First allow me to be very candid.  I have been in the medical billing and coding industry for many years now and I have yet to see or hear of a legitimate company hiring home based medical billers to process their excess claims workload in exchange for either a salary or commission.  If getting a job from home doing medical billing was a reality I (and several of my medical billing business owners associates) would have done that with at least 2-3 different companies to increase our profit potential instead of going through drama of starting a home based medical billing business from scratch. 

As of August 2007 I professionally recommend the following 2 books to anyone thatâ€™s looking to start a home based medical billing business.  These books put all the aspects of this industry on table, they are very easy to read and the use of current examples make it very simple for the reader to put the information into action:

Lorelys in Miami, Florida said: I am single mom that wants to spend more time with my kids.  I work to pay daycare and well want to do something from work but don't know how or where to start.  Can someone help??? 

Found this while seeking my own education.  You might look them up.  This is a partial list from the Texas Unemployment Commission approved schools

I have one more question-is it imperative that I am certified in coding to start this business?  I am already a Ceritified Medical Billing and Coding Specialist. ( Received from a local Technical School last year. 

It is very unlikely that you will receive the type of response you are looking for.  The topic of marketing a home based medical billingbusiness is not one that can just be expressed in a paragraph or two and this is why the marketing phase of the business is the hardest part for most to deal with. 

If you have never marketed anything besides yourself at an interview (and most do not do that correctly) then selling yourself and your company is very, very scary at first. 

The skill of marketing and selling is learned over time.  As you become more confident in your abilities to make physician see what is wrong with their businesses and what you can do to help them you will become more knowledgeable and that will translate into profits and more business. 

So for the benefit of everyone that reads this page I am going to give you all the expert advice on home based medical billing that I have come across while being in this business:

Medical Billing Beginners Book= This the best book I have ever had the pleasure of reading concerning home based medical billing.  medicalbillingbooks.tripod.com

How To Jump Start A Successful Medical Billing Service= Another book that I just finished that does a decent job of covering the aspects of doing business as a home based business by Vanessa Best.  www.urlfreeze.com/medbill/L-312b/

Medical Billing Training Courses= This website instructs beginners as to what they must consider before they choose an online medical billing training course to enroll in.  medicalbillingbooks.tripod.com/id2.html

Since my post above was cut short (I know I can ramble on at times) here is the remaining links to the other home based medical billing resources that everyone interested in this field should have in their library:

How To Market A Medical Billing Business Book= This medical billing book exposes you to the 12 strategies that you should be using every day to gain and increase your business.  You get the "strategies", how to implement them, along with phone scripts, letters, and other marketing resources.  These methods work, because they increase our business every time we use them.  www.urlfreeze.com/medbill/How_To_Market_A_Medical_Billing_Business_Book/

The Basics of Medical Billing Book= This medical billing book is a must read before you get to the marketing phase of your set-up.  Once you absorb the information contained within you will have no fear educating your potential clients and their staff about how and why they should improve the efficiency and cash flow of their office.  www.urlfreeze.com/medbill/Basics_of_Medical_Billing_Book/

How to Correctly Complete a CMS 1500 Form Book - Line by Line, Box by Box= This medical billing book walks you step by step, line-by-line, box-by-box in easy to understand language through properly preparing the CMS 1500 form so you can prevent getting "Denied Claims" which will get you and your clients get paid faster. 
www.urlfreeze.com/medbill/How_to_Complete_a_CMS_1500_Form/

Would you suggest that if you want to start a at home medical billingbusiness, its best to start at a doctor's office to get more experience?  I am about to start working on my medical claim and billing course.  I have been going back and forth about this decision for about 2 months.  I didn't want to just jump in and do the class unless I know I want to do this.  I would not mind working at home but I have thought it would be best to work somewhere to get more experience and go from there.  How can anyone just start without having any type of experience? 

Is there really anything in this world that you can work from home with out having to pay in money to get a job??  I have 2 kids to care for and i don't want to have to pay for daycare and all the other things that cost money...I would rather stay home and do it myself

If you can make money doing this---How do you get started?  I have taken the course and I have front office, back office, and other medical experience.  Getting started is the hardest.  Can anyone lend a helping hand??? 

I am really interested in doing medical claims and billing from home, but I have a few questions.  First of all, I am a certified Medical Assistant, so I've already taken a medical billing course.  Is that enough training to be hired by a company online?  Secondly, I made some stupid choices when I was younger and I am now a convicted felon...how hard will it be for me to find a job?  Does that matter considering that I will be working from home and not in an office? 

Unfortunately, I don't know of any doctor that would turn over their billing to you. 

As a part of a biller's compliance plan that is required to detect and prevent fraud and abuse, employers and providers are supposed to check anyone that works for them to see if they have been excluded from submitting claims to the Medicare and Medicaid program and to pre-screen employees as a reasonable step to implement in your compliance plan.  Best practices would exclude you as a convicted felon. 

I do think that you might get away without disclosing this fact to some extent, but this is something that would likely come back to haunt you and the providers you were to work with.  You definitely would not be eligible for errors & omissions insurance, which you would want to have. 

I don't think it is realistic to believe you could own and operate a professional and successful billing business or be hired to work in a provider or billing office with your background.  I know this is probably not a popular answer, but it's an honest one. 

is your heart set on the home-based business or are you willing to work as a medical biller as well?  I say this because--about 11 years ago, I worked for a medical billing company that did have a convicted felon on the staff--in fact, the employee was convicted of insurancefraud working at an insurance company--I am not sure what was involved during the hiring process, but the employee was there for 5 years; so there are those out there that may give you a chance. 

Since 1998, the Office of InspectorGeneral has issued 3rd party billing guidelines that basically address this.  Page 12 of 15 of these guidelines say:

>>2.  New Employee Policy For all new employees who have discretionary authority to make decisions that may involve compliance with the law or compliance oversight,
billing companies should conduct a reasonable and prudent background investigation, including a reference check, as part of every such employment application.  The application should specifically require the applicant to disclose any criminal conviction, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 1320a-7(i), or exclusion action.  Pursuant
to the compliance program, billing company policies should prohibit the employment of individuals who have been recently convicted of a criminal offense related to health care or who are listed as debarred, excluded or otherwise ineligible for participation in Federalhealth care programs.  In addition, pending the resolution of any criminal charges or proposed debarment or exclusion, the OIG recommends that
such individuals should be removed from direct responsibility for, or involvement, in any Federal health care program.  Similarly, with regard to current employees or independent contractors, if resolution of the matter results in conviction, debarment or exclusion, then the billing company should remove the individual from direct responsibility for or involvement with all Federal health care programs. 

Not knowing what you were convicted of makes it hard to say firmly that you couldn't or wouldn't be hired or that you can't do billing from home but I don't think you can reasonably expect to be welcomed into an office easily.  Again, good luck to you. 

I have one more question-is it imperative that I am certified in coding to start this business?  I am already a Ceritified Medical Billing and Coding Specialist. ( Received from a local Technical School last year. 

I am a certified billing and coding specialist also as of 06/08.  I am currently working in a private PCP office doing a variety of field related tasks including billing and coding.  I would love to work from home in billing/coding only.  Please keep me informed of your business opportunity status.  I will apply! 

Someone earlier said that the US Career Institute was a joke.  Does anyone have an opinion on this or on other correspondence type courses.  Who is the most reputable and who does the best job of preparing you for a medical coding and/or billing career? 

none there are non that really prepare you all the courses are accelerated now which makes it impossible for u to have evough experirnce to survive unless you push your self.. my opionion.  I went to anthem insitute not at all what I was expecting and if i knew then what i know now i would have took colladge courses instead! 

Alicia in Jacksonville, Florida said: I am really interested in doing medical claims and billing from home, but I have a few questions.  First of all, I am a certified Medical Assistant, so I've already taken a medical billing course.  Is that enough training to be hired by a company online?  Secondly, I made some stupid choices when I was younger and I am now a convicted felon...how hard will it be for me to find a job?  Does that matter considering that I will be working from home and not in an office? 

weiler in Las Vegas, Nevada said: starting a successul at home business like this is not a good idea if you are NEW, you need contacts, experience and clients, try PureMedicalJobsDOTCOM and other similar sites good luck

Yes, experience is preferred, but we have people that only have education and no work experience that are able to obtain clients and become successful all the time.  There is nothing saying you can't do it, but obviously, if you have experience, it will help you become successful sooner.  We have sample contracts, billing forms, marketing assistance and much more as an association for our members to download.  We have more than 200 useful forms, articles and samples for people that are just starting or that have experience...

People are driving is swarms to start a medical billingbusiness from home but the facts are that their is a lot that goes into this.  First you are responsible for the doctors income.  If you don't collect the money he can lose his practice.  You don't need to go to college to be a medical biller but you should know the basics and be willing to do anything and talk to anyone to get a claim paid on. 

I just found this cool website that offers over 12 hours of free medical billing training videos.  You can watch from the setup of a practice management software, to the actual steps of posting charges and payments including ERA into a system.  Also follow along as they send statements and work collections. 

Here is the info check out videotrainingpro.com/ and scroll down and click on the Free Medical Billing option.  It takes you to a webpage that lists 113 free training videos - click on the one you want, click play and then maximize the screen for full viewing.  ~ pretty cool

Those lists that CMS (Medicare) used to maintain on providers that didn't file claims electronically are not kept any longer because it's mandatory for doctors to file claims electronically to Medicare now. 

If some company told you they would provide you with a list, it was probably a scam because those lists haven't been updated in years. 

The best list will be the one you create.  You can, however, use the information from the NPPES database file for updated addresses of providers. 

Thank you for responding I have already signed up with a franchise medical billing company I did all my research before I sent in my money and they had wonderful record but I would like to know if you know of any one else that franchise with this company before and how is business going for them and do doctors really use indidviduals that do outsource billing from there house someone told me that they would rather use a commericial billing companies it is going to be hard for me to get a doctor signed up I have not passed out my brochures yet because I still training on the marketing to fit my needs and what is comfortable for me because the way the company is training me is like telemarketing and that is being to pushy and I do not like pushy sale people and also I am making me up some postcards and I would like to use the postcards to market instead of the brochure they gave me I like to make up my own do you think by me starting off I should use they business name since they have been in business for 17 years or should I use my business name or just wait to use mines until I gain doctors and gain more reputation with the business first and the name of the business I franchise with is called USA For Healthclaims

power for a purpose in Franklin, Tennessee said: I have a very lucrative home based business that is very exciting.  It is in the medical field.  If I can help, please contact me for further information. 

I have been doing medical billing for 15 yrs.  I started out working in physicians offices, attending Medicare seminars and learning all I can.  I have worked mainly for ophthamologist and cardiologist.  I am currently working from home as an A/R specialist with a well established company of 30 yrs.  I got tired of the unprofessionalism of some of the co-workers and decided to ask if I could work from home.  Thankfully, they agreed and I have been happily working from home for over 2 yrs now. 
It's pretty easy work but you have to know what you are doing to be able to do this from home.  There is alot to it and you have to do alot of investigational work to resolve the problem.  And there are so many different insurances out there and they all have guidelines of their own so it is not always just set in stone across the board.  I would suggest you try to find a job as a medical biller/A/R specialist with a physician office and learn all you can and show your employer that you are trustworthy to work from home. It takes dedication and discipline to work successfully from home.  I wish you luck....

I am looking to do Medical Billing from.  I have been doing this for seven year now.  I want to send time with my daughter a little bit more.  If anyone can help me please email me at monicaneal8814@yahoo.com

I talked with a person who does medical billing and to make life easier and affordable she is using the InstaClaim.net program and says it is way affordable and can do electronicclaims as well.  I just wanted to put this information out there to help anyone looking for an affordable solution to medical billing.  Good luck in your work I sympathize with your efforts to be moms too. 

When I had a billing service I didn't have the Erorr & omission insurance however; I knew what I was doing and I had a lot of "protection" from my contract with the doctor where I placed most all scenarios back on the doctors shoulders including not being responsible if the doctor coded incorrectly since I wasn't getting his medical records on every patient etc. 

PS - if you are employed with the billing service you should be covered under their umbrella of insurances.  If you are a independent contractor then you would be responsible for any claims brought against you which is where having the insurance would be helpful. 

I am a bit confused with your frustration.  On your site, you offer the "Certified Medical Billing Professional (CMBP) Designation ".  So, you award this credential to your students without them taking an exam?  You award the credential for what--them completing the program?  If so, that is fine.  I have no problem with that....if you wish to award a credential without an exam, then, of course-that is your choice.  No-where on my site do you see "national".  But if a prospective student or medical biller asks me if the credential is national--I explain to them, because the credential is NOT state specific, they can 'take' their credential with them if they move from state to state. 

What is your problem if myself and others offer a credential WITH the student successfully passing an exam and you offering a credential WITHOUT the student taking an exam?  I don't understand? 

I'm looking into taking a medical billing & claims specialist course.  I'm comparing two at the moment, US Career Institute and Allied.  Allied is more money, however, it includes a big section on Medisoft.  Is Medisoft something I need to be trained on to get a job? 

MediSoft is NOT something you need to be concerned about.  It is a program that many billers used to utilize for claims processing, but that was before there were a lot of choices.  In the past several years, there have become a lot more effective programs available and many MediSoft users are no longer using that program as they have switched to something that better meets their needs either financially or practically. 

Have you actually review the Better Business Bureau reports for these companies?  That's something you really should do as a matter of research. 

power for a purpose in Franklin, Tennessee said: I have a very lucrative home based business that is very exciting.  It is in the medical field.  If I can help, please contact me for further information. 

Can you send me your contact info?  I am in the process of trying to work from home. 

I just started my medical billingbusiness from home and I am having the hardest time trying to get a doctor to sign up did you work in the field before you got started please give me some tips on how to get a doctor I am trying to find networking groups to join but i do not know which ones to join

The good news is that you have not diluded yourself into a work from home "job" but decided to start your own business!  The key is NOT to give up.  What have you done in terms of marketing so far?  Direct mail?  Internet?  Get your name out there as much as possible!  Hand your cards out to your attorney, your accountant, offer a referal incentive!  Networking with other billers is good to a point..but you need to look at where the connections to the providers are and also think outside the box.  Benefits sell!  Tell & Show potential clients that you can offer MORE than just billing. 

I have done direct mailing and have not gotten any responses I do not know any attorneys and I have no healthinsurance so I really do not know any private doctors and most of my friends and most go to the free health clinic like me and medical billing is all the services that I have to offer right now I am looking into taking some accounting classess.  Do your services help business find doctors thank you for responding

Shay in Vandalia, Ohio said: US Career Institute is a joke, Went there and NO JOB in the Medical Billing field.  I work
in A Nursing Home.  Please that is a waste of money and time. 

You say it is a joke its not.  Obviously you don't know what your doing for that career.  I took the same class and it worked for me they lesson's taught you everything.  I am stariting to work from home and I finished that class in January after having a baby, so it isn't a joke. 

When I had a billing service I didn't have the Erorr & omission insurance however; I knew what I was doing and I had a lot of "protection" from my contract with the doctor where I placed most all scenarios back on the doctors shoulders including not being responsible if the doctor coded incorrectly since I wasn't getting his medical records on every patient etc. 

Your contract and just knowing what you are doing is NOT even remotely good reason for not having Errors & omissions insurance.  We live in a time where anyone can sue anyone for anything.  What that means is that EVEN if you do EVERYTHING right, in order to defend yourself you will need to be financially ABLE to defend yourself.  I don't know about you but most medical billing companies don't have thousands of dollars sitting around just in case you need to hire a lawyer to defend yourself.  Again, this doesn't matter who's right or wrong, it costs you money to even have to defend yourself, that's what E/O insurance is for.