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.
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