DISCOVER THE CAREER OF MEDICAL
BILLING... Medical billing, as well as medical coding, is
currently among the most in demand professions around the world. If you ever had an interest in healthcare,
but prefer administrative over clinical work then this is for
you.
Medical billing is gaining ever increasing interest among job seekers and people who desire a meaningful career.
A medical biller is usually hired by a doctor or healthcare facility, such
as a medical group practice, or Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) either as an in-house employee, freelancer,
or independent consultant for processing and streamlining their medical billing processes. In other words,
the doctors and health care facilities hire professionally trained staff to bring in the money they have
earned through providing medical and health care services to the public. Their focus lies mostly on the
administrative and business aspects of a medical practice, hospital, or clinic.
Medical Billing and Coding Career
Medical billers are an invaluable asset to countless businesses and facilities that
provide medical and health care services to the public, with the possibility to
eventually become their own boss as a freelance medical billing service provider, or independent medical practice
advisor, and form their own medical billing business. Many see medical billing and medical
coding as two distinct career paths, however, both embrace and include so many facets of each other 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." ~ Steve Verno, Medical Biller
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.
How to Become a Medical Biller
The best advice on how to become a medical biller often comes from medical billing experts who are already working in this field. An
experienced medical billing instructor, or mentor can present medical billing examples based on facts,
present medical billing software they have actually used, and explain medical billing and medical coding
situations they have actually encountered, handled, and know what is expected on the job.
Can I learn medical billing and coding through home study?
Yes, and no. The medical billing process can be easy if you know what you are doing, however, self-training may
only confuse you, since it can also be quite intricate and complex. Unless your
self-study material is very well laid out and focused on the right areas you might get lost, or
overwhelmed if you decide to learn on your own. Formal medical billing training, which is readily available everywhere,
even online, is the best route for most. While it can be extensive (notice, we said
extensive, not expensive), it will provide the knowledge you need to
handle a medical billing job:
- Medical terminology
- Insurance terminology
- 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
Complete medical billing training typically requires the following courses
followed by a practicum:
- Medical terminology
- Human anatomy and physiology
- Pathology and Disease Processes
- Computer applications and data entry
- Typing and keyboarding
- CPT Coding
- ICD-9-CM coding
- Healthcare laws and ethics
- Health Information Management
- Health insurance policies
Your education does not end upon
graduation from a formal training program, even for the best medical billers and coders education continues
throughout their entire career.
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.
More Money With More Training?
As with any job, wages are commensurate with experience and can be higher, or lower in different
locations. American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC) states the average starting salary for Certified
Medical Coders is approximately $35,000 per year. 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.
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