For all the countless ads touting medical billing as a lucrative career choice, there is actually very little reliable medical billing information out there. What we have are scams and fraudulent medical billing information designed to fool us into thinking that we're spending perfectly good money on a once in a lifetime work at home opportunity.
Basically, this is what happens. You are either surfing on the Internet or reading the classified section of the local newspapers when you stumble unto an ad about medical billing information. The ad tells you that the healthcare industry is experiencing a great need and demand for more medical billing specialists willing to handle claims processing, billing, and accounting for medical offices, clinics, practices, and even large hospitals. Now, this part of the medical billing information they're telling you is true at least. There is indeed a high demand for professional medical billers and coders in the healthcare job market these days but take note of the term "professional." What employers are looking for are competent individuals who are trained in medical billing information, insurance and claims processing, medical terminologies, diagnostic procedures, et cetera.
Another claim that these ads make is that the profession requires no experience and you can get rich overnight. This medical billing information is definitely misrepresented. Experience is a vital aspect of medical billing and what you lack in it, you must make up for in knowledge and training. Medical billing information deals with trust and if you're not even qualified to do the job, how can you expect to be considered as trustworthy by your clients?
Medical billing scammers charge a fee that's somewhere between $300 and $500 and in exchange for that, they claim to provide you with everything you need in order to start your own medical billing information business, including software program, reference sheets, and a list of potential clients.
However, you will soon realize that only very few consumers who pay for medical billing information opportunities find clients and make money. Only very few earn the promised substantial income. And only very few make it to the first month. This is because many doctor's offices process their own medical claims. If you want to get into the world of medical billing, you must be tough and you must have all the necessary qualifications, including training, skills, knowledge, and experience.
There are many way for you to avoid getting scammed and lose your money on bogus medical billing information. These include: asking for references, consulting with organizations for medical claims processors, and checking with the Attorney General's office, consumer protection agency, and the Better Business Bureau.