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Most health care facilities in this country accept responsibility for filing health insurance claims.  This is done either in the office, or forms are sent to a billing company that provides medical billing services for a fee.  Because of the increasing complexity of medical billing and the increased number of managed care insurance programs, the need for additional skilled medical billing specialists is growing rapidly. 

Because billing has become more complex, more training is required than ever before.  Untrained personnel can no longer cope with the myriad of programs, regulations, and updates in the field.  Likewise, medical facilities cannot operate with the loss of revenue resulting from inaccurate billing and inexperienced personnel. This is especially true since carriers, including and especially the government (Medicare), have consistently cut payment amounts over the last 10 years.  It follows that since most health care facilities are dealing with reduced payment revenue, poor billing practices cannot be tolerated. 

In addition to the typical doctor’s office situation, there are opportunities with the health insurance carriers, malpractice and liability insurance companies, state, local, and federal government agencies, medical consulting companies, law offices, private insurance billing companies, hospitals, clinics, schools, computer companies specializing in medical software, and self-employed consulting and/or billing companies. The actual duties may vary from position to position, as we discussed earlier, but the basic knowledge needed is the same. 

A career in medical billing should be considered for many reasons. First, it represents a good, solid, stable job, with varying salary ranges, depending on such variables as specific duties, geographic region, experience, and the company itself.  A medical billing specialist is a respected member of the health care team.  And, as is true of all health care careers, you will be able to help people every day.  It certainly is a career worth working for!

John E. Long
Medical Billing Program Instructor
Ashworth School of Health Care

In my opinion, the ability to maintain positive “human relations” is one of the most important aspects of modern pharmacy.  We are fortunate that the public has always viewed pharmacy as an honorable profession.  I believe we owe this to our ability to serve our customers well, acting always in their best interests.  For one thing, we are much more accessible to the public than any other healthcare professionals.  Therefore, patients trust us with their health concerns and feel comfortable confiding even embarrassing problems with us.  If we maintain a professional attitude and treat our customers with respect, they’ll return and tell us even more about their conditions, which will help the supervising pharmacist advise them and, in some cases, provide vital information to the attending doctors.

While working in retail, I had many opportunities to practice my interpersonal skills.  Remember, when patients come to you, they may already be sick and may have spent time at a doctor’s office that day.  By the time they get to the pharmacy, they may have run out of patience.  I’ve found that greeting patients with a smile and a pleasant manner puts them at ease.  They don’t mind waiting for a prescription if they feel you are taking good care of them.  Be sure to explain what information you need from them to make the process go more quickly and why you need it.  If there’s a delay or if it takes longer than normal to prepare the prescription, give them updates.  For example, you may have to wait for insurance approval, or a suspension might need time to dissolve.  Information lets customers feel they are part of the process.  When they understand what is going on, they usually remain calm.

Tina Boyd Stacy
Pharmacy Technology Instructor
Ashworth University

              
             Thanks to Javier Belmont for permission to use this Photo.

While working as a pharmacy technician, you will see that most muscle relaxants and hormones are available only as prescription (or legend) drugs.  A few years ago, I was working at a retail store late on a Friday evening.  A person walked slowly up to the pharmacy counter and asked me to sell him some carisoprodol (a muscle relaxant).  Being pretty naïve, I asked for his name so I could pull up his refills on the computer.  He replied, “I don’t have a prescription.”  After I informed him that carisoprodol required a prescription, he left the pharmacy.  Without a valid prescription I could neither provide the man with carisoprodol nor appropriately assess his intentions for use.  

Be aware that, even though many muscle relaxants are not controlled substances, they do have the potential for being abused.  You can perform a valuable service by assisting the pharmacist in monitoring the quantity and frequency of refills your customers purchase.  If you notice a possible abuse situation, notify the pharmacist.  If it’s a case of the original prescription being no longer adequate, it may be time for the patient’s doctor to try a higher dose or another medication altogether. 

Tina Boyd Stacy
Pharmacy Technology Instructor
Ashworth University