Question

What professional attributes should a coder/biller have to contribute to the overall health of the medical office or hospital?

Answer 1

1. Communication Skills & Courtesy: Medical Billers will likely interact with patients, and they may also interact with health insurance providers, other healthcare providers, and other members of the healthcare team. It is important that a Medical Biller always remains patient and courteous with all individuals they work with, as they play a crucial role as a “bridge” of sorts between the insurance company, the healthcare provider, and the patient
2. Analytical & A Good Problem Solver:Those who work in Medical Billing should be good at solving problems, because there are a number of codes that billers need to be familiar with, and billers must skillfully navigate through the various pieces of a billing/coding.For a biller with good analytical skills, they can often troubleshoot the problem based on the info they have or make a conclusion based on past experience, which may help reduce the time it takes to resolve issues, process the claim, and receive payment for services.
3. Keen Attention to Detail:As previously noted, thousands of medical codes exist in the world of billing and coding and these codes are used in the Medical Billing process. While it’s unrealistic for any Medical Biller (or Coder) to know or memorize every single potential code out there, Medical Billers should have a strong attention to detail and know how and where to find commonly used codes for their practice.
4. Integrity: Healthcare professionals (including Medical Billers and Coders) work with patients’ personal information and health information regularly. As such, these professionals are bound by HIPAA to protect the privacy of their patients. It’s imperative that Medical Billers and Coders not only have sound judgment, but also operate with the highest levels of integrity at all times.
5. Technical Skills: There are a fair amount of technical skills one may wish to possess in order to be an effective in their role as a Medical Biller. This includes being familiar with Medical Billing programs (and software) as well as understanding both hospital and institutional coding and billing.
6. Autonomous & An Ability to Multitask:Medical Billers have a fair amount of responsibility in their role. In addition, this is a role that may require someone to work independently and take initiative. Medical Billers have to juggle a number of different claims and keep tabs on how claims are working through the system. In addition, Billers may also be responsible for other administrative tasks within their medical office and/or they may also serve a dual role as a Medical Assistant in their practice.
7. Dependability: Depending on where a Medical Biller may work, they may be the sole Billing professional or they may work as part of a larger Medical Billing team. Regardless of a team’s size (whether it’s one Medical Biller or a team of Medical Billers), a Medical Biller is essential to the practice where they work because they are the ones that ensure the healthcare provider is paid for services they provide and in-turn; ensure cash is coming into the practice.