The world of medical treatment has changed dramatically in the past few years. Doctors are overwhelmed by the maze of complicated claim forms and insurance policy procedures. They need time to focus on their patients, but with complicated billing procedures from private and government-administered insurance companies, HMOs and PPOs, they're often having to worry about whether they'll ever get paid for the services they provide. And this is where you come in: There's a growing need for outside help--a need that you can easily fill, working from your home.

It's an ideal "starter" business because you decide its size and scope. You can specialize in certain fields--chiropractic, pediatric or dentistry, for example--and determine exactly how many health-care professionals you want to accept as clients.

In this guide, we'll help you create the medical-claims billing business that best suits your needs. You'll learn about the different ways you can specialize, the health organizations you'll be dealing with, terminology to help you get a head start, and the software that will make you a doctor's best friend.

Chapter 1

This chapter explores the burgeoning field of medical billing, or medical claims processing, from passé paper claims to progressive—and profitable—computerized billing.

Think of this chapter as an investigative report—like those TV news magazine shows but without the commercials. We will explore the phenomenal growth of the medical billing field and the secrets of America’s health-care billing industry.