Medical Transcription, Billing and Coding

These ads promise a substantial income working full or part time from home by providing billing, accounts receivable and insurance claim processing for the medical community. Some assure you that no experience is required while others claim to provide you with the training needed to obtain this job and that they have lists of eager clients ready to pay you for your services.



These promoters rarely provide experienced sales staff or contacts within the medical community and actually send you materials which could include a brochure, application, sample diskettes, a contract (licensing agreement), disclosure document, and in some cases, testimonial letters, videocassettes and reference lists. Often times their list of "ready customers" was simply copied out of the phone book and the references are simply "shills" (people hired to give favorable testimonials).



Many doctors' offices process their own medical claims. Doctors who contract out their medical billing often use established firms, not individuals working from home. Few consumers who purchase a medical billing business opportunity are able to find clients, start a business and generate revenues - let alone recover their investment and earn a substantial income.



Competition in the medical billing market is fierce and revolves around a number of large and well-established firms. Also, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has brought charges against promoters of medical billing opportunities for misrepresenting the earnings potential of their businesses and for failing to provide key pre-investment information required by law.