ClaimCare Medical Billing Services has interviewed countless candidates that have just graduated from a medical billing school and coding school. As a rule, we find that the courses in a medical billing school (and coding school) add little value or knowledge to the resume of an individual with no prior medical billing experience.
In fact, when I do hire a medical billing school graduate they typically are started along side inexperienced new hires in our apprenticeship program. They start at the same pay and in need of almost the same training as individuals that have not spent the money or time on medical billing school. I would say at best, they start 3 months further up the learning curve than a completely inexperienced hire. This translates to about $0.50 per hour difference for 3 months (at best).
Although medical billing schools teach some terminology and medical billing concepts, they do not provide any of the experience necessary for an individual to start as a medical biller. In fact, more often than not we find that they have taught incorrect concepts and the "eduction" has to be unlearned before the individual can actually move on from being an apprentice. Many times the medical billing school graduates also have an inflated sense of confidence because of their training and are harder to teach and mentor in terms of proper medical billing because they are under the impression that they have already learned all they need to know.
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.
The beauty of this approach is that these activities build a great foundation for more advanced medical billing. They allow you to develop true knowledge about some of medical billing's most important building blocks and they give you a resume that shows real experience. Finally, you are getting paid while you do this - not paying for an incomplete education that is unlikely to yield the results you desire.
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.
Once you have a few years of real medical billing under your belt (not just the entry level tasks, but more advanced medical billing you move into as you master the entry level tasks) then you are ready to extract value not from medical billing school, but from coding classes. With the core knowledge in place you can make the most of the coding classes and will have credibility with potential employers.
So, if you want to break into the field of medical billing please consider pursuing an apprenticeship model it will serve you (and your future employer) much better than a medical billing school education.
Copyright 2008 by Carl Mays II - 16955
In fact, when I do hire a medical billing school graduate they typically are started along side inexperienced new hires in our apprenticeship program. They start at the same pay and in need of almost the same training as individuals that have not spent the money or time on medical billing school. I would say at best, they start 3 months further up the learning curve than a completely inexperienced hire. This translates to about $0.50 per hour difference for 3 months (at best).
Although medical billing schools teach some terminology and medical billing concepts, they do not provide any of the experience necessary for an individual to start as a medical biller. In fact, more often than not we find that they have taught incorrect concepts and the "eduction" has to be unlearned before the individual can actually move on from being an apprentice. Many times the medical billing school graduates also have an inflated sense of confidence because of their training and are harder to teach and mentor in terms of proper medical billing because they are under the impression that they have already learned all they need to know.
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.
The beauty of this approach is that these activities build a great foundation for more advanced medical billing. They allow you to develop true knowledge about some of medical billing's most important building blocks and they give you a resume that shows real experience. Finally, you are getting paid while you do this - not paying for an incomplete education that is unlikely to yield the results you desire.
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.
Once you have a few years of real medical billing under your belt (not just the entry level tasks, but more advanced medical billing you move into as you master the entry level tasks) then you are ready to extract value not from medical billing school, but from coding classes. With the core knowledge in place you can make the most of the coding classes and will have credibility with potential employers.
So, if you want to break into the field of medical billing please consider pursuing an apprenticeship model it will serve you (and your future employer) much better than a medical billing school education.
Copyright 2008 by Carl Mays II - 16955
About the Author:
Carl Mays II is President and Chairman of ClaimCare. Carl has provided help to medical practices, facilities and hospitals since 1995. He is an expert on medical billing companies and the medical billing industry. Be sure to visit Carl's medical billing blog.
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