ClaimCare Medical Billing Services has interviewed countless candidates that have just graduated from a medical billing school and coding school. As a rule, we find that the courses in a medical billing school (and coding school) add little value or knowledge to the resume of an individual with no prior medical billing experience.
In fact, when I do hire a medical billing school graduate they typically are started along side inexperienced new hires in our apprenticeship program. They start at the same pay and in need of almost the same training as individuals that have not spent the money or time on medical billing school. I would say at best, they start 3 months further up the learning curve than a completely inexperienced hire. This translates to about $0.50 per hour difference for 3 months (at best).
The terminology and concepts taught in medical billing school no more prepare a person to be a full fledged medical biller than reading a book on how to drive a car prepares one for the challenges of actually driving a car - it is practice behind the wheel that is required. The academic elements can be helpful - just like supplementing practice behind the wheel with a manual on safe driving makes sense. Unfortunately, however, this is only true if the academic material is accurate. I have found that often students have been damaged by medical billing schools that either teach incorrect medical billing concepts or leave the students with a sense that they have nothing left to learn.
Most individuals would be much better off saving their money and finding a medical billing company or medical practice that will let them join and start with basic medical billing work such as calling on claims to verify status or verifying patient insurance information before the visit.
Both of these activities give individuals a solid base for launching a medical billing career. They provide the individual with both a grounds up understanding of the building blocks of medical billing and a real medical billing job on their resume.
If you approach organizations with this plan in mind it is quite likely that you can find an entry level opportunity. Such an opportunity will allow you to earn an income while learning medical billing and will look much better on your resume than medical billing school.
Once you have a few years of real medical billing under your belt (not just the entry level tasks, but more advanced medical billing you move into as you master the entry level tasks) then you are ready to extract value not from medical billing school, but from coding classes. With the core knowledge in place you can make the most of the coding classes and will have credibility with potential employers.
If you have your heart set on becoming a medical biller then please do not start with medical billing school. You will serve both yourself and your future medical billing departments better following the path outlined above.
Copyright 2008 by Carl Mays II - 15485
In fact, when I do hire a medical billing school graduate they typically are started along side inexperienced new hires in our apprenticeship program. They start at the same pay and in need of almost the same training as individuals that have not spent the money or time on medical billing school. I would say at best, they start 3 months further up the learning curve than a completely inexperienced hire. This translates to about $0.50 per hour difference for 3 months (at best).
The terminology and concepts taught in medical billing school no more prepare a person to be a full fledged medical biller than reading a book on how to drive a car prepares one for the challenges of actually driving a car - it is practice behind the wheel that is required. The academic elements can be helpful - just like supplementing practice behind the wheel with a manual on safe driving makes sense. Unfortunately, however, this is only true if the academic material is accurate. I have found that often students have been damaged by medical billing schools that either teach incorrect medical billing concepts or leave the students with a sense that they have nothing left to learn.
Most individuals would be much better off saving their money and finding a medical billing company or medical practice that will let them join and start with basic medical billing work such as calling on claims to verify status or verifying patient insurance information before the visit.
Both of these activities give individuals a solid base for launching a medical billing career. They provide the individual with both a grounds up understanding of the building blocks of medical billing and a real medical billing job on their resume.
If you approach organizations with this plan in mind it is quite likely that you can find an entry level opportunity. Such an opportunity will allow you to earn an income while learning medical billing and will look much better on your resume than medical billing school.
Once you have a few years of real medical billing under your belt (not just the entry level tasks, but more advanced medical billing you move into as you master the entry level tasks) then you are ready to extract value not from medical billing school, but from coding classes. With the core knowledge in place you can make the most of the coding classes and will have credibility with potential employers.
If you have your heart set on becoming a medical biller then please do not start with medical billing school. You will serve both yourself and your future medical billing departments better following the path outlined above.
Copyright 2008 by Carl Mays II - 15485
About the Author:
Carl Mays II is Founder and Chairman of ClaimCare Medical Billing Services. He has provided help to physicians and administrators for almost 15 years. He is an expert on medical billing companies and the medical billing industry. Be sure to visit Carl's medical billing blog.
