Medical Billing Course

Medical billing and medical coding are two major fields that you could consider if you are hoping for a good career in the medical field. The first thing is to acquire knowledge in this field and various specialization options available that could take make your career bright and secure. Medical billing salary scale varies based on the hospital, business, or clinic for which you work.

In medical billing field, you can specialize in either medical coding or medical billing. Some people opt to specialize in both the fields and are called medical insurance specialists. The other name for medical biller is Certified Medical Billing Specialist. The average medical billing salary is around $12 to $13 for an hour. However, it necessitates you to have a minimum experience of one year to make this demand. As your experience increases, naturally, the salary goes up.

In addition to having experience in the medical billing field, college education could be an added advantage. However, college education specifically on medical billing and coding field is the best option for aspirants in medical billing field. It is also a good strategy to undergo special training courses related to medical billing.

Medical Coding Course

Keep in mind that you can find numerous online courses related to medical billing. The course structure and fee may vary according to various online service providers. You can acquire the details of the course structure fee and enrollment details from their respective websites. However, before you join an online training program, it is advised that you compare the programs from various online training sessions, before making the choice. It is also necessary to find out whether the online training website has sufficient accreditation.

Now, before you opt for the course, keep in mind that not all the courses recommended by the institute or online trainers might be necessary for the job. Pursue courses and classes keeping this in mind. In addition, you get to study a lot during the job. Therefore, do a thorough research on what exactly you need to study for landing the job.

Keep in mind that all hospitals and clinics have positions open for medical billers and medical coders. Hence, it is a good strategy to meet some of the Medical Billing Specialists in the hospitals in your area. Also, try to get in touch with the local clinics, insurance companies and hospitals to gain a better idea regarding medical billing services.

A Medical Billing Services company provides the billing and reimbursement of fees for medical and healthcare services provided to patients. A Medical Billing Services Company processes and sends the claim to an insurance company. They follow up on claims, communicate with patients and insurance companies about claims that are denied or pending. A Medical Billing Service sends statements to the patient and turns past due accounts over to a collection agency. A Medical Billing Service does not manage the practice. A Medical Billing Specialist submits coded claims and statements. They use CPT and ICD9 coding to appeal denied down-coded or incorrect claims which can get complicated.

Medical Billing Specialists will organize bills and statements, check for errors, negotiate with collection agencies and speak to patients about their insurance coverage. They can spend hours on the phone speaking to insurance companies. A Medical Billing Specialist will bill the claims electronically or complete the CMS 1500(HCFA). They will have knowledge of insurance guidelines including Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Motor Vehicle and Workers’ Compensation. A Medical Billing Services company has to be HIPAA compliant.

When a healthcare physician provides medical services to a patient, reimbursement is required. The Medical Biller collects the monies due. After each appointment they review the encounter forms or super bill and the patient record to find what services were provided. They will compare the doctor’s notes to the encounter form or super bill to confirm the correct codes for the services provided. They will check the insurance coverage and make sure they are billing not only the insurance company for the correct procedures, but the patient for the correct co-pay and deductibles. They will then prepare the invoice and submit the claim to the clearing house.

Once the claim has been sent, the Medical Billing Service will be responsible for collection of accounts receivables, co-payments, denials, appeals, secondary claims and the collections for past due accounts.

A very important issue is the communication between the Medical Office and the Medical Billing Services Company. The Medical Office has to make sure that all billing correspondence and checks are forwarded to the Billing Service. If the billing service does not have the proper paperwork they can waste valuable time and effort following up on claims that have already been paid and not forwarded to them. They also need to have the pertinent information to process the claim correctly. If they do not have the proper paperwork including the patient record, doctors notes or completed encounter form the claims processing may be delayed. A solution to this problem could be a separate P.O. Box for the Billing Service, or a lock box.

Medical billing is a good option for those looking to build a career in the healthcare industry. In this job, people get to work within the field, but they do not have to deal directly with patients. It is a great job to have, especially for those who have solid organizational skills.

Here are the steps involved in becoming a medical billing specialist.

First,you need to get a degree or certification. Employers expect applicants to have a basic knowledge of the medical billing process. Although a degree is not required, it is still an ideal way to get a good understanding on how medical procedures work. If that route is not taken, people can earn a certificate instead. These certificates will show employers that extensive training has already taken place. There are numerous places that award these, which include academic institutions.

If youÔÇÖre opting for a certificate program, do make sure it is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CHAIIM). YouÔÇÖll need to take an exam at the end of the course to be certified. A score that is passing is required before any certification will be awarded.

If youÔÇÖre not careful about the program you choose and opt for an unrecognized one, youÔÇÖll not be permitted to take the American Health Information Management Association exam. You need to pass this exam to be a registered health information technician ÔÇô quite an important criterion when you embark on that job hunt..

Another way to get a foot in the door is to work as a secretary in a medical office. YouÔÇÖll gain relevant work experience, learn about the medical field youÔÇÖre in and understand what takes place in the administrative setting.

After general training, medical billing specialists can expand their horizons by specializing in a particular field. For instance, you can choose to specialize in cancer management. Typically, specialty programs will take two years to complete. This option will lead to better pay and more valuable opportunities, including supervisory positions