Medical Billing & Coding For Dummies

by Karen Smiley

Overview

The definitive guide to starting a successful career in medical billing and coding

With the healthcare sector growing at breakneck speed—it’s currently the largest employment sector in the U.S. and expanding fast—medical billing and coding specialists are more essential than ever. These critical experts, also known as medical records and health information technicians, keep systems working smoothly by ensuring patient billing and insurance data are accurately and efficiently administered.

This updated edition provides everything you need to begin—and then excel in—your chosen career. From finding the right study course and the latest certification requirements to industry standard practices and insider tips for dealing with government agencies and insurance companies, Medical Billing & Coding For Dummies has you completely covered.

• Find out about the flexible employment options available and how to qualify
• Understand the latest updates to the ICD-10
• Get familiar with ethical and legal issues
• Discover ways to stay competitive and get ahead

The prognosis is good—get this book today and set yourself up with the perfect prescription for a bright, secure, and financially healthy future!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781119625445
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	12/05/2019
Series:	For Dummies Books
Edition description:	3rd ed.
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	60,421
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Karen Smiley, CPC, is a certified, multi-specialty coding expert in physician and outpatient reimbursement. With an extensive background as a coder, auditor, accounts receivable manager, and practice administrator, she has also served as an independent consultant to physician practices and as an assistant coding instructor.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting to Know Medical Billing and Coding 5

Chapter 1: Dipping Your Toes into Medical Billing and Coding 7

Chapter 2: Exploring the Billing and Coding Professions 17

Chapter 3: Weighing Your Employment Options 31

Part 2: Boning Up on the Need-to-Knows of Your Profession 43

Chapter 4: Compliance: Understanding the Rules 45

Chapter 5: Not-So-Strange Bedfellows: Medical Terminology and Medical Necessity 61

Chapter 6: Getting to Know the Payers 85

Part 3: Becoming a Professional: Getting Certified 103

Chapter 7: Your Basic Certification Options, Courtesy of the AAPC and AHIMA 105

Chapter 8: The Path to Certification: Finding a Study Program 119

Chapter 9: Signing Up and Preparing for the Certification Exam 139

Chapter 10: Adding Street Cred: Specialty Certifications and Continuing Ed 159

Part 4: Dealing and Succeeding with Nitty-Gritty On-the-Job Details 171

Chapter 11: Processing a Run-of-the-Mill Claim: An Overview 173

Chapter 12: Homing In on How to Prepare an Error-Free Claim 191

Chapter 13: From Clearinghouse to Accounts Receivable to Money in the Pocket 209

Chapter 14: Handling Disputes and Appeals 221

Chapter 15: Keeping Up with the Rest of the World 241

Part 5: Working with Stakeholders 249

Chapter 16: Dealing with Commercial Insurance Claims 251

Chapter 17: Caring about Medicare and Medicaid 263

Chapter 18: Coding Ethics: Being an Advocate for Your Employer 275

Part 6: The Part of Tens 291

Chapter 19: Ten Common Billing and Coding Mistakes and How to Avoid Them 293

Chapter 20: Ten Acronyms to Burn into Your Brain 299

Chapter 21: Ten (Plus One) Tips from Billing and Coding Pros 305

Glossary 311

Index 319