Insurance Handbook for the Medical Office, 9e [Paperback]

Marilyn Fordney CMA-AC (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 28, 2005 | ISBN-10: 141600100X | ISBN-13: 978-1416001003 | Edition: 9

Offering guidance for all aspects of submitting, tracing, appealing, and transmitting claims for today's full range of health plans, this essential reference streamlines administrative procedures and increases office efficiency during the insurance billing process. The 9th edition has been completely updated to include the latest information on essential topics such as the HIPAA regulations, diagnostic coding, procedural coding, office and insurance collection strategies, Medicare, and more. In addition, this trusted resource of choice for medical insurance specialists is now printed in full color and contains a CD-ROM that features Altapoint software that simulates the billing process and provides "real world" experience.

• All content has been reviewed by industry experts and meticulously updated to reflect recent changes in insurance claim filing.
  
• Procedural coding (CPT and HCPCS) and diagnostic coding (ICD-9-CM) and required documentation are emphasized as keystones to obtaining maximum reimbursement.
  
• Unique, color-coded payer icons clarify information specific to different payers and help you understand CMS claim form completion.
  
• Special HIPAA Alerts throughout the book help you comply with important governmental privacy regulations.
  
• Emphasizes procedural (CPT and HCPCS) and diagnostic (ICD-9-CM) coding and documentation since they are the keystones to obtaining maximum reimbursement.
  
• Block-by-block explanations and examples clearly demonstrate the correct way to complete the CMS-1500 claim form.
  
• A wealth of completed sample insurance forms show how concepts are applied in real life.

• Completely revised and updated to provide the most up-to-date information available.
  
• Special HIPAA Alerts throughout the book help you comply with important governmental privacy regulations.
  
• Accompanying CD-ROM features AltaPoint software that simulates the billing process and provides realistic practice with patient scenarios.
  
• An entire new chapter is dedicated to compliance and the e-health initiative.
  
• New Form icons and Computer icons throughout the text indicate the industry's current state of transition.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

The trusted insurance handbook that streamlines administrative procedures and increases office efficiency

About the Author

Marilyn Fordney, CMA-AC, CMT, Formerly, Instructor of Medical Insurance, Medical Terminology, Medical Machine Transcription, and Medical Office Procedures, Ventura College, Ventura, CA --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 688 pages
• Publisher: Saunders; 9 edition (November 28, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 141600100X
• ISBN-13: 978-1416001003
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,117,606 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Lots of info, perhaps too much., October 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Insurance Handbook for the Medical Office (Book with CD-ROM for Windows) (Paperback)

I felt a little bogged down by all the information contained inthis book. It seemed too detailed and included a lot of stuff thatdidn't really apply to just medical insurance (for example thecomplete hypocratic oath which doctors take)! Overall, it was a pretty good book. It would have been a great book if they had cut out about a third or even half of the information. I thought Guide to Medical Billing, by a company called ICDC was much better. A lot of the pertinent data without too much extra. I also liked a book called The Medical Billing Handbook by Jason Cummings.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent overview of the medical billing task., March 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Insurance Handbook for the Medical Office (Paperback)

This is an appropriate text for the medical biller. Although written for the office-based biller, home-based billers will find most (but not all) the information of practical benefit. Used in our homestudy course as a standard text.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 7th Edition pulls itself into the 21st Century, September 27, 2001

By 

KS (Redlands, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Insurance Handbook for the Medical Office (Book with CD-ROM for Windows) (Paperback)

Having had to wait many weeks for the new, revised 7th Edition I was very pleased to note the improvements made from the 6th Edition. The color examples, universal legend symbols and easy paragraph read for the student are excellent. Another long awaited addition is the expanded Medi-Cal section (applicable to California only). Having been in the industry for 25 year I can say that this is the best Billing book on the market that I have been able to find. The only down side to this book is that it is not written for the "new" biller, but more for an intermediate to experienced biller. As long as the instructor can "dumb down" some of the excellent explanations, students will learn a tremendous amount from this book. I use it in my classroom along with my own material and the students are leaving the class with a well rounded knowledge base. Over all, I am pleased with the new Edition and it's contents.