement claims that are sent to the patient’s insurance company. Inaccurate codes can cause delays, adjustments, or denials of the claim, causing disruptions to the revenue cycle of the medical facility.
Medical billers use the codes and information supplied by the medical coder or medical service provider to prepare medical reimbursement claims, which are sent to insurance companies for approval. A large part of a medical biller’s job is knowing how to “scrub” the claim for potential errors or warnings, which can cause delays or denials in claim approval. Each insurance company has certain ways they prefer the claims to be formatted, according to their own internal claim approval standards. Proper documentation must also be sent with the claims to increase the chances of approval with no adjustments. In medical billing terminology, an adjustment is when insurance companies approve the claim, but not for the full amount specified. Accurate medical billing is incredibly important for prompt payments, maintaining a steady flow of revenue for the medical facility.
Why Become a Medical Coder and Biller?
Medical billing and coding is a job that requires technical training to do accurately and efficiently. Medical billing and coding functions are used across a wide range of healthcare organizations, including hospitals, clinics, physician practices, and third-party service providers. Every medical reimbursement claim must be accurately encoded, prepared, and submitted to insurance companies to maintain the revenue cycle, helping medical offices run smoothly.
The pay for an entry-level medical billing and coding job will vary by state, region, and city, but according to a recent study by the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC)[2], earning specialty certifications after gaining the required experience may help you earn more and increase your yearly salary.
Another reason you may choose to pursue this career is the lack of a commute in many areas. In the wake of the COVID pandemic of the early 2020s, many employers now offer remote or hybrid opportunities for certain medical billing and coding positions. This allows many people to pursue this career that would otherwise find it challenging to commute to an office each day.
Medical billing and coding plays an important role in healthcare operations and may provide opportunities to work in a variety of healthcare settings. Depending on individual goals and employer needs, professionals in this field may find opportunities for flexibility, growth, and long-term career development.
Interested in enrolling at Campus?
Our admissions advisors can answer your questions.
What Information Do You Learn as a Medical Coder and Biller?
When you work as a medical biller and coder, you must know the coding standards extensively, and be able to select the most specific code for each procedure or treatment. Knowing the subtle differences between similar codes is also very important. One thing you may learn with hands-on experience is how different insurance companies prefer reimbursement claims to be formatted and filled out.
Since there are many different types of patient visits, and vast numbers of diagnoses, treatments, and procedures to identify, becoming familiar with anatomy and medical processes, as well as the corresponding codes can be extremely valuable.
There are three major sets of medical codes which are used in every hospital, medical office, and healthcare facility in the US.
ICD-10-CM: International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification. This is maintained by the World Health Organization (WHO).
CPT®: Current Procedural Terminology codes, these were created by the American Medical Association (AMA), currently maintained by the CPT Editorial Panel, appointed by the AMA.
HCPCS: Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System, created for use by government agencies such as Medicare and Medicaid.
Job Outlook for Billers and Coders in Michigan
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)[1] [3], jobs for medical billers and coders are projected to grow by 7 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all jobs in the US. In May 2024, the BLS showed medical coders and billers across the entire US earned a median annual salary of $50,250 and a median wage of $24.16 per hour. (This is the most recent national data).
In Michigan, the BLS reported [4] as of May 2025 medical billers and coders earned an annual median salary of $48,120 and a median hourly wage of $23.13. Medical billers and coders in Michigan in 2025 earned an annual mean salary of $52,650 and a mean average hourly wage of $25.31 according to BLS data.
Salary and Wage for Medical Billers and Coders (2024-2025)
| Michigan (2025) | United States (2024) | |
|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $48,120 | $50,250 |
| Mean Annual Salary | $52,650 | $55,970 |
| Median Hourly Wage | $23.13 | $24.16 |
| Mean Hourly Wage | $25.31 | $26.91 |
Train for Medical Biller and Coder in About Ten Months with Campus
If you’re contemplating becoming a biller and coder, Campus has an Online Medical Billing and Coding program that may help prepare students for applicable certification examinations, subject to eligibility requirements. The program is designed to provide foundational knowledge and skills relevant to entry-level medical billing and coding roles, and lasts about ten months.
This program is fully online, and open to eligible students in Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Warren, Sterling Heights, and anywhere else in Michigan. To find more information on start dates, curriculum, and financial aid, contact our Admissions department.
Disclaimer: This blog provides general information about healthcare education, careers, and educational pathways. It is intended for informational purposes only and is not designed to describe specific career outcomes for graduates of any Campus program. Career opportunities, earnings, and business success vary based on factors including education, experience, industry, location, and individual circumstances. Completion of a Campus program does not guarantee employment, certification, salary level, job placement, or career advancement.
[1] Note: The data provided in this article is from sources unaffiliated with Campus, is for informational purposes only and represents the employment field as a whole. They are not solely specific to Campus graduates and, by providing the above information, Campus makes no representation, direct or implied, or opinion regarding employability.
[2] American Association of Professional Coders, https://www.aapc.com/resources/medical-coding-salary-survey , Retrieved June 2, 2026.
[3] Bureau of Labor Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm#tab-1 , Retrieved June 8, 2026.
[4] Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Maps, https://data.bls.gov/oesmap/ , Retrieved June 8, 2026.