Medical billing and coding - home business reality check

I found this article on a billing forum. It's great because it provides a "reality check" for anyone new to the business who thinks they are going to get a little training and then begin getting clients...not. Read and heed.

New Biller need advice		[-]
	Tags : None I'm new at this and I want to run my business from home. How do I choose a specialty? And really who is going to give me a chance with no experience? How do you suggest getting experience? Any advice is certainly appreciated.
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	Good questions. Im going to ask some questions as if a provider was asking you. Try to answer them, as though a doctor was here to find someone. They can se your answers and go from there. 1. Where did you receive your training? 2. How did you do on your final test? 3) You say you dont have experience, so how will using your business be of help to my practice? 4) How many hours will you spend on my accounts? 5) What will you do when you receive a patient complaint? 6) What are your strengths and weaknesses? 7) What type of software are you using now? How will you get the data from my office to your home? 9) I am a family practice physician, tell me what you know about family practice? 10) Will you charge a start up fee and how much will it be? If so, why am I being charged to use you? 11) How will my information be protected against theft, fire or natural disaster? 12) If I terminate you, what will you do with my data? Ho wwil it be returned to me? 13) Do you have a business plan? 14) If you have to go on vacation or leave because of an emergency, what happens to my accounts? 15) What reports can you provide me at the end of the month? 16) How much will it cost me to use you? Do I pay a percentage of charges, payments or per claim? 17) How do you account for refunds in what you charge me? 18) What services do you provide? 19) Do you carry any insurance against errors or omissions? 20) Do you have a compliance plan and will you provide me with a copy for review? 21) What will you do with my claims denials or unpaid claims? 22) Do you prefer insurance checks to be sent to you directly? 23) How can my patients or I contact you after busines hours? 24) How do you handle attorney requests for statements? 25) A patient was sent to debt collection and now produces insurance information. How much will it cost me to send a claim? 26) What will you do when you find that your fees are too low and you want more money? 27) Tell me what you know about workers compensation. I think this will give you an idea of where you stand. These are questions asked of me by providers that hired me? This great information came from Steve Verno at the Medical Association of Billers