Medical Billing Forum

General Category => General Questions => : tallmanusa January 22, 2013, 08:48:24 AM

: Joining Professional Organizations
: tallmanusa January 22, 2013, 08:48:24 AM
I am thinking of joining several professional organizations.

1. AHIMA
2. HBMA
3. MGMA

They are quite expensive, specially MGMA, the least expensive vendor category with them is $2500 annually but they give you access to their 22,000 members plus possibility of presentations at their conventions.
All these companies allow their logos to be displayed on letterheads, emails, websites etc. I look at their value as marketing tools. 
I have seen their logo displayed at big and small billing companies' websites.

What is your experience if any with these companies? Do they help?
: Re: Joining Professional Organizations
: LASHUNDA January 22, 2013, 12:53:54 PM
So are you a medical professional?  I don't have much experience with joining these various organizations for our physicians and/or medical professions but I'm curious why you think you need to join them.  Usually these type of organizations are joined by large groups and these organizations work nationally.  Most of the things they offer your local Medical Society or your local Medical Association offers.  I probably would join the local Associations and they should suffice.  I'm in Dallas, Texas so my physicians join the Texas Medical Association and the Dallas County Medical Society and those organizations advocate for the physicians that join locally and nationally.
: Re: Joining Professional Organizations
: tallmanusa February 10, 2013, 11:08:07 AM
Most local societies do no allow vendors to join.

Joining HBMA has distinct advantages.
1. Most doctors belong to their professional organizations, they look positively at a company that also belongs to one.
2. HBMA meets twice a year, you can get to meet other members and converse with them.
3. There are many vendors who belong to HBMA, some of them have member discounts, usually they tend to be established vendors.
4. HBMA has a private forum, where you can get answers.
5. HBMA has a code of ethics, that members pledge to; you can require your staff to pledge to the same, in your contractual agreements with them, if you have one. Most members do that.
: Re: Joining Professional Organizations
: medbillllc February 16, 2013, 01:05:40 PM
I would say the better bang for your buck is local organizations.

I operate a  DME Billing Company (http://www.medbill.net) that provides DME Billing Services (http://www.medbill.net) and we sponsor local oragnizations like NCAMES (http://ncames.org).  When we attend the meetings we get to speak with local business owners and generate great leads.
: Re: Joining Professional Organizations
: Leinfinito February 26, 2013, 02:36:30 AM
Most local societies do no allow vendors to join.

Joining HBMA has distinct advantages.
1. Most doctors belong to their professional organizations, they look positively at a company that also belongs to one.
2. HBMA meets twice a year, you can get to meet other members and converse with them.
3. There are many vendors who belong to HBMA, some of them have member discounts, usually they tend to be established vendors.
4. HBMA has a private forum, where you can get answers.
5. HBMA has a code of ethics, that members pledge to; you can require your staff to pledge to the same, in your contractual agreements with them, if you have one. Most members do that.

Like what tallmanusa said here, there are main benefits of joining such programs. However, if there are certain advantages, then you would have to point out the disadvantages as well. I'm just new to this medical billing industry and I still haven't got the chance to know how joining could work out well. If you think the expenses are worth it, then go for it.
: Re: Joining Professional Organizations
: PMRNC February 26, 2013, 10:59:28 AM
With HBMA, you are paying for their name IMHO and their membership fees are ridiculously high. I also wouldn't join a company who claims to advocate on behalf of the industry for what's best for the industry and promote offshore outsourcing. I'd rather give my money to local networking groups.
: Re: Joining Professional Organizations
: medbillllc February 26, 2013, 12:58:36 PM
Our company provides DME Billing Service so our audience are Durable Medical Equipment Providers.

We are a sponsor of NCAMES (http://NCAMES.org) North Carolina Association for Medical Equipment Services.  That membership isn't cheap but we have easily recouped our costs in new client revenue.

Other groups are NAIMES and PAMS.  Groups like these give my company the ability to build relationships with business owners and build potential leads.

However, these groups are for DME Billing Services.