Outsourcing of Medical Billing - A Sunrise Opportunity in Health Care

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountabilitythe rise. Government agencies and insurance
Act came into being on February 16, 2006. Thecompanies are striving to control frivolous claims,
aim of this law is to define and establish nationalfraud, misuse and abuse of reimbursement
standards for health care transactions and alsopolicies. The role of medical billing experts is critical
provide security and privacy of health carein this process. Because the legal consequences of
information. The Act's purpose is to substantiallyincorrect billing can be disastrous there is a dire
improve the delivery of the health care system.need for medical billers who can ensure accuracy
This advanced, reformed system demandsin billing and also be held accountable for any
qualified individuals who can put it to use tomistakes, in the same manner as the tax
maximize effective implementation of theaccountants who file the returns for clients.
legislation as well as to allow for thoroughCurrently, no educational standards have been laid
compliance at the same time ensuring maximumdown for medical billers and coders. The
reimbursement to the needy. All the health careemployers are in search of formal training through
providers must employ qualified persons so thataccredited training institutes that offer training
mistakes that can result in serious consequencescourses of 9 months to two year duration. This
are avoided.will ensure that the certified persons are capable
World over, medical knowledge has progressedof understanding the issues involved and deliver
after the World War II bringing about fresh,proper service to the clients. Many organizations
insights and techniques in diagnostic and treatmenthave come forward to sponsor such certification
processes. There is therefore a pressing need tocourses in the interest of the industry. There are
organize and standardize these technologies. Thusseveral institutes offering courses in medical billing
evolved the medical code which not only metand coding. A medical biller / coder can expect to
these challenges but also allowed for a system ofearn $8 to $10 per hour to start with, which could
uniform communication of health information. Ago up to $30 to $40 after gaining some
common medical language evolved andexperience.
standardized definitions and codes wereThe health care industry is evolving at an
formulated for use of health care providers andenormous pace, and so are the complex medical
insurance companies. In this age of highand surgical procedures. The medical coders can
technology, these codes and medical proceduresonly standardize them with the help of
have increased tremendously and they have tosophisticated software programs and make the
be constantly updated. This process is bestservices easy for outsourcing. Such a scenario
achieved through outsourcing of medical billing.means an on going demand for qualified and
With the explosive growth in health care, theexperienced medical coders and billers who can
medical billing and associated occupations are onplay a vital role in the outsourcing industry.