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