Overview of How to Become a Medical Biller
If you’re ready to start a career as a medical billing specialist, you’ll want to consider the skill requirements, course schedule and job prospects.
Required Skills
Most jobs have certain hard skills they require, which you achieve through prior experience, career training or on-the-job training. However, you also need some soft skills. For medical billing, these skills focus on communication, organization, empathy and integrity.
Being part of the allied health field shows you’re empathetic and caring. You should also be committed to honesty and doing what’s right, following patient privacy practices and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) rules. Along with these skills, you’ll need to be organized and detail-oriented to ensure records are accurate and easy to locate.
Communication is another important skill to master. Since you’ll interact with patients, you should know how to address their concerns and speak openly and calmly about their health records.
Typical Courses
What do you learn during your studies? Typical courses focus on anatomy and medical terminology to ensure you can excel in your daily tasks. Apart from medical terms commonly used in the healthcare field, you’ll learn about different body systems and what role different organs play.
Other equally important courses focus on medical coding essentials and how to verify insurance and communicate patient responsibilities. You’ll focus on Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) and HIPAA rules, claim submissions and follow-ups and other essential tasks.
Your medical billing specialist training will also help you gain the soft skills required for professional interactions. From learning about medical ethics and cultural biases to proper office behaviors and appearance, you’ll have the skills and understanding to thrive at work.
Job Outlook
The job outlook for medical billing specialists is strong, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showing an 8% growth outlook for medical records specialists, which includes medical billers. The U.S. average salary is $35,727, with higher salaries reaching $47,347.
MedCerts’ Medical Billing Specialist Program
The MedCerts Medical Billing Specialist program spans 14 weeks and uses interactive learning, practical applications and assessments to train you to become a medical billing specialist. You’ll take three courses:
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Professionalism in Allied Health, two weeks
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Introduction to Human Anatomy and Medical Terminology, six weeks
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Insurance and Billing, and Coding Essentials, six weeks
Each course teaches you different career aspects, giving you tailored yet comprehensive training to excel in this role. At the end of the training, you’ll take the Medical Coder & Biller Certification (MCBC) exam administered through the American Medical Certification Association.
Are You Ready to Become a Medical Billing Specialist?
When you train to become a medical billing specialist, you’ll gain entry into the fulfilling healthcare industry and use your knowledge to converse with patients and streamline the medical claims process. Reach out to a MedCerts education consultant today to see how you can get started.
