Medical Billing School Will Probably Let You Down
After hundreds of interviews with medical billing school graduates I have come to the conclusion that these programs are typically a waste of time and money. Graduates are simply not qualified to start as a medical biller. They are not significantly more qualified than individuals with no experience and no training.
The majority of graduates we do hire start in our apprenticeship program - a position they could have obtained without a medical billing school investment. They start out alongside other apprentices that have no experience and no formal training in medical billing.
The terminology and concepts taught in medical billing school no more prepare a person to be a full fledged medical biller than reading a book on how to drive a car prepares one for the challenges of actually driving a car - it is practice behind the wheel that is required. The academic elements can be helpful - just like supplementing practice behind the wheel with a manual on safe driving makes sense. Unfortunately, however, this is only true if the academic material is accurate. I have found that often students have been damaged by medical billing schools that either teach incorrect medical billing concepts or leave the students with a sense that they have nothing left to learn.
Most individuals would be much better off saving their money and finding a medical billing company or medical practice that will let them join and start with basic medical billing work such as calling on claims to verify status or verifying patient insurance information before the visit.
The beauty of this approach is that these activities build a great foundation for more advanced medical billing. They allow you to develop true knowledge about some of medical billing’s most important building blocks and they give you a resume that shows real experience. Finally, you are getting paid while you do this - not paying for an incomplete education that is unlikely to yield the results you desire.
Most organizations do not have a formal apprenticeship program, but if you interview with the specific tasks outlined above in mind then you can find an entry level opportunity. This opportunity will pay you to learn about medical billing and build your resume.
Once you have a few years of real medical billing under your belt (not just the entry level tasks, but more advanced medical billing you move into as you master the entry level tasks) then you are ready to extract value not from medical billing school, but from coding classes. With the core knowledge in place you can make the most of the coding classes and will have credibility with potential employers.
In summary, medical billing school is simply not worth the investment for an inexperienced student. You will find more success and greater financial rewards if you skip the medical billing school until you have the experience under your belt to make the certified coder courses a worthwhile investment.
Copyright 2008 by Carl Mays II
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