- When a patient visits the doctor, an invoice or claim is drawn up and coded for whatever care and services the patient received. When payment for the services is received, the claim is processed and filed. Medical billers, sometimes referred to as medical reimbursement professionals, are responsible for this work.
- According to a June 2009 survey by Payscale.com, the average starting salary for a first-year medical billing professional is $12.20 per hour. For those with more than one year of experience, the median salary is $12.94 per hour. Certified medical billers who have at least five years of job experience can expect to earn an average of $14.62 an hour, and those who have been on the job for 10 years or more can earn about $15.42 an hour.
- Medical billing classes can be found at allied health schools, technical or vocational schools and some community colleges. Depending on the program, the length of study can last nine months to two years, if attending a college. Medical billing classes and programs can also be found online for those who have full-time jobs or other obligations that prevent them from attending a traditional school.
- In addition to computing costs and preparing invoices for billing, certified medical billers have a variety of duties within the office, including filing and following up on insurance claims, handling insurance fraud cases, patient records and in-house collections.
- Medical billers who have gained certification can find employment in a variety of settings including hospitals, private physician's offices, private clinics, convalescent homes and home health care agencies. Some medical billers are able to find opportunities to work from a home-based office for one or more smaller medical offices or practices.
