February 11, 2025 • 10 mins
Howdy Coder Pro's!
Is our healthcare system failing us? What's happening to medical coding? Will it still be around?
Tune in as I share my thoughts, personal experiences and reassurance as it relates to the medical coding and healthcare industry.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coding-break-with-tam-talk-podcast--4244224/support.
Is our healthcare system failing us? What's happening to medical coding? Will it still be around?
Tune in as I share my thoughts, personal experiences and reassurance as it relates to the medical coding and healthcare industry.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coding-break-with-tam-talk-podcast--4244224/support.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, and welcome to another episode of The Coding Break.
Ring the Bell, Hi, guys and gals or Coding Prose.
Welcome back to another episode of The Coding Break with
Tam Talk where we talk about all things coding related,
the good, the bad, the ugly, and probably some of
(00:22):
the great things as it relates to healthcare, business, medical coding.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
And the like.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
So, I guess we can get started. So I'm reading
this article and the question pose was, is this the
collapse of the healthcare sector? And I repeat, is this
the collapse of the health care sector?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
I mean, I don't know, is it.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Well, I went ahead and continue to read the article,
and I'm shocked. Well, I'm I'm not just gonna say
I'm struck because I've been personally affected by this as well.
Where an individual had to pay a certain amount of
money for health care coverage, but they could not obtain
(01:11):
the benefits or received the t this type of benefits
from the health care insurance until they paid a healty deductible.
So from what from what lulah, So from what I'm
reading here, the individuals or the family paid eight thousand
dollars per year for the health insurance coverage only to
(01:32):
receive the benefits of the coverage once they paid a
sixteen thousand dollars deductible, And I'm like, wow.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
So bind is not that expensive. I mean as far
as like.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
What my deductible is and how much I have to
pay a pocket before I receive an actual benefit from
my benefits.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
So I would say I I probably see the impact as.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
It relates to my prescriptions, where I'm paying a hefty
amount of money for a prescription. And when I say
healthy amount, I'm saying, like almost six hundred and seven
hundred dollars for a prescription. This is before my insurance
company or insurance benefit kicks in. But I will say this,
(02:22):
and I will say this, the beauty of mine is
once I pay that and it meets the deductible, my
insurance or my prescriptions are I want to say they're free,
they don't. I'm not charged for the remainder of the year.
And so that's the good thing about it is that
once I meet that deductible, which is, like I said,
(02:44):
it's a healthy amount for the duration of the year,
my prescriptions are zero cost to me out of pockets.
So I guess that is a plus and a minus,
but the fact that prescriptions are expensive because this is
a maintenance drug and so.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
It it's expensive.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
So yeah, and you know, I thank god every day
that I have coverage for that that I can you know,
can pay it.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
But yeah. So so based on this article that I'm reading,
and it.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Was actually written by Justin mcaffey, uh so yeah, so
it's a I guess the blog.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
It just came up anyway. So yeah, so I'm reading that,
and so.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
The question is is it really the collapse of the
health care sector or is I guess, given everything else
that we're experiencing in life, it's just costly. I was,
but health care has always been costly. It has always
been costly. I think because we're getting more attention and
(03:49):
awareness is being brought to us as relates to health
care now, we're we're waking up and we're paying attention
to it now. But it has always been expensive. Uh
the services, I mean, there are definitely differences from someone
who has been in healthcare, working in healthcare for a
(04:09):
number of years, I've seen the changes. I've seen some
are good, some are bad. I've also I've seen the
dynamics of like who's getting paid the most and who's
losing money and and the like. So I will say that,
you know, as a medical coder, you know, I feel
(04:32):
that there will always be jobs as it relates to
medical coding. The only difference is that, as with anything
or any job, our roles will.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Change, and it has changed.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
It's just a matter of you know, again, if you're
coming in, you have to come in with the foundation
and then you kind of progress. And I share that
as you know in my teaching, whether it's on TikTok whatever,
that medical coding is a foundation, you know, career path.
Like it's similar to math, where you it builds up,
(05:05):
builds on each other. So like you know, you start
off with additional subtraction and then you move on to
multiplication division and so then you know, we end up
with calculus, trigonometry, things of that nature. This is the
same thing with medical coding. You start off with the
foundational coding and then as you progress in medical coding,
whether your knowledge of it or your career path, it
(05:28):
builds on each other, which is and you branch out
to a more specialized area of coding. That could be
a specialty or it could be that you want to
you know, pursue another certification because there are several certifications
out there.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
As it relates to medical coding, it depends.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
And then but I saw that now that we are
all kind of have been introduced somewhat to artificial intelligence
or AI, our role has evolved. Now we're becoming more auditors.
Uh so, but you still need the medical coding certification
and knowledge to confirm or correct AI, because sometimes AI
(06:10):
can be wrong.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Let's not think AI is perfect. AI does have.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Its deficiencies, and that's where your knowledge as a medical
coder comes into play. And uh yeah, So again, our
roles are evolving, changing along with the pay, and that
pay will very depending on the entity and again the
specific role that you pursue. But I think medical coding
(06:38):
will always be there. Health care will always be there.
It's just gonna right now, it seem like it's a strain,
and it is. Again, but it has always been expensive,
and it has never as long as I've been in
health care, it has.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
I have never seen it not be expensive.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
And it's probably going to get a little bit more
expensive considering again, there are so many hands in the
healthcare pot. Again, we have AI, which is computer technology.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
You have other businesses.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
You have athletes who are involved in healthcare now, and
it's all.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Healthcare is pretty much a business, right, It's a business.
And so people with money, people who.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Are into business, they may well, I know that they
have their hands and health care. So for those of
you who are medical colders are in pursuit of becoming
medical colders, this is a good opportunity or I don't
want to.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Say, an easy way to get into.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
This space as well, because we want to do it
because we have to feed ourselves, We have to feed
our family, will take care of our loved ones, right,
and so medical coding to me is probably the less
expensive way to get and.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Is college required for medical coding.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
APC recommends again, they recommend that you have at least
an associate degree, but before even prior to them making
that requirement or suggests, excuse me, recommendation that you know,
you can become a you can become a coulder without it,
Like I became a qulder prior to me receiving in
(08:18):
my college degrees, and I have college degrees now, and
so I mean it's still the same. But again, it
just looks good on your resume to have a college education,
and it reflects or shows that you have discipline and
in regards to you in pursuit of your education. And
(08:38):
then also because you have the certification, a lot of
jobs are required that you have some specialized training against,
such as a medical coding and certification. And there are
various certifications that you can pursue. But we'll get into
that another time. But I really wanted to just kind
of come on and just share with you. You and
(09:01):
we're like, what's going on with healthcare and you know,
panic and fear.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
It's kind of ease and just kind.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Of elaborate a little bit more on what's going on
going on in healthcare. Again, as I mentioned, healthcare has
always been expensive. It's just that now it's being brought
to our attention. We're being made aware of healthcare and
how it'll impact or affect us. And yeah, and how
can we get in the game as relates to the
(09:29):
business of healthcare and you know, through medical coding certification
and will that will.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Medical code and go away or what will happen? It
won't go.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Away, It will just evolve as everything else evolves. So yeah,
so that's all that I have for this coding break
and As always, if you're looking to learn coding, I'm
on TikTok as well as YouTube, and of course you
can tune into my Code and Break podcast where I
just kind of have a somewhat of a lighthearted informative
conversation with my listeners. So yeah, so that's all that
(10:01):
I have for today. On that note, my coning break
is over and I wish you all the best and
as always, remembered to cold on until next time.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Take care,
Hello, and welcome to another episode of The Coding Break.
Ring the Bell, Hi, guys and gals or Coding Prose.
Welcome back to another episode of The Coding Break with
Tam Talk where we talk about all things coding related,
the good, the bad, the ugly, and probably some of
(00:22):
the great things as it relates to healthcare, business, medical coding.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
And the like.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
So, I guess we can get started. So I'm reading
this article and the question pose was, is this the
collapse of the healthcare sector? And I repeat, is this
the collapse of the health care sector?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
I mean, I don't know, is it.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Well, I went ahead and continue to read the article,
and I'm shocked. Well, I'm I'm not just gonna say
I'm struck because I've been personally affected by this as well.
Where an individual had to pay a certain amount of
money for health care coverage, but they could not obtain
(01:11):
the benefits or received the t this type of benefits
from the health care insurance until they paid a healty deductible.
So from what from what lulah, So from what I'm
reading here, the individuals or the family paid eight thousand
dollars per year for the health insurance coverage only to
(01:32):
receive the benefits of the coverage once they paid a
sixteen thousand dollars deductible, And I'm like, wow.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
So bind is not that expensive. I mean as far
as like.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
What my deductible is and how much I have to
pay a pocket before I receive an actual benefit from
my benefits.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
So I would say I I probably see the impact as.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
It relates to my prescriptions, where I'm paying a hefty
amount of money for a prescription. And when I say
healthy amount, I'm saying, like almost six hundred and seven
hundred dollars for a prescription. This is before my insurance
company or insurance benefit kicks in. But I will say this,
(02:22):
and I will say this, the beauty of mine is
once I pay that and it meets the deductible, my
insurance or my prescriptions are I want to say they're free,
they don't. I'm not charged for the remainder of the year.
And so that's the good thing about it is that
once I meet that deductible, which is, like I said,
(02:44):
it's a healthy amount for the duration of the year,
my prescriptions are zero cost to me out of pockets.
So I guess that is a plus and a minus,
but the fact that prescriptions are expensive because this is
a maintenance drug and so.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
It it's expensive.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
So yeah, and you know, I thank god every day
that I have coverage for that that I can you know,
can pay it.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
But yeah. So so based on this article that I'm reading,
and it.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Was actually written by Justin mcaffey, uh so yeah, so
it's a I guess the blog.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
It just came up anyway. So yeah, so I'm reading that,
and so.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
The question is is it really the collapse of the
health care sector or is I guess, given everything else
that we're experiencing in life, it's just costly. I was,
but health care has always been costly. It has always
been costly. I think because we're getting more attention and
(03:49):
awareness is being brought to us as relates to health
care now, we're we're waking up and we're paying attention
to it now. But it has always been expensive. Uh
the services, I mean, there are definitely differences from someone
who has been in healthcare, working in healthcare for a
(04:09):
number of years, I've seen the changes. I've seen some
are good, some are bad. I've also I've seen the
dynamics of like who's getting paid the most and who's
losing money and and the like. So I will say that,
you know, as a medical coder, you know, I feel
(04:32):
that there will always be jobs as it relates to
medical coding. The only difference is that, as with anything
or any job, our roles will.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Change, and it has changed.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
It's just a matter of you know, again, if you're
coming in, you have to come in with the foundation
and then you kind of progress. And I share that
as you know in my teaching, whether it's on TikTok whatever,
that medical coding is a foundation, you know, career path.
Like it's similar to math, where you it builds up,
(05:05):
builds on each other. So like you know, you start
off with additional subtraction and then you move on to
multiplication division and so then you know, we end up
with calculus, trigonometry, things of that nature. This is the
same thing with medical coding. You start off with the
foundational coding and then as you progress in medical coding,
whether your knowledge of it or your career path, it
(05:28):
builds on each other, which is and you branch out
to a more specialized area of coding. That could be
a specialty or it could be that you want to
you know, pursue another certification because there are several certifications
out there.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
As it relates to medical coding, it depends.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
And then but I saw that now that we are
all kind of have been introduced somewhat to artificial intelligence
or AI, our role has evolved. Now we're becoming more auditors.
Uh so, but you still need the medical coding certification
and knowledge to confirm or correct AI, because sometimes AI
(06:10):
can be wrong.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Let's not think AI is perfect. AI does have.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Its deficiencies, and that's where your knowledge as a medical
coder comes into play. And uh yeah, So again, our
roles are evolving, changing along with the pay, and that
pay will very depending on the entity and again the
specific role that you pursue. But I think medical coding
(06:38):
will always be there. Health care will always be there.
It's just gonna right now, it seem like it's a strain,
and it is. Again, but it has always been expensive,
and it has never as long as I've been in
health care, it has.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
I have never seen it not be expensive.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
And it's probably going to get a little bit more
expensive considering again, there are so many hands in the
healthcare pot. Again, we have AI, which is computer technology.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
You have other businesses.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
You have athletes who are involved in healthcare now, and
it's all.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Healthcare is pretty much a business, right, It's a business.
And so people with money, people who.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Are into business, they may well, I know that they
have their hands and health care. So for those of
you who are medical colders are in pursuit of becoming
medical colders, this is a good opportunity or I don't
want to.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Say, an easy way to get into.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
This space as well, because we want to do it
because we have to feed ourselves, We have to feed
our family, will take care of our loved ones, right,
and so medical coding to me is probably the less
expensive way to get and.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Is college required for medical coding.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
APC recommends again, they recommend that you have at least
an associate degree, but before even prior to them making
that requirement or suggests, excuse me, recommendation that you know,
you can become a you can become a coulder without it,
Like I became a qulder prior to me receiving in
(08:18):
my college degrees, and I have college degrees now, and
so I mean it's still the same. But again, it
just looks good on your resume to have a college education,
and it reflects or shows that you have discipline and
in regards to you in pursuit of your education. And
(08:38):
then also because you have the certification, a lot of
jobs are required that you have some specialized training against,
such as a medical coding and certification. And there are
various certifications that you can pursue. But we'll get into
that another time. But I really wanted to just kind
of come on and just share with you. You and
(09:01):
we're like, what's going on with healthcare and you know,
panic and fear.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
It's kind of ease and just kind.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Of elaborate a little bit more on what's going on
going on in healthcare. Again, as I mentioned, healthcare has
always been expensive. It's just that now it's being brought
to our attention. We're being made aware of healthcare and
how it'll impact or affect us. And yeah, and how
can we get in the game as relates to the
(09:29):
business of healthcare and you know, through medical coding certification
and will that will.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Medical code and go away or what will happen? It
won't go.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Away, It will just evolve as everything else evolves. So yeah,
so that's all that I have for this coding break
and As always, if you're looking to learn coding, I'm
on TikTok as well as YouTube, and of course you
can tune into my Code and Break podcast where I
just kind of have a somewhat of a lighthearted informative
conversation with my listeners. So yeah, so that's all that
(10:01):
I have for today. On that note, my coning break
is over and I wish you all the best and
as always, remembered to cold on until next time.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Take care,
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