So, You Want To Be a Medical Coder And Start Your Own Services From Home?

Medical Coding From Home? No Problem!!! 

Setting up your own medical coding and billing office at home or a small firm outside the home is well within an experienced professional's reach. But remember: there is a difference between billing and coding. 

Put Your Success Within Reach!!!
Certification is very important step. NHA offers two paths toward certification: their National Certification Exam for graduates, and their Home Study Certification Program for experienced medical coders and billers.

What About HIPAA Rules?

Many medical facilities, and more importantly HIPAA, do not oppose medical coding and billing tasks done from home as long as certain safeguards are in place. HIPAA allows medical coding staff to work from home with patient's health records, but requires the same level of protection as in a facility.

Medical coders working from home must take great care when taking protected health information (PHI) out of the physician's office and possess solid training and understanding of potential security issues. Knowing what information is protected and uses and disclosures of protected health information is key to working from home. Know How To Implement HIPAA's Security Rule (by American Hospital Association)!

CMS and OIG

CMS (previously HCFA) and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) is always concerned about compliance issues with medical coders and billers that work from home.

Medical Coding and Billing Via Telecommute?

As Diana Ennen of Virtual Word Publishing states: "Learn how the Pros have done it to help avoid costly mistakes." And while there get tips on how to success as well.

Ever changing and new federal laws, such as HIPAA, and those regarding electronic claims submission make it a bit more difficult to take medical billing work home. However, many have overcome these unique challenges as they arise, and are following their dream working in a career they absolutely love.

Very strict guidelines should be hammered out before healthcare providers ever allow employees take patient sensitive information from the medical practice. People entrusted with such information must know exactly what to do and what not to do when it comes to medical records and confidentiality rules. The medical records must be safeguarded and all security policies must be strictly adhered to when working from home.