This article is about a potential employer's view on medical billing schools. My experience has been that they simply are not worth the time and money for the students. I have interviewed many medical billing candidates from many medical billing schools and I do not find that the education makes the individual a more attractive candidate than other inexperienced candidates.
Typically graduates we hire from medical billing school start in our apprenticeship program alongside individuals that have not graduated from medical billing school (i.e., they start in the exact same role as folks that have not made the investment in money or time for medical billing school).
The reason for this is that the academic knowledge gained from medical billing school rarely translates well into practical, hands on medical billing skills. If anything, medical billing companies find that we have to undo incorrect concepts and lessons that have been learned in medical billing school. In addition, medical billing students often believe they have nothing left to learn and this makes them poor students in the real lessons of medical billing.
A better path into medical billing is to avoid spending money on a medical billing school and instead spend time finding a medical billing company or doctor's practice that will let you start your medical billing career by calling on medical claims or verifying patient insurance information prior to the patient's appointment.
Both of these activities give individuals a solid base for launching a medical billing career. They provide the individual with both a grounds up understanding of the building blocks of medical billing and a real medical billing job on their resume.
Most organizations do not have a formal apprenticeship program, but if you interview with the specific tasks outlined above in mind then you can find an entry level opportunity. This opportunity will pay you to learn about medical billing and build your resume.
The certified coder that does not already have medical billing experience is typically hard pressed to find a coding position. Once, however, your have medical billing experience you can get real value from a certified coder certificate.
In summary, medical billing school is simply not worth the investment for an inexperienced student. You will find more success and greater financial rewards if you skip the medical billing school until you have the experience under your belt to make the certified coder courses a worthwhile investment.
Copyright 2008 by Carl Mays II - 16036
Typically graduates we hire from medical billing school start in our apprenticeship program alongside individuals that have not graduated from medical billing school (i.e., they start in the exact same role as folks that have not made the investment in money or time for medical billing school).
The reason for this is that the academic knowledge gained from medical billing school rarely translates well into practical, hands on medical billing skills. If anything, medical billing companies find that we have to undo incorrect concepts and lessons that have been learned in medical billing school. In addition, medical billing students often believe they have nothing left to learn and this makes them poor students in the real lessons of medical billing.
A better path into medical billing is to avoid spending money on a medical billing school and instead spend time finding a medical billing company or doctor's practice that will let you start your medical billing career by calling on medical claims or verifying patient insurance information prior to the patient's appointment.
Both of these activities give individuals a solid base for launching a medical billing career. They provide the individual with both a grounds up understanding of the building blocks of medical billing and a real medical billing job on their resume.
Most organizations do not have a formal apprenticeship program, but if you interview with the specific tasks outlined above in mind then you can find an entry level opportunity. This opportunity will pay you to learn about medical billing and build your resume.
The certified coder that does not already have medical billing experience is typically hard pressed to find a coding position. Once, however, your have medical billing experience you can get real value from a certified coder certificate.
In summary, medical billing school is simply not worth the investment for an inexperienced student. You will find more success and greater financial rewards if you skip the medical billing school until you have the experience under your belt to make the certified coder courses a worthwhile investment.
Copyright 2008 by Carl Mays II - 16036
About the Author:
Carl Mays II is President and CEO of ClaimCare. He has worked with medical practices, facilities and hospitals since 1995. He is an expert on medical billing companies and the medical billing industry. You can read more of his articles on his medical billing blog.
