Laureen shows you her proprietary “Bubbling and Highlighting Technique”
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But be aware that some of the changes for coding and billing outpatient claims are retroactive to April or January. Many of the changes to Medicare’s Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) in the July update mirror those in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database (MPFSDB) update for the same quarter — such as the new […]
The post Learn About OPPS Changes in July Update appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.
Stay on top of the latest changes to help your providers earn positive payment adjustments and favorable consumer ratings this year. Here we are, year six of the Quality Payment Program (QPP). How time flies. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) had until the 2022 performance period/2024 payment period to fully implement the […]
The post Learn What’s New for MIPS in 2022 appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.
In first quarter 2022, the HCPCS Level II code set will get a refresh with several new, revised, and deleted codes. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), there are: 155 new codes, 63 revised codes, and 48 deleted codes. Medical coders and billers: Familiarize yourself now with these code changes so […]
The post Learn More About 2022 HCPCS Level II Code Changes appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.
HEALTHCON 2019 (April 28-May 1 in Las Vegas) is for everyone in the business side of healthcare, and provides cutting-edge education, networking, and other opportunities to attendees. Expert speakers, such as Dr. Lisa L Campbell, PhD, COC, CPC, CPC-I, help make this a professional event you can’t miss. AAPC asked Dr. Campbell about her presentation, […]
The post Learn to Implement CDI in Your Practice at HEALTHCON appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.
Monumental changes to Medicare policy finalized in the 2019 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule warranted a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) national call, held Nov. 19. Here’s a summary of what you may have missed. First Up: Evaluation and Management Services CMS started out with an explanation of the Patients Over Paperwork […]
The post Learn How Part B Payment is Changing for Practitioners appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.
If you’re interested to learn more about the 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule, you’ll get your chance on Monday, August 27. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a webinar that day, from 2:00-3:30 p.m. (Eastern time). The planned overview of the 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule will […]
AAPC Knowledge Center
Eligible clinicians can now see the results of their 2017 performance in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Feedback includes performance category scores, final scores, and 2019 MIPS payment adjustments. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is mandated under MACRA to adjust payments for professional services furnished to Medicare patients provided by MIPS […]
AAPC Knowledge Center
Versatile medical professional with more than 20 years of front office and customer service experience, with Bachelor of Science in Health Care Technology.
Service-oriented professional, combining robust medical billing and coding education with technical proficiency in medical software, including Easy Dental and Prognosis, Health Fusion, Med Host, Epic, HIS, Method, and Laborwx, Availity , MyAbility , Naivnet, PWL, Articulate communicator, adept at cultivating excellent long-term relationships with clients, colleagues, and senior personnel, maintaining ongoing interactions and facilitating solutions to address concerns.
Areas of Expertise
Medical Billing
Managed Care
Medical Office Procedures
Insurance Verification
Insurance Claim Processing
Managed Care
Anatomy & Physiology
Medical Coding
Medical Terminology
Medicare/Medicaid Processing
HIPAA Compliance
Office Management
Professional Experience
Houston Methodist San Jacinto, Baytown , TX
NTW Admitting Rep II WA/Patient Planning/Staffing Analyst, January 2016 – Present
Manage day-to-day operations of patient registration, greeting patients and caregivers, recording pertinent information, and processing checkouts, calculating billing and crediting accounts correctly.
♦ Ensure patients’ records are complete, with up-to-date insurance information, consent forms, and billing information.
♦ Coordinate patient admissions, placing patients in bed planning system, registering patient information, and preparing bed reports.
♦ Balance schedules of nursing staff, preparing staffing sheets and responding to staffing needs, ensuring adequate staffing coverage for 400 employees.
♦ Verifying Insurance for patient accounts
Gulf Coast Billing, Crosby TX
Medical Billing/Collections Specialist, January 2014 – August 2015
Processed medical billing, following up on unpaid claims utilizing monthly aging reports and filing appeals when appropriate to obtain maximum reimbursement. Managed relationships with multiple insurance payers.
♦ Managed outstanding claims, contacting insurance carriers and submitting payment appeals; secured outstanding balance payments and sent monthly statements.
♦ Billed new claims and collections for intra-operative monitoring and assistant surgeons with all major insurance carriers.
Doctors Diagnostic Hospital, Cleveland, TX
Administrative Assistant/Admissions Representative, April 2012 – December 2013
Administered office operations, scheduling patients for services and labs, reviewing medical files to ensure accuracy of information, and cultivating exceptional relationships with patients and providers to eliminate issues before they negatively impacted efforts.
♦ Secured payments by screening insurance information, identified patients requiring pre-admission approval from third-party payers, and verified approvals.
Dr. Rashall, Liberty, TX
Administrative Assistant/ Front Office Representative, January 2011 – January 2012
Provided outstanding office support and ensured smooth business practices as the initial point of contact with both public and medical personnel.*
♦ Managed administrative duties, preparing end-of-month reports, maintaining patient files and accounts, scheduling appointments, and verifying insurance prior to procedures.
Guettler Services LLC, Dayton, TX
Office Manager Administrator, May 1990 – January 2011
Managed office operations, preparing reports and correspondence, scheduling appointments and meetings, managing staff schedules, and maintaining inventory.
♦ Supervised staff, coordinating work flow and prioritizing and delegating tasks, providing motivation and direction to create positive work environment.
♦ Oversaw record-keeping, maintaining files and databases.
Additional Experience
Southmore Hospital, Unit Secretary for Physical Therapy Department
Managed office operations, admitting patients, maintaining medical records, gathering patient information, and preparing billing.
Dr. Shafie, Secretary/Physical Therapy Aide
Interviewed patients to obtain preliminary information regarding case histories, demography, and insurance.
Education
*
Bachelor of Science, Health Care Technology, December 2017
Siena Heights University, Adrian, MI
Minor, Health Care Management
Associate of Science, Medical Billing & Coding, January 2014
Ultimate Medical Academy, Tampa, FL
Credentials
CMS 1500, CMS 1450 (UB-04) Proficiency
ICD-9-CM, HCPCS, CPT4 Proficiency
ICD-10-CM Proficiency
Texas Insurance License # 1916329 NPN 17275256
Texas Public Commission Notary
Training & Development
AAPC CPCO Course, Healthcare Compliance Officer, August 2015*
CCO CPPM Certified Physician Practice Manger June 2018
CCO CPB Certified Medical Biller August 2018
Some ads promise medical transcriptionist training in as little as eight weeks. It sounds great. Right about two months and you’re ready for a great new career with good pay and good demand. Why not go for it?
I can give you one very good reason to not go for programs that promise that you can complete medical transcriptionist training in just eight weeks. They aren’t going to give you the training you need to land a job. Medical transcription takes more time than that to learn for most people.
You have to learn a lot to become a medical transcriptionist. It’s not all about the terminology. It’s not all about the transcription either. It’s about building the right combination of skills and learning to work effectively and accurately as a medical transcriber.
You can find good programs that will allow you to learn at your own pace. There’s nothing wrong with signing up for an online self paced medical transcriptionist training program. In fact, some of the online programs are the most reputable medical transcription training programs around. Employers know that their graduates will be ready to work.
That’s not true of any of the eight week programs, however.
A good training program can take as little as four months, but it’s not at all uncommon for a student to require nine months or even go over a year. It depends on how much time you spend on your studies, how hard you work on finishing things quickly.
If you already have a job and can only work a few hours, it’s going to take you longer to learn medical transcription than if you’re studying it full time.
It will also take you longer if you don’t already have the basic skills any transcriptionist needs. You must have excellent typing skills. You must have excellent grammar and language skills. Some schools test you in these areas before they’ll even admit you to their medical transcriptionist training program.
An eight week program will try to cram in a lot of information in that time. They’ll throw a bunch of medical terminology in, teach you about formatting, and maybe, just maybe, give you some dictation to practice your transcription skills.
It won’t be enough. Good schools require a lot of transcription practice from real doctor dictation. There will be many hours of dictation to transcribe before you graduate.
Think about it. How many professional level jobs can you learn in eight weeks? Many require years of training. Even many vocational programs take longer than that. It’s just not that simple to pick up the skills, not if you want to work.
That goes double for a career such as medical transcription, where you may be wanting to work at home. If you want to work at home, you have to show that you don’t need someone over your shoulder, and you don’t need someone right there to ask questions and train you on the job. You need to be ready to work with minimal help, just a little training on the particular systems used with the company you work for.
If you want to learn medical transcription quickly, don’t go for a program promising you results in eight weeks. Research and find a program that will let you pace yourself. Make sure the company has a reputation of training good medical transcriptionists. Make sure it has AHDI Approval. Then work hard on your education and see how long it takes you. It will probably be more than eight weeks, but you’ll know you’re spending the time more wisely.
Stephanie Foster created http://www.medicaltranscriptionbasics.com/ for people who want to learn medical transcription. Learn more about choosing the right medical transcriptionist training at her site.