How AI Could Help Address the Shortage of Medical Coders

There is no denying that artificial intelligence (AI) is gradually making its way into medical coding and billing. AI's entrance into just about every aspect of technology is inevitable. As far as medical coding is concerned, it will never fully replace human coders. But there is one particular benefit the industry is beginning to come to grips with: AI could help address the shortage of medical coders.

 

A 2023 survey from MGMA Stat showed that 34% of the employers say that medical coding roles are the most difficult to fill among their many revenue cycle roles. With an estimated 12,300 new medical records jobs anticipated through 2031, it's only going to get tougher to hire medical coders.

 

Incidentally, medical billers were the second most difficult revenue cycle role to fill. Some 26% of the survey respondents said filling their open medical billing roles was challenging. What does any of this have to do with AI? It boils down to AI managing the most routine coding and billing tasks.

 

Medical coding and billing are no different than any other type of career in the sense that certain tasks are harder than others. In the medical coding field, coding some types of procedures and medical events are fairly complex and require human experience and understanding. But something like bedside coding in a hospital is less complicated.

 

Decision makers are beginning to understand that it is more important for them to dedicate their human medical coders to more difficult tasks. By allocating resources according to task, they can address the workers shortage and save money by utilizing AI for less complicated things.

 

That is exactly what Henry Ford Health has done. Last year, they began integrating AI into bedside procedures. They now utilize AI to assist with bedside medical coding. They have done it through automation. While human medical coders are dealing with more complex coding situations and denials management, an automated system handles bedside coding.

 

Officials at Henry Ford Health say that the AI solution has helped in numerous ways. Not only has it closed the gap between open roles and people to fill them, but it has also reduced the daily workload across the board. Everyone, from physicians to medical coders and billing administrators, is under less stress and able to perform better. Henry Ford officials even say that they have noticed an improvement in job satisfaction among their human coders.

 

At first glance, it might seem that human coders would be afraid of losing their jobs to AI. Such reactions are normal when new technologies are introduced. But when you step back and look at it more closely, it all makes perfect sense. Medical coders who no longer need to deal with a ton of bedside coding are not bogged down by routine tasks that could be easily automated. Their workloads are reduced, and they can put more time and effort into the difficult tasks for which their expertise is irreplaceable.

 

Anyone hoping to get into medical coding should understand that it is still the same job even with AI being incorporated into the mix. New coders still need to learn about CPT, ICD-10, and all the rest of the code sets. Basic training in medical procedures and human physiology is still a requirement.

 

AI is not likely to replace human coders altogether. But automation could be one of the answers to the medical coder shortage. Automating the most routine tasks fills an undeniable gap and makes life easier for everyone.