Becoming a Medical Billing Specialist via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
LA College International, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering medical billing courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
medical billing specialists,
medical administrators,
medical secretaries,
medical office assistants,
medical billers, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 170,580 people employed as
medical records and health information technicians alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$33,880.
Medical and clinical laboratory technicians make on average $37,860
per year and there are about 152,420
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like LA College International that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Medical Billing Specialist
- hospital
- doctor's office
- nursing home
- in-home health service
- insurance company
- extended care facility
- accounting firm
- university
- rehabilitation center
- pharmacy
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Medical Billing Specialist
- Choose from a wide variety of employers
- Long time job placement
- Work from home
- employment outlook is very good according to the US
- Relaxed work environment
- Full time and part time Jobs avaiable
- Fast job placement
- work for major healthcare providers
- Night and day shifts available
- the remuneration that medical billing careers offer is also considerably good and falls in the range of about $30000 $50000 annually the larger your business volume is the more is the remuneration amount
Potential Drawbacks
- deal with frequent complaints
- track down late payers who may be avoiding bills
- deal with angry or confrontational patients
- multi-task and work very quickly
- handle and organize loads of paperwork
- clean up and shred old files
- work by yourself and keep things confidential
- attend nine months of school for only slightly advanced pay
- enter insurance codes flawlessly
- remain positive while dealing with stress
Related Professions to Consider
- Medical Coders
- Doctor
- Dentist
- Claims Processor
- Reimbursement Specialist
- Billing Coordinator
- Patient Account Representative
- Medical Collector
- Claims Reviewer
- Electronic Claims Processors
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Medical Billing Specialist
- How many years of experience do you have in Medical Billing?
- What specialties have you billed?
- Are you certified in Medical Billing?
- Describe a time when you had to handle a great deal of stress during the day. How did you
manage it?
- Tell me how you handle coworkers who like to chat with you even though you need to move on
to the next task?
- What is the full form of HIPAA?
- Explain the Federal Fair Debt Collection Act/Policy?
- Why is it important to verify coverage of all patients prior to their arrival How would you handle a self pay patient at the front desk who does not think he should pay now that he has already received the service from the rendering doctor?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
- Do you have any additional questions for me?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Doctor
- Sales Support Specialist
- Medical Assisting Department Head
- Medical Coder
- Boarding Specialist
- Collections Specialist
- Lead Specialist
- Receptionist
- Business Office Specialist
- Program Representative
Medical Billing Specialist Training books
Medical Billing Specialist (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Medical Billing and Coding
- Advanced Medical Billing and Coding
- Medical Billing and Coding Specialist
- Online Medical Billing and Coding
- Medical Billing Consultant
- Medical Coding
- Medical Billing and Coding
- communication disorders
- clinical laboratory science
- alternative medicine
Medical Billing Specialist Salary Information
Category: Medical and clinical laboratory technicians
| Total # Employed in the US |
152,420 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$18.2/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $11.46 |
$13.83 |
$17.32 |
$21.84 |
$26.55 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$37,860 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $23,850 |
$28,770 |
$36,030 |
$45,420 |
$55,210 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.4% |
10.8% |
18.2% |
17.2% |
44.4% |
5.4% |
2.5% |
|
Medical and clinical laboratory technicians — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Virginia |
$26.68/hr
|
$55,490
|
| Mississippi |
$22.05/hr
|
$45,870
|
| Delaware |
$21.82/hr
|
$45,380
|
| Alaska |
$21.12/hr
|
$43,920
|
| Oklahoma |
$21.01/hr
|
$43,690
|
| North Dakota |
$20.79/hr
|
$43,230
|
| Puerto Rico |
$20.62/hr
|
$42,890
|
| Colorado |
$20.35/hr
|
$42,320
|
| Indiana |
$20.09/hr
|
$41,790
|
| Nebraska |
$20.06/hr
|
$41,730
|
| District of Columbia |
$19.93/hr
|
$41,450
|
| Florida |
$19.72/hr
|
$41,010
|
| Kansas |
$19.53/hr
|
$40,620
|
| New Jersey |
$19.49/hr
|
$40,540
|
| Missouri |
$19.28/hr
|
$40,090
|
| Utah |
$19.2/hr
|
$39,940
|
| Tennessee |
$19/hr
|
$39,510
|
| Kentucky |
$18.74/hr
|
$38,990
|
| North Carolina |
$18.73/hr
|
$38,960
|
| Michigan |
$18.63/hr
|
$38,760
|
| South Carolina |
$18.47/hr
|
$38,420
|
| Arkansas |
$18.37/hr
|
$38,210
|
| Ohio |
$17.98/hr
|
$37,400
|
| Iowa |
$17.72/hr
|
$36,860
|
| Louisiana |
$17.63/hr
|
$36,670
|
| Connecticut |
$17.56/hr
|
$36,530
|
| Oregon |
$17.55/hr
|
$36,490
|
| Hawaii |
$17.26/hr
|
$35,910
|
| Washington |
$17.08/hr
|
$35,530
|
| Maryland |
$16.99/hr
|
$35,340
|
| New York |
$16.69/hr
|
$34,720
|
| Wyoming |
$16.52/hr
|
$34,370
|
| Wisconsin |
$16.34/hr
|
$33,990
|
| Montana |
$16.34/hr
|
$33,990
|
| New Hampshire |
$16.01/hr
|
$33,300
|
| California |
$15.95/hr
|
$33,170
|
| New Mexico |
$15.92/hr
|
$33,120
|
| Pennsylvania |
$15.74/hr
|
$32,730
|
| West Virginia |
$15.71/hr
|
$32,670
|
| Massachusetts |
$15.67/hr
|
$32,590
|
| Alabama |
$15.57/hr
|
$32,390
|
| Idaho |
$15.42/hr
|
$32,060
|
| South Dakota |
$15.27/hr
|
$31,770
|
| Maine |
$15.27/hr
|
$31,770
|
| Nevada |
$15.03/hr
|
$31,260
|
| Guam |
$14.51/hr
|
$30,180
|
Category: Emergency medical technicians and paramedics
| Total # Employed in the US |
217,920 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$15.88/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $9.31 |
$11.37 |
$14.42 |
$18.87 |
$24.74 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$33,020 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $19,360 |
$23,650 |
$30,000 |
$39,250 |
$51,460 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.2% |
17.6% |
44.7% |
21.0% |
12.5% |
1.7% |
1.2% |
|
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Indiana |
$22.78/hr
|
$47,380
|
| Alaska |
$22.42/hr
|
$46,630
|
| Tennessee |
$20.78/hr
|
$43,220
|
| Mississippi |
$19.79/hr
|
$41,150
|
| Oklahoma |
$18.67/hr
|
$38,830
|
| Kansas |
$18.59/hr
|
$38,670
|
| Iowa |
$18.45/hr
|
$38,380
|
| District of Columbia |
$18.02/hr
|
$37,470
|
| Missouri |
$17.82/hr
|
$37,070
|
| New York |
$17.53/hr
|
$36,470
|
| Delaware |
$17.53/hr
|
$36,470
|
| Connecticut |
$17.35/hr
|
$36,080
|
| Colorado |
$16.87/hr
|
$35,090
|
| North Dakota |
$16.81/hr
|
$34,950
|
| North Carolina |
$16.79/hr
|
$34,920
|
| Massachusetts |
$16.2/hr
|
$33,700
|
| Virginia |
$16.08/hr
|
$33,440
|
| New Hampshire |
$15.69/hr
|
$32,630
|
| Alabama |
$15.44/hr
|
$32,120
|
| Nebraska |
$15.34/hr
|
$31,910
|
| Hawaii |
$15.34/hr
|
$31,900
|
| Washington |
$15.25/hr
|
$31,720
|
| Montana |
$15.25/hr
|
$31,730
|
| Oregon |
$15.2/hr
|
$31,620
|
| Idaho |
$15.18/hr
|
$31,580
|
| Wisconsin |
$15.02/hr
|
$31,230
|
| Guam |
$14.81/hr
|
$30,800
|
| Puerto Rico |
$14.77/hr
|
$30,730
|
| Wyoming |
$14.74/hr
|
$30,650
|
| Ohio |
$14.58/hr
|
$30,330
|
| Michigan |
$14.52/hr
|
$30,210
|
| Arkansas |
$14.43/hr
|
$30,020
|
| Utah |
$14.38/hr
|
$29,900
|
| Kentucky |
$14.28/hr
|
$29,690
|
| Louisiana |
$14.06/hr
|
$29,240
|
| Pennsylvania |
$13.98/hr
|
$29,070
|
| California |
$13.76/hr
|
$28,630
|
| Maine |
$13.51/hr
|
$28,110
|
| Maryland |
$13.5/hr
|
$28,080
|
| South Carolina |
$13.45/hr
|
$27,980
|
| New Mexico |
$13.25/hr
|
$27,560
|
| South Dakota |
$12.97/hr
|
$26,980
|
| Nevada |
$12.6/hr
|
$26,210
|
| West Virginia |
$12.47/hr
|
$25,930
|
| New Jersey |
$12.24/hr
|
$25,470
|
Category: Medical records and health information technicians
| Total # Employed in the US |
170,580 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$16.29/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $10.03 |
$11.96 |
$15.04 |
$19.49 |
$24.76 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$33,880 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $20,850 |
$24,870 |
$31,290 |
$40,540 |
$51,510 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 3.7% |
34.2% |
31.6% |
16.1% |
12.3% |
1.3% |
0.8% |
|
Medical records and health information technicians — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| North Dakota |
$21.99/hr
|
$45,750
|
| Indiana |
$19.88/hr
|
$41,340
|
| Florida |
$19.85/hr
|
$41,290
|
| Alaska |
$18.99/hr
|
$39,490
|
| Mississippi |
$18.91/hr
|
$39,330
|
| Missouri |
$18.9/hr
|
$39,310
|
| Colorado |
$18.53/hr
|
$38,550
|
| Oklahoma |
$18.33/hr
|
$38,130
|
| Connecticut |
$18.15/hr
|
$37,750
|
| Nebraska |
$18.09/hr
|
$37,630
|
| Virginia |
$17.67/hr
|
$36,760
|
| Delaware |
$17.47/hr
|
$36,350
|
| New York |
$17.23/hr
|
$35,850
|
| Tennessee |
$16.81/hr
|
$34,970
|
| Montana |
$16.49/hr
|
$34,290
|
| Kansas |
$16.33/hr
|
$33,960
|
| Arkansas |
$16.15/hr
|
$33,590
|
| Puerto Rico |
$15.79/hr
|
$32,840
|
| North Carolina |
$15.69/hr
|
$32,630
|
| New Mexico |
$15.47/hr
|
$32,180
|
| Utah |
$15.46/hr
|
$32,150
|
| Wyoming |
$15.46/hr
|
$32,150
|
| Hawaii |
$15.45/hr
|
$32,130
|
| Iowa |
$15.33/hr
|
$31,880
|
| District of Columbia |
$15.31/hr
|
$31,840
|
| South Carolina |
$15.31/hr
|
$31,840
|
| Washington |
$15.27/hr
|
$31,770
|
| New Hampshire |
$15.21/hr
|
$31,630
|
| Maryland |
$15.12/hr
|
$31,440
|
| Maine |
$15.07/hr
|
$31,350
|
| West Virginia |
$15.05/hr
|
$31,310
|
| Michigan |
$15/hr
|
$31,210
|
| Louisiana |
$14.94/hr
|
$31,080
|
| Kentucky |
$14.9/hr
|
$30,990
|
| Guam |
$14.87/hr
|
$30,930
|
| Ohio |
$14.85/hr
|
$30,890
|
| New Jersey |
$14.81/hr
|
$30,800
|
| Oregon |
$14.78/hr
|
$30,750
|
| Wisconsin |
$14.76/hr
|
$30,710
|
| California |
$14.66/hr
|
$30,500
|
| Pennsylvania |
$14.61/hr
|
$30,380
|
| South Dakota |
$14.51/hr
|
$30,190
|
| Idaho |
$14.32/hr
|
$29,790
|
| Alabama |
$13.85/hr
|
$28,800
|
| Massachusetts |
$13.73/hr
|
$28,550
|
| Nevada |
$12.72/hr
|
$26,460
|
Category: Medical assistants
| Total # Employed in the US |
495,970 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$14.16/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $9.98 |
$11.57 |
$13.77 |
$16.23 |
$19.21 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$29,450 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $20,750 |
$24,060 |
$28,650 |
$33,760 |
$39,970 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 4.8% |
29.0% |
37.8% |
16.3% |
9.1% |
1.6% |
1.4% |
|
Medical assistants — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$18.17/hr
|
$37,790
|
| Alaska |
$17.5/hr
|
$36,400
|
| Missouri |
$16.58/hr
|
$34,490
|
| Delaware |
$16.44/hr
|
$34,200
|
| Nebraska |
$15.8/hr
|
$32,870
|
| North Dakota |
$15.75/hr
|
$32,760
|
| New York |
$15.73/hr
|
$32,730
|
| Connecticut |
$15.65/hr
|
$32,550
|
| Indiana |
$15.47/hr
|
$32,180
|
| Puerto Rico |
$15.45/hr
|
$32,140
|
| Tennessee |
$15.42/hr
|
$32,070
|
| Virginia |
$15.37/hr
|
$31,960
|
| Oklahoma |
$15.21/hr
|
$31,640
|
| Mississippi |
$15.18/hr
|
$31,570
|
| Colorado |
$14.89/hr
|
$30,980
|
| North Carolina |
$14.7/hr
|
$30,570
|
| District of Columbia |
$14.69/hr
|
$30,550
|
| Kansas |
$14.59/hr
|
$30,340
|
| Arkansas |
$14.46/hr
|
$30,070
|
| Michigan |
$14.17/hr
|
$29,480
|
| Louisiana |
$13.96/hr
|
$29,050
|
| Iowa |
$13.9/hr
|
$28,910
|
| Hawaii |
$13.84/hr
|
$28,780
|
| Utah |
$13.78/hr
|
$28,670
|
| Montana |
$13.68/hr
|
$28,460
|
| Washington |
$13.66/hr
|
$28,410
|
| Oregon |
$13.63/hr
|
$28,340
|
| New Jersey |
$13.58/hr
|
$28,240
|
| Idaho |
$13.55/hr
|
$28,180
|
| New Mexico |
$13.54/hr
|
$28,160
|
| Kentucky |
$13.16/hr
|
$27,380
|
| South Carolina |
$13.16/hr
|
$27,370
|
| Wisconsin |
$13.04/hr
|
$27,120
|
| Wyoming |
$12.99/hr
|
$27,020
|
| Guam |
$12.95/hr
|
$26,940
|
| Ohio |
$12.79/hr
|
$26,590
|
| Pennsylvania |
$12.78/hr
|
$26,580
|
| Maine |
$12.78/hr
|
$26,580
|
| New Hampshire |
$12.77/hr
|
$26,560
|
| Maryland |
$12.73/hr
|
$26,470
|
| California |
$12.55/hr
|
$26,100
|
| South Dakota |
$12.48/hr
|
$25,950
|
| Massachusetts |
$12.26/hr
|
$25,490
|
| Nevada |
$12.17/hr
|
$25,310
|
| West Virginia |
$12.11/hr
|
$25,190
|
| Alabama |
$11.86/hr
|
$24,670
|
