What You Need to Understand About Medical Billing

[Steve Verno]

Its not that no one is there to answer questions, there is NO universal answer.  Every situation is different.  Every State, City or County has its own specific requirements. 

We can teach the basics, but we can only go so far.

[Steve Verno]

I found the same thing in my class.

On the first day of class, I asked each student to tell me why they were taking the class.  95% said the same thing:  I want to work from home to be close to my child.  I find nothing wrong with that. 

The first day of class is a diagnostic test and 3 hours of showing them th influences of our profession.  They found the test too hard and they didnt know how complex and hard our profession is.  In the 4th week, they were all ovrwhelmed with all of the info thrown at them. 

I used real EOBs to show them what they were up against.  Their main complaint after passing:  No one will hire me because I dont have any experience.  Requests from doctors for externs dropped to zero.  Some office managers refused to hire any student because of the same story:  He never taught me that in class.  In reality, that was not true and the office managers knew better. 

THis is a hard and unforgiving profession.  It is not meant for everyone and finally, you want to be a part of it, you have to be ready with the right mental attitude, the proper training, and you have to have a passion for it.  It is not a replacement profession because you dont like what you are doing now.  It is not a babysitting profession and not a tupperware party.   

[Steve Verno]

slide your credit/debit card in the slot on the side of your computer, then you can post

[Steve Verno]

There is nothing stopping you from taking an online class offered by an association.

[Pay_My_Claims]

........and this is why we suffer so much in this business 

[Andy]

All well said and true

Sadly we have people that want coding and billing.  Our livelihood is cell phone, text, twitter, so they dont want to take the time to learn the right way and its their money, so they want it now (JG Wentworth commercial). We have shortcut people.  Some say I dont need to go to school.  I can teach myself.  I'll get someone to give me a practice test for free so I can pass a certifying test to get myself a shopping cart of initials and if i cant do it, Ill have someone on a forum do it for me.   

Some want everything on a silver platter and like on Survivor, they lounge at the beach and dont want to build shelter, get food or water.  Its gimmie, gimmie.  Those of us who are dinosaurs dont mind helping but the word is help and help has many limitations.  As it is written in the ancient scrolls, if you go to the well too many times it will dry up. 

We can never forget Newtons Third Law.  If you have 2 cookies, make sure you have lots of milk.  (Actually, its for every action, you have an equal and opposite reaction).  You become an expert and make fewer mistakes when you take the time and do things the right way. 

I am 100% agree of your idea. As I am a biller in China, I have no chance to join a medical billing school. The only way for me to learn is the internet. But the internet is far more than enough. I am already one of the best billers here. But we are still making mistakes. 

[Steve Verno]

All well said and true

Sadly we have people that want coding and billing.  Our livelihood is cell phone, text, twitter, so they dont want to take the time to learn the right way and its their money, so they want it now (JG Wentworth commercial). We have shortcut people.  Some say I dont need to go to school.  I can teach myself.  I'll get someone to give me a practice test for free so I can pass a certifying test to get myself a shopping cart of initials and if i cant do it, Ill have someone on a forum do it for me.   

Some want everything on a silver platter and like on Survivor, they lounge at the beach and dont want to build shelter, get food or water.  Its gimmie, gimmie.  Those of us who are dinosaurs dont mind helping but the word is help and help has many limitations.  As it is written in the ancient scrolls, if you go to the well too many times it will dry up. 

We can never forget Newtons Third Law.  If you have 2 cookies, make sure you have lots of milk.  (Actually, its for every action, you have an equal and opposite reaction).  You become an expert and make fewer mistakes when you take the time and do things the right way. 

[AndrewC]

its a simple forumla....attitude reflects leadership. if i care, they care!

[AndrewC]

Steve,

So true...

I started approx 10 years ago for an institution here on LI. Entry level positions for college kids. I watched the turn over increases and mistakes mount. 

The best thing I ever did was start my own company. I control the hiring, get people who care...

Imagine what caring actually does for a company when people are in it for more than just cashing a check!

Andrew

[Steve Verno]

I was doing some thinking as I went on my walk.  I had a few e-mails asking me for names of providers who would be looking for at-home billers.

Medical Billing IS a profession
Medical Billing IS NOT a get rich quick profession.
Medical Billing IS very demanding.
Medical Billing IS NOT working for an hour, in between TV shows.
Medical Billing IS complex
Medical Billing IS NOT A replacement job if you are bored with your current job.

If you want to describe medical billing in one word, it is passionate.  

Medical Billing is like a bag of potatoe chips or pistachio nuts.  
Once you start, you have to finish it.  

Medical Billing demands perfection.
Medical Billing demands completion.
Medical Billing demands dedication.

If anyone wishes to enter the profesion, they must undergo the proper training and then set realistic goals.  

Doctors and most office managers dont really understand medical billing.  Only a trained biller understands billing.

In Medical Billing if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.