Are you considering an exciting new career in Medical Billing? If you answered “yes,” you’ve chosen a field and a profession that can be both challenging and rewarding! You may also be wondering what it takes to become a great Medical Biller? Obviously, you want to receive the education and training you need to be successful on-the-job, but you should also possess some of the qualities that Medical Billers need in order to be successful. Below, our team here at Training Direct has captured a list of 7 qualities one should possess that can be helpful in their success as a Medical Biller.
Here are 7 qualities Medical Biller should possess:
- Communication Skills & Courtesy: Some may think that Medical Billers work behind closed doors and they don’t have to interact with anyone, but that is simply not the case. Medical Billers must possess good communication skills because they will interact with a variety of individuals in their role. Medical Billers will likely interact with patients, and they may also interact with health insurance providers, other healthcare providers, and other members of the healthcare team. Medical Billers may be faced with having difficult conversations as part of their work day. For example, a claim may not be processed or partially processed, which could understandably cause frustration. Because of this, it is important that a Medical Biller always remains patient and courteous with all individuals they work with, as they play a crucial role as a “bridge” of sorts between the insurance company, the healthcare provider, and the patient.
- Analytical & A Good Problem Solver: Those who work in Medical Billing should be good at solving problems, or as some Billers have said, “good with puzzles,” because medical billing can sometimes seem like working with a puzzle of sorts. We say this because there are a number of codes that billers need to be familiar with, and billers must skillfully navigate through the various pieces of a billing/coding “puzzle” they are working with at the time to get claims processed for patients and get doctors (or the healthcare providers they are working for) paid for the services delivered. This process may not always be seamless, which may entail billers to investigate, follow-up, troubleshoot, and resubmit claims to ensure accurate, timely, and complete processing of claims. Analytical skills are also key for Medical Billers to possess. If a claim is returned to a provider or rejected by the insurance company, it may not always come with an explanation or be explicitly clear as to why the claim was not processed as requested. This means, the Medical Biller may need to take another pass at figuring out why the initial submission was not accepted and processed. For a biller with good analytical skills, they can often troubleshoot the problem based on the info they have or make a conclusion based on past experience, which may help reduce the time it takes to resolve issues, process the claim, and receive payment for services.
Keen Attention to Detail: As previously noted, THOUSANDS of medical codes exist in the world of billing and coding and these codes are used in the Medical Billing process. While it’s unrealistic for any Medical Biller (or Coder) to know or memorize every single potential code out there, Medical Billers should have a strong attention to detail and know how and where to find commonly used codes for their practice. They should be fluent with the procedures in processing claims to ensure timely and accurate payment for services provided. Careless errors could result in delays in processing and as a result, payment being delayed to the healthcare provider.- Integrity: Healthcare professionals (including Medical Billers and Coders) work with patients’ personal information and health information regularly. As such, these professionals are bound by HIPAA to protect the privacy of their patients. It’s imperative that Medical Billers and Coders not only have sound judgment, but also operate with the highest levels of integrity at all times.
- Technical Skills: Believe it or not, there are a fair amount of technical skills one may wish to possess in order to be an effective in their role as a Medical Biller. This includes being familiar with Medical Billing programs (and software) as well as understanding both hospital and institutional coding and billing. In some cases, Medical Billers may also wish to have a fundamental understanding of Accounting principles, word processing applications, and spreadsheet applications.
Autonomous & An Ability to Multitask: Medical Billers have a fair amount of responsibility in their role. In addition, this is a role that may require someone to work independently and take initiative. For example, if a claim they’ve submitted is rejected, a Medical Biller can’t necessarily wait for a doctor to stop seeing patients so they can ask “What should I do with this?” Instead, doctors are going to rely on their Billers to take action, take initiative, and work autonomously whenever possible to figure these things out. Now that doesn’t mean that Billers never have to check in with their supervisor or that they have free reign to do whatever they want, that’s definitely not the case, but this is a type of role that requires someone who is able keep their workflow constantly moving.Depending upon the environment where the Medical Biller works, multi-tasking is a quality/skill that can come in very handy. Medical Billers have to juggle a number of different claims and keep tabs on how claims are working through the system. In addition, Billers may also be responsible for other administrative tasks within their medical office and/or they may also serve a dual role as a Medical Assistant in their practice.- Dependability: Depending on where a Medical Biller may work, they may be the sole Billing professional or they may work as part of a larger Medical Billing team. Regardless of a team’s size (whether it’s one Medical Biller or a team of Medical Billers), a Medical Biller is essential to the practice where they work because they are the ones that ensure the healthcare provider is paid for services they provide and in-turn; ensure cash is coming into the practice.
The 7 qualities listed here are not an all-inclusive list of qualities that makes a Medical Biller great at their job, rather, they are meant to be a quick list of desirable qualities for Medical Billers. If you’re lacking in any of the qualities above, it does not mean that you won’t be a good Medical Biller. Instead, you may want to focus on those specific skills as part of your education and training prior to obtaining a position in the healthcare field as a Medical Biller.
The Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Program at Training Direct
The Medical Billing and Coding Specialist training program is comprised of eighty (80) instructional hours. Students can benefit from in-class instruction covering a variety of topics to assist in their transition from the classroom to a new career in an administrative position within a healthcare setting.
The Medical Billing and Coding Specialist program at Training Direct is designed to prepare students to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to obtain an entry-level position as a Medical Billing and Coding professional working in a healthcare facility. The Medical Billing and Coding Specialist training program will offer students with an opportunity to learn basic knowledge and practical experience in terminology, procedures and techniques commonly encountered in the workplace by those working in Medical Billing and Coding. The Medical Billing and Coding Specialist program at Training Direct can also help prepare students to challenge a National Certification Examination. For those who wish to pursue a certification examination after graduation, additional fees may apply these examinations.
Training Direct’s Medical Billing and Coding Specialist program is currently offered at our Bridgeport, CT school and our Danbury, CT school. Day, evening, and weekend classes are available, but schedule availability will vary by location.
