| The Health Insurance Portability and | | | | insurance companies are striving to control |
| Accountability Act came into being on | | | | frivolous claims, fraud, misuse and abuse of |
| February 16, 2006. The aim of this law is to | | | | reimbursement policies. The role of medical |
| define and establish national standards for | | | | billing experts is critical in this process. |
| health care transactions and also provide | | | | Because the legal consequences of incorrect |
| security and privacy of health care | | | | billing can be disastrous there is a dire |
| information. The Act's purpose is to | | | | need for medical billers who can ensure |
| substantially improve the delivery of the | | | | accuracy in billing and also be held |
| health care system. This advanced, reformed | | | | accountable for any mistakes, in the same |
| system demands qualified individuals who can | | | | manner as the tax accountants who file the |
| put it to use to maximize effective | | | | returns for clients. |
| implementation of the legislation as well as | | | | |
| to allow for thorough compliance at the same | | | | Currently, no educational standards have been |
| time ensuring maximum reimbursement to the | | | | laid down for medical billers and coders. The |
| needy. All the health care providers must | | | | employers are in search of formal training |
| employ qualified persons so that mistakes | | | | through accredited training institutes that |
| that can result in serious consequences are | | | | offer training courses of 9 months to two |
| avoided. | | | | year duration. This will ensure that the |
| | | | certified persons are capable of |
| World over, medical knowledge has progressed | | | | understanding the issues involved and deliver |
| after the World War II bringing about fresh, | | | | proper service to the clients. Many |
| insights and techniques in diagnostic and | | | | organizations have come forward to sponsor |
| treatment processes. There is therefore a | | | | such certification courses in the interest of |
| pressing need to organize and standardize | | | | the industry. There are several institutes |
| these technologies. Thus evolved the medical | | | | offering courses in medical billing and |
| code which not only met these challenges but | | | | coding. A medical biller / coder can expect |
| also allowed for a system of uniform | | | | to earn $8 to $10 per hour to start with, |
| communication of health information. A common | | | | which could go up to $30 to $40 after gaining |
| medical language evolved and standardized | | | | some experience. |
| definitions and codes were formulated for use | | | | |
| of health care providers and insurance | | | | The health care industry is evolving at an |
| companies. In this age of high technology, | | | | enormous pace, and so are the complex medical |
| these codes and medical procedures have | | | | and surgical procedures. The medical coders |
| increased tremendously and they have to be | | | | can only standardize them with the help of |
| constantly updated. This process is best | | | | sophisticated software programs and make the |
| achieved through outsourcing of medical | | | | services easy for outsourcing. Such a |
| billing. | | | | scenario means an on going demand for |
| | | | qualified and experienced medical coders and |
| With the explosive growth in health care, the | | | | billers who can play a vital role in the |
| medical billing and associated occupations | | | | outsourcing industry. |
| are on the rise. Government agencies and | | | | |