What Is the Difference Between Medical Billing and Coding and Health Information Technology?
By Staff Writer on 03/13/2025
What Is Medical Billing and Medical Coding?
Medical billing involves compiling, processing and maintaining patient files and entering patient records into healthcare coding systems. Medical records specialists may work within healthcare settings to gather patients' medical histories, symptoms, test results, treatments, and other health information and enter the details of patient visit into electronic health records systems and some workers categorize medical information for purposes such as insurance reimbursement, medical claims and providing data to clinicians.
What Is Health Information Technology?
According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services1, health information technology (health IT) "involves the processing, storage, and exchange of health information in an electronic environment." Use of health IT in healthcare to "improve the quality of healthcare, prevent medical errors, reduce healthcare costs, increase administrative efficiencies, decrease paperwork, and expand access to affordable healthcare."
Health information technicians may use their knowledge of IT to organize and analyze data, update medical information in clinical databases, generate reports, track patient outcomes with a goal2 to "ensure privacy, security, and confidentiality of patients' health information."
Comparison of Medical Billing and Medical Coding and HIT
Similarities Between Medical Billing and Medical Coding and Health Information Technology
Both medical billing and coding and health information technology involve working with patient data and medical records. They both also require strong analytical and technical skills.
Differences Between Medical Billing and Medical Coding and Health Information Technology
Medical billing and medical coding focuses more on the financial aspects of healthcare, while HIT focuses on the overall management of health information.
Medical billers and coders typically work more closely with health insurance companies and providers, while health IT professionals work more closely with healthcare providers.
Here are some other high-level comparisons between the two:
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Career Paths in Medical Billing and Coding
Medical billing and medical coding professionals may work in a variety of healthcare settings3, not limited to hospitals, physician practices, insurance companies, billing companies, medical offices, government agencies, long-term care, home health, rehabilitation, behavioral health and skilled nursing facilities.
Medical billing and coding professionals may specialize3 in areas such as medical coding, medical billing, medical insurance claims clerk or specialist, medical collections specialist, patient registrar or medical records clerk. They can also work as consultants or start their own businesses.
Career Paths in Health Information Technology
Health information technicians may work in many different healthcare settings3 as well. They may work in hospitals, physician practices, insurance companies, billing companies, government agencies, long-term care, home health, rehabilitation, behavioral health, and skilled nursing facilities. They may also consult for professional, government or nonprofit organizations and other health information technology vendors.
Health information technicians may go on to become health information data collection specialists, auditors, electronic health records specialists, patient care coordinators, release of information specialists and more.
Education and Training
For both medical billing and coding and HIT, high school students seeking careers in these fields may benefit from taking classes like anatomy and physiology, biology, computer science and math.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical billing and coding specialists typically4 need a postsecondary certificate to enter the workforce, but other qualifications may vary depending on the position. Rasmussen University offers a medical billing and coding certificate5 with online courses and virtual labs to prepare students for certifications and the possibility of furthering their education in the field if they choose to. Curriculum may include coding foundations, health information and law ethics, medical terminology, health data requirements and standards, and classification and coding systems. Additional certification or clinical requirements6 may be in effect depending on the position or field chosen. Additional certification may be possible depending upon the credential earned.
HIT professionals7 might seek positions that require an associate degree or bachelor's degree in a healthcare or related field. Rasmussen University offers both an associate8 and bachelor's9 degree with online courses, virtual labs, industry certification prep, and much more.
Education requirements may include: healthcare administration, information management or computer and information technology. Additional certification or clinical requirements8 may be in effect depending on the position or field chosen.
Technology and Innovation in Healthcare
As the world of healthcare technology is constantly evolving, new innovations and advancements are emerging all the time.
Electronic health records (EHRs) and practice management systems (PMS) are becoming more common. For example, EHR systems10 are integrating with medical billing software to streamline medical billing and coding. With EHR, healthcare providers can easily document patient records and procedures which are then linked to coding systems for submission. Automation may also help to reduce errors and improve the speed of the medical billing process and coding.
Choosing the Right Career for You
When considering which academic field to study, it's important to consider your interests and skills. Consider what type of career you're looking for and the type of work environment you'd prefer.
Both medical billing and coding and health information technology may play important roles in ensuring the healthcare system operates efficiently and accurately.
Medical billing and coding involves working with numbers, may require analytical skills and the financial aspects of healthcare delivery.
HIT involves healthcare organizations working with technology, and healthcare and insurance providers.
Though they have distinct functions, both fields have standalone features and are independently essential for maintaining the information, data security, and improving patient care. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, medical billing and coding and HIT professionals play an important role in the future of healthcare.
1 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Information Privacy, Special Topics, Health Information Technology, at https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/health-information-technology/index.html (visited February 11, 2025).
2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/health-information-technologists-and-medical-registrars.htm#tab-2 (visited February 11, 2025).
3 Rasmussen University, 2024-2025 Catalog and Student Handbook, School of Health Sciences, at https://rasmussen.dcatalog.com/v/2024-2025-Catalog/?page=64 (visited February 11, 2025).
4 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical Records Specialists, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm (visited February. 11, 2025).
5 Rasmussen University, Health Sciences, Medical Billing and Coding, at https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/health-sciences/health-information-management/medical-billing-and-coding-certificate/ (visited February 11, 2025).
6 Rasmussen University, 2024-2025 Catalog and Student Handbook, School of Health Sciences, at https://rasmussen.dcatalog.com/v/2024-2025-Catalog/?page=66 (visited February 11, 2025).
7 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/health-information-technologists-and-medical-registrars.htm#tab-4 (visited February 11, 2025).
8 Rasmussen University, Health Information Technician (HIT) Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree, at https://info.rasmussen.edu/health-information-technician/associate (visited February 11, 2025).
9 Rasmussen University, Health Sciences, Health Information Management Studies, at https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/health-sciences/health-information-management/ (visited February 11, 2025).
10 Evans R. S. (2016). Electronic Health Records: Then, Now, and in the Future. Yearbook of medical informatics, Suppl 1(Suppl 1), S48–S61. https://doi.org/10.15265/IYS-2016-s006 (visited February 11, 2025).
