Author Topic: Hiring an employee  (Read 3799 times)

PTBILLER

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Hiring an employee
« on: April 01, 2009, 06:08:13 PM »
Hi-

I have a general question regarding employees.  I am at the point in my business where I'm going to need to hire help.  I'm adding two more providers at the beginning of May and need to time to train, etc.  I have question on how the best way to hire and pay an employee.  I am paid a percentage of reimbursed claims and don't know if I should have the employee concentrate on one particular task (such as posting payments)with out being so concerned who the client is, or trying to train on one client by basically "taking over" that client.  Also do you pay your employee hourly or a percentage. 

Another question...obviously I want someone who is sharp and can multi-task.   Should I go the route of hiring someone I know and trust, but has no billing backkground or someone that I don't particularly know with billing experience?  I'm right on the verge of needing help and don't want to wait until the last minute.  Thanks for any insight on this for those of you that have "been there, done that"
Pam McKewen

Michele

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Re: Hiring an employee
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2009, 11:25:53 PM »
I've 'been there done that' to about every scenario you described and unfortunately there is no right answer.  I have hired people I know with no billing experience, people I didn't know with experience, people I knew with experience, and people I didn't know without experience.  I honestly feel that the most important thing when hiring someone is getting a person who can think (I know that sounds stupid, but not all people think), has integrity (if they are dishonest in life, they will be dishonest at their job), and has an upbeat personality (meaning is positive and moves, not depressed and slow).  We pay our employees by they hour.  I feel that is best so that I can give them any task that I need done, not just ones that they will be reimbursed for thru the percentage.  The more they are cross trained the better.

Good luck
Michele
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PTBILLER

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Re: Hiring an employee
« Reply #2 on: April 02, 2009, 10:36:22 AM »
Thanks Michelle-I agree with finding someone that has a general "good ethic" approach with life in general.  It sounds like your employees are all in one building.  I'm thinking more of getting someone to work from their home.  I'm also kind of a control freak!  I want to make sure my clients are happy!  I guess it comes down to making a decision on how big I want my company to grow.  I'm not a spring chicken  ;) (47 y.o.), but not old enough to think about retiring either.  I was also wondering if an established medical billing company is a business that people actually sell when they get ready to stop working for some reason or another.  If so, what if a potential buyer of the company doesn't do a good job and the clients drop off like flies?  Sorry-I'm getting away from the original question here....just curious as to your input. 
Pam McKewen

Michele

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Re: Hiring an employee
« Reply #3 on: April 02, 2009, 12:04:14 PM »
You can actually sell a medical billing business when you are ready to give it up.  Obviously the more successful it is the more it is worth.  There is a formula for calculating the asking price (but of course I don't know it off the top of my head!).  Anyway, once you sell you have no control over how the new owner does the job (there's that control freak part of you popping out :)  ).  I also would worry about that so I know where you are coming from, but if you think it through you will realize you won't be able to control that.  You just need to try to sell to someone that will treat your business like you would want them to.  Maybe even offer a transition period where you work with them to teach them the accounts, and how you do things.  But ultimately you will need to let go and it will be totally up to them how they handle things.  And maybe, they will actually do things totally differently, but it will still work out!

Michele
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PMRNC

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Re: Hiring an employee
« Reply #4 on: April 04, 2009, 03:34:50 PM »
I too am a control freak and my goal was to never get too big where I had to hire more than maybe one or two people and even that would be a big step for me. NEVER from home.. If I were to hire or hire in the future they will work from my office, part of the reason is of course to maintain control and professionalism but also to keep my insurance premium's and overhead costs down. Have you looked to see what the increase would be on a work at home employee?? A few years ago I was JUST researching how that would work if I had hired a friend of mine to work from home and my agent told me my E/O rate would practically double.  NOW.. if I had decided to let someone have a chance and work at home, it would be on an independent contractor basis where they paid all the costs such as insurance, computer etc.. According to tax laws ..etc you have to own the computer, software, pay insurance, etc in order to consider the person an "employee".

Linda Walker
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Re: Hiring an employee
« Reply #4 on: April 04, 2009, 03:34:50 PM »

PTBILLER

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Re: Hiring an employee
« Reply #5 on: April 06, 2009, 07:44:34 PM »
Thanks for the info Michelle and Linda-
Linda, have you ever worked with an independent contractor?  If so, how did you present work to this person and how did you pay them?  I was actually thinking of getting a relative of my husbands on board since she has some background and is very interested.  I'm thinking of actually (after a training period)giving her a provider to work with and splitting costs/income with her.  I'm not sure I keep flip flopping from that to doing insurance follow up work/hourly rate.  UGH!!  Whatcha think?   :-\
Pam McKewen

taina011082

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Re: Hiring an employee
« Reply #6 on: April 07, 2009, 03:24:12 PM »
If anyone wants to sell their medical billing business, please Contact me at 718-826-6668 between 10:30am-6pm or at 347-787-0175 anytime after 10pm

PMRNC

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Re: Hiring an employee
« Reply #7 on: April 08, 2009, 12:53:43 PM »
I have worked with a couple of independent contractors but not for my billing company, I do, however for my consulting clients for various tasks. I was at the point where I was looking into hiring one, but with putting feelers out there, not many of them were carrying the proper E/O or liability insurance nor did they think they needed to which put me off and I had decided NOT to hire at all.

Linda Walker
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Re: Hiring an employee
« Reply #7 on: April 08, 2009, 12:53:43 PM »