Medical billers assume a vital role in a medical office by overseeing the entire billing process. The Medical Billing Training teaches you how to perform billing tasks in any type of health care setting, from completing claim forms to billing insurance companies for payment of medical services. Join a medical office team and ensure that doctors get paid accurately and fast! Learn from the comfort of your home.
More doctors nationwide are choosing to contract out or outsource their medical billing needs. This means that professionals training today have even more options to build a solid
medical billing career! As a medical billing professional, you will typically provide services to specialty physician groups and primary care practices and process Medicare, Medicaid and private health insurance claims - and working with a third-party billing company is no different.
The Department of Health and Human Services defines third party billing companies as "providing a valuable service to providers and suppliers who seek out their help in submitting claims correctly and efficiently. These firms vary greatly, performing a wide variety of services from simply formatting claims for submission to Medicare and private insurance companies to managing the entire 'business end' of provider practices."
In addition to seeing that health care providers get paid for their services, billing professionals who work in a third-party billing setting usually offer a wide range of functions. In fact, in this career, you will perform many of the same extensive duties as an in-house medical biller:
- Manage patient data - demographic and incurred charges
- Prepare insurance claims
- Follow up on unpaid claims
- Post payments
- Bill patients for deductibles and co-insurance
- And more
Third party billing companies have a long and storied history, but larger-sized billing companies did not become more commonplace until the 1980s when it was required that hospital-based physicians' services be billed separately. Today, according to statistics by the Healthcare Billing and Management Association (HBMA) third party medical billing companies employ nearly 20,000 people nationwide and process more than 17 million claims per month.
Partnering with a third-party billing company can help health care providers increase cash flow and productivity, as well as enable them to concentrate on health care services, not on collecting bills. This means that as a medical biller, you have many options to create a solid future in the health care industry. Joining a third party billing company is yet another way to apply your
medical billing training and create the medical billing career you've always wanted.
(Source: Houston Business Journal, Thora Qaddumi)
Labels: Medical Billing Career, medical billing training
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Short-Term Training Prepares You for a CareerTraining for a medical billing career is quick. Most medical billing programs don't exceed 18 months and often you can finish your training much sooner depending on the amount of time you dedicate to your studies. This means you can get career-ready skills and be ready for a career quicker than if you attend a traditional two or four-year college.
2.
Opportunity for Employment GrowthThe Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment of billing and posting clerks will increase by 15 percent, faster than the average for all occupations through 2018. An increase in the number of medical transactions will create a greater medical billing need. It's a great way to join the healthcare industry in a non-clinical type career.
3.
Solid Earning PotentialDid you know that according to the BLS, the median wage of medical billers was $30,950 in May 2008? In fact, the highest 10 percent earned more than $44,560 that same year. Salary is dependent on a variety of factors, such as geographic location, number of hours worked, etc. However, the facts show that medical billers can earn a solid income.
4.
Abundance of Career OpportunitiesAs a professional medical biller, you have the option to work in a many different settings. Any health care organization that provides medical services will have a need for medical billing services. Grow your career in physician offices, hospitals, clinics, outpatient surgery centers, rehabilitation centers, and much more. Additionally, you can realize increased career opportunities if you diversify your skills - learn medical coding or electronic health management.
5.
Flexible Work ScheduleAs a medical biller, you'll work in a pleasant and comfortable office environment. While most medical billers work a 40-hour week, a percentage of these professionals work part time, meaning that you can easily balance work and family. Also, some employers may offer flex, evening or weekend hours, so you can create a working schedule that fits with your busy life.
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When it comes to the practice of medical billing, precision is absolutely paramount to ensuring that payment from claims submitted to insurance companies, or respective administration entities, is received by the doctor or other licensed health care provider who provided the service. Most medical billing professionals are required to perform a myriad of duties that include managing healthcare billing as well as processing, altering and resubmitting claims while adhering to the most current regulations and policies in the industry. Even the most experienced and well-trained in the field are prone to the possibility of human error, which can end up being extremely costly to the healthcare provider. This is why the use of electronic medical billing has been rapidly gaining in popularity throughout the medical field.
By incorporating the use of software, those who work in medical billing can increase their precision in tracking a range of functions - from keeping tabs on patient demographics, appointments and diagnoses, to gathering and keeping track of billing information and insurance payments, scheduling, and generating reports. In addition to significantly reducing the chance for human error, the use of an electronic medical billing system generally offers substantial savings in time and money, as it makes sure that every patient bill is paid and all accounts received are kept up to date.
The majority of electronic billing systems for the medical industry require that the user sticks with the sections detailed in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which emphasize improved security standards, ANSI billing formats, etc. It has been found that the use of the correct electronic medical billing software within a company assists in and facilitates a smooth work flow. And, since the software gives employees better access to personal details and time schedules, it's likely that customers and patients will be satisfied as well. Insurers also benefit, since they are able to receive payments at a faster rate - often in less than half the time it used to take.
When looking for electronic medical billing software, be sure to select the system that will work best for your particular organization. And don't hesitate to ask for assistance from the vendor regarding features and which one will be best suited for the company. Also, you might want to inquire as to whether a sample account could be provided on a trial basis, and they may have a sample CD available for you to take. Once all of the questions have been answered to your satisfaction, you will be able to make an informed decision as to which one to choose.
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As documentation linking oral health and overall health of the human body continues to build, more and more dental practices are recognizing the value of filing medical claims for many of their procedures. While this knowledge leads to more opportunities for filing claims with medical carriers, it also requires dental practices to learn how to do it.
Incorporating medical billing in dental practices has turned out to be a win-win situation for everyone. Patients are going forward with treatment, doctors are being paid, and satisfied patients are eagerly referring their friends and family. No doubt, a dental office will enjoy the rewards that come from happy, patients, profit stability, and a team that will receive compliments on a daily basis.
Here is a current list of some dental procedures that can be filed with medical carriers:
- Trauma procedures
- Medically necessary oral surgical, laser, and periodontal procedures
- Medically necessary implant, endodontic, and prosthodontist procedures
- Appliances to treat sleep apnea
- Screening to detect oral cancer
- Medically necessary exams and x-rays, including CT scans, associated with any of the procedures listed above
In fact, staff members at dental offices have been amazed at the number of cases that meet the criteria for filing a medical claim. While some similarities exist between preparing a dental claim and a medical claim, such as patient demographics and insurance demographic sections, there are also some significant differences, such as in coding systems. For instance, medical carriers ask for more than just a procedure code, which is all that is required by dental carriers. Medical carriers also require the reason (which is the patient's diagnosis) why the particular procedure was done. Therefore, medical necessity is probably the most important element of successful dental-medical cross coding.
Dental practices that choose to implement a dental-medical cross-coding system will undoubtedly experience a positive impact on their day-to-day operation. Patients will certainly appreciate the fact that you are willing to help them obtain medical benefits… and word of mouth is one of the most effective marketing tools that exists in any service business.
(Source: Dentistry IQ)
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You've finished your
medical billing education and are ready to look for work. What happens if potential employers require that you have experience? As with other career fields, medical billing jobs often list experience as a prerequisite for employment. As a recent graduate, what can you do? Consider these tips:
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Maximize your education: You have medical billing training under your belt, now consider complementing your education with additional skills. Maybe take a medical billing course so you can offer two valuable services. Or enroll in Electronic Health Records (EHR) or Health Information Management (HIM) and be prepared for the transition to digital records. Whatever you choose, additional education can set you apart in the eyes of employers.
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Get certified: Certification is a great way to show employers that you are serious about your career. Become a Certified Medical Billing Specialist® and add valuable credentials to your resume - demonstrate that you have a high level of knowledge. Being certified means that you have passed a rigorous exam. Employers will value your dedication and expertise!
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Join professional associations: Show you are serious, goal oriented and motivated to succeed by becoming a member of medical billing associations. It's an ideal way to network and find jobs. Plus, you'll benefit from being informed about your career field.
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Start your career in a lower-level job: You might have trained to become a medical biller, but you may have to start your career in a different capacity to get your foot in the door. If you find that medical billing jobs require experience, you can build your experience level in the records department, as a clerk or assistant, or at the front desk of a medical office. Your career will benefit from learning medical billing from the ground up.
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Apply for an internship: An internship can provide you with the invaluable opportunity to get real-world experience. It's an ideal way to build your experience level while working in an actual medical billing setting. Contact a local hospital or doctor's office and find out if there are internships available.
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Customize your resume: Create a strong resume that maximizes your strengths. Demonstrate what you can offer employers - i.e. maybe you scored an "A" on every exam in your medical billing course or completed an internship that provided valuable hands-on experience. Emphasize your strengths so employers can easily see what you have to offer.
Ready to start your
medical billing career? By implementing the steps above, you can maximize your opportunities by taking action. Going the extra mile, such as becoming certified or completing an internship, can set you apart from other job seekers. When a potential jobs lists experience as a requirement, you'll be prepared and ready to bring extra skills to the table.
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As the Medical Association of Billers (MAB) conducts its 2010 Medical Billing and Coding Salary Survey, it is interesting to take a look back at the 2004 survey and view some of the results. Will this year's results widely differ from six years ago? The results will be published on the MAB website after the January 31, 2010 deadline.
The survey is designed to help establish industry-wide billing and coding standards by compiling statistics based on data of current industry professionals. The results are divided into 6 regions - North East (NE), North Central (NC), North West (NW), South East (SE), South Central (SC), and South West (SW).
Click here to view the full 2004 survey results.
Here's some information from the 2004 Medical Billing Salary and Statistics Survey:
Of the respondents:14.4% were Certified Billers
19.2% were Certified Coders
40% use a Superbill
50.4% review their codes annually
62.4% use current coding manuals
43.2% use some practice management software
34.4% use some coding software
46.4% verify insurance prior to the patient seeing the provider
70.4% collect patient co-pays before the office visit, 17.6% collect after and 12% bill the patients for their co-pays.
The percentage of offices billing electronically by region is:NW - 50%
NC - 67%
NE - 68%
SW - 68%
SC - 77%
SE - 85%
Billers generate claims:NW - 0% daily, 100% individually, 0% weekly
NC - 33% daily, 67% individually, 0% weekly
NE - 33% daily, 53% individually, 14% weekly
SW - 14% daily, 68% individually, 18% weekly
SC - 38% daily, 62% individually, 0% weekly
SE - 19% daily, 69% individually, 12% weekly
The length of time on average before insurance carriers are billed:0-3 days - 85%
4-7 days - 10%
8-15 days - 3 %
16-30 days - 2%
On average, people working in a provider's office make:NW - $15-25 75%, $46-50 25%
NC - $15-25 83%, $26-35 17%, $36-45 2%, over $60 7%
NE - $15-25 78%, $26-35 13%, $36-45 2%, over $60 7%
SW - $15-25 82%, $26-35 5%, $36-45 9%, over $60 4%
SC - $15-25 81%, $26-35 12%, $36-45 7%
SE - $15-25 88%, $26-35 8%, over 60 4%
(Source: www.physicianswebsite.com)
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The Commonwealth Fund states that in 2007, 72 million Americans either experienced problems paying medical bills or accrued medical debt. Billing errors are often at the root of this problem, creating medical bills that patients can't afford. Interpreting a hospital bill can be complicated and reviewing it line-by-line can be time-consuming and overwhelming.
It pays off to be informed. There are medical billers, medical coders, doctors and other health care professionals involved in each hospital stay. Miscommunication on any part can lead to mistakes. What can you do? Start by following these tips:
1. Plan ahead if possible - If your hospital stay is planned, make sure you double check your coverage before your hospital stay. This will enable you to verify the cost of any procedures and the amounts that will be covered.
2. Don't leave the hospital without an itemized bill - Once you're discharged, it is harder to obtain, so make sure you have it in your hand before you leave.
3. Keep track of everything - It is important for you to know who is treating you and exactly what they are doing. Make sure you ask questions and take names. Note: if you are unable to keep track of this information, have a spouse, family member or friend do it for you.
4. Don't immediately pay the bill - Make sure you take the time to carefully go over the bill and understand what the charges are for. Once you pay the bill, it will be harder to re-coup your money if there are mistakes.
5. Make the hospital accountable - Don’t let the hospital ignore the erroneous charges and assure you that your insurance company will pay for it. Mistakes are mistakes and the hospital needs to correct errors.
Did you know that your medical billing courses and related experience prepare you to undertake better in medical billing? Click here to learn about 7 Helpful tips to become a medical biller.Labels: health care professional, medical biller, medical coder
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