The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have changed the requirements for billing and payment in response to the new Affordable Care Act that was enacted in March 2010. Patients benefited through expanded coverage, increased accountability for insurance companies, guaranteed provider choice, and lower health care costs. It was designed to meet the onus of enhancing the quality of healthcare for all Americans. Due to the CMS changes, the billing procedures changed significantly. Although the standard process of validation and reimbursement stayed the same, the paperwork requirements changed drastically. The new paperwork is based on the HCC (Hierarchical Condition Categories) according to the newly-formulated ICD-9-CM. This coding is not intuitive and switching over to the new system is non-trivial. Many offices responded by training their accounting personnel. Others took advantage of HCC coding providers to meet their requirements. This environment created many opportunities for those interested in new jobs as HCC coders.
Reason 1: Work at Home
Although many newly-trained HCC coders find employment in medical offices, many others use their certification to make money at home. Parents who stay at home to take care of their children or their aged relatives find this opportunity very attractive. Disabled persons with limited mobility can also take advantage of the new opportunity. HCC coders can work completely online. They receive the raw information from their clients, transcribe that information using HCC formats, and file the completed forms through an online submission portal. The process is easy, straightforward, and completely home-based.
Reason 2: Service Brokers
In response to the new CMS requirements, companies initiated broker services to link healthcare service providers with HCC coders. Coders that work at home do not have to chase down each new client. Once they become a member of the broker’s coding network, they receive new assignments on a regular basis. This offers the following advantages:
- New clients come automatically.
- A steady stream of work is available.
- Coders get a consistent income flow.
HCC coders are left to concentrate on coding without dealing with the clients directly. The client interactions are left to the broker.
Reason 3: Online Training Centers
HCC coders not only work from home, they can train and certify from home as well. There are many excellent online courses that allow future coders to get their certifications from their own computers. Candidates can start by checking out the various programs advertising online. Many courses are offered at various levels to accommodate the type of work the students desire. Many begin with a basic course that allows them to enter the workplace quickly, and begin to experience actual coding assignments. Some go on to achieve certification at an advanced level, in order to qualify for more difficult assignments and to make a higher hourly level.
Put Your Certification to Work
Do you have your certification and are ready for HCC assignments? Apply with a professional coding services broker and begin putting your training to work right away.