A medical biller is a person who completes paperwork and submits it to insurance agencies for compensation. You can be a medical biller who is employed as a regular employee by a medical professional, or can be an independent contractor and offer your services through a medical billing small business. There are numerous ways to become a medical biller, but it can be accomplished in a week.
Instructions
Become a Medical Biller in a Week
1. Acquire the required references that you will need to become a medical biller. First is a medical dictionary. Merriam-Webster and Mosby offer medical dictionaries for under $30. Second is a medical coding reference book. A guide to medical billing can also be useful, especially if you don't have any medical billing experience. "The Guide to Medical Billing and Coding" is a good textbook to use to develop your basic building codes. A medical claims practice book could also be a useful reference.
2. Buy medical billing software for your business. PowerCoder and AltaPoint are two of the more commonly used software programs used by medical billers. Since you want to be up and running in a week, you will also want to buy a video/DVD guide/course for the software program you buy. Take notes and draw up a how-to guide for your business. At this point you will also want to practice using your medical billing software. Learn set up a new account, code different procedures and submit a bill to an insurance agency. Make sure you run through any tutorials that come with the software.
3. Set up your medical billing business. You will want to buy professional liability insurance, buy office supplies and set up your office. You will also want to develop fliers, business cards and other promotional materials. Your city may require small businesses to have a business license. They are usually less than $100 and take only a few minutes to get.
4. Send out your flyers and ask for referrals. You can attract new clients by offering a free trial offer. For example, you can offer to process the first 10 insurance claims for free. This will not only provide you with experience, but it will give potential clients the chance to see how good you are at your job. It is important that you provide superior service during these trials because it will impact repeat business, as well as increase the amount of referral business that you get.
5. Practice, practice, practice. Medical billing is not difficult once you master the basic steps. However, mastering these steps, such as finding codes, entering data and processing claims, will take some practice. Expect to devote about 40 to 50 hours during this week studying your materials and practicing on your medical billing software. By the end of the week you will have your business set up, you will know bill insurance companies for medical procedures, and you will have your promotional materials out in your market.
