Medical Coding and Billing

Education and Training Programs for Older Adults

2012-01-29T15:57:00.001-05:00

There are many older workers who are preparing for work in this increasingly competitive job market. Even though many citizens ages 50 and older acquired limited skills doing their work history, they are now being hired in skilled jobs that provide good benefits and in some cases may supplement their SSI and Medicare. Many jobs are open to them in teaching, nursing, and medical office environments.

Free Education and Training Programs for Senior Adults

What you might find is surprising is that there are many education and training programs available to the older population. Nearly 60 percent of accredited colleges or universities are granting tuition waivers for older adults. For example; there’s a Senior Adults Scholarship Program in Alabama that provides free tuition for mature citizens ages 60 and over, who are admitted into a public two-year college or university. The state of Tennessee offers tuition waivers and discounts for senior citizens. Many schools in Michigan offer tuition waivers for seniors. Bottom line is you have to check or research your particular state.

If you are a military veteran with a service connected disability, you may qualify for the Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation Program. This program allows veterans with a service connected disability of 10% of more to attend college. Tuition, fees and books are fully covered by the US Government. There’s also a monthly subsistence allowance paid; amount varies on number of dependents; however some veteran programs have limitations on taking online courses. See your Vet representative or visit www.va.gov for more information.

There are many public employment and training service programs available like the Senior Community Services Employment Program (SCSEP), website: http://www.doleta.gov/seniors/.

This program enables individuals to participate in temporary training assignments where they gain valuable on-the-job work experience and training needed to gain employment in the private sector. Again this program may vary from state to state.

If you are really looking to get back to work or retrain. Whether you want to work full-time, or part-time, one the best careers fields to enter into is the healthcare industry. Many citizens 50 and older find working as a medical office receptionist, administrative medical assistant, medical billing clerk and/or in the medical coding department of a smaller medical practice, or hospital very a rewarding job that they can keep pace with.

For those who are looking to supplement their social security income, you must check with your SSI office to find out what or if there are any limitations on income you can receive. You might be limited to working 20 hours or less a week.

Medical Billing and Coding - Medical Billing Part 1

2012-01-27T10:07:00.001-05:00

Medical billing is gaining ever increasing interest among new job seekers either shortly after graduating from high school to begin their career path or people who desire a meaningful career change or job rehab to reenter the workforce. The medical billing career has a pull on those who desire to work in the healthcare industry without providing direct patient care, such as nursing staff or medical assistants.

From: http://ping.fm/wEVlU

2012-01-27T10:04:00.001-05:00

Medical Billing and Coding - Medical Billing Part 1 http://ping.fm/Akyow

Malpractice Insurance for Medical Assistants

2012-01-24T10:48:00.001-05:00

The healthcare industry, especially doctor’s offices and medical care centers, employs an ever increasing number of medical assistants and many medical group and ambulatory care offices have become much more customer-driven when they provide services than ever in the past.

Doctors and their medical assistants must be sensitive and highly entuned to their customers and responsive and dedicated to their patients needs; however, while providing excellent services andcare medical assistants must keep abreast with various rules and regulations and be aware of any local and state laws that may pertain to them at the work plase, as to not unintentionally overstep their boundaries and scope of practice.

Just like any other service-providing individual, medical assistants can also be held liable for any mistakes or accidents that cause loss or injury in a court of law. To further protect themselves, carrying their own professional liability insurance policy can make a big difference and provide peace of mind. Professional liability insurance take on different forms and names depending on the profession. For example, in reference to medical professions it is often called malpractice insurance coverage. It is well worth the effort. Medical assistants should never assume that they cannot be sued and that the insurance rider on the docotr's malpractice insurance fully or adequately covers them, especially if they are hired on a temporary basis, or to complete their educational externship.

Medical Assistant Education, Jobs, and News

2012-01-22T15:12:00.001-05:00

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via l.wbx.me

Medical Coding's Code-Pendency With Medical Billing

2012-01-17T19:58:00.001-05:00

What is a Medical Coder?

A medical coder is not a medical biller, but medical coders need basic medical billing knowledge to competently and efficiently do their job, since both disciplines are so closely related and code-pendent (pun!)

There are over 819,000 physicians and surgeons; 2.4 million registered nurses, 77,000 occupational therapists, 182,000 physical therapists, 94,000 respiratory therapists and a plethora of other allied health professionals in the USA alone. Naturally they ALL want to get paid for their medical services and supplies provided to the public. This is where the medical coder comes into play! The medical coder gets the ball rolling by initiating the reimbursement process. The process begins by abstracting coded information from the patient's medical record into the financial system for billing.

Correct medical coding is just as crucial as correct medical billing in getting paid for services provided, otherwise, when ever a claim is not properly coded, filed, submitted, and processed it leads to denials, and this means losses for the provider. Naturally a professional business cannot prosper on losses. When medical coding firms or doctors outsource their medical coding and billing it is critical to assure the chosen individual or company is well versed in the latest coding standards and follows AHA, UHDDS, HCFA and HCHS coding guidelines, latest medical billing criteria, and uses clearinghouses to get the job done in an efficient manner.

Medical coders and well as medical billers must have the ability to read and understand handwritten physician notes and documentation and a working knowledge of at least one patient management system, along with familiarity with electronic medical records and ability to discuss and resolve claims issues with clinic staff and patients.

The close relationship between medical coding and billing is undeniable and inescapable! While they are well respected and highly regarded they often face adversities from insurance companies, such as inappropriate denials, poor payments and other obstacles and disservices to the doctors and patients that the must resolve working hand in hand with each other to coordinate their efforts. Their mutual goal is to meet patient and health insurance billing needs of doctors, clinics, hospitals, home health care service agencies, and similar businesses in the health care network. Although regarded as two different disciplines, medical coding and billing professionals work hand-in-hand to assure health care providers get paid for all procedures and materials rendered.

Online Skills Review for Medical Assistant Students

2012-01-17T13:24:00.001-05:00

Our New Medical Assistant skills review is 100 % free online and open to everybody either already working or interested in a new medical assisting career - accessible instantly, no signup required.

If you are planning a career as a new medical assistant we provide a creative look at what a medical assistant does and a glance behind the scenes of a busy medical office to help you evaluate your knowledge. While this is not intended to be a complete medical assistant course each chapter covers many important areas of medical assistant knowledge.

Our goal is to introduce you to basic concepts of the medical assistant discipline and briefly touch on fundamental skills typically encountered in a medical office, from organizational, administrative and clinical duties, infection control methods, medical record management, policies, confidentiality, consent for medical treatment, to incident reports and release of medical information. All chapters are printable as PDF with ads removed.

Creative medical assistant course review and online self study resources for new and seasoned medical assistants - Review essential skills and do simple learning exercises for self-study instantly online.

This website is not new, in fact it has been online since 2002. Initially these lessons were offered through UniversalClass.com but we have decided to make them available to everybody on the Internet. Each and every medical assistant skills review chapter highlights important responsibilities and case scenarios a new medical assistant must know and know how to handle. These lessons were initially provided at UniversalClass.com with special focus on real situations and daily medical office routines. Similar modules might be taught in formal medical assistant vocational training programs.

The goal of this series of online medical assistant skills review chapters is to provide basic concepts and theories concerning health and illness, patient care, and medical office technology and procedures. It is a basic introduction to daily medical office routines and the art of medical assisting.

Opportunities For Medical Billers Are Rife for Everybody

2012-01-08T12:02:00.001-05:00

Opportunities for Everybody and All Ages

Opportunities in the medical office exist for everybody, including late bloomers. It is not limited by age, gender, race, religion, or even certain disabilities. There is plenty of room for men and women of all ages.

From the employer's point of view, the young energetic medical biller right after high school is just as valuable as the mature and experienced professional with years of experience under her belt, as long as they have the right attitude and the drive to succeed. Each one brings special talents and skills to the office, and if they qualify medical office managers are ready to hire them.

Medical billers can work in almost any medical facility where they are supervised by the physician who hired them. Doctors and senior medical staff train, supervise and monitor their medical assistant's activities right on the job.

Where can I work as a Medical Biller?

The neat thing about being a medical biller is that the opportunities in healthcare disciplines and medical services are so wide open and varied. There are countless general and special focus areas, such as family medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics, internal, gynecology, urology, dermatology, cardiology... you name it, and you can work in so many places, from small single-provider to large group practices, to ambulatory health clinics and large regional medical centers—it's all out there and available to you in your role as a medical biller to keep the office running smoothly and efficiently.

Role of Medical Assistant As Diverse As Scrub Top Patterns

2012-01-03T12:23:00.001-05:00

No two work places in health care and medicine are the same. Medical assistants are found in small to large doctor's offices and clinics with an incredible amount of diff rent medical specialties and focal points. Some specialize in family medicine, others in pediatrics, others in geriatrics, ambulatory medicine and services, dermatology, cardiology, urology, gynecology, and many more.

The roles of these medical assistants are as diverse, colorful and versatile as the places you find them and the scrubs and uniform patterns they wear:

floral patterns and garden print
dragon flies and ladybugs
puppies and kitten paws
sun, moon, and stars
Easter bunny and Santa Claus
smiley faces and clowns

you name it!

Likewise, no two medical assistants are the same, the palette of faces, ages, genders and ethnic backgrounds match the diversity of their uniforms and tops: young, old, male, female, blond, brunette, brown and gray, curly and straight, thin, skinny, tall, big, short, certified and non-certified; the list is long. Every medical assistant has unique talents and many stories to tell. Each and every one is unique and an important member of the medical office team and their community.

The medical assistant's duties on the job encompass tasks that are equally versatile and varied. They range from registering new patients from young to old, different ethnicity and gender, verifying health insurance coverage of everybody who is registered, setting up and organizing examination rooms, scheduling appointments, collecting and processing co-payments, keeping logs and medical records organized, to directly assisting providers during a requested procedure and following up on patient calls, questions and laboratory results. The medical assistant's day are busy and never boring. The colorful scrub tops represent their the plethora of responsibilities and skills.

For those who want to communicate with other medical assistants and network with their peers can do so through the very active, open Medical Assistant Web Forum, however, the forum does not encourage, nor solicit, or request posting of job requests and recruitment advertisement. Presently available medical assistant jobs are updated daily and listed on the medical assistant jobs page.

2011-12-30T20:24:00.001-05:00

Do you Know What do Doctors Wants in a Medical Biller? http://ping.fm/GMOhg

2011-12-30T19:50:00.001-05:00

Medical Billing and Coding - Medical Billing Introduction Part 1 http://ping.fm/y6xnu

2011-12-30T19:34:00.001-05:00

Help with CO Medicaid Timely Filing http://ping.fm/x8boc

Certified Medical Assistant Professional Medical Office Team Member

2011-12-29T20:10:00.001-05:00

Working in the health care field offers a wide range of opportunities and many of these careers do not require years of formal education and training. One of these opportunities is becoming a certified medical assistant. In general, a certified medical assistant requires a high school diploma and then undergoes training to earn a medical assistant diploma. Upon graduation they chose to voluntarily take one of the different offered certification exams to earn credentials that are recognized in the medical assisting discipline, this also includes Registered Medical Assistants (RMA), who are also certifed.

Becoming a Certified Medical Assistant

Medical assisting is an excellent career choice for those who truly enjoy helping people with unique concerns. The work is gratifying as well as rewarding that goes beyond words: that's thousands of young and old people from all walks of life that you will be making a difference to, directly and indirectly, including your own. Before getting started as a certified medical assistant, there are some things that need to be considered such as your education, financial responsibilities and most importantly, your ability to work with people of all ages.

The certified medical assistant career encompasses clinical responsibilities and administrative duties in a medical office. On the clinical side you will perform duties such as taking and recording vital signs, new patient interviews and registration, providing patient education, preparing patients for their exams, assisting physician, EKG's, assisting with X-rays, using CPR when needed and ordering and maintaining supplies.

The administrative skills include front desk duties, answering phones, greeting patients, verifying medical and health insurance coverage, organizing medical and financial records, corresponding with patients and vendors, processing and coding insurance forms, accounting, billing and banking procedures, calling in prescriptions to the pharmacy, communicating with other allied health professionals and providers and being an all around professional medical office team member.

1.) Education:

Becoming a certified medical assistant will require formal training from a school for medical assistant, either ending with a medical assistant diploma or a 2 year degree in medical assisting (Associates of Science, A.S. in Medical Assisting). Once you have graduated you will then be required to pass one of the national medical assistant certification exams of your choice to earn the certified medical assistant status.

2.) Financial:

Education costs money and this can be accomplished through your own finances, or obtaining government funded education loans when enrolling in a formal medical assisting program. Normally if you cannot afford to pay tuition costs, most of the time you will qualify. These loans will cover college tuition costs, but will not cover your transportation, food, or simple school supplies. These low interest student loans typically become due 6 months after graduation and you will have to start making monthly payments until they are completely paid off.

With determination and commitment, becoming a certified medical assistant is an excellent and fulfilling career decision many have already chosen and never regretted it.

Subject: Medical Assistant Training Through ROP

2011-12-18T22:58:00.001-05:00

Someone has just posted a new coment in our Medical Assistant NET forum about joining Regional Occupation Program (ROP) for vocational training in California, where high school students are eligible to take appropriate ROP classes, including medical assisting. The discussion thread in our forum is rather extensive with lots of feedback, discussion and advice. The latest message was posted by Kat (from the ip address 66.27.143.33).

Message: Health Care Student

Hi everyone, I appreciate reading the post by "Teach" and providing her insight since I am looking into an ROP MA program (CA) to start medical assistant training in the next six weeks and will help me and my family tremendously. I need to work, have children and I know how to make sure I get the medication labels straight. I understand Lori's concerns in that discussion thread and they are valid yet, RNs are sued, doctors are sued, and MAs need to be competent too. This comes with common sense, an ablility prior to walking into the classroom. I had to pass an exam prior to my registration date. EMT's have less training than MAs. I have an MBA, and taken my RN prerequisites yet, moving to California where the clinicals are at 6:00 AM, I can not do that with children who start school at 8:00 AM. MA is my plan B to actually work in my field, and thanks again Lori for your post, and helping me understand the benefits about the MA ROP program. Affordable, fast, and efficient (for those who work hard and want to pass the exams) :). ~ Kat, SMA

ROP typically offers classes on a trimester basis, with many new courses starting throughout the year for California high school graduates and eligible adults. Job training opportunities offered are phlebotomy courses, clinical and administrative medical assisting, dental assisting, various other medical career programs, citizenship courses, High School diploma and GED courses, and more, depending on available resources and faculty at various institutions across California.

Applying for Advertised Medical Assistant Jobs

2011-12-15T19:36:00.001-05:00

http://medicalassistantprofession.com

Phlebotomist

2011-12-12T19:44:00.001-05:00

Phlebotomists are worthy of our continual never ending thanks, respect and admiration. Not only do they perform dozens of venipunctures per day with great exactness, they are also required to juggle many other jobs.

The Phlebotomist work under the direct supervision of a physician, a medical laboratory scientist, or a lead phlebotomy technician in the clinical areas of a small annexed medical office laboratory, or in a hospital, hospital laboratory, freestanding diagnostic lab, or in a blood bank and donation center.

In our lab they perform so many jobs in fact that their official title in our organization is "Patient Service Rep". I wonder how many phlebotomists among us think that this is an appropriate title?

Some phlebotomists travel to given locations to collect blood samples; for example, they may travel from house to house to collect specimens from homebound persons. After the specimen has been collected the phlebotomist labels the collection tubes and gets them ready for transport to the lab. The samples will be analyzed to help diagnose, or monitor illness and deficiencies.

Most blood tests are performed on anticoagulants whole blood, plasma, or serum. Blood specimens must be collected in the proper collection tubes and containers and in the right order of draw. The collection tubes must also be correctly labeled and promptly transported to the laboratory. Needless to say, blood specimens should be refrigerated until placed in the courier box for transport to the laboratory.

Phlebotomists in California are heavily monitored by the state and must be licensed with the California State Medical Board in order to work as part of the allied healthcare professional team.

Phlebotomists in California have several levels of licensing. Those wishing to work in phlebotomy in California must first complete an unpaid 40-hour internship where 50 successful blood draws on patients via venipuncture and 10 finger/heelsticks must be properly performed and logged. All this must be done before entering the phlebotomy career, because California regulation mandates that you cannot work as a phlebotomist without a license. This rule also applies to medical assistants and other allied health professionals with blood drawing responsibilities in the state of California.

Tough Decisions: Online Medical Assistant Program or Campus Based?

2011-12-11T23:39:00.001-05:00

http://medcareeredu.com/tough-decisions-online-medical-assistant-prog

Don't Rely On Medical Billing Forums—Documentation Is The Key

2011-12-09T19:32:00.001-05:00

All too often we receive questions regarding specific medical billing issues and matching medical codes in our forum; but that's not just our Medical Billing Forum alone, that's ANY medical coding and billing forum on the Internet is packed with questions regarding specific (CPT) codes and urgent requests for help. That way, if something goes wrong they have someone else to blame.

Medical Coding Questions Posted in a Forum

Unfortunately, this tells us that there are medical coders (and medical billers) who, quite frankly, have no clue; they are inadeqately trained, or self-trained, and when they hit a wall, they post their question in a forum in hopes to get answers or find someone (anyone!!!) to give them approval of codes they have somehow come up with themselves. This could be a student with a test question, or homework assignment, or a medical coder, or biller already working but that is in over his or her head. One example of such requests posted to our medical billing forum is asking for help with a specific CPT code. It reads:

"I bill for a rheumatologist. I am familiar with most codes that he uses but last week he gave XYZ-medication (*brand name removed - not relevant for this example) to one of his patients who had a severe drug reaction. There was considerable disruption in the office and the direct observation lasted 2 hours. The doctor wants me to bill for his observation services but I am not sure which code to use. I was thinking may be 99058 will fit the bill, but the doctor insists that the code should be time specific since he spent two hours on the patient's care. Can someone please help?"

Medical coding must never be performed without first looking at the original documentation and the final decisions regarding coding issues rest with the provider. It must be clearly understood that a forum is not an official organization, agency, or anything else that provides a final decision regarding coding or billing issues. A forum is not here to code visits, to train a visitor how to code, or to recommend which codes to select. All a forum, its members and/or guests do is provide limited guidance. Guidance is limited to what is presented by a poster, however, what is presented may, or may not be true, accurate or correct.

The CMS website, specifically at https://www.cms.gov/MLNEdWebGuide/25_EMDOC.asp states:

"Providers are responsible for the correct submission of claims and response to any remittance advice in accordance with current laws, regulations and standards."

The patient's medical record must show detailed entries as to time, who did what, when, for how long, was it the doctor who monitored the patient directly, or was it delegated to a nurse or a medical assistant, what directives were given, was emergency intervention provided, and if so, how much total direct hands on and face-to-face time from the doctor was involved? When it comes to accurate medical coding, any code selected must be:

medically necessary
documented as being rendered
the proper code for the documented services rendered.

Telling a patient to sit in the waiting room for 30 minutes before they can leave after an injection and direct face-to-face attention after an acute reaction can both be described as monitoring, but it doesn't always mean it can be billed it at a higher level.

The Doctor Makes the Final Decision

The provider knows what was done and everything must be coded as it was documented in the patient's records. A medical coder can research a subject, provide suggestions and present supporting documentation from the proper sources to to make a point, however, the final decision rests with the doctor.

Documentation is the key.

Worthless Medical Assistant Certificates and Diplomas

2011-12-08T10:24:00.001-05:00

"Is there Really Such a Thing as a Worthless Medical Assistant Certificate, or Diploma?"

Many might not know that marketing fake and worthless diplomas, certificates and degrees is a billion dollar industry - at least 800 million a year in the U.S. alone. So big is this market that various state offices, consumer protection agencies and educational websites warn people to use caution when it comes to new schools and distance education programs.

Understand the definition of certified medical assistant and the medical assistant certification process and advantages, know how to locate qualified training to earn medical assistant credentials, and the difference and benefits of various programs offered, otherwise you might wind up with a piece of paper that is not worth your money and time. Realize that fake schools and diploma mills do exist and therefore, do your research.

TSS, a medical assistant school graduate, shared with us:

I'm a real go getter and everyone in my class was really hurt when we found out we were not getting certified... I feel like our school might be "black balled" and it's hurting the good students. We did hear some companies say they would not use our school's grads any longer because of the way they performed, appearance, lack of knowledge and that was with all the programs, not just the medical ones. ~ by TSS, MA Student

According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) each year hundreds become victims of unrecognized programs and online scams offering certificates and diplomas that are not fulfilling their promise. Any aspiring medical assistant must be well informed and research different forms of formal and non-formal on-the-job medical assistant training programs and then decide for themselves which one will lead to the desired work experience, credentials and degrees they seek.

Distance Education Online vs. Traditional Classroom Instruction

2011-12-06T20:52:00.001-05:00

Many community colleges now offer medical assistant classes that are strictly web based and hybrid courses where all, or most of the required course work and instruction is done online. Our local community college, for example, offers 3-4 credit online courses in accounting, biology, algebra, medical computer applications, word processing, computer sciences, economics, English composition, pharmacology, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, certification exam prep for Health Information Technology and many more online.

The only time you see enrolled distance education students show up on campus is when they take their mid-term and final exams on paper (if required, because even that can be done online). Some schools make provisions for their students to come in once a week for an hour, or two, to review certain skills, especially if they require hands on supervision under the guidance of an instructor, such as, for example a credit hour course in phlebotomy technology, or biology lab.

Do Online Studends Fare As Well As Students Who Received Traditional Classroom Instruction?

Whether students in online or hybrid courses fare better than those in a traditional classroom is debatable. Surely, there can be certain challenges and pitfalls in both; for example, self-discipline, commitment and extra motivation to make sure you learn and understand the material is important in either setting, however, a hidden pitfall could be that you might forget to turn in all of your assignments on time without the face-to-face reminder from the instructor and without their classroom peers and face-to-face interaction with faculty some students might not have the extra motivation needed to do the independently study as necessary to excel.

Since online programs utilize the Internet and email students must have access to the Internet (which includes a computer, keyboard, browser, mouse, Internet service and electricity), and have a solid understanding of the computer to access the courses.

Possible Pitfalls When Utilizing Online Program Technologies

One form of technology distance education schools use to facilitate their programs online is the Blackboard e-education platform, to name just one of many, a technology where registered students log in with their assigned user name and password.

When taking a quiz or exam online there are a number of factors to consider, such as using a reliable computer and compatible browser, a reliable connection and having plug in programs installed such as Java(tm) software, Adobe Reader(tm), and often, running some sort of word processing program, such as Microsoft Office Word(tm). If the computer is not operating properly, or the connection is suddenly interrupted, all work could be instantly lost without being submitted and the student is locked out of the test. Often, there are time limits imposed and if a student stays on a page too long the session will time out and renders the student unable to submit the exam.

In addition, there could be an issue with accidentally hitting the Enter button, instead of the space bar or tab. This could lead to having an answer being locked in and submitted with no way to go back. Often, the Back button is disabled or causes work to be lost when utilized. When completing the test be sure to click the SUBMIT button to ensure the test is sent to your instructor. Yes, online students often even forget this.

How to Choose the Right Vocational Training Program for You

Being a smart consumer pays off when choosing vocational training programs especially online. Warning signs and program quality check points do exist... and there are many excellent educational and vocational training programs offered on the Internet. It is the dubious providers of distance and online education that crank out certificates and degrees that are considered worthless on the job market. If you obtain a degree or take a course from a shady non-accredited cyber-school you may find that the paper you receive stamped "Certificate" is not recognized by potential employers, and that the course credits may not transfer to other schools. This is where the term "diploma mill' comes to mind.

Diploma Mills Can Make The Unthinkable Real

It simply blows the mind: doctors, clergymen, police officers, teachers, federal employees, such as White House staffers, National Security Agency employees, FBI agents and a senior State Department officials purchased bogus degrees to seek employment, promotions, higher positions and better pay. Nowadays, almost anybody can become a doctor, or receive college level and advanced degrees, with almost zero effort. Even medical assistants can find gray area online medical assistant programs without any special pre-enrollment conditions, qualification screenings, or passing grade standards... for just a few hundred dollars. Cool??? Not so!

Job Search: Be Creative, Systematic and Persistent

2011-12-04T00:24:00.003-05:00

http://medcareeredu.com/job-search-be-creative-systematic-and-persist-21123

Make The Doctor See that YOU are the Best Candidate for The Job

2011-12-02T19:36:00.001-05:00

Medical assistant, phlebotomy and laboratory technician, medical billing and coding certifications are reaching a new level of recognition with employers. While taking an allied health professional certification exam remains largely voluntary here in the USA, there is definitely a big trend among employers who specifically stipulate in their job ads that a medical office position which needs to be filled requires certified credentials.

Rarely do you see medical assistants being hired without experience and trained directly on the job anymore. Doctors expect more these days. These doctors and medical facilities clearly see the benefits of hiring someone with certified credentials; they want someone who has the knowledge necessary to work side by side with health and medical staff to run their medical office or health care facility efficiently and safely. Hiring competent and well trained medical assisting staff gives them a certain amount of confidence and assurance.

An example of such a job advertisement is this one randomly picked from the Indeed.com jobs bank today:

XYZ Physician Associates, LLC currently has a full time medical assistant position available working in a very fast paced environment. Requirements: Candidates must have six months to one year related experience in a medical office or similar clinical setting. Candidates must also be highly organized, pay attention to detail and be able to multi-task. Computer skills required. Phlebotomy experience preferred. Graduate of a Medical Assisting Program. Certification preferred.

Medical assistant training institutions and community colleges know this and are heeding the call by offering medical assistant training programs that lead to desired diplomas and qualifies their graduates to sit for recognized medical assistant certification exams. Funding and financial assistance for such training programs is readily available for those who qualify, much of it completely free and must never be paid back if you are, for example, presently unemployed and qualify for educational grants and employment rehab programs.

There are a number of different medical assistant and other allied health occupations certification sponsors, each having their own unique certification requirements. Their certification exams serve as a valid means of assessing an individual’s specific knowledge and competence in the medical assistant occupation. Passing any one of the various offered certification exams adds credibility and credentials to your name by having earned recognized designations in a specific discipline. Once you have earned your credentials they are portable to all places you may work now and in the future. This is important because in today’s economy people may have to move to a different location or across boarders to a different state to go where the jobs, or better jobs are.

Medical Coder's Wages and Pay

2011-11-30T15:40:00.001-05:00

If you are an entry level medical coder in the United States your pay usually starts at $11 to $13 per hour, an individual with experience of 2-5 years can earn $15-$18 per hour, highly experienced medical coders with specialty certifications can earn as much as $23 per hour, or more. Here is a breakdown of typical factors that can strongly affect the medical coder's take home pay:

Training – Industry specific training and credentials are probably the biggest factors influencing take home pay right along with years of experience.

Experience – Your work experience plays another important role. High recommendations from a former employer who attests to your experience and value to the company speaks louder than anything else in the healthcare industry. This could be your strongest negotiation point when discussing pay.

Company Size & Setting – Large companies may be able to offer higher wages than small businesses. The local job market situation also influences pay rates and the value you bring to the businesses.

Geographic Location – The location of the job can have a big influence on salary. Jobs in a metropolitan area is usually higher compared to small cities and urban areas.

Specialization – A specialty also affects wages. Some medical coders are highly specializes, or consultants in specific areas of the medical and healthcare coding and billing industry. Others are mentors at workshops, professional speakers at seminars, or authors of textbooks and teaching materials.

Self-Employed – Your employment type also affects how much money you can make. While as an employee you are likely on a per hour compensation with incremental wage increases over time, you will set your own rates as a self-employed individual.

A few years ago AAPC published a detailed article and charts on their website that shows how much medical coders typically earn along with a separate list of salaries by specialty and salaries by title. You can probably still find the article if you use a search engine and query: "AAPC wage study and comparison for medical coders".

Get Epocrates Online On Your Hand-Held PC Tablet iPhone Thing

2011-11-29T20:33:00.001-05:00

http://onlywire.com/r/59657137

Allied Health Career - Workplace Challenges and Hazards in Healthcare

2011-11-28T18:49:00.001-05:00

http://www.alliedhealthcareer.com/workplace-challenges-hazards.html