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Coding or billing? Can I work remotely?

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happysoul:
I would like to start a career in medical billing or coding.  I don't know which of the two is better for me though.  I would prefer to work remotely and just visit my employer's/client's office once or twice a week.  In fact, a fully location independent job or business would be even better i.e. work from the beach in Thailand (or at least from my home in Thailand).

Should I go for coding or billing?  I have no previous medical experience just a strong web design/internet marketing/business background.

Thank you!!!! :)

RichardP:
See the response at your first question here:

http://www.medicalbillinglive.com/members/index.php?topic=7206.msg22055#msg22055

happysoul:
Thank you Richard, I had already looked at that thread and other threads on this forum.  I would still be thankful  if someone could address my questions more directly.  Thank you.

Billergirlnyc:
Whether you choose medical billing or medical coding you'll need experience. You can't even become a full coder in either AAPC or AHIMA (two main certification outfits) without at least 2 years experience working as a coder (actually coding), and they'll designate you as an "associate and or apprentice", until you gain that experience and they'll want proof. I believe if you take the prep courses (with both outfits) that reduces the requirement time to a year (or all together) but you'll need to double check this. I'm a coder but the details are vague for me, because I had experience, and had proof of it. After passing the coding test I had the CPC designation immediately. I wasn't a CPC-A (apprentice status via AAPC) or CCA (AHIMA's Associate status) which basically means you're still in training and don't have the 2 years experience that they require for the full designation. So, medical billing may be the "easier" one to transition into, but if you don't know what a biller does day to day, then you need to get the training. This could be accomplished in an office or via a course, preferable if you have both, because you'll have book knowledge and hands-on knowledge, which only makes you look sweeter to a potential employer (I think). My billing experience came from working for a few years in a multi-speciality group. A lot of billers I know who run their own companies started working for a doctor, but I know some who didn't, but these people worked in some other capacity in the medical field where they're at least familiar with the industry.

I don't know many doctors who are willing to hand over their billing to someone with no experience and allow them to work remotely (from home or a beach). I've been in business for several years and even I don't work from a beach, haha, not even when I'm on vacation. I do have people who WFH, but they're experienced billers and coders.

RichardP:
The single biggest takeaway from the links I pointed you to is this:  technology is driving doctors out of private practice and into doctor groups or retirement.  Experienced billers are being put out of work because of this.  You, who states that you know nothing about medicine, cannot hope to compete with experienced billers or coders who are looking for work.  There is not a more direct way to address your questions than that.  And that information was at those links I directed you to.  I think you either did not really read them for understanding (just skimmed them instead), or you truely did not understand what you read.

Plus there is this:  Both coders and billers need to understand ICD-9 codes in order to bill properly.  In about 18 months from now (October 2014) ICD-9 is going to be scrapped in favor of ICD-10.  If you are going to spend the next two years gaining experience, do it with ICD-10, not ICD-9.  Check out the links within these links:

http://www.icd10data.com/

Finally, this place has a definate anti-offshore-billing bias.  You say you have a home in Thailand, but don't say whether you live there or in the U.S.  If anyone here gets a whiff that you want to do offshore billing, you will get ignored big-time.

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