If you are starting your own business as a medical biller and coder, what kind of insurance do you need?

It might be tempting to say “not much,” especially if you are setting up a computer in a home office and working part time. But then you start to think. What would happen if your computer was lost or stolen and you were not able to keep working for a period of time? What would happen if a client who stopped by to see you slipped on your front steps and got injured?

According to the U.S. government’s Small Business Matters resource for small businesses, here are some kinds of coverage that you would be wise to consider before starting a small business of your own:

-     Home-Based Business Insurance – According to Small Business Matters, homeowners’ insurance policies generally do not cover home-based business losses. While you may be able to add property damage riders to your policy, you may need to purchase additional policies to cover other risks, such as general and professional liability.

-     Commercial Property - This covers losses and damage of company property due to fire, smoke, severe weather, vandalism, and other events. It can cover lost income, business interruption, buildings, computers, company papers and even money that you have on hand.

-     General Liability - This insurance can provide protection against accidents, injuries and claims of negligence.

-     Professional Liability - If you provide a service, this insurance protects against malpractice, errors, and negligence in the services you provide to your customers. (Let’s say, for example, that a client incurs a loss because of errors you made.) Some state governments require certain professions to carry such a policy. To check your state’s requirements, click here.

Where can you find out more about the coverage you need? Speaking with an insurance agent in your area can be a good place to start, since local agents are likely to be aware of state and local laws and legal precedents. The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, a not-for-profit professional organization, offers a “find an agent” service that you can search online.

Is New York State a good place to build a career as a medical biller and coder?

If you have been following the news from New York, things do not look too rosy at first glance. On January 19, New York Governor David Paterson released his proposal for a budget that will attempt to close a projected $7.4 billion deficit for the 2010-11 fiscal year.

According to the Greater New York Hospital Association, that budget “contains major cuts and taxes for health care providers” that will put construction of new hospitals on hold. But the issue is more complex than that, for several reasons:

-     First, Governor Paterson is also trying to pass a new bill that will raise $650 million through new taxes on the sale of cigarettes and sugared beverages. If that bill passes, those funds will be earmarked for improving public health – and that spending could spur job growth for medical information processors.

-     Second, Governor Paterson recently announced that he will not seek re-election. That might not impact the passage of the new bill mentioned just above, but it does throw the long-term prospects for healthcare funding into uncertainty.

A Little Perspective

The 2009 Federal Issues Book: New York Hospital and Health System Priorities, a downloadable report from the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS), helps put these recent events in context. According to HANYS, New York State’s 300+ hospitals have continued to offer many opportunities for healthcare professionals.

-     New York hospitals employed 357,780 full-time workers in 2009.

-     New York hospitals also created an additional 671,730 support jobs throughout the state in 2009.

-     New York hospitals paid $26.8 billion in direct wages and fringe benefits to employees in 2009.

-     Every year, New York hospitals provide 2.6 million inpatient hospital stays, 44 million outpatient visits (including 7.9 million emergency room visits), and deliver more than 250,000 babies.

Other trends are at work too. As billers and coders, we know that hospital cutbacks do not always correlate directly to job losses for members of our profession. When hospitals downsize their staffs, for example, they can outsource billing and other functions to outside firms. And as hospitals cut back on services, the result can be an increase in the number of urgent care centers and other non-hospital care providers that employ medical billers and coders. One example: According to The Urgent Care Association of America, the number of urgent care centers in the U.S. grew from approximately 8,000 in February 2009 to 8,700 in February 2010.

And here’s one more piece of data that supports the view that New York is a good state for medical billers and coders:

-     According to 2008 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (the most recent data available), 9,200 people in the state of New York were employed as Medical Information Technologists, earning an average of $37,100 a year. According to those same statistics, the national average income for Medical Information Technologists was far lower – $32,960.

So is New York State a good place to build a career in medical billing and coding? We all need to stay alert for news about whether Governor Paterson’s soft drink/cigarette tax bill passes. But as the statistics above show, New York needs us. We’re all hoping that once the recession is over, a boom will occur – both in New York State and nationwide.

Which office chairs provide the back support you need during long workdays at your desk? Here are some must-have features that are recommended by Chiropractor Dr. Rodney K. Lefler on Spine-Health.com:

• The seat height should adjust easily, allowing you to sit with your feet flat on the floor and your arms even with the desk surface.

• The seat should tilt, and should be deep enough to let you sit with your back against the backrest.

• There should be a lumbar support that adjusts for both height and depth, so you can find a setting that supports the inward curve of your lower back.

• The backrest should be adjustable for both angle and height.

• The fabric should be breathable, and padding should be thick enough to provide comfort during long periods of use.

• Armrests should be adjustable up and down, so your arms can rest comfortably on them while your shoulders are relaxed.

• Swiveling should be easy, so you can turn easily to reach different articles in your work area.

For more information on picking the desk chair that is best for your back, watch Watch Your Back, a video from Spine-Health.com.

Those are the basics. But which chairs fill the bill? You’ll find reviews of popular models online at ConsumerSearch.com and at Galt Home.

Buying a good chair for a great price . . .

Consider buying a used desk chair. Due to the current wave of company downsizings, lots of used office furniture is currently available – some at liquidation prices. To find a company that sells used office equipment in your area, visit the Yellow Pages online or search online for “used office equipment.”

After hours of working on your computer do you find that your wrists are sore and tired? If you are planning on entering a career in medical billing and coding, wrist fatigue could be a huge factor in preventing you from working efficiently. Medical Billing and Coding Blog has outlined the key medical problem associated with wrist fatigue, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndome?

According to WebMD, Carpal tunnel syndrome “occurs when the median nerve becomes pinched due to swelling of the nerve or tendons or both. The median nerve provides sensation to the palm side of the thumb, index, middle fingers, as well as the inside half of the ring finger and muscle power to the thumb. When this nerve becomes pinched, numbness, tingling and sometimes pain of the affected fingers and hand may occur and radiate into the forearm.”

What causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and what are its symptoms?

While there are several possible causes of the disorder, normally it springs from repeated movement of the arms, wrists or hands, often times by typing at a computer for long hours. If you work long days on a computer and your hands and/or fingers feel tingly or numb at night, or if you experience a burning or shooting pain up your forearm, you could have a case of carpal tunnel syndrome.

How to Prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

According to WebMD, to prevent this wrist fatigue disorder you can:

• Sleep with your wrists straight or use a splint.
• Keep your wrists straight when using tools but try not to use splints.
• Avoid flexing and extending your wrists repeatedly.
• Perform conditioning and stretching exercises.

How Can I Cure Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

There are a few methods to resolve your issues with wrist fatigue, or carpal tunnel syndrome: anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken to bring the swelling down and relieve the stress in your wrist ligaments/tendons, or you can also try and immobilize your wrist at night in a splint or wrap. If these conservative measures don’t work, then there is a surgical option where a doctor can manually cut the affected ligament to relieve the stress. Surgery is very effective at relieving wrist fatigue, but being aware of the causes of the syndrome is crucial for long term relief.

It is very important for any aspiring or current biller and coder to be aware of the above information. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be incredibly harmful to anyone preparing for, or currently in, a billing and coding career. For more information on preventing and treating this type of wrist fatigue, visit WebMD for more details.

“Hot Jobs: Medical Coders Are in Great Demand,” an article by Scott Andron in The Miami Herald, reports encouraging news about the growing need for medical billers and coders in Florida.  “Health information management might be for you, and a job as a medical coder might be the place to start,” Andron writes.

The Miami Herald is not the only publication that is optimistic about opportunities for medical billers and coders in Florida. According to Orlandojobs.com’s Employment Outlook for Central Florida report, healthcare jobs are among the fastest growing employment opportunities in Florida. The report points to fast-growing opportunities for physical therapists, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, medical coders and medical billers.

What’s driving this growth? One significant force is the construction of new medical facilities in the state. One of the more promising could be the planned “medical city” in Orlando’s Lake Nona area. According to a recent article in The Orlando Business Journal, the development of this medical and research park has the potential to create 30,000 high-paying jobs in just a decade.

So, is Florida a good place to start and grow your career as a medical biller and coder? It certainly seems to be. We’ll be watching the trends in Florida and other states in the coming months and reporting on them here.

This is a wonderful and exciting time to be entering the allied health field.  No matter what work setting you are in, allied health professionals are in demand.  As costs continue to rise, there are greater demands for improved quality and safety in patient care.  To tackle these problems, the U.S. healthcare system is turning to technology.

Why do allied health students need to know about electronic medical records? The answer is simple – because you will use electronic health records to accomplish tasks once on-the-job.  The transition from paper records to electronic health records affects everyone working in health care today.  Consider just a few examples of the changes electronic health records bring to these jobs:

• Medical assistants enter patient information, such as vital signs, into the electronic health record.
• Coding professionals review electronic documentation in the electronic health record to determine the appropriate code for an encounter.
• Technicians working in blood and chemistry labs, radiology, nuclear medicine, cardiovascular medicine and other areas respond to electronic orders and send test results electronically using an electronic health record.
• Billing professionals use information in the electronic health record to prepare insurance claims and patient statements.

As you can see, many allied health careers require the use of computers, and because of this, there is great demand for graduates to have a background in healthcare as well as experience with computers.  In addition, employers are seeking individuals who are capable of operating within a constantly changing work environment.

To be successful, workers must be willing and able to learn new things throughout their career.  In addition to education, certification from a nationally recognized organization, such as the American Academy of Professional Coders, brings more employment and advancement opportunities.

Are you currently working or planning to work from home? Are you concerned about the huge amounts of data that are piling up on your home computer? Billing and Coding Blog has outlined some of the best data backup systems, and their benefits for home-workers.

Carbonite – This online data backup system installs a small application on your computer that automatically backs up data on your computer for only $54.95 per year. This price remains the same regardless of how much data you need to back up! Carbonite goes to sleep when you are active on your computer, and the software only works while your computer is idle; this ensures that you never lose any speed or functionality while you work! Click here for more information and to start your free trial.

Other online storage services to consider: VaultLogix, Data Deposit Box

External Hard-Drives – These serve as extensions of your computer’s hard drive and are available in a variety of sizes and prices, depending on how much data you need to backup. Depending on the speed of your computer, and the size of your hard drive, backing up your data could be a time consuming process. Also, if you lose the hard drive – which can be as small as a wallet – all your data will be gone.

Click here to read PC World’s list of the Top 10 External Hard Drives

CD/DVD – This is the cheapest available option, and since most PCs are now equipped with CD burners, there are few obstacles in getting started. Since this is the cheapest option, however, there are some concerns; it can take considerable time and discs to backup large drives, and CDs can be easily scratched and ruined without proper caution. If you only need to backup a little bit of crucial data, and are confident in your care for the discs, then CD/DVD may be your best option for data backup.

Do you have any advice on the best data backup options? Please leave us a comment and let us know what has worked for you!

“I love my kids and they deserve my time,” says Toni K, a woman who is studying online to become a medical biller and coder. “But I feel like I never get any uninterrupted time to sit down and concentrate on my lessons. The kids are always banging on my door, and then I feel guilty if I get irritated at them. Does anyone out there have any suggestions?”

We posed this question to Dr. Kenneth Ruge, a therapist who has written several books, including Where Do I Go from Here?

“Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to this problem,” Ruge states. “Overall, I would say that it is best to get out of the house, if you can. Get to Starbucks, for example. However, when kids reach age seven or eight, they might enjoy doing their own homework while a parent is studying – it can become a family study period that kids will actually enjoy. And kids can feel good if they know they are helping a parent reach important goals.”

Here are more ideas we gathered from people who have learned how to juggle studying with parenting duties:

Make sure your technology is not limiting you. If your only computer is a desktop at home, maybe a laptop would let you study over lunch hours at work. And laptops can now be bought for $400 or even less. Another solution? Print out your online lessons and carry them with you. Remember, paper is portable.

Look for uninterrupted time. Many home learners report that it can be better to get up an hour earlier in the day – or stay up after kids have gone to bed – than to try to keep kids from interrupting during early evening hours. “It might not be easy to get up an hour before your kids on a weekday, but it can be worth it,” Ruge suggests.

Utilize small blocks of time. “Find a few minutes of free time here, and a few minutes of free time there,” suggests Barry Lenson, author of Good Stress, Bad Stress. The result can be up to an hour of “found” time that can depressurize evenings at home.

Have you found ways to keep your kids from ruining your study time? If so, please share your ideas here, by responding to this post.

Here’s a question for medical billers and coders . . .

Exactly when did your career start?

If you stop to think about it, you will probably realize that your career didn’t begin when you got your first job.  It actually started on the day when you walked into a classroom and began your training.

It only makes sense that great students tend to have an easier time starting their careers.  Their strong grades often give them an edge over other job-seekers. They tend to get better recommendations from their former instructors too.

So how can you be a training standout?  Here’s some advice:

Dress one step ahead. If you dress like a working professional, people will see you in that role – and will think of you first when professional opportunities arise.

Project a positive attitude – even in early-morning classes. Stand tall when you walk into the classroom. Greet the instructor. Smile, sit up, and maintain eye contact as you listen to what your instructor has to say. Then thank the instructor when class is over.

Keep your textbooks and course materials organized, protected and clean. It shows that you are taking your training seriously. Also: Never forget your course materials. But if you do, avoid calling attention to the problem.

Be a great colleague in shared activities and projects. If you show that you are a good team member, people will notice and remember you.

Show strong interest in everything you learn. One good way? Ask questions that dig for information that was not covered in class.

Don’t disappear when your coursework is over. Come back to visit your former instructors. Explain how you are applying the skills you learned in class, and talk about your new achievements. Remember, students who keep in touch come to mind first when instructors hear about new opportunities.

Do you have more training strategies to recommend? Why not take a moment to share them here with other members of the billing and coding community?

According to a December 30, 2009 article in the NY Times, entitled “Bonus Planned for Digital Medical Records”, Medicare officials have outlined a plan to reward medical offices and hospitals that maintain systems of electronic medical records. Under the proposed stimulus, billions of dollars will be handed out across the country to healthcare providers that keep updated digital medical records of their patients. The announcement is just a proposal, however, and the plan does not expect to be completed until the spring.

The article features a quote from David Blumenthal, the national coordinator for health information technology, who says that “Widespread adoptions of electronic health records holds great promise for improving health care quality, efficiency, and patient safety”.

The proposed plan will provide bonus payments to health care professionals who use electronic medical records for at least 80 percent of their medical instructions. These incentives will facilitate America’s full transfer to electronic medical records, which President Obama has promised by 2014.  According to Obama administration officials, using digital health records will reduce costly medical errors and duplicate testing.

The national implementation of electronic medical records will also result with a high demand for healthcare technology professionals, such as medical billing and coding specialists, who can help medical offices and hospitals maintain these systems of electronic medical records.