1. Introduce Yourself Here :-)

[PNKBNY]

Hi my name is Crystal and I am just wondering if someone can answer a question for me. Would an Associates in Health care Administration/ Medical Records be a degree I would need to be a medical biller/coder? Would this degree make me qualified for the job? I take Claims Preparation I: Clean bill of health, Claims Preparation II: footing the Bills, the Language of Healthcare, Health and diseases: understanding Pathos of Pathology,  Patient Records: keeping it real, and Computerizing Medical data: the Paper chase goes techno. I am just wanting to make sure that I am taking the correct courses and not going in the wrong direction. Are there other courses I may need to take or certificate programs?

Any help and suggestions would be great thank you all in advance. 

[jbhicks]

Hello

My name is Joy Hicks.  I provide free medical office advice thru (Note: self-referred advertisement removed by forum admin).  Visit and sign up for my free weekly newsletter.

[jjohnson0021]

I'm Joe.  I'm an entrepreneur interested in the healthcare pricing and the medical billing industry. 

[mai2fernandez]

Hi,

I am xxxxxxx.  We have just established an AAPC accredited Coding and Billing School in Manila, Philippines.

Thank you

NOTE, NAME AND  EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED FOR PRIVACY ISSUES AND THIS FORUM DOES NOT ALLOW UNAPPROVED ADVERTISING. 

[ADHumphrey78]

Hello my name is Antonio and I have been a Medical Billing Rep for 15 years.  I signed up for this site because I have been attempting to obtain Medical Billing work from home and have had trouble doing such on my own.  If anyone can help me with finding at home work I would be greatly appreciative.  I am now in New York, NY.   Thanks for taking the time to read my post.

[jsranchmn]

Hi I'm Susan. I'm a recovering medical biller.  Insurance carriers still make me mad!

I don't think I am new. I just think I don't use billing forums much anymore. If I did this looks top-notch! I was here in 2010 looking for billing software. B4 that, can't remember. I had to reregister then! I think our discussion was deleted due to (understandable) forum rules. Found that! (Software) Happy!

My husband and I started a sole practitioner business in 2010; doing very well. Seriously, why didn't we do that sooner!? I am the administrative side. Have overseen billing/ administrative since....well can't remember. Doesn't seem to matter anymore!

Recently, an unnamed toddler spilled her juice all over the DSM-IV-TR which inspired me to shop for coding manuals. I have dedicated deal sites but not professional based ones. 

Looking for coupons/ discounts. Is that something you share here?

[Danni R.]

Tersinga,
yours is the exact kind of post I personally find extremely rewarding. To help someone to make an informed decision on where to go next is the kind of post I like the most, especially since I never can respond to any posts about ICD-9 codes and EOBs.

Steve is right. He makes a good point where he compares a $75,000 dollar program with a $600 dollar course. You have to know him to understand the point he is making, but I am certain you get it. I am 51 years now. I was a medical assistant in my late 30s - early 40s. I enjoyed my medical assistant work tremendously and I was very good at it. I also taught the medical assistant program at Porter & Chester Vocational Training Institution, and Branford Hall. I enjoyed that also. However, today at 51, going on 52 I would very likely opt for the medical coding and billing program, only because it can get very, very, very busy on the clinical floors (back office) and the front office (admin and reception) can also become quite stressful. In the back, you will be on your feet CONSTANTLY, don't expect to ever sit, and in the front you will catch just about every cold that walks through the door. Not my cup of tea at this age anymore at this age... although it was okay back then.

Today, I am a web designer and developer. Just like you, I can easily sit for hours and hours at my computer desk doing my coding (HTML web coding, not coding and billing) and never get tired. I LOVE my job from a small corner desk in my bedroom. Through my work, I have been able to stay in touch with the medical assistant profession through my websites and forums.

I have also learned a lot about medical coding and billing here in this forum. I have told Steve many times that the more I learn the more I am beginning to like this occupation. I don't intend to go back to school, my plan is to retire in 10-15 years from this job, but if I had to, I would definitely consider a medical billing and coding program, because I TRULY see the value in it and the rewards. Since I do like computer work, am very detailed oriented and able to pick out bugs and errors in faulty HTML code, a task that required tremendous focus and concentration, and I truly care about people, and I know how to approach them (customer service skills), and solve problem... all traits I believe would be a perfect fit for the medical coding and billing profession. Nothing feels better than doing hard, hard work and then see it actually work - just like Steve said about a rejected claim. I think that is just AWESOME.

Good luck.

[Steve Verno]

Im 58 years old about to be 59.  ive had a heart attack with open heart surgery and a stroke.  Im a medical biller and medical coder.

Our profession knows no age limit.  It can be very mentally draining but, if you have the desire and dedication, it can be rewarding.  There is a huge feeling you get when you get an EOB that denies the claim and then after your hard work, a check comes in.  This is a profession that is not for someone who gives up.  

To succeed you need the right training from the right person.  A $75,000 course may not be as good as a $600 class.  You want your instructor to know exactly what they are doing, and someone who can answer your questions.  When you complete your training, get your certification.  Doctors like to see the certificate showing you went the extra step and they want to be secure that you know what you are doing. Some doctors have been burned by people that they trusted to do the job or by someone who tricked themselves into the billing or coding position and they didnt know what they were doing, so now they demand someone with training, certification and experience.   You must always remember that this isnt just the doctor that you are working for.  You are also ensuring the paycheck of the rest of the doctors staff and you are also involving the patient. Think of the patient as your mother and how would you treat your own mother.  

I see it this way, if I can do it, so can you.

Much success to you


steve verno
Certified Medical Billing Specialist - Medical Association of Billers
Certified Medical Billing Specialist, On Line Instructor - Medical Association of Billers
Certified Multispecialty Coding Specialist - Professional Association of healthcare Coding Specialists
Certified Multispecialty Coding Specialist - Professional Association of Healthcare Coding Specialists
Certified Practice Medical Coding Specialist - Physician Office Managers Association of America
Professor-Medical Coding and Billing - Everest University (Medical Leave)

[Tersinga]

     I am at the very beginning stages of a career change. I am a 55 year old woman with a bookkeeping background who took lots of time off to raise a family (20 years). Now my bookkeeping skills are outdated and since I have to go back to school anyway, I thought I might change my career. I'm interested in the health field. My biggest dilema right now is whether to go into Medical Assisting and work with the patients or Medical Billing where I would get to sit down at a desk once in a while.

     My age is a big factor in this decision. I don't have a ton of energy but I am in great health and have a warm and nurturing personality. I'm great with details too and I like to work at a desk, on the computer as well as with people. Both careers would suit me.

     Is anyone in their 50's here? I would love to hear from you as to the pros and cons of both careers for this age group. Or does it depend on personality more than age?

[Danni R.]

This would be a great class research topic.... check local newspaper wanted ads, and online job banks, such as Monster.com, Indeed, or Careerbuilder.com and see if medical coders and biller jobs are listed, then see how many there are, and monitor how many NEW ones are added daily, then sum up your results and findings and present it to the class.

[colbob123]

Welcome

We do NOT code anything in any form.  Coding demands review of the medical record documentation.  We do not assist students with their homework or test questions.

Hi, I'm just about finished with my medical billing specialist course and I'm looking forward to learning even more from you folks.

[Steve Verno]

Welcome

We do NOT code anything in any form.  Coding demands review of the medical record documentation.  We do not assist students with their homework or test questions.

[ticks_100]

Hello, Looking forward to share lot of information related to medical coding with you guys.

Thanks

[mizzygirl]

Hello everyone, i am new to this forum. Stumbled at this site while looking for medical billing forums. I am going to take Medical Billing course on Oct 24.

[Danni R.]

my name is Cheryl. I just enrolled in Medical Term. at my community college. I am just wondering is this a good career to get into. It seems like everything is going automated. Any advice will be appriciated.

Even if everything was to go automated computers and machines don't run and maintain themselves. There will always be jobs for people to oversee and run even the most complex automated processes.