I agree with you 100% DMK. As "experts" in this field sometimes we have to show tough love. Yes Providers can have unreasonable expectations of billers. They want them to run the front office, do credentialing, and sometimes be an MA to assist with patient care. A lot of this stems from the decrease in reimbursements, but some just comes from providers wanting to cut corners. On the other hand we do have billers who want to fake it til they make it, creating havoc and destruction on providers revenue. We "the home based billers" hurt because of this. Providers are leery of hiring us because of being burned by others. As much as I need business, I have already fired 2 clients, God blesses me with more knocking at my door!!
@ STE, not sure if you are working for yourself, or if you work for a providers office. If you can admit that you are over your head, you are 1 step better than those who won't. We are in this forum to help you and others with your issues. I can offer you as well as others a bit of advice. Research is key in medical billing. Not 1 expert in here knows it all. There are some that know credentialing, but don't do it. I personally don't like it, but I am currently (may change) offer it for providers. I only like to do it for start up offices however. Keep your questions coming, but also keep researching. Look at the Medicare credentialing form to see how it appears. Look at other payers forms...see if this is something you want to do I can tell you it is very time consuming and tedious work.
Good Blessings to you