7 Great Resource Guides for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists

by Deborah Dera
Write on the Edge

Maintaining a successful career in medical billing and coding takes more than just knocking out that day’s assignments. It requires you to constantly be on top of your game when it comes to the necessary tools such as an updated operating system, current software and continued education. With insurance companies, technology, health care facilities and even the government continually changing the rules it is imperative to keep abreast of any information that may be advantageous to you. Whether it is a quick brush up class, new texts or periodicals there are a good amount of resources out there to keep you moving in the right direction.

1. Books

Medical Billing and Coding Reimbursement by Loretta Sinclair

This book covers much of the basic information for billers going into their own business. It is also a good reminder if you are already up and running but want to re-evaluate start up advice. Plus the author is a self-employed coder as well as a teacher. There are descriptions of the differences between technical and professional fees as well as proper format when filling out forms such as the doctor’s office HCFA-1500. It also covers hospital and facility form requirements including the UB04 or UB92 as well as explanations of the ICD-9, HCPCS and CPT manuals.

Other recommended books include:

2011 HCPCS Level II by Carol J. Buck
Start Your Own Medical Claims Billing Service by Entrepreneur Press
Workbook for Step-by-Step Coding by Carol J. Buck

2. BC Advantage Magazine

This is one of the best periodicals that covers a wide variety of subjects solely pertaining to the medical billing and coding industry. Topics include articles on everything from embracing change in the health care environment to proper use of place of service codes. It offers online membership with Continuing Education Units (CEU) at no extra cost to their members. Plus there are job postings, discussion forms, workshops and more articles. The yearly cost for a monthly subscription is fifty-five dollars which includes online membership as well as some extras like a twelve month online CEU center membership worth up to twelve free CEU yearly credits and a free ICD-10 E-book.

3. Medical Billing and Coding Blog

One of the better industry blogs is medicalbillingandmedicalcoding.com. It is an excellent online resource for current trends and information with a pretty good daily update covering in depth topics that include: Remote Medical Coding Jobs, ICD-10, Medical Coding Questions and Certified Professional Coder in Dermatology. Plus it gives a full description of all exams, CEU’s, medical terminology, anatomical terms and certifications.

4. Facebook

There is a medical billing and coding blog page on Facebook which works more like an online forum connecting everyone from current students to seasoned professionals. There are continued postings of exam dates and locations as well as software updates and many other aspects of the industry that you can easily peruse and stay connected to.

5. Quick Reference Guides

This is an inexpensive quick reference laminated pamphlet that you can have at your fingertips to save time and aggravation. Below are some of the many guides that may be helpful next to your keyboard. The first six are by the same author.

Medical Abbreviations and Acronyms Quick Reference Guide by Corinne B. Linton
Medical Terminology: The Basics (Quick Study Academic)
Medical Terminology: The Body Laminate Reference Chart (Quick Study Academic)
Anatomy (Quick Study Reference Guides Academic)
Medical Math Chart
Medical Coding (Quick Study Academic)
Evaluation and Management Coding Calculation by Shelley C. Safian

6. Associations

It is always a good idea to become a member of a few associations within your field. They have websites with continually changing information as well as discussion forms, job postings and resource recommendations.

American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)
National Association of Claims Assistance Professionals (NACAP)
American Guild of Patient Account Management (AGPAM)
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
American Association of Medical Billers (AAMB)
Association of Registered Medical Professionals (ARMP)
American Medical Billing Association (AMBA)
Professional Association of Health Care Office Managers (PAHCOM)

7. YouTube

Even medical billing and coding info is posted on YouTube. They may not always be the most current postings but many of them can still be of use. Simply type into the search bar, ‘medical

Put ‘medical billing and coding’ into the YouTube search bar and you will pull up video topics like: Medical Billing Tips, Coding for Medicare Flu Shots, Schools and Training Info and Medical Billing Software.

Staying on top of your game means not becoming complacent and burnt out. Keep stimulated by plugging into these and other resources that will give you that extra edge in tackling the ever changing industry of medical billing and coding specialists.

About the Author: Ph.D. Ceete Sheekels is a Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and a Certified Evaluation & Management Coder (CEMC) through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). To find more about her visit http://aboutmedicalbillingandcoding.org.

Article submitted Wednesday, June 22, 2011 & read 38 times.

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