If you are interested in medical coding and billing or you want to advance your current medical coding or billing career, you can consider obtaining certification. Professionals who hold certifications have more benefits, such as increased salary and job opportunities. Depending on the level of education you’re seeking, certification programs…
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How Do I Start a Home-Based Medical Billing Business?
The idea of being self-employed is very empowering. But as with any new business, you should consider some things before launching your business. You need to understand your options and how a home-based work will fit with your goals and needs. The first step to the right decision is learning…
Continue ReadingHCPCS Modifiers
HCPCS modifiers work similarly to CPT modifiers. These code sets are so similar that you can often use modifiers from one code set with another. For instance, the -LT modifier in the HCPCS code set is often used in the CPT codes to describe a bilateral procedure that was only…
Continue ReadingDemand for Medical Billers and Coders
The demand for medical coders and billers is high in today’s market. You don’t need a degree for either position, however, you need to obtain professional certification from the AAPC or the American Health Information Management Association. The AAPC also provides certifications for professional medical billers on their website, which…
Continue ReadingHow Can I Get a Medical Billing and Coding Internship?
Finishing an internship while taking courses in medical billing or coding is an excellent option for students. It allows them to gain knowledge and experience necessary for the new job once they get the certification. It’s important to remember that most internships are unpaid. Their payoff is the experience they…
Continue ReadingTry Medical Coding
The following scenarios, coding examples, and medical reports are theoretical. Some were simplified for space while others are included only as teaching examples. Example 1 Let’s begin with a quite straightforward visit to a doctor. So, the patient is in his late 20s and visits this doctor for the first…
Continue ReadingUnderstanding Commercial Health Insurance
Commercial health insurance is issued by private companies and non-governmental organizations. Government-sponsored health insurance is usually available for specific groups of people, such as senior citizens, disabled people, people with low income, current military members and their families, veterans, members of Native-American tribes federally recognized. Government-sponsored insurance includes Medicare, Medicaid,…
Continue ReadingMedicare, Medicaid and Billing
Just like billing private payers, billers should send claims to Medicaid and Medicare. These are similar claims to those they send to private third-party payers. There are some notable exceptions, though. Since these programs are high-volume government payers, billers should send claims directly to Medicaid and Medicare. It means that…
Continue ReadingUnderstanding Health Insurance
Health insurance is one of the essential investments we make. Injuries, diseases, and other medical incidents can be extremely expensive if they require hospital visits or surgery. Securing health coverage is the only way to be sure you aren’t stuck with enormous medical bills that you have to cover out-of-pocket….
Continue ReadingHow Long Does It Take to Get Certified as a Medical Biller?
If you want to improve your knowledge of medical billing, learn new skills, and advance your career, you can consider investing some time and money into earning your medical billing certification. Below, you will find more information on how to prepare for the exam and how long it takes to…
Continue ReadingGeneral Preparation and Test Strategies for the CPC Exam
There are many preparation materials for the Certified Professional Coding (CPC) exam provided by the AAPC. They are available on their website, but they are relatively expensive. Everything you need to know to pass the CPC exam can be learned at a community college or university. The AAPC training materials…
Continue ReadingThe Medical Billing Process
Similar to medical coding, medical billing process might seem complicated and large, but in reality, it’s a process that includes eight simple steps. These steps are: Registration. The setting of financial responsibility for the visit. Check-in and check-out of the patient. Ensuring coding and billing compliance. Preparing and sending claims….
Continue ReadingMedical Billing Certification
Certification isn’t a strict requirement, but many medical billing professionals find that having a certification opens up more job opportunities, promotes significant career advancement, and a higher salary. There are various certifications offered by different organizations. In this article, we will explore the two major certifying agencies in medical billing….
Continue ReadingCPT Modifiers
Medical services and procedures are often complex, so there is a need for additional information when coding. CPT modifiers serve like modifiers in a language, providing additional information about the procedure. In a language, a modifier describes the who, or what, or why, or how, or where of a situation….
Continue ReadingUnderstanding Medical Bills
Medical billing can be an extremely complicated process. According to a 2016 public opinion survey by Copatient, approximately 72% of Americans are confused by their medical bills, while 94% have received bills that they found “too expensive”. Even with insurance or Medicare coverage, you may find unexpected fees because of…
Continue ReadingIntroduction to Medical Billing
Procedure and diagnosis codes are used to track the spread of diseases and the efficiency of a certain procedure. However, mainly, in the US, they are used in the reimbursement process. In other terms, codes are useful for accurate and efficient billing. Why We Bill When you go to a…
Continue ReadingIs Medical Billing and Coding a Career Where I Can Work from Home?
Many people wonder if they can work as a medical coder remotely. So is it possible to complete the job and submit it online? Remote coding offers a great component for many people, which is flexible work hours. To work remotely as a medical coder, you need a high-speed Internet…
Continue ReadingICD-10-CM
ICD-10-CM is an alphanumeric code, containing seven characters. Every code starts with a letter followed by two numbers. The first three characters indicate the category, which describes the general type of disease or injury. Next, there is a decimal point and the subcategory. They are followed by one or two…
Continue ReadingHow Do I Study for the CPC Exam?
A person shared that they completed their medical coding and billing program but never went through to take a test for certification. They have been working for a year at a doctor’s office and completed their internship there as a receptionist. The candidate said they really wanted to pursue a…
Continue ReadingHow Long Does it Take to Complete a Billing and Coding Program?
Those who are interested in becoming a medical coder can take a look at this guide to see what coding diploma, certifications, and associate degree programs are available. You will find out about the difference between the programs, so you can pick the way most suitable to your needs and…
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