|
|
|
Medical Billing Overview
 |
|
| Enroll Now | Medical Billing Training | View Course Syllabus | Also tell me about Coding...
What is Medical Billing?
Medical billing is the practice of submitting claims to Insurance companies or various government entities in order to receive payment for services provided to a patient by a medical doctor or other licensed health care provider. Medical billers usually work away from the public eye in the claims processing office, or in the billing department of a medical office, clinic or hospital. Many well trained and experienced billers set up their own home-based businesses.
What is a Medical Biller?
Medical billers are important members of the medical office team. Their vast knowledge, flexibility, and skill comes into play each time a patient is seen by a provider, a claim is coded, billed, and processed. Somebody has to do all that and keep track of what was done and abide by all the rules involved in the process. The medical billing career offers challenges, rewarding experiences, and good pay. People who pay attention to detail and have good organizational skills do very well in this business. Typing or data entry, bookkeeping knowledge, computer knowledge and people skills enjoy this profession.
Training Process:
The medical biller's training must be extensive enough to insure that the individual may assume and various responsibilities and duties involved. The Meditec system has proven to be very effective over the 39 years it has been available. It is used extensively by providers to train their in-house staff, both existing and those in the mill to become hired.
Billing Experts:
Medical billers are experts in the medical billing and coding process. They function as medical reimbursement consultants to medical practices to help them become more efficient. As you will quickly realize, the medical biller is seen as a patient's advocate and regarded as a healthcare provider's key to getting paid!
Certification:
Medical billers and coders enjoy an important role where they work, whether as employed staff members, or working from a home based business or as independent consultants. The government wants all coders of Medicare claims to be credentialed and certified. Yet, the National Inpatient Coder survey of 1999 showed that only a little over half of those involved are certified. With Meditec’s program, you will be able to reply “yes,” when employers ask: "Are you certified?". It's easier than you might think.
Biller Income:
Medical billers also are proficient in financial analysis, workflow and utilization of software, collections, insurance claim submission and management, patient and electronic medical records (EMR) management, HIPAA compliance, health insurance rules, insurance fraud issues, networking, marketing, customer services and many other related areas. The high demand on the job market allows medical billing and coding specialists to earn competitive wages. Medical billers and coders are compensated according to their level of training, experience, skills, and how effectively these skills are used. Salary.com reports that the average annual salary range for Medical billers and coders is between $33,370 and $41,5061.
Opportunity for Advancement:
With the advent of computers it has become possible to efficiently manage large amounts of claims, as well as several individual or group practices. Knowledge of the process makes it possible to provide consulting services, practice management and billing services, and even segments of the field, such as electronic claims filing. It is a rewarding career potential for those with the education and business skills to rise within their own organization or venture into home-based businesses.
What kind of people are attracted to this profession?
People who:
- Enjoy health care and medicine, but don’t like the actual delivery of service
- Understand medical language and the numbers used to represent virtually everything done in medicine
- Are detail-oriented and meticulous about rules
- Know how to use computers and software on a daily basis and how to research for answers to problems
- Like helping people but enjoy working independently out of the public eye
- Are capable of setting up and running their own home business
Where do billers work?
Medical billing and coding specialists work for practicing physicians and licensed healthcare practitioners in small to large group practices, dental offices, pharmacies, nursing homes, medical care facilities and clinics, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, insurance companies, health maintenance organizations (HMO's), and health data organizations, and those who persevere often work from home
What other occupations might work with billing?
Other specialties closely related to the medical billing profession:
- Coding specialists
- Patient account representatives
- Discharge planners
- Health Insurance Specialists
- Practice managers
- Claims analysts, processors, reviewers (both for providers and insurance companies)
- Collectors (also a good home-based business)
Occupational Outlook For Medical Billers
Bureau of Labor Statistics (US Department of Labor) projects that medical information and claims processing will continue to grow much faster than other occupations throughout the year 2014. With the ageing of America, more and more elderly enter the need for medical services, so the sheer numbers are staggering. Also, because of the ever-increasing rules and regulations, and the need for precisely adapting to them, even the smallest medical offices and clinics are looking for professionals skilled medical billers are sought like never before. The opportunities in medical billing and coding are excellent!!!
Questions?
|
|
|
|
