Medical Billing And Coding Job
Is It Right For You?

Thinking about training for a medical billing and coding job but just not sure if you'd like the work? I may be able to help you decide.

Here is a job description for a medical biller position right off of CareerBuilder.com:

Description

Medical Billing Clerk Job Duties:

* Greeting and registering patients * Requesting and updating medical records * Completing insurance forms * Scheduling hospital admissions and outpatient procedures * Carrying out general office tasks * Drafting letters and reports * Coding & Billing Patient Services * Maintaining files of medical records and correspondence * Health Data Analysis * Insurance Claims Analysis * Records Technologist * Clinical Coding Specialist * Patient Information Coordinator

Requirements

- High School Diploma- Industry Certifications: CBCS Certified Billing & Coding Specialist OR CPC Certified Professional Coder

Skills/QualificationsLegal Compliance, Quality Focus, Productivity, Time Management, Organization, Attention to Detail, Documentation Skills, Analyzing Information, General Math Skills, Resolving Conflict, Litigation

Sound like something you think you could do?

Before you answer, let me point a few things out:

Medical Billing and Coding Certification

Legally, you don't have to be certified for billing but it will help you get a job so do it anyway.

Certified Medical Billing Specialist is offered by the Medical Association of Billers.

Certification is required for coding.

The American Health Information Management Association offers the most common coding credential the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS).

CPC or Certified Professional Coder is given by the American Academy of Professional Coders.

The CCS is a must. The others are optional but be aware: The more of those little letters you have after your name, the more employable you are.

Medical billing and coding certification is reassuring to prospective employers. It proves you've demonstrated a certain level of competence in the work.

You will need to take medical billing and coding classes in order to prepare for the certification tests.

The Dark Side Of Medical Billing And Coding Careers

You will sometimes find yourself dealing with uncooperative people. Patients who give you incorrect information. Or who give you factual information but won't give it to you in a timely fashion. Medical claims come with deadlines, you know.

You will often find yourself dealing with an insurance company that is simply trying to weasel out of paying a legitimate claim.

You will have to be on top of your claims to make sure you don't leave them a loophole to wiggle through.

You will need to be possessed of a fairly aggressive personality to make the b******s pay!

This is not a job for wimps.

Here's another thing to consider:

This is a web site about work from home opportunities. So I'm assuming you're looking for home based employment opportunities.

There are home medical billing jobs to be had. But they usually go to experienced billers. As a newbie, you will almost certainly have to work in a hospital or doctor's office for two or three years before anyone would hire you to work from home.

If this isn't how you want to spend the next couple of years, maybe medical transcription would be a better career choice for you.

Home based medical transcriptionist jobs are available to both new and experienced MTs.

Still not sure?

I'll tell you what. Sign up for this free newsletter.

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You could also go over to Career Step. They've got free online demos of both their medical billing and coding program, and their medical transcription training course. They will also give you access to the student forums. You'll be able to listen in on what their students are saying about them.

That should help you decide if a medical billing and coding job is right for you.

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