Medical Office Specialist

Is there a national board or governing body for a medical office specialist OR medical billing and coding?

Is there a governing body for the position of medical biller/coder?

You can visit www.ahima.org and the state you live in will also have a HIM organization. Ex; www.nyhima.org

Hi, I'm new to the forums. I have a state agency willing to send me to school in the fall if I can complete all the bureaucratic requirements fast enough. I'm trying to choose a program, certificate, or major and leaning toward MEDICAL OFFICE SPECIALIST, but I want to be sure the certificate qualifies me in the eyes of prospective employers. Maybe they only want to hire nurses and other medical pros? What has your experience been?

Wendy Whealdon in Jamestown, Ohio said: Hi, I'm new to the forums. I have a state agency willing to send me to school in the fall if I can complete all the bureaucratic requirements fast enough. I'm trying to choose a program, certificate, or major and leaning toward MEDICAL OFFICE SPECIALIST, but I want to be sure the certificate qualifies me in the eyes of prospective employers. Maybe they only want to hire nurses and other medical pros? What has your experience been?

k, I just looked up what a medical office specialist does and I am not entirely sure why one would go to school for this? according to what I found, the job functions of a MOS:

greets patients and schedule appointments, handle calls- receptionists do this

phone is prescriptions, refills and help lab technicians- Medical Assistants do this.

Complete and submit insurance forms- Coders do this

Handle billing procedures - Billers do this

File, Update and Organize patients records - Medical Records Clerks do this.

My point? You will not have an easy time finding a job for this, my advice? Pick one of these areas that interest you and study for that. I have been in the medical field for almost 10 years and have worked in quite a few Physicians offices, there is not one person that does all of this. I just feel that going to school for a medical office specialist would be a waste of time and money.

I do not know about Medical Assistants, but if the billing/coding part interests you, I know quite a bit about that ( I am a coder) and would be happy to point you in the right direction.

i thought your comment was helpful valentine i should just pick one of those because i was just going to take that in community college near my house so now im not sure

babytie05 in Killeen, Texas said: i thought your comment was helpful valentine i should just pick one of those because i was just going to take that in community college near my house so now im not sure

I don't mean to be discouraging, its just that in all the places I have worked, I have never seen one person do all of those job duties. I think in the past, smaller offices would do it, but now things are broken up very specifically so one individual is specialized in that one area.

It was just one persons opinion, so please do not change your entire plan based on my comment. But I do think you would probably be better off just studying one specific area, whether its medical assistant, or billing/coding, etc.

good luck.

Thank You....i understand what your saying and it makes sence to me.

valentine in Salt Lake City, Utah said: k, I just looked up what a medical office specialist does and I am not entirely sure why one would go to school for this? according to what I found, the job functions of a MOS:

greets patients and schedule appointments, handle calls- receptionists do this

phone is prescriptions, refills and help lab technicians- Medical Assistants do this.

Complete and submit insurance forms- Coders do this

Handle billing procedures - Billers do this

File, Update and Organize patients records - Medical Records Clerks do this.

My point? You will not have an easy time finding a job for this, my advice? Pick one of these areas that interest you and study for that. I have been in the medical field for almost 10 years and have worked in quite a few Physicians offices, there is not one person that does all of this. I just feel that going to school for a medical office specialist would be a waste of time and money.

I do not know about Medical Assistants, but if the billing/coding part interests you, I know quite a bit about that ( I am a coder) and would be happy to point you in the right direction.

Hi, i am lost i know i want to study in the medical field but i don't know what to study. I do want to go to college though. So you say you are a coder. and what do you do? what did you study for in college and what is your works requirements? what is medical insurane coding and billing? what is your salary do you get payed GOOD?
SORRY FOR ALL THESE QUESTIONS BUT I AM VERY CONFUSED AND I AM CURIOUS ABOUT THIS AND I FIND IT NICE THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO HELP US. THANX AND PLEASE ANSWER QUICKLY I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT. (:

--N in Sacramento, California said: Hi, i am lost i know i want to study in the medical field but i don't know what to study. I do want to go to college though. So you say you are a coder. and what do you do? what did you study for in college and what is your works requirements? what is medical insurane coding and billing? what is your salary do you get payed GOOD?
SORRY FOR ALL THESE QUESTIONS BUT I AM VERY CONFUSED AND I AM CURIOUS ABOUT THIS AND I FIND IT NICE THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO HELP US. THANX AND PLEASE ANSWER QUICKLY I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT. (:

Yes, I am a coder, have been for about 6 years. As a coder, I read patient notes/documentation and assign the appropriate diagnosis and procedure codes for the patient's visit. So I sit and read documentation, all day long.

I went to school at my local community college for a certificate in Physicians Office Billing and Coding.

Billing is the other side of coding. After a claim has been submitted to the insurance, if a claim is denied, billers find out why, correct the claim and resubmit. They basically follow up to ensure the physician receives payment for their services. They also (usually) talk to patients about bills.

I am a coder and don't do any billing or follow up.

My employer requires a coding certification/credential as well as at least 2 years experience.

Pay varies on location, the size of the city, the size of the clinic or hospital and it also depends on what kind of specialty you work for. But on my location and experience, I get paid well.