How to learn billing without taking a college course

From time to time I get questions from people who would like to be a medical biller but have no billing experience. They ask how do I learn what I need to know to complete these steps without having to complete a College course or a online class.

Simply put you have many options:
1. Purchase the most current AMA Physician ICD-9-CM 2009 book and read the Coding Guidelines (about 35 pages).

2. Purchase the most current CPT 2009 Professional Edition (Current Procedural Terminology, Professional Ed. and read everything about modifiers, Place of Service, Introduction, and Evaluation and Management Service Guidelines. Always familiarize yourself with the first page of the Guidelines of each section. This is what the doctors use to learn how to "code" for their services. It's best to familiarize yourself with this.

3. How To Complete A CMS 1500 Form Completely and Correctly - Line By Line, Box By Box: HCFA 1500 Instructions

4. Purchase books like Medical Billing & Coding Demystified to help you understand how to put this all together.

5. Read the Fair Credit Reporting Act http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fcrajump.shtm to learn about the protection of Medical Information, patient credit checks.

6. Read the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf

7. Learn HIPAA http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/ which explains how to handle patients information

As a medical biller you do not need to have coding certifications or certificates of passing a Medical billing college course. In fact, most companies won't hire you on until you have 6 months of medical billing experience. Learn what you can and advance within the companies as you understand more.

Happy Billing!

For more course information on Medical Billing check out Online Medical Coding and Billing Courses


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