Coders with a number of years of experience may want to set up their own business from the comfort of their home. Thorough understanding of the medical coding and billing industry, as well as technical skills, high self-motivation and organizational ability, and experience will be the foundation upon which this can be achieved.
Also determination, the drive to be independent, and well respected credentials are powerful resources for success. Also, people who are practical, logical, perceptive, observant, methodical, good planners, tennacious, sound decision makers, natural team leaders, good with facts and figures, and have a reputation for firmness and a no-nonsense attitude to life can do well running their own business as an independent contractor or consultant in medical coding and billing.
Hidden Pitfalls of Taking Online Courses
With our modern society's busy schedules and lifestyles distance education over the Internet provides e-learners with the convenience, flexibility, and the ability to study anywhere, any time without being on campus.
However, just because a course is offered online and requires a fee to sign up doesn't automatically mean the program is accredited, even if the provider claims it is. Often, the certificate or diploma e-learners will receive upon successful completion of an online course is not even worth the paper it is printed on.
A Simple Word of Caution
Rule of thumb is: online courses are seldom accredited, or approved by the board of education unless they truly have met or exceed established national standards. The application process for reviews and approval is tedious and lengthy.
Online training providers, non-traditional universities, and so called virtual colleges who offer distance learning programs have different accreditation standards than brick-and-mortar universities, colleges, and vocational training institutions.
These institutions who went through the process and are approved will always have their program's accreditation status visibly posted on their website and online course catalogs.
Awareness is the Key!The Internet serves as a great information resource and education portal, but at the same time, it also is the perfect breeding ground for different types of scams.
It is important that potential students recognize this, and understand the difference between fully accredited vs. illegitimate and non-accredited programs.
If not, then the e-learner might be in for a rude awakening in the end, when after successfully completing an online course they find out they have nothing to show, and are not permitted to sit for any national certification examinations.
E-learners should be careful to choose courses that meet their individual educational needs to ensure that they don't waste their money and time.
Some just need a refresher course for personal and professional enhancement and a low cost, non-transferrable, non-accredited course will do just fine.
Others may need proper vocational training to receive a much desired promotion, or to achieve specific educational goals that will allow them advance into a new position or career.
Then it is vitally important that these individuals graduate from courses that are accredited not just by any, but by the right organization, such as, for example the U.S. Department of Education, Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), or the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
But How Can You Tell?
Web page advertisements that contain text, images, seals, and any profound sounding designations that a vocational training school and their programs are accredited containing words such as approved, accredited, accreditation pending, authorized, chartered, licensed, empowered, sponsored, recognized, and registered should be critically examined to determine whether these claims are merely common catch phrases, or the assertions are legit.
It is always prudent before joining any programs to get in touch with the provider of the courses to ask questions, and to also contact the accrediting organization to find out whether a program is truly legitimately accredited by them, and to confirm the quality of the online training courses.
Accredited Medial Coding and Billing Training in Illinois
If you live in Illinois I highly encourage you to check out the Computer Systems Institute (CSI).
Here is why: CSI offers comprehensive accredited vocational training programs that lead toward the necessary knowledge and skills to perform proficiently and successfully in a medical coding and billing job!
CSI prepares you for industry-recognized certifications. Earned credit hours can be transferred to major institutions and applied toward a desired degree. It's definitely worth taking a look!!!
Illinois CSI Campuses are located in the following communities:
Chicago
Skokie
Lombard
Gurne
Every healthcare provider, whether a medical doctor, podiatrists, dentist, or surgeon that delivers a service receives money for these services. While most of them prefer to collect payment from patients at the end of the office visit, the majority of their fees are processed by filing a claim with the patient's health insurance provider, managed care organization, or government entities.
Coding for services in healthcare is complicated and therefore employers prefer to hire trained, and often, certified individuals to ascertain that their coder is proficient and familiar with different types of insurance plans and codes, and knows how to process and submit claims electronically, and enter codes into databases. They must also be able to collect payments, make adjustments, interpret EOB's, handle denied claims, and process appeals.
Eventually, an experienced medical record coder and biller may advance into higher more interesting positions, such as a senior technician who specializes in coding, particularly in the realm of Medicare coding, or in tumor registry.
Changes to Medicare Infusion and Injection Coding
I just came across a very interesting web site that should proove to be very helpful to those working in medical coding and billing. I found it while surfing the Internet to find any new rules and important changes in coding and billing.
The article is published at Medical News today and titled: Medicare Infusion and Injection Coding/Payment Changes 2005. Here is a brief summary followed by the URL link to the web page so you can read the full article:
There are new rules and regulations that will affect the way healthcare providers code infectious diseases and reimbursement for office-based outpatient infusions and injections provided to Medicare patients.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has issued a series of new temporary "G" codes that replace current infusion codes (90780 and 90781) and other injection codes as of January 1, 2005. The 2006 CPT Manual will incorporate these G codes and make them permanent.
These new CPT codes will be published in fall of 2005. While the new infusion codes will make billing more complex, they also describe the work being performed more accurately, which should be beneficial in the long-term.
EOB Question
Today I finally received a comment from a person that was NOT a medical coder or working in the medical billing industry. The form was sent through the Medical Coding and Billing .com web site contact form by the other part of medical coding and billing, the consumer (recipient of medical services). Nice to know, that such a broad audience visits my site and finds it useful as well.
The question was: What exactly is the EOB, I mean, what do the letters stand for.
Simple: EOB is short for Explanation of Benefits which is a notification sent by the medical insurance company administrators after processing a medial insurance claim.
The EOB explains the total amount the health care provider billed for medical services, the amount paid under the insurance contract, and who was paid. Patients should keep a copy of their bills from the health care provider of medical services to compare them to the EOB.
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