Enjoy a Rewarding Career as a Medical Claims Processor
Posted May 13th, 2016
Healthcare is one of the largest, most dynamic, most important, and most rapidly evolving industries out there. If you want to be a part of all that is new and exciting about the field, consider becoming a Medical Claims Processor. These professionals have an essential role to play, and the training/education required is much less than other healthcare occupations. Explore the details as you decide if this rewarding career option is right for you.
Job Description
It’s the responsibility of the Medical Claims Processor to review insurance claims, verify that all the information is complete and accurate, and then authorize payments made to patients and providers. If an issue is discovered, the processor will need to explore it in depth and take steps to get the discrepancy resolved.
Character and Skills
As you might expect, this is a very detail-oriented position. Successful processors will need to be able to engage with huge volumes of information and spot the smallest problems with the data. Strong computer skills are essential, and since processors work with patients, providers, and insurance companies, excellent communication skills are just as important, including fluency with medical terminology.
Educational Requirements
The exciting thing about a career as a Medical Claims Processor is that little to no formal education is required. That means you can jump into a new career much faster. Individual employers will define the necessary credentials, but in some instances will be willing to hire candidates with no experience and provide on-the-job training. Candidates can improve their prospects significantly and possibly earn higher compensation by becoming a Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist. The American Medical Billing Association awards certification after successful completion of a comprehensive exam.
Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for all Medical Claims Processors was estimated to be $39,560 per year or $19.02 per hour. Approximately 262,901 professionals were employed in this capacity, with the majority located in the West, Northeast, and some Southern states. Recent advances like the passage of the Affordable Care Act and the increasing focus on outcome-based healthcare have made accurate claims processing more important than ever. Expect both the number of job opportunities and the level of compensation to rise significantly in the near future.
No matter what stage you’re at in your career as a Medical Claims Processor, it’s never a bad time to be looking for more exciting and more lucrative opportunities. With the right resources at your disposal, you can put your career on the fast track. Start by contacting Bayside Solutions.
