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Best clients for newbies

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Alice Scott:
Actually Michele (one L Michele) had five years of experience as a senior claims analyst at a major insurance carrier in our area before we started our business.  She did know medical billing.  I had 30 years experinece running my own business.
Alice

Pay_My_Claims:
claims analyst isn't a medical biller, and running a business doesn't make one a biller either, no disrespect. most of my comments come from the introductions you mention in your books. My point is to encourage "newbies" to go for their dreams, but to not give them false hope in thinking its an easy field to jump into or doing it with no experience is easy. What happens is when we speak about oh yeah you have financing experience you are ahead of the game, we downplay our careers to nothing but the stereotypical "data entry" jobs that people think we do. If it was so easy..why are so many people like me with over 15 years experience fighting daily to keep my business up and running and gain clients. I understand the poster doesn't want to hear negativity, and its not what I'm giving. but honesty and straight forward advice about how it really is. Its up to the receiver how they take it.

DMK:

--- Quote from: Pay_My_Claims on February 14, 2011, 12:53:08 AM ---
--- Quote from: DMK on February 11, 2011, 07:48:25 PM ---And you're miles ahead with your banking, accounting, and customer service background because you realize the importance of CORRECT data entry!  The insurance companies take forever to let you know that there's an error in data!

--- End quote ---

DMK as I agree that a background in finances is EXCELLENT for one facet of billing (payment posting, accounting etc) it is not the basics or the heart of it. Coding is the core of billing. Either in the form of raw coding, or knowing how to correctly code (level of care, modifiers, bundled charges, etc) should be entered to process a claim. I know Alice N Michelle started out YEARS ago with no experience and did eventually become experts in the industry, but billing & coding isn't the way it was back then. Everybody is doing electronic, so using that as a marketing ploy hardly works. More providers are knowing more about billing than ever, so the requirements are stricter. A provider would be a poor business man to allow his finances to be handled by someone who has never billed before. What happens is people get into this industry because they read and ad and they think all we do is "data entry". The pediatrician I interviewed with on Wednesday was REQUIRING that her new biller (hopefully me) would be able to train her on knowing more about the billing. I will take 3 years of hands on experience over certification or education every time.

--- End quote ---

I agree with you as well, coding knowledge is imperative!  How else will the biller know if the information input is going to result in a paid claim?!  My point was that the skills she already has will serve her well.  She's already detail oriented (since banking requires it) so she can only build on it. 

I can't tell you how many times I see sloppy input though!  Billers are doomed to fail if they don't tackle details right out of the chute.  If they are not detail oriented, they will NEVER be good at this!

BTW, I'm so glad you're back!!!!

marie8480:
Us newbies, we know that is gonna be hard to start in this business but i found alot of negativity towards us, some people are trying to put us down because of lack of experience, how much experience did you have when somebody had given you a chance? why can't it be the same for us
We are not stupid, im pretty sure that all of us are dedicated to this business, i heard medical billing wasn't for everyone it could be true but you don't know my strenght or weakness, i love to be challenge, how many times in my life i've  been told you can't do this or that and proved them people wrong.
know that the harder you put me down ,the harder im gonna fight to stay up and that's me.
If someone has years and years of experience why do you still have to prove yourself like a newbie, your experience, references and your reputation should be  enought to show people your knowledge of the business. we ask questions because we want to be good at it when we will start our own, they may seem stupid to some but helpful to others. Do we really want to hear all of this negativity personally i don't , my mother-in- law is doing a great job at it so instead of trying to discourage us ,help us to succeed if you have so much experience than share your knowledge, don't try to crush our dreams.

Pay_My_Claims:
@ Marie,
I totally understand. I started out as a switchboard operator, moved to ER-Registrar, to Unit Clerk, To Patient Rep, To Team Lead etc etc etc. I WON'T sugar coat anything for anyone. Its never a knockdown of your dreams, but the first question would be why did you choose medical billing? It it a job you are interested in, or a job that you feel "suits" your current situation?? I have had many "newbies" come to me for advice and help, and I have lead them along that path, always being honest and forthcoming with them. Some fell off the trail, others stuck with it. I have seen people start out WITH EXPERIENCE, that quit after 6 months because they can't land their first client. This industry is saturated with medical billers wanting to work from home. Look at the # of members in this forum. I officially got my license 06/01/2009 landed my first client at a flat fee of $500 a month in September of 09. I landed another one in Janurary of 2010 and fired her in april of 2010. I did this while working FULL TIME, and having a son play sports, and my daughter was in college. It has been a LONG HARD struggle for me. Nobody can discourage your dreams, nor can they light that fire. I have been around a long time, and learned a lot in the first 6 months of reading and joining a variety of forums. I learned quickly to trust in myself and go for what I know. I can only tell you what I see, what I know, and what my perspective is, how you interpret or take that information would be your take on it. I can only say if you ask me a question I will answer you in an honest way.

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