The Medical Biller

DISCOVER THE CAREER OF MEDICAL BILLING... Medical billing is one of the most in demand professions in the US and around the world. If you ever had, or still have an interest in the industry of healthcare, now is the time to "get your medical billing on!"

Medical billing is gaining ever increasing interest among job seekers and people who desire a meaningful career to reenter the workforce. The medical biller is usually hired by a doctor or healthcare facilities either as an in-house employee, freelancer, or independent contractor for processing and streamlining their medical billing processes. The medical biller's focus lies on the administrative and business aspects  the healthcare industry.

• what is medical billing? 
• what is medical coding? 
• are medical billers also medical coders? 
• why won't doctors do their own billing? 
• what is the purpose of medical coding? 
• can I learn medical billing on my own? 

Medical Billers - What They Bring To The Table

Embarking on the medical billing career path builds a solid foundation for those who wish to pursue a meaningful career or plan to eventually become their own boss, freelancer, or independent medical practice advisor from their own medical billing business from home.

Medical billers are an invaluable asset to a doctor's office, hospitals, ambulatory care clinics and countless other facilities that provide medical and health care services to the public. Many see medical billing as a career path that is distinct from medical coding, yet, it embraces so many facets of medical coding to where one couldn't exist without the other. Our Medical Billing Community forum moderator, Steve Verno, an experienced medical biller, mentor, author and independent medical billing business consultant has provided an interesting metaphor for us to understand what medical billing is all about. He said...

"Metaphorically speaking, medical billing is much like a river. It has deep parts and shallow parts. It can go straight or curve around bends. Its current can be slow and lazy or it can rush by so fast you have no control. It can be navigated, but carefully and cautiously. If you take a wrong turn, you can end up in deep water and up the creek without a paddle. If you don't heed the dangers, it can destroy you. The journey can be wondrous or boring. As the journey ends you can feel happy that you accomplished your goal, or you can arrive wet and miserable."

Medical Billing and Coding Discipline

Most of the medical biller's days are spent at a computer desk in the claims processing office, the administrative billing and accounting department, or a private office, depending on the type and set up of the medical billing company or consultant firm. The size of the facility, or company directly affects their weekly work load, but in general, most salaried medical billers work 40 hours per week.

The best advice often comes from medical billing experts who have already worked in this field and can define medical billing experiences based on true events, medical billing software they have actually used, and medical billing and medical coding situations they have actually handled. Only this way can you truly realize how medical billing plays an extremely important role in the success of the healthcare industry as a whole, and how the art of medical billing relates to medical coding when applied.

Can I Teach Myself Medical Billing?

Medical billing is versatile, and can be easy if you know what you are doing, however, self-training may only confuse you. To fully understand the definition of medical billing and the role of a medical biller you must understand the intricacies and complexity of the medical billing and coding process. Formal career training provides you the knowledge you need to handle a demanding medical billing job. Medical billers must understand both, medical billing procedures AND medical coding processes. Formal medical billing training can be extensive (note, we said extensive, not expensive) where you learn about:

• Medical terminology
• Insurance terminology
• Basic anatomy
• Claim forms and claims process
• EOBs
• Aging reports
• AR recovery
• Coding basics
• Data entry and software
• Basic medical office management and admin

Not only will this training teach you fundamental medical billing basics but also introduce you to the latest technologies and processes that enables you to select codes that best represent the services furnished during a medical office visit or hospital stay.

Complete medical billing training typically requires the following courses followed by a practicum:

Your education does not end upon graduation from a formal training program, even for the best medical billers and coders.

The rules and regulations, billing procedures, coding system, Medicare rules, technology, research and laws in health care constantly change, and so, professionals in the medical billing and coding discipline will always have to continue learning, refreshing, revisiting and enhancing their skills. The best way to continue learning is through seminars, workshops, online webinars, continuing education programs, magazines and courses offered from various groups and medical office and billing software vendors. Some of the workshops and webinars are free, others are quite expensive, but in either case, they are important and well worth the money and time spent.

Can I Make More Money If I Have Better Training?

As with any job, wages are commensurate with experience and can be higher or lower in different areas. American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC) states the average starting salary for Certified Medical Coders is approximately $35,000 per year, but that's average. Experienced professionals may eventually set up their own medical billing and coding consulting business and earn additional income for seminars, coding review analyses for providers and freelance consulting to payers. An independent consultant will try to make as much money as possible by investing their time and skills accordingly.