Medical Biller Career Training in New York City

Understanding the Medical Billing and Coding...

2007-10-25T11:16:00.000-07:00

...needs of the office to which you are assigned, and making sure insurance claims are processed in an organized and proficient manner will not only reduce the burden on a doctor , but also improve patient care. With a primary responsibility to enter the details of medical diagnosis, treatments and procedures into various and sophisticated databases, the medical coder also maintains the necessary updates to the patient's medical records. This information, after being forwarded to the appropriate insurance provider, allows for proper reimbursement to the practicing physician.

Due to the access of knowledge of such detailed information, the medical biller is who oftentimes the one who determines, regarding reimbursement to the office, to whom the invoice is sent for a particular procedure. And, it is considered an acceptable industry practice for the medical biller to talk directly to either the insurance provider or Medicare to assist in maximizing insurance benefits on behalf of the patient.

To find out more about upcoming classes for medical billing and coding at Manhattan Institute, please call 212-564-1234

Working as a Medical Biller...

2007-10-23T08:38:00.000-07:00

...requires knowledge of and access to the patients' medical records as it pertains to health information for insurance purposes. Medical billers, also known as coding specialists, assign a specific code to each medical diagnosis or procedure, and while using a software program, determine the amount of reimbursement that will be due to the hospital or doctor's office.

There are several resources available to help the medical coder/biller properly code insurance forms ie., specialized software programs or technical classification manuals. These tools provide information on several hundred diagnosis, which then refer the medical coder to the proper code for reimbursement from either Medicare or private health insurance provider. Besides using these industry specific tools, the medical biller must maintain open communication with the physician, any other assigned health care professional and the insurance provider to make certain that diagnosis is clarified and additional requests for information receive an adequate and timely response.

In just 3 weeks, you can complete training to become a medical biller at Manhattan Institute. For more info, or to find out how to register for the next class, please call 212-564-1234.

The Medical Biller course of study...

2007-08-29T17:02:00.000-07:00

...at Manhattan Institute involves the comprehensive study of medical billing and coding with a an optional class schedule that includes: Part time evenings - Mon, Tues, Wed & Thurs - 6 weeks Part time weekends - Sat & Sun - 6 weeks

To prepare for an exciting career as a medical biller while training at Manhattan Institute your course of study includes:

1) An all-inclusive study of medical insurance claims processing - entering insurance data/forms on computer, forms follow up processing, group claims forms, individual claims forms, medicaid, group hospital insurance, individual hospital insurance, other types of hospitalization, disability and worker's compensation insurance.

2) Medical Billing and Coding of medical records - creation and review of documented medical records and assignment of specific codes to a particular, as well as the prescribed treatment.

3) CHAMPUS - Civilian Health and Medical Program* of the Unformed Services (in the US) - The CHAMPUS program is a federally funded medical program that provides healthcare to military personnel and their dependents.

*This program was recently renamed as TRICARE, however CHAMPUS is still an acceptable term.

For more information, please call 212-564-1234 and speak to one of the friendly team members at Manhattan Institute. Someone is available to answer your questions 7 days a week and to make sure you are satisfied with your chosen course of study.

How About Working as a Secretary/Office Manager/Medical Biller

2007-07-30T15:02:00.000-07:00

If you are highly organized, like to multi-task and are computer literate, work in a small medical office or with a single practitioner, mat be a good way to start your new career as a medical biller. Licensed professionals who are just starting out, or those with very specialized practices ie:
chiropractor , dermatologist, or cosmetic/plastic surgeon. These types of office/professional settings would be an ideal environment for the knowledgable and well trained medical biller, who has excellent communication skills and understanding of patient sensitivities.

Besides the assumed duties of processing insurance claims and maintaining billing records, other duties might also include: patient scheduling, checking patients in/out, answering multiple phone lines, and other detailed office work to help keep office running both smooth and efficiently.

When considering a career as a medical biller, visit the Manhattan Institute website, or call 212-564-1234, to find out about flexible class schedules an additional career opportunities once your training is complete.

The Professional vs The Amatuer

2007-06-27T06:05:00.000-07:00

The first step to making yourself a professional is to decide you ARE a professional.

Are you a professional?

1) A professional learns every aspect of the job. An amateur skips the learning process whenever possible.

2) A professional carefully discovers what is needed and wanted. An amateur assumes what others need and want.

3) A professional looks, speaks and dresses like a professional. An amateur is sloppy in appearance and speech.

4) A professional keeps his or her work area clean and orderly. An amateur has a messy, confused or dirty work area.

5) A professional is focused and clear-headed. An amateur is confused and distracted.

6) A professional does not let mistakes slide by. An amateur ignores or hides mistakes.

7) A professional jumps into difficult assignments. An amateur tries to get out of difficult work.

8) A professional completes projects as soon as possible. An amateur is surrounded by unfinished work piled on unfinished work.

9) A professional remains level-headed and optimistic. An amateur gets upset and assumes the worst.

10) A professional handles money and accounts very carefully. An amateur is sloppy with money or accounts.

Let Additional Training Open More Doors for You

2007-06-03T16:20:00.001-07:00

Since the health field already has your attention and by now you are probably aware that it is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in today’s economy, why not increase your chances for advancement and cross train as a phlebotomy technician. The professional medical biller who has successfully cross trained as a phlebotomy technician would be seen as a greater asset to their employer and also more confident when seeking career progress or employment growth.

In our fast moving world, many patients have the ability to walk into a testing facility and, with a properly authorized physician’s referral, request the necessary blood work required for additional medical diagnosis. As a health facility staff member with the knowledge of being both a medical biller and a phlebotomy technician, one could easily assume the role of not only assisting the patient with the required blood work, but also provide an additional level of service, to both the facility and the patient, by making sure that the patient is reimbursed and/or the facility receives payment in a timely manner.

Flexible schedules – day, evening, and weekend courses - provided at Manhattan Institute make enhancing your skill set entirely possible. To find out more about additional courses available at Manhattan Institute, please click here.

As a Medical Biller, I Really Help Solve Problems – James W

2007-04-26T11:02:00.000-07:00

For anyone who doesn’t know, growing up in the South Bronx ain’t easy. Me and my dad worked hard for my two little sisters but since he didn’t go to college, the chances of me getting there weren’t too good, especially since he needed me to help take care of our girls. Dad always kept our bellies full and our clothes clean but he was not around that much because working as a security guard kept him away from us. That was a good life for him, he always had good stories to make us laugh and wore a keystone cop outfit most of the time. But I wanted to see how I could make money and really help my family. My sisters really enjoyed school, always got good grades, and needed me to show them that maybe they could get more out of life.

After I graduated high school, I started working as a janitor, helping the super in my building. He got very sick so I got his job full time. The pay was weekly and in cash, I didn’t have to ride the subway to get to work, and I was always around for the family, I felt I was working too hard and not getting paid. After walking my sisters to school one day, I stopped at the library and noticed that there were a few computers free. I always had dreams of working in Manhattan and wearing nice clothes to work. I always saw myself as someone could solve problems because of how I helped my dad with my sisters and I always maintained good relationships with our relatives. I saw this cute girl sitting at a computer and saw her looking at the www.manhattaninstitute.com website. Wanting to impress her, I got on a computer and checked it out. Of all the classes being offered, I thought the medical biller would be the job for me. This would be my chance to work in an office, talk to new people, and get paid. I get the doctors paid by handling the insurance companies and the doctors pay me.

I got so excited about making the choice to start a new career that I didn’t see the girl when she left, if she had stayed I would have thanked her for letting me look over her shoulder. After my three week training at www.manhattaninstitute.com I was prepared and ready to start looking for a new job. After about a month, I was interviewed for a position in a dental office in midtown, not far from my school. This is so much better than working as a super and my sisters enjoy helping me pick out a nice tie to wear to work each morning. Our family life is changing and I enjoy my new career.

The Role of the Medical Biller

2007-03-27T03:52:00.000-07:00

Primarily employed in doctors' offices, clinics, insurance companies or private billing agencies, the medical is an essential team player when the tasks involve obtaining insurance referrals, processing insurance claims forms, billing third party payers and/or patients, tracking insurance claims, and sometimes writing appeals on claims.

As the medical biller's main responsibility is to make sure that all claim forms are prepared accordance to the necessary guidelines, thus allowing for maximum reimbursement, an independent worker with strong people skills can find a career path in most any medical facility, hospital, doctors' office or insurance agency. Some of the specialty medical practices that look to work with medical billers include: dermatology, oncology, behavioral/mental health, pediatrics, and dental, just to name a few.

A medical billing specialist who displays a warm and welcoming attitude and a professional demeanor will also provide additional value to the patient and therefore be a responsible and complimentary asset to any health care team.

Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist/CMRS

2007-02-21T08:05:00.000-08:00

Awarded by the certifying board of the American Medical Billing Association, the Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist exam is a voluntary, (not a requirement by the federal government for a medical biller to be certified in order to practice medical billing) national credential for the medical billing profession.

Skilled and certified in facilitating the claims paying process from the time the service is rendered until the bill is actually paid, the CMRS is knowledgeable in the following:

International Classification of Diseases Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) is used to code and classify morbidity data from the inpatient and outpatient records, physician offices, and most National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) surveys. Review list of current ICD-9_CM Codes

CPT4 - CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) is a the standard list of codes and descriptions by which patients are treated and billed by their physicians. See list of commonly used CPT4 Codes

HCPCS Coding - Healthcare Common procedure Coding System

HIPAA - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

OIG Compliance - Office of the Attorney General

The role of the medical biller is crucial to the health care provider's daily business operations. Other proficiencies acquired by the medical billing specialist include: medical terminology, insurance claims and billing, appeals and denials, fraud and abuse, information and web technology, reimbursement, and much more.
To find out more about becoming a Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist, please click here

Medical Office Related Careers

2007-01-02T19:22:00.000-08:00

Well trained and highly specialized medical office employees are increasingly taking on high profile roles in the health care industry. Health care school graduates, in these in-demand positions, not only reduce a burden on doctors, they also improve patient care. By allowing doctors more time to focus on patient care, the medical office employee enables maximum care to patients while reducing costs for government programs and insurance providers. Understanding the importance for qualified health care employees, many professional medical offices will consider allowing students to start work before completing there course of study and, therefore, staff can move up within a practice as they earn new certifications.

Medical Coding & Billing

With the responsibility of entering the details of medical treatments in to very sophisticated databases, the medical coder transfers procedural notes from the physician to the patient's medical record. An update to date patient medical record then allows insurance companies to reimburse physicians in a timely manner.

The data generated by the medical coder is also useful to the medical biller who uses this information to determine how and to whom to invoice, sometimes multiple providers, for each procedure. In many cases, the medical coder must negotiate directly with Medicare to help maximize insurance coverage for the patient.

Click here to find out more about Medical Office Related Careers

Nature of the work of a Medical Biller

2006-11-11T20:39:00.001-08:00

Every time a patient receives health care, a record is maintained of the observations, medical or surgical interventions, and treatment outcomes. This record includes information that the patient provides concerning his or her symptoms and medical history, the results of examinations, reports of x rays and laboratory tests, diagnoses, and treatment plans. Medical records and health information technicians organize and evaluate these records for completeness and accuracy.

Technicians assemble patients health information. They make sure that patients initial medical charts are complete, that all forms are completed and properly identified and signed, and that all necessary information is in the computer. They regularly communicate with physicians and other health care professionals to clarify diagnoses or to obtain additional information.

Some medical records and health information technicians specialize in coding patients medical information for insurance purposes. Technicians who specialize in coding are called health information coders, medical record coders, coder/abstractors, or coding specialists. These technicians assign a code to each diagnosis and procedure. They consult classification manuals and also rely on their knowledge of disease processes. Technicians then use computer software to assign the patient to one of several hundred diagnosis-related groups, or DRGs. The DRG determines the amount for which the hospital will be reimbursed if the patient is covered by Medicare or other insurance programs using the DRG system. In addition to the DRG system, coders use other coding systems, such as those geared toward ambulatory settings or long-term care.