Negotiate and Arrange for Payment Between the Involved Parties
A lot can happen at a doctor’s office between the time a patient arrives to the time they leave. With extensive paperwork both entering and leaving the facility at all times, it can create a large and complex system of information that needs to be managed in order to be successful.
Although this may seem like an easy process, the intricate three-tier system between the patient, healthcare provider and insurance company can make the process extremely challenging. Even more so when you identify that healthcare can encompass anything from outpatient facilities, physical therapists, physicians and even emergency rooms.
Typically, it takes a medical billing specialist to facilitate this process - negotiate and arrange for payment between the involved parties.
Medical Billing Specialist Job Description
More specifically, as a medical billing specialist, you will work with the patient to make credit arrangements or collect payments from those with delinquent bills. Additionally, you will be required to communicate with insurance providers, submit claims as well as process denied claims and appeals.
In some instances, you might be needed to code, transcribe, diagnose records, and change patients’ accounts into a standardized format. Other duties may include answering patients’ questions, examining and reviewing claims as well as reviewing patients and medical records.
Keys to Success as a Medical Billing Specialist
1. Social Skills
A medical billing specialist may be part of larger medical billing team or the sole billing professional in the facility. In any case, this position requires you to communicate well with co-workers in a friendly and professional manner. At times, you will have to call doctors or nurses to discuss specific procedures or to clarify details in a patient’s medical record.
Additionally, you may also have to communicate with your supervisor about billing issues or discrepancies. Therefore, social skills are a must-have for you to perform your job to the best of your ability.
2. Technical Knowledge
Working as a medical biller does not require you to be a tech whizz. However, it is imperative to have an in-depth understanding of medical billing software and revenue cycle management (RCM). You will also need to be familiar with both institutional and hospital coding and billing. This will help you to work fast and efficiently.
3. Detail-Oriented
Keen attention to detail is a crucial skill in this profession. While it’s unrealistic to memorize every single potential medical code (thousands exist), medical billers must know where and how to find commonly used codes for their practice.
4. Other Important Qualities
In this and most other medical professions, honesty, integrity, strong ethics, data entry skills, time management, and strong moral code are must-have skills.
What is a Medical Billers Salary?
According to 2017 BLS Statistics, a medical biller can earn anywhere between $25,810 and $64,610. Here some of the highest-paying fields for billing specialists:
Offices of physicians $34, 250
Nursing care facilities $36,500
Administrative and support services $40,590
Hospitals (private, local, and state) $42,090
Professional, scientific, and technical services $42,420
Salary is determined primarily by years of experience, geographic location, industry, and the number of hours worked. For instance, in some facilities that run round the clock, you may be required to work overtime, evening, overnight, or weekend shifts. In this case, you can expect to earn higher wages.
If you possess the above qualities and the salary sound like something you want to take home every year, look no further. This is the ideal career for you. Contact Performance Personnel to discuss our wide selection of medical billing jobs in the state of Florida.