Medical Biller

Medical biller is soon becoming a top career choice for many females. Jennifer R. was sick of her job in retail. She says “I was tired of working night hours, never seeing my kids and feeling like I was stuck in a dead end job. My friend Lisa told me to check into medical billing programs. I looked into it and decided to try an online program. It took me over a year to finish it, but when I did, I got hired as a medical billing clerk and I love my job! I work in a great office with no night hours, no difficult customers and I'm home with my kids every night!And I make more money than I ever did in retail.” If this sounds good to you, perhaps you may want to check into a career as a medical biller, too.

Who hires medical billers and how much are they paid?

Medical billers, or medical billing clerks, or medical insurance specialists, as they are also called, are hired by every hospital, clinic, physician's office and HMO. They are also employed by insurance companies. There are positions available nationwide, with salaries dependent upon experience, location and education. The average national starting salary for a medical biller in 2004 was approximately $25,000 and the median salary for all billers was $29, 429. Top salary ranges can reach over $40,000 annually.

What does a medical biller do?

•  Completes and submits insurance claims to ensure reimbursement for health care providers

•  Reviews and ensures all claims are in compliance with federal, legal and insurance company guidelines

•  Communicates with insurance companies, tracks claims and payments

•  Responds to patient inquiries regarding insurance claims

•  May be responsible for patient account collections or bookkeeping

What training is required to become a medical biller?

There are no national requirements for medical billers, but there are numerous training programs available. The length of the program varies from 3 months to 2 years and generally focuses on medical office procedures, medical terminology and insurance claim procedures. You should know that medical billing and medical coding are not the same things. The fields overlap and there are joint programs available, but medical coders are more involved in the identification and assignment of codes, while medical billers focus more on the actual claim submissions and financial aspects.

Is a certification exam required?

No, there is no national requirement for certification as a medical biller. However, it is to your benefit to become certified, if possible. The American Medical Billers Association (AMBA) offers a certification exam. This is a very comprehensive exam, with 16 sections and almost 800 questions. The exam can be taken online (if you are a member of AMBA) and allows 45 days to complete all sections. Up to 6 retakes are allowed and the passing score is 85%. For more information on medical billing , check out our section on medical billing.

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