I think that the concept of back-room data-entry coders is going to be phased out. However, EHRs have introduced the opportunity for another kind of coder---Auditor/Educator, Documentation Improvement Specialist and Systems Analyst. An EHR is only as good as the information it acquires and the information it spits out---creating opportunities for coders who understand documentation guidelines and who are able to communicate well with physicians.
To speak to the comment about physician reimbursement via RVUs..this also is going the way of the dinosaur. Physicians will be paid based on performance, meaning they will have to document very carefully their patient's condition, treatment, response to treatment and any factors that impact patient care. This will significantly impact their reimbursement under a pay for-performance model, and coders can assist providers in making sure that this information is captured in a reportable format (hence the meaningful use of the EHR).
There are going to be opportunities for coders, but the coding job as we know it now, will change, and coders will have to change with the times or find themselves out of work. To anyone who will listen....keep up on the coding rules and regulatory guidance. Obtain excellent communications skills. Learn about your EHR: become a superuser. Continue your education--I guarantee that many of these jobs will require a degree. Read and familiarize yourself with the changes in the industry. Stay connected with AAPC and AHIMA, which are the two most reputable organizations with regard to coding and HIM.