A medical billing career can be a rewarding career choice if you’d like to work from home. In this article, you’ll learn about the education and training requirements, the earnings potential, and the duties of a medical biller. Working from home as a medical coder or biller is also possible.
Working From Home as a Medical Biller or Coder
If you want to work from home, consider becoming a medical biller or coder. There are many advantages to working from home. You can avoid the commute, but you can work around your schedule. Working from home can also be advantageous if you have children or a pet. In addition, you can work around your daily chores.
One of the benefits of working as a medical biller or coder is that you can work at your own pace. Most medical billers and coders work Monday-Friday, but some companies allow flexible schedules, which means you can choose your hours and take your time. You can also enjoy benefits like health insurance, extra time off, and paid vacation. You can enjoy a flexible schedule while doing something you love.
Working from home also allows you to avoid the physical demands of working at a traditional office. There is no commute and no need to have a dedicated office space set up by your employer. This can be beneficial for people with disabilities. It also provides flexibility for people with family responsibilities and summer vacations.
Earning Potential
Earning potential in medical billing and coding is high. However, these positions require specialized training and formal certification, which is not a prerequisite for entry-level jobs. Individual employers may also require post-secondary education, such as an associate degree. If you’re interested in becoming a medical coder or billing specialist to begin a career in medical billing & coding, you should take the time to obtain the appropriate training and certification.
Medical billers and coders can earn an average of $62,270 per year. However, salaries vary widely by location. In 2015, the top-paying metropolitan areas were Newark, New Jersey, and San Jose-Santa Clara, California. Other high-paying metro areas included Oakland, San Francisco, and Silver Spring.
To be a medical coder, you should understand the various diseases and diagnoses to interpret and bill for these conditions correctly. It would help if you also understood the proper medical terminology and the appropriate codes used to represent those diseases and conditions. Moreover, the process of denial management requires some additional training.
Education Requirements
Before pursuing a career in medical billing and coding, you must complete the necessary education requirements. First, you should choose a school accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM). This accrediting agency ensures that programs are designed to prepare students for a career in the field. Some schools require students to take the ACT or SAT, while others accept high school diplomas.
Many medical billers have earned a post-secondary or vocational degree. During their education, they take courses related to medical terminology, computer systems, statistics, communication skills, and health information technology. The website of a medical billing and coding association can provide you with more information about educational programs in your area. Certification in medical billing and coding is highly desirable, and many employers prefer to hire certified individuals.
If you have a bachelor’s degree, you can apply to a wider range of positions in health care. In addition to a bachelor’s degree, you may also need to complete coursework in health care administration or related areas. You may also need to take standardized tests, complete essay questions, and pass a few admissions staff interviews. In addition, some schools require you to take in-field work experience.
Job Duties
Medical billing specialists perform a variety of tasks. They document the amount owed for medical services and procedures, prepare and submit claims, and follow up on payments. They must also be knowledgeable about the various insurance policies. The job also requires an excellent level of communication. The duties of a medical billing specialist often involve working with patients to determine the most favorable payment plan.
Job duties in medical billing and coding differ widely depending on the employer. Many small medical offices hire the same person to perform both functions, but larger facilities may separate the two roles. Both tasks require knowledge of the medical codes (CPT codes, ICD-10 codes, and the International Classification of Diseases) and thorough knowledge of facility coding systems.
Medical billing requires strong judgment and data analysis skills. Those applying for this position should also know billing software and medical insurance policies. In addition, they should be able to work with people of all levels of experience. Finally, the medical billing profession requires the use of computers and good communication skills.
