Yes, you can work from home in medical billing, just not typicallyas an “employee.”

Nearly 600,000 Americans lost their jobs in January 2009, according to theU.S. Department of Labor, and 2-3 million more jobs are projected to be lostover the coming year.   Sadly, because of this, “work fromhome opportunity scams” are on the rise.  These scams prey onpeople’s vulnerabilities and fears and with so many people out of work,wondering what they are going to do next to sustain themselves financially,there’s a lot of vulnerability and there is a lot of fear out there. 

Over the past couple of months, many television programs and news shows,such as 20/20 and Dr. Phil, have devoted air time to exposingscams and telling stories about individuals who have fallen victim to thesescams.  These television programs understand that this is a hot topic inhigh demand, more so now than ever before.  Just like bacteria, germs anddisease, given the right temperature (the state of our economy) and set ofcircumstances (vulnerability and fear), the scams are growing andmultiplying. 

There is a complexity to this issue though.  Just as there is usuallya bit of truth in every lie, the scams are allowed to flourish because, thetruth is, small businesses/home-based businesses have been on the rise forquite some time and account for more than 50% of new jobcreation!

According to the United States Department of Labor:

“With more than one million new businesses each year, America’s economydepends on small businesses for its vitality and growth. According to the 1997report of the U.S. Census Bureau, the nation’s 17 million small, non-farmbusinesses constituted 99.7 per cent of all employers, employed 52 percent ofprivate workforce and accounted for 51 percent of the nation’s sales. Smallbusiness-dominated industries provided 11.1 million new jobs between 1994 and1998, virtually all of the new jobs created during that time period.”

The scams operate based on this “truth” – which accounts for all theconfusion as to what and who are scams and what and who are legitimateopportunities.

Medical Billing:  Employment from Home Isn’t theOpportunity

I have been in the medical billing industry for over 20 years.  I amthe President/CEO and founder of an online medical billing courseprogram.  Not a week goes by that I don’t receive a call from someoneasking “how they can find a job in medical billing which will allow them towork from home.”  The caller is surprised and sometimes defiant when Itell them that such an opportunity does notexist.  

Is there opportunity in medical billing?  YES. But not in the capacity that most people have been led to believe!  Let’suncover the lies and the truths about the opportunity that actually does existin medical billing.

Medical Billing Opportunity:   Employment fromHome   - DECEPTION/LIE

So why is it that so many people believe that they can obtain employment inmedical billing working from home?  The answer is simple.  Over thepast decade or so, there have been scam companies placing advertisements in the“help-wanted” sections of small, home-town type newspapers.  Here is anactual ad from a company called Medicor who was sued and shut down by theFTC:

“EARN $$$ HELPING DOCTORS process claims from home. $20 – $40/ hourpotential.  Computer & modem required. We train. (888) 736-XXXX Ext.895.”

Upon calling the number in this ad, the caller was told that they could makean excellent income from the comfort of their own home “processing insuranceclaims for doctors.”  All they needed to do was purchase the medicalbilling software (cost: $325 – $495).  Upon purchase, the caller was senta medical billing software program that didn’t even work, but that didn’tmatter, because they would never have the opportunity to use it.

The Truth:  Doctors do not hire medical billing staffand then allow them to work from home.  When a doctor hires someone tofill their medical billing position, this person is expected to show up forwork just like all the other employees. 

You can read full Medicore story on the Consumer Affairs websiteat:   http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/medicor.html. For more information about companies that were shut down, you can visit theMedical Billing Scamwatch Forum by going to:  http://medicalbillingscamwatch.yuku.com/.

Medical Billing Opportunity:   Employment within aDoctor’s Office or Billing Company  – VALID/TRUTH

The medical field is booming. Demand for medical billers is high.  Asthe baby boomers reach retirement, the medical field is growing and expandingto accommodate this generation. Medical billing is just one of the many jobs inthe medical field that has great job potential and growth.  But noticethe word JOB.  A job = employment.  Ajob/employment in medical billing requires you to show up for work in returnfor an employee paycheck.   It should not be confused with “medicalbilling business ownership” which does not consist of exchanging hoursfor a paycheck from your employer.

The opportunity to gain a position in medical billing working within adoctor’s office or working for a medical billing company does exist.  Itis viable and it is valid.  How much money can a medical billing employeeexpect to make?  You can find this information in the article entitled“Medical Billing & the Economy” at www.medicalbillingbusinessresources.com/articles/medicalbilling_economy.htm.

Medical Billing Opportunity:  Home/Small Based BusinessOwnership   -  VALID/TRUTH

I personally have 13 years experience in owning/operating a medical billingbusiness which I started from home.  I began my business in order to beable to stay at home with my children.  I eventually grew my business toa point that I felt it necessary to move it to a commercial office space (whenthe children were older).  I take it personally and oftentimes get veryfrustrated when this medical billing opportunity is misrepresented as an“employment from home” opportunity.  It isnot! 

When you begin a business in medical billing – or in anything – you are not“employed” by anyone.  You are “Self-Employed.” You do not collect an employee paycheck from anyone.  You collect moneyfrom clients that you provide services to.

Beginning a business in medical billing – or any other industry, for thatmatter – requires a realistic investment!  In a medical billing business,you are providing professional services to professional individuals.  Inorder to succeed, you must realize that a realistic, professional investment isnot an “option”…    it is a must. Your investment needs to be proportionate to your expectedreturn.

Another type of call that I get quite often is “I want to start a medicalbilling business from home but I don’t have any money.”  Guesswhat?  You can want all day and all night long, but without the capitalthat is required in order to begin a medical billing business – it’snot going to happen.   Let’s say you want to open up aBlimpie franchise.  How do you think Blimpie is going to respond when youcall them and say, “Hi Blimpie, I’d like to open a Blimpie franchise, but Idon’t have any money.”  They might respond, “Call us back when youdo.”

How much money can be made in a medical billingbusiness?  This varies.  I get this question quite a bitand my standard response is, “I know a wife/mother who handles 2 doctor clientsputting in about 3-5 hours per week in order to supplement her husband’sprimary income and stay at home with her kids who is bringing in approximately$1500 – $2000 per month.  I also know a multi-million dollar per yearmedical billing company.  And I know so many in between.”

Summary

Medical billing “employment from home” is not a viable, existingopportunity.  Gainful employment working in a medical billing positionwithin a doctor’s office or medical billing company is a real/validopportunity.  Beginning a home/small business in medical billing is alsoa real/valid opportunity, if and only if, you understand the investment oftime, money and research that is involved.