If you have a sense of compassion, the determination to offer your clients quality healthcare, and the desire to help others in the most effective way possible for an affordable price, then you are qualified for a career as a medical biller and coder.
If these apply to you, this article will help guide you through what needs to be done to get started.
But first, let’s get to the basics of How to Work from Home as a Medical Biller and Coder.
Table of Contents
What you will be doing is:
1. Taking medical bills [and other billing] from clients and coding them into codes [which is how you will charge the client]
2. Making sure that the bills are being entered correctly by computer into a program that calculates and returns patient balances, as well as charging hours worked by each employee in a way that is transparent to the general public (if applicable).
3. Making sure that the federal and state governments are receiving their funds when they are due by going through paycheck records of the clients and setting up projections, then adjusting payments as necessary
What skills do you need?
This is only a rough guideline. If you have previous coding experience in another language, update that at least once a year to stay in line with the changing medical coding needs.
It’s also essential for medical billing basics to be updated yearly. If you have enough education to be a medical biller and coder, you already know this though
You need a couple of basic things in the medical field.
1. If you want to get into coding, knowledge of the medical billing and coding industry is essential but not the most important. You will still need to know how to read medical charts; understanding medical coding would be beneficial.
You could also check out a couple of links on healthcare training [which will assist in your training]. If you are working as a medical biller, then an understanding of medical billing is necessary, but knowledge of coding is recommended.
2. You will be required to have a working familiarity with computers. You won’t need to be an expert, but you need to know how to type, use Microsoft Word, navigate the internet, and even utilize accounting programs.
It’s not a requirement that you be an expert in any of these fields, but if you aren’t familiar with them, it could work against you when looking for a job.
What tools are required to Work from Home as a Medical Biller and Coder?
You must have a working knowledge of computers and word-processing programs. Medical billing and coding are becoming more and more paperless, but there are still times when you will have to print out forms, invoices, and other documents.
How much can you earn as a Medical Biller and Coder?
Work from home medical coding salary depending on your credentials. You can earn between $15 and $22 an hour as a medical biller. You must obtain all available certificates quickly since each credential adds to your earnings potential.
As a medical biller and coder working for someone else [who provides the needed software], you will also be eligible for benefits such as paid vacations, healthcare, and retirement pay.
Approximately 25% of people in this field are self-employed.
How much does it cost to train?
You will need to budget for training since getting your credentials usually takes six months to one year. You can also take classes at local colleges for two-thirds of the cost of a classroom-based course. There are also self-study courses available from local companies.
You should consider getting your certification with an accredited vocational school rather than taking classes alone. You can also choose to attend a program in a nearby city.
The cost of materials is estimated at $400, including books and software. Some states may require you to purchase certain continuing education credits to remain licensed.
What are the educational requirements?
Most training programs require a high school diploma or equivalent, although some vocational or technical schools have associate degrees. Local colleges, vocational schools, and hospitals have courses in medical billing.
You can also attend a community college and obtain a two-year healthcare management or medical office administration degree.
Training usually takes six to one year, but it’s possible to complete the course in fewer months if you are self-disciplined.
What is the job outlook?
The outlook for new jobs is expected to remain the same, with employment growth of approximately 3%.
To be successful, you will have to be persistent. You must be comfortable with computers, familiar with various accounting programs and bills, and able to communicate effectively.
There is a great deal of competition for both entry-level and more specialized positions.
FAQ
What is Medical Billing?
Medical billing is preparing and submitting bills for services rendered by providers to health plans, patients, or third-party payers.
The biller reviews the record to determine the charge for each procedure code and prepares and submits bills to payers electronically or manually via mail.
What is Medical Coding?
Medical coding assigns numeric or alphanumeric characters to billed diagnoses, procedures, services, and health insurance. The coder assigns a code to a system based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10-CM) codes.
What is RAC?
RAC stands for Referral Authorization Center. It is a provider or hospital office where the patient can be directed to obtain authorization from their insurance carrier or a third-party payer.
Patients are referred to the RAC for prior approval, referrals, and pre-certifications for non-emergency procedures requiring special permission from most insurance carriers.
What is the difference between Revenue Cycle Management and Medical Billing?
The medical billing process is part of the revenue cycle management cycle. Revenue cycle management involves all steps and techniques needed to collect money from patients and third-party payers.
This includes processing claims, provider payments, patient statements, and collection activities.
What is the difference between Medical Biller and Coder?
Medical billers and coders have the same job duties, but their knowledge and background differ. The medical coder uses a coding manual to assign codes to diagnoses and procedures. They also give a code for the place of service, such as inpatient, outpatient, etc.
The medical biller uses different principles and sources to determine charges for each procedure code. They also know insurance company guidelines for payment amounts for each procedure code.
What percentage of medical coders work from home?
As per fortherecordmag More than 72% of coders work from the hospital. Of these, around 50% were fully work-from-home employees.
How long must you attend school to be a medical coder or biller?
The medical coding course lasts 150 hours. It can take 2-8 months to complete, depending on the certification or specialization chosen. The course covers basic medical science concepts and diagnostic coding in specific domains.
A medical coding certificate program can be completed in as little as nine months. An associate degree in medical code or health information technology can take 2 years.
For Medical Coding certification, please visit:
https://www.aapc.com/ or https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certifications-overview/
Are Medical Billing and coding hard?
Although it can be difficult to code and do medical billing, it is not impossible. As with many healthcare careers, being a medical coder and biller will require education. It will require hard work. It takes time to become a top medical coder and biller.
How to Work from Home as a Medical Biller and Coder Video
Conclusion – How to Work from Home as a Medical Biller and Coder
Medical billers and coders handle all the paperwork required to submit claims to health plans. They ensure that a claim is submitted promptly and that the charge is correct. This is an essential job since most patients are unaware of how much their health insurance will cover until they receive a notice from their provider.
