Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved 1 Chapter 18 Seeking a Job and Attaining Professional Advancement Insurance Handbook for the Medical Office 13 th edition

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Seeking a Job and Attaining Professional Advancement 1. Prepare to find a position as an insurance billing specialist, claims assistance professional, or electronic claims processor. 2. State types of certification and registration available to insurance billers and coders. 3. State various actions to take to search for a job. 4. Search online for employment opportunities. 2 Lesson 18.1

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Seeking a Job and Attaining Professional Advancement (cont’d) 5. List guidelines for completing a job application form. 6. Compose a letter of introduction to accompany the résumé. 7. Analyze education and experience to prepare a résumé. 8. Prepare responses to interview questions. 3 Lesson 18.1

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Seeking a Job and Attaining Professional Advancement (cont’d) 9. Identify illegal interview questions. 10. Name the items to assemble for a job portfolio. 11. Explore the business aspects of self-employment. 4 Lesson 18.1

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Employment Opportunities  Insurance billing and coding job choices  Insurance billing specialist  Electronic claims processor (ECP)  Medicare or Medicaid billing specialist  Claims assistance professional (CAP)  Coding specialist (freelance or employed)  Physician Coding Specialist (PCS) 5

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Employment Opportunities  Certified coders and insurance billers  Certified Medical Billing Specialist (CMBS)  Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist (CMRS)  Certified Professional Coder (CPC)  Certified Professional Coder – Apprentice (CPC- A)  Certified Professional Coder – Hospital (CPC-H)  Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)  Certified Coding Specialist-Physician (CCS-P)  Certified Electronic Claims Processor (CECP) 6

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Employment Opportunities  Certified coders and insurance billers  Certified Claims Assistance Professional (CCAP)  Facility Coding Specialist (FCS)  Health Care Reimbursement Specialist (HRS)  National Certified Insurance Coding Specialist (NCICS)  Registered Medical Coder (RMC) 7

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Job Search  Join a professional organization  Attend meetings and workshops  Contact school placement personnel  Spread the word  Contact pharmaceutical representatives  Public and private employment agencies  Inquire at state and federal employment agencies 8

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Job Search  Seek part-time employment  Check bulletin boards in hospital and clinic offices  Check with local medical society  Consult phone book or medical society roster for professional offices or hospitals  Send a blind mailing  Check Million Dollar Directory 9

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Job Search  Visit the Chamber of Commerce  Check the newspaper  Telephone job hot lines of large medical clinics  Visit unannounced (“cold calls”)  Attend job fairs 10

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Online Job Search  Explore the Internet:  Employment Web sites  Search engines (Yahoo, Google, etc.)  Job banks and databases  Bulletin board postings  Computerized job search companies 11

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Application  Guidelines for preparing an application  Read the whole application form  Read the fine print and instructions  Print, be careful of abbreviating  Complete the application in ink  Use data from portfolio, sample application form, or résumé that have been checked for accuracy 12

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Application  Guidelines for preparing an application  List correct dates of previous employment  Name specific skills  Use “negotiable” or “flexible” for salary amount  Sign the application  Reread the entire form 13

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Letter of Introduction  Suggested content for letter of introduction  Spend time and effort preparing a cover letter  Do not use generic cover letters; address them to a specific individual  Do not repeat everything in your résumé in the cover letter  Reread the letter for typos and grammatical errors  Avoid the use of “I” in the sentence structure 14

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Résumé  Chronologic résumé  Functional résumé  Combination résumé 15

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Résumé  Résumé format  Title  Heading  Summary  Education  Professional experience  Skills  References  Final details 16

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Interview  Preparing for an interview  Concentrate on good grooming and fresh, relaxed look  Wear appropriate clothing  Eliminate nervous habits  Research possible salaries  Practice interviewing with a friend  Choose a good time and arrive promptly  Prepare a portfolio 17

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Interview  After the interview  Shake the interviewer’s hand before you leave  Ask the interviewer when the decision will be made, and thank the interviewer  Write a follow-up letter  Telephone the interviewer 18

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Interview  Illegal interview questions  Marital status  Family planning  Pregnancy  Provision for child care  Religious preference  Club memberships  Height and weight  Dependents  Age (birth date) 19

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Self-Employment  Becoming self-employed  Gain years of experience  Get sufficient funds to run business for 1 year or more  Network  Check zoning on home offices  Rent a post office box  Use a lawyer and CPA  Keep good records  Buy necessary equipment 20

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Self-Employment  New business checklist  Choose an address to use (home, PO box)  Obtain a business license  File a fictitious business name  Contact IRS or Franchise Tax Board  Obtain insurance  Contact phone company  Open bank account  Order business cards, stationery, logo, etc.  Advertise 21

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Self-Employment  Insurance needs for self-employed  Property insurance  Disability insurance  Health insurance  Life insurance  Business interruption insurance  Professional liability insurance 22

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Self-Employment  Elements of the contract  Who does the coding?  Will claims be filed electronically?  What is the per claim processing fee?  Who is responsible for rebilling?  Who will handle collection procedures?  Who pays for rebilling, photocopying of records, mailing fees, and clearinghouse charges?  Under whose name will bills be sent to patients? 23

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Self-Employment  Elements of the contract  Will the billing service phone number appear on the statement?  How will the telephone be answered?  What are the charges for coding consultation services?  What are the coverage arrangements for absence or illness? 24

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Self-Employment  Keeping up-to-date  Specialization (certification and registration)  Professional organizations and associations  Mentoring  Networking 25

Copyright ©2014 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved Questions? 26