Medical Billing School Is Not The Way To Become A Medical Biller
ClaimCare Medical Billing Services has interviewed countless candidates that have just graduated from a medical billing school and coding school. As a rule, we find that the courses in a medical billing school (and coding school) add little value or knowledge to the resume of an individual with no prior medical billing experience.
Typically graduates we hire from medical billing school start in our apprenticeship program alongside individuals that have not graduated from medical billing school (i.e., they start in the exact same role as folks that have not made the investment in money or time for medical billing school).
The terminology and concepts taught in medical billing school no more prepare a person to be a full fledged medical biller than reading a book on how to drive a car prepares one for the challenges of actually driving a car - it is practice behind the wheel that is required. The academic elements can be helpful - just like supplementing practice behind the wheel with a manual on safe driving makes sense. Unfortunately, however, this is only true if the academic material is accurate. I have found that often students have been damaged by medical billing schools that either teach incorrect medical billing concepts or leave the students with a sense that they have nothing left to learn.
Almost without exception, the best way to break into medical billing is to find a medical billing service or a physician practice that will allow you to execute basic medical billing tasks such as verifying insurance or calling on claims to find their status.
These tasks are critical to successful medical billing and they build a strong base of medical billing skills. In addition, you will earn an income while building a resume that can get you a more advanced medical billing job.
Most organizations do not have a formal apprenticeship program, but if you interview with the specific tasks outlined above in mind then you can find an entry level opportunity. This opportunity will pay you to learn about medical billing and build your resume.
Once you have a few years of real medical billing under your belt (not just the entry level tasks, but more advanced medical billing you move into as you master the entry level tasks) then you are ready to extract value not from medical billing school, but from coding classes. With the core knowledge in place you can make the most of the coding classes and will have credibility with potential employers.
So, if you want to break into the field of medical billing please consider pursuing an apprenticeship model it will serve you (and your future employer) much better than a medical billing school education.
Copyright 2008 by Carl Mays II
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