Tips for Getting that Work from Home
Medical Billing and Coding Job
Most people that have a desire to work in this program, want to do so because they want to work from home. Job advertisements have caught their eye and with those advertisements, the demand for these jobs has been increasing. This is not misleading information. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is showing an 11% growth rate in this job from 2018-2028. Doing medical billing and coding work from home is definitely a possibility. More and more companies are hiring remote workers and that number continues to climb.
While this is exciting news, there is information that everyone who desires to work from home in medical billing and coding needs to know. Here are a few tips to set everything straight and to keep in mind as you pursue your dream career and work from home.
TIP 1:
You need your education and certification. These certifications are must-haves for remote work. The businesses want someone with a diploma and/or degree in this field. After you get the proper education, you need to get certified. The two most reputable organizations to receive certifications from are AHIMA and the AAPC. AAPC has various different coding certifications, as well as a billing certification. AAPC has numerous other certifications that can be obtained if you decide to pursue them, such as being an auditor. AHIMA is more on the health information side and does not have the variety of certifications like AAPC, but it is also reputable in terms of being certified.
Graduates of Blackstone’s Medical Billing and Coding online course are qualified to sit for the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam administered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist (CMRS) exam from the American Billing Association (AMBA), and the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).
Tip 2:
You need some experience first. Yes, there are a large number of work from home jobs, but most of them require experience first. Some places just want one year, while there are others who desire at least 3 years of experience before they will hire you to work from home.
TIP 3:
You need to have a place to work. Most businesses will not be okay with you just clearing off your dining room table and working there. You will be transmitting claims, which is one of the most important jobs in the office because of the reimbursement, as well as handling the money and being sure patient accounts are current among a great deal of other office tasks. They will want you to have a quiet place to work that you can keep neat and clean and organized at all times. They want to be sure their money is being posted correctly and that there are little to no mistakes with the claims.
TIP 4:
You will need the necessary equipment. There are some places that will supply this for you, however, they will want the basics such as a desk, pens, paper, etc. and high-speed internet. Even if they reimburse you for internet, they want to know that you have already started that process and that where you live has the capability of it. They will more than likely do a test to be sure that this can happen.
TIP 5:
You need to be reliable! Yes, you are working from home. You feel that you can roll out of bed and do your work in your pj’s. If your kids are sick, if you have a doctor’s appointment, whatever happens, you can still work with no worries. While most of this is true, you will still have work that needs to be done each and every day and in a timely manner. Most places will have you log in during their working hours and they will have a way to track if you are logged in or not. If they don’t have this, the office will want daily reports from you. It will be like most jobs, if something comes up you can call and let them know, however, not calling and letting them know can be just as bad as not coming into work at a regular office. This is something to keep in mind while pursuing this type of work. You cannot just bounce around town and do your work when the mood hits. You will have a schedule and will be expected to stick to it.
It can be fun to work from home. You can wear your pajamas most of the time and you don’t have to worry about the issues that often plague an office, such as working with different personalities and the conflicts that can entail. You can take breaks in your own house and you will save so much money on gas and on the wear and tear of your car. However, be sure that you are aware of all that the job requires and that you are prepared. There is an old saying, “the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence”. This can be true for working from home, especially if you are not prepared.
