Medical Billing Job Requirements

When you get started, you really need to become familiar with the various codes you'll be using to process medical claims. The codes are used for pretty much everything, such as procedures, diagnoses, and health professions. You'll also have to understand the minute details of medical billing: account receivable collections from insurance companies, reviewing processed medical bills, etc.

Most of these things can be learned and will be second nature as you gain more experience. If you are willing to put in the time to learn medical bill review properly, it can be a huge financial opportunity for you. Once you have worked for a billing company for a while, the most lucrative opportunity is to set up your own business and work for yourself. You will no longer be paid by the hour, and get paid based on the amount of bills you can process.

External Resources:
Medical Billing and Coding Guide
Medical Coding Job Responsibilities

Medical Billing: What you'll be doing

Medical billing from home presents many benefits for a person with experience in the medical billing and accounting field or is willing to learn. The first thing is you no longer have to sit in traffic on your morning commute to work, sit in an isolated cubicle for hours on end, and be bossed around by someone all day. If you choose to work independently, you will not have to report to anyone but you. You become the boss.

How exactly does medical billing work? Here is a basic overview of what you'll be doing:

- Generate medically coded invoices
- Communicate with patients
- Work with claim adjusters
- Communicate and work with insurance providers

It is a necessity to develop a substantial understanding of all the various billing codes, medical procedures, and so on.

External Resources:
Medical Billing from Home Guide
Billing and Coding Outside the Office

What do I need to know to get started?

Once you finish your medical billing course, you will be equipped with the knowledge and understanding of medical terminology and abbreviations, various insurance plans (commercial, state, federal insurance plans, etc.) communication techniques, the accounts receivable cycle (such as registering patients, accounting transactions postings, collections, insurance claim forms' completion, etc.), as well as medical billing itself.

There are some minimum requirements for medical billing and coding training:

- keyboard proficiency
- a basic understanding of Microsoft Word
- a solid command of the English language

Surprising to some people, you do need to have any health/medical care work experience. You will learn everything you need to know in your training course.

External Resources:
Billing and Coding Training
Medical Coding Training Courses