Within the last decade, the healthcare industry has experienced rapid changes in information technology that has created new career opportunities for students. Ten years ago, medical billing and coding online courses didn't exist. This new career opportunity opens many doors for students interested in breaking into the field.
What do medical billers do?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical billers organize and manage health information data from healthcare providers.1 When patients come for appointments and receive any kind of treatment or diagnoses, their medical reports are handed off from physicians to billers for processing. Billers enter the data using codes and submit claims to payers for health services. The role of a biller involves ensuring the quality, accuracy and security of paper and digital systems. However, with the increased adoption of electronic health records, the career has experienced a major shift towards digital documentation. Their role is integral to maintaining patients' medical and treatment histories for use in the healthcare setting.
What kind of responsibilities are involved?
Although they may differ from group to group, there are some common responsibilities and duties that billers might have. According to All Things Medical Billing, these may include entering patient demographic and insurance information into medical claim software, using diagnosis codes to document patients, researching and correcting rejected and denied claims, and billing patients for their portions of health services.2Additionally, medical billers might be required to interpret and process the Explanation of Benefits, which is a document that explains the specific services that were covered by a patient's insurance company on their behalf. Because of the job's requirements for thorough documentation, there are certain personality traits that are ideal for the position. Here's a look at some desirable skills, which may influence an individual's potential for a successful medical billing career.
Detail oriented
Due to the nature of handling patient records, Carrington College recommended that the ideal medical billing worker be focused on minute details when recording health information.3 Although some aspects of healthcare may be basic services, there might be instances where intricate diagnoses are given to patients with complex medical conditions. Medical billers are responsible for making sure that the data is managed efficiently and accurately, putting a lot of importance on organization. The workflow of the organization might hinge on the biller's ability to quickly and thoroughly filter through information and get it processed for claims submittal. Due to the amount of data bring passed through the facility, the ability to stay focused may be essential to the position.
Organized
In a given day, medical billers might handle dozens of patient records and claims from doctors. The work itself is complex, making the ability to stay organized important to an employee's efficiency at the job. MB Guide explained that depending on the organization, there may be hundreds to thousands of patients whose claims are processed through the facility.4 Keeping track of the claims is essential to ensuring that patients receive their insurance reimbursements on time. A good practice to develop is tracking all work through to-do lists and spreadsheets. They could be the key to keeping work clearly organized and improving the workflow of the entire organization. While some practice management programs can assist billers, staying on top of their own production might facilitate their success.
Analytical
In addition to attention to details, Carrington also said that medical billers need a thorough understanding of medical diagnoses and be able to transfer that information into the correct codes for documentation.5 This means they might require a simple grasp of medical terminology as well as human anatomy. Being able to think critically on-the-fly may be one of the best traits for a medical biller to have. The technical aspects of medical billing might make great use of your ability to leverage technology in the workplace. A medical billing degree might provide you with the chance to participate in a new and exciting career that opens many avenues for work. Companies might be in need of knowledgeable billers ready to contribute and have a positive impact on the workflow capabilities of the organization.
1http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm
2http://www.all-things-medical-billing.com/medical-billing-specialist.html
3http://carrington.edu/blog/administrative/5-traits-needed-work-medical-billing-coding/
4http://www.mb-guide.org/career-in-medical-coding.html
5http://carrington.edu/blog/administrative/5-traits-needed-work-medical-billing-coding/