I have been researching starting a medical billing business have questions

[Alice Scott]

Question
Hello Alice,
 
My name is Kathy W and I live in Mississippi. I have been researching starting a medical billing business . I am 56 with no knowledge or experience in this field. I have been reading for 2 weeks and I still am on the fence. I stumbled on to your site this week and it sounds like you are legit. YOU may not want to answer my questions but if you can I would appreciate any guidance you could give. I have spoken to a company called Synergy last week. If you know anything about them I would appreciate your input. I have read alot about so many scams out there I am nervous. This guy said I wouldn't need to take a course because they would train me on their software, is this good advice? We have also read about some companies that offer web based software ,Is this better than non web based? The plan is for my to adult daughters to do this with me . They live in Louisiana,so we need a program that can be used in both states , is this possible?
 
Thanks for your time . Any advice you can give will be appreciated.

Kathy W

Answer
Hi Kathy,

I know exactly how you feel.  I was almost 50 when Michele and I started this business and I knew absolutely nothing about medical billing.  We do understand how difficult it is to get any good information, so we have decided to use our website to help others.  You may want to check out as much of our site as you can.  I try to add to it daily.  www.solutions-medical-billing.com

I’ve never dealt with Synergy, but we did sign up with a company when we first started that we felt was a scam.  The government stepped in and threatened to put them out of business and they returned our $5000 we spent.  I personally do not like the packages they sell.  You need a good practice management system (the billing software) and some knowledge to get started.  We wrote our book “How to Start Your Own Successful Medical Billing Business” for people like you to let you know what to expect when you start this business.  It really helps you decide if this is the business for you.  http://www.medicalbillinglive.com/medical-billing-business.shtml 

The guy might be willing to teach you on his software, but that’s a small part of what you need to know.  Most of the billing softwares are pretty user friendly so learning the software is not the biggest problem you will encounter. 

Any program you use could be used in two different states no problem, but I would have to think a little about how you would do that.  My daughter works on our software from her house using a service that allows her to access her work computer at home.  I’m not familiar with the web based software, but Michele could tell you more. 

Good luck in your decision.  I hope this information helps.  I’m not just trying to sell our book, but it really would help you make this decision.

Alice

[guha04]

Hi Kathy,

I have experience in setting out business for Medical billing.Please feel free to ask me any question at guha02@yahoo.co.in

Regards,
Guha

[rakeshvanamali]

My name is Rakesh and I work as a Research Analyst learning the medical billing industry. I am looking to understand the following;
 
The Role of Billing Service Providers vis-à-vis Providers
leading medical billing services in the united states
Size and dynamics of the Medical Billing Industry; and
Agencies / Legal Provisions governing the Medical Billing Industry
 
Could you tell me where I would be able to source the above-said information from?
Would you know of any helpful websites?
 
Thanks very much
 
Rakesh

[gderilus]

Hi Alice and Michelle can
My name is Guerdie and I've been reading alot about medical billing business. I'm going for the AS degree in medical billing and coding right now at a College and have a few months left. I started looking for a job but everybody wants at least 2 or 3 yrs experience. I live in Florida and it's really hard to get a job around here without experience. So I was thinking about getting into the business but I'm nervous cause I don't really have any hands on experience. I've read about this company called claimtek and they offer business opportunity. They said that they would train me on everything as far as marketing, software etc. Has anyone heard about them before, any advice would help. their software called Medoffice. Do you guys think that I can do it without experience. I'm a mother of 2 and I would like to stay home to raise my children.

[Michele]

Hi Guerdie,

    It is possible to start a medical billing business without any hands on experience.  You need to have drive and determination.  I am not going to tell you that this is an easy business opportunity, but it is certainly a good business opportunity if you put enough work into it. 

    I didn't actually have any hands on experience in medical billing, but I processed medical claims at an insurance company so I had a little background.  But Alice had no background in medical billing at all.

    I would be very careful buying into any packages.  Some are ok, but many are not.  We unfortunately bought into one that wasn't ok when we first started.  I am not familiar with claimtek or Medoffice.  I hope someone else on the forum is, and that they can give you some info on them. 

   You should probably check into how long they have been in business and if they have any references, successful billing services that have bought their offer.  If you can talk directly to them, ask them how long they have been in business, when they bought the claimtek, how long after before they got their first client and how many clients they have.  Also, if they will say, approx how much are they earning now. 

    Those are very specific, tough questions that if they are not truly clients of claimtek they should have trouble answering.  If the answers are far fetched, that should be a warning too.

     I would definitely check into them as much as you can before giving them a penny.  Remember if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
 
     I'm not saying all this to discourage you.  I would not discourage you from starting the business, just from throwing money at a company that promises to 'teach you everything you need to know AND get you clients.'  I believe you can do this business.  There are lots of providers who need a billing service that can do a good job, and you can do that while you learn along the way.

Good luck
Michele

[Cady]

Guerdie,

Check out the business opportunity located at www.medicalbillingbusinessresources.com. Good folks.

[gderilus]

Thank you Michelle for your feedback, I really appreciate your advise and I think I'm going for the business

[gderilus]

Hello

I was reading online about medical billing business, I read that if I'm doing billing for any doctors, I won't be allowed to change any cpt codes on the supperbill. My job is to process the claims, just get the info from the superbill and send them electronically. Is that true
Any advice please!

Guerdie

[Michele]

Hi,
   If you are billing for a provider then you should not change the codes that are given to you to be billed.  But if you see something that doesn't look right to you, or you know is not covered, it is ok to go back to the provider and question it.

For example, we bill for several chiropractors and Medicare does not cover E&M codes.  If we receive a superbill from a chiro and he checked an E&M code but no manipulation code, then we would go back to the provider to make sure he meant to check the code he checked. 

But you can't just decide to change a code without getting the providers ok.

Michele

[mrmoore]

Im the process of getting my Medical billing business off the ground and my wife told me about you alls site.  This is my 1st post and I just wanted to say hello and I look forward to soaking up the knowledge of everyone on the forum!!

Sam

[Michele]

Hi Sam,

   Glad you could join us!  Hope you benefit from our forum and other info we have available.  Hope you signed up for our free monthly newsletter as well.  We try to keep it packed with what's going on out there in the billing field as well as a few funny stories along the way.

Good luck getting off the ground!  It may seem overwhelming at times, but we're all out here to help.

Michele

[bkandel]

I have a question and I am very excited as I just signed up for this forum.  It is exactly the help that I was looking for.     I am researching starting my own medical billing business.  I have completed a medical coding/billing class and have 3 years of medical billing experience.  My question is in regard to the medical billing software that I should purchase to start my new business.  If my first client utilizes Visionary software, do I purchase that software for my business.  And if so, what if my next client uses different software.  Is there a standard or best practices software that I should purchase and then maybe some conversion software would be used?

I guess my question is which software do I purchase to start and how do I adjust to my next client's needs if they use different software?

Thanks,
Bonnie

[Michele]

Hi Bonnie,

Welcome, we hope you find our information helpful. 

As far as software, it is sometimes helpful when you use the same software as your provider, but certainly not required.  You need to pick your software based on your needs.  For example, can you bill multiple practices/providers.  Also, does the software have all the capabilities you will need.  You don't want to go out and purchase the same software as your first client just because of that reason.  For instance, if your first dr is a physical therapist and they use a PM system specifically for PT that would limit you on your next provider. 

Some of our offices use the same software as us but it is usually because they decide to purchase the ours to replace theirs.  They like the reports we give them, or they just need to update their system.  But again, it really isn't that important.  We pick up the info from them and enter it into our system.

Good luck

Michele

[miqbal]

Hello:
I have experience in setting up MB practice.  If any questions please feel free to e-mail me I will answer your questions free of charge.
Thanks

[marianela]

I have been doing billing for one mental health counselor for about 1 year. So far I my business nor my mailing address is recorded with any of the insurance, clearinghouse or on any of the CMS forms.  Should I be listed with the insurance companies and clearinghouse as a billing agent?