Medical billing is a field that is in high demand today and the potential for growth of this business is very high. That makes this a good profession to consider getting into. The working conditions are pleasant being an office job and opportunities exist to work from home. There is also opportunity for career advancement by acquiring additional skills, managing a large billing office, and starting an dependently owned medical billing service.

Medical billing involves preparing patient cost summaries and payment due bills according to standardized codes and in some instances standardized rates. Each diagnosis that a patient receives from a qualified doctor has a corresponding code number. The code number is specific to the disease for everyone with that diagnosis and is called an ICD-9 code. For example the code number for an acute episode of asthma is 493.12. In manged care, having that diagnosis number will control how much money will be contributed towards the patient's bill by the insurance company. That is a very simplified explanation of the process but in practice, medical billing codes are what drives the medical billing procedure.

While medical coders are the ones responsible for the technical aspect, medical billing work also involves some learning about these ICD-9 codes and becoming familiar with how they are used by insurance companies for reimbursement. Medical billers specialize in preparing bills and collecting money from insurance companies and individuals.

Medical billing work may require the biller to make phone contact with individuals about late payments. They might also need to work with collection agencies to collect on overdue accounts. Medical billers are responsible for making accurate insurance claims and tracking them through the process of fulfillment.

There are various levels of entry into the world of medical billing. At the very least, a high school diploma is required for a position that is mostly secretarial. However, to be competitive in the marketplace and secure a higher salary, one would probably take training and receive certification in the field. Medical billing and medical coding are often studied together in offline or online training courses. Medical billing is also sometimes taught as part of a course in medical office management.

Training for medical billing work can be undertaken online at a relaxed pace. One should always make sure the course is accredited so it will be valued by potential employers. Training might also be found locally in adult education centers, trade schools, or colleges. The length of training is usually a matter of a few months depending upon whether or not additional training such as coding or office management is taken in conjunction with the billing classes.

Medical billers can work as part of a team or be the sole biller for a small office. Enterprising individuals might want to consider starting their own medical billing service and take on outsourced billing from doctors and hospitals. Employment is not restricted to hospitals or doctors but can include any type of facility where medical care is given such as rehabilitation centers and physical therapy facilities.

In all, medical billing work is a wise career choice. The working conditions are enjoyable as long as one is comfortable working with computers and people and being in an office environment. The demand for this type of work is high and will continue to be so as long as people continue to get sick, have babies, or get injured, and visit doctors.