While medical billing and coding are different careers, they're often talked about in the same breath. Both jobs are tied to a healthcare organization's revenue cycle and how providers are paid for their care. Their roles and responsibilities differ, though. A medical coder reads notes and documentation about a patient's diagnosis, treatment, or procedures, and then translates that care into standardized codes. These codes are nuanced and specific. For example, the appropriate code for a broken wrist will take into account which wrist was injured, what kind of fracture it was, and which bone was damaged. Medical billers use these codes to secure proper reimbursement. They work with insurance companies, other payers such as Medicare and Medicaid, and patients themselves. This work often requires back-and-forth communication.