Hawai'i's Top Online Medical Billing & Coding Programs: Discover the Best for Your Future
Hawai’i harbors great online medical billing and coding programs for potential students to start the path to an exciting new career. Get started by finding your match in the Aloha State.
If you live in Hawai’i and have ever thought about joining the healthcare industry, but you’re not sure how to get started, then you may want to consider a career in medical billing and coding. Medical billers and coders in Hawai’i earn solid salaries and enjoy strong job security. Medical billing and coding is also a great job for those who like the option of working in an office setting or at home – or both.
There are a number of quality, accredited online medical billing and codingprograms in Hawai’i offering affordable, convenient training that will get you going quickly on your new career. This guide will introduce you to some of the very best of those programs. You’ll also find loads of valuable information and advice on online medical billing and coding programs in Hawai’i, including:
- Program content.
- Online course delivery formats.
- Admission requirements.
- Program costs and financial aid opportunities to help you pay for your medical billing and coding education.
- Earnings and job growth potential.
If you’re ready to stop thinking about working in healthcare and start doing something about it, keep reading to discover how you can launch your medical billing and coding career through one of today’s best online medical billing and coding programs in Hawai’i.
Popular Programs: Reputable Medical Billing and CodingPrograms in Hawai’i
We’ve spotlighted below three popular online medical billing and codingprograms in Hawai’i to give you an idea of what to expect from the best offerings. These three programs feature a number of important student-focused elements, including affordability, proper accreditation, quality academics, study flexibility, and valuable academic and career support services. Here’s what to look for in online medical billing and codingprograms in Hawai’i you may consider.
Kaua’i Community College (University of Hawai’i)
During your program search, you’ll discover that study convenience and flexibility are major features of practically all online medical billing and coding programs in Hawai’i. The Medical Billing and Coding course offered by Kaua’i Community College is a perfect example of what we’re talking about. The course is presented 100% online in an asynchronous format that allows students to start the program at any time, accessing and completing course requirements according to their own schedules.
The curriculum consists of two parts: Medical Terminology and Medical Billing and Coding. Students are taught to use the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System as well as ICD-10 and CPT Category II codes. Graduates of the course are eligible to sit for the exams for the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist, Certified Coding Associate, and Certified Professional Coder professional certifications. A voucher covering the cost of the student’s choice of one exam is included in the course price. There are no prerequisites for admission into the program.
Offered in partnership with ed2go, a major provider of online occupational training programs, KCC’s Medical Billing and Coding course is self-paced, consists of 370 clock hours of instruction, and is typically completed in 12 months or less. The current total cost is $2,995 for 12 months of course access.
Kapi’olani Community College (University of Hawai’i)
If you’re someone who prefers a more interactive learning experience, then you’ll want to consider the Medical Coding certificate program offered by this college in Honolulu. The program is delivered entirely online. Unlike the Kaua’i CC program, however, classes in the Kapi’olani program take place online via Zoom. Classes are scheduled Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-9 pm.
The course is 80 clock hours and about four months in length. Program graduates receive a University of Hawai’i Certificate of Competence and are eligible to try for professional coding certification through the American Academy of Professional Coders.
Admission requirements include completion of prerequisite courses in medical terminology and human anatomy and physiology. Seating is limited and awarded on a first-qualified, first-accepted basis. The current total program cost is $3,995 which includes access to all coursework, textbooks, AAPC membership, and vouchers for AAPC professional certification exams. A variety of tuition assistance resources are available to qualifying students.
American Academy of Professional Coders
The availability of several program and delivery formats is a major feature of the Medical Coding and Billing Training Classes available in Hawai’i directly through the AAPC, a major provider of professional medical coding and billing education and certification nationwide. Those options include a fully-online self-paced CPC prep course that can be completed in as few as 16 weeks. The course offers the Professional Medical Coding Curriculum covering CPT, HCPCS, and ICD-10 coding. Classes begin daily, and admission requires a minimum of two years’ work experience in healthcare or completion of several prerequisite courses in medicine fundamentals, anatomy, pathophysiology, and medical terminology.
The current total program cost for the CPC prep course is $4,999 for students paying in full up-front. Financing options and scholarship and grant opportunities are available to qualifying students. Included in the program cost are access to AAPC’s Learning Management System (textbooks and online resources), a self-paced online Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) Internship, a one-year AAPC membership, and a professional certification exam voucher.
Students looking to obtain dual Certified Professional Coder and Certified Professional Biller certifications will want to consider one of AAPC’s online self-paced or instructor-led Medical Coding and Billing Training Course options.
Hawai’i’s Salary Outlook for Medical Billing Coding Students
Earnings play a major role in career choice for anyone, including those considering work as a medical billing and coding professional. The good news is that salaries for medical billers and coders throughout the U.S. – and especially in Hawai’i – are notably strong.
This is evidenced by the table below, which lists the U.S. Department of Labor figures for medical records specialists in Hawai’i, the closest career comparison available for medical billing and coding. For comparison, the most recent (2023) mean annual wage figure for medical records specialists in the nation overall is $53,690, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. And, earnings get substantially better for people working in medical billing and coding in Hawai’i as they gain more experience.
Salaries are also impacted by demand for an occupation’s services. While the BLS does not specifically provide job growth rates for medical records specialists in Hawai’i, they do for the U.S. overall. And, a solid 8.7% is the most recent (2023-2033) long-term projected job growth rate for medical records specialists in the U.S., more than double the projected rate for all occupations combined. Just keep in mind that what you actually earn in your medical billing and coding job will depend on factors such as your particular employer, job title, responsibilities, geographic location, and level of professional experience.
| Area | 10th Percentile | Mean Annual Wage | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawai’i | $41,720 | $60,940 | $87,070 |
| Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI | $38,670 | $51,870 | $90,390 |
| Urban Honolulu | $43,700 | $64,540 | $85,760 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023
Top Careers for Medical Billing and Coding-Certified Students
Billing Analyst
In general terms, billing analysts ensure the accuracy of medical patient bills. Here are some common job duties:
- Create and submit invoices for medical services and review invoices for completeness and accuracy.
- Communicate directly with customers to answer questions and with billing/coding staff to resolve billing issues.
- Analyze organizational billing practices to identify and resolve problems and recommend improvements.
Billing analysts typically work in medical offices, but they may also work remotely either full-time or part-time. Those who work in office settings are often additionally responsible for manning the front desk where they greet and register patients, answer the phone, keep office files, and perform other administrative tasks.
Coding Auditor
Medical coding auditors are responsible for assuring the accuracy and efficiency of their organization’s billing and coding staff. Specific tasks may include these:
- Perform coding quality audits of the work of inpatient and outpatient coders.
- Review clinical documents, coding and billing records, and administrative data to ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance with industry standards.
- Issue, monitor, and resolve clinical and insurance coding denials.
- Generate and oversee coding appeals.
- Oversee physician and medical support staff instruction on coding guidelines and conventions.
In addition to completion of a quality medical billing and coding program, employers often require that medical coding auditor applicants possess American Health Information Management Association or AAPC professional certification.
Medical Records Coordinator
Medical records coordinators (aka medical records managers or medical records technicians) perform a number of tasks involving the collecting, compiling, organizing, and maintaining their employer’s patient medical records. Their most important responsibility, however, is to ensure the confidentiality of those records through compliance with privacy laws and regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Specific job duties include these:
Oversee the proper filing and retrieval of records, and follow established procedures for record releases to authorized recipients.
- Collect and maintain patient information and treatment records for physicians and clinical and administrative staff.
- Maintain all organizational files in accordance with applicable regulations and business standards.
- Ensure medical record completeness and accuracy.
- Ensure that records confidentiality and security standards are maintained.
Reimbursement Specialist
Healthcare reimbursement specialists are in charge of working and communicating with insurance providers and billing/coding staff to ensure that their organizations are properly reimbursed for the medical services they provide. Many employers require or prefer to hire applicants who have obtained professional certification following completion of their medical billing and coding education program. Here are some common job duties:
- Identify patient payment methods and review claims for completeness and accuracy to ensure proper processing.
- Maintain patient financial records.
- Investigate and resolve claims issues and make recommendations for improving claims processes.
- Maintain a solid understanding of insurance carrier guidelines for proper submittal of reimbursement documentation, and communicate any guidelines changes to management and staff.
Your Pressing Questions, Answered
How much does a medical billing and coding online course cost?
The costs of online medical billing and coding programs in Hawai’i vary depending on the specific school and program (i.e., what is included in its curriculum and how it prepares you for professional certifications). As indicated in the school spotlights above, current total program costs range from just under $3,000 for Kaua’i Community College’s Medical Billing and Coding course to just under $5,000 for the CPC program from AAPC. Along with course content, these programs include such things in their program price tags as access to textbooks and other support materials and vouchers for professional certification exams. Also, most programs offer financial aid assistance to qualifying students that can substantially reduce program costs.
How much does a medical billing and coding online course cost?
The costs of online medical billing and coding programs in Hawai’i vary depending on the specific school and program (i.e., what is included in its curriculum and how it prepares you for professional certifications). As indicated in the school spotlights above, current total program costs range from just under $3,000 for Kaua’i Community College’s Medical Billing and Coding course to just under $5,000 for the CPC program from AAPC. Along with course content, these programs include such things in their program price tags as access to textbooks and other support materials and vouchers for professional certification exams. Also, most programs offer financial aid assistance to qualifying students that can substantially reduce program costs.
Are online medical billing and coding programs accredited?
Not exactly. Accreditation is the typical means of vetting the quality of post-secondary schools and their programs. And, you will find the public community colleges offering online medical billing and coding programs in Hawai’i are institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. Instead of specific medical billing and codingprogram accreditations, though, what you will be looking for is a program that provides you with eligibility to take the exams of one or more industry-recognized professional certifications, like those available from the AAPC, AHIMA, and National Healthcareer Association.
Can I do an medical billing and codingprogram completely online?
If you read the program spotlights above, then you know the answer to this question is an absolute yes. In fact, 100% online medical billing and coding programs in Hawai’i are both common and quite popular. The reason is simple: medical billing and coding training lends itself to well to fully-online study. And, as discussed earlier, medical billing and coding professionals often work online from home on a full-time or part-time basis. In addition, course content for many of these programs (including the Kapi’olani CC and AAPC programs spotlighted above) is delivered in an asynchronous format that allows students to access and complete their studies at any time that fits their own busy schedules.
How long is medical billing and coding training?
As with costs, lengths for online medical billing and codingprograms in Hawai’i vary depending on the specific school and program type (certificate, diploma, degree, etc.). The program spotlights above will give you a good idea of the range of typical program lengths (from 16 weeks for the AAPC’s CPC prep course to 12 months for the Medical Billing and Coding course from Kaua’i CC). Keep in mind, however, that most Hawai’i online medical billing and coding programs feature self-paced coursework that provides students with a level of flexibility in completion times. Just be sure to contact a program representative for details on program length flexibility before you enroll.
