00:00:02Medical Coding Industry Insider Insights
00:09:53Education in Healthcare Billing and Coding
00:15:51Continuing Education and Career Growth
00:20:01Navigating Healthcare and Medical Coding
00:27:34Connecting With Natasha Everywhere
ABOUT THIS EPISODE
In this podcast, I sit down with Natasha Timberlake, an experienced professional in revenue cycle management with over 13 years in the healthcare sector. Natasha shares her journey, starting from front office operations, medical assisting, billing, and coding to her current role as a clinical provider auditor at Elevance Health. She discusses how her mother's career in medical coding influenced her path and highlights the importance of understanding every aspect of healthcare administration. Natasha's dedication to her field is evident as she talks about the challenges she has faced, including the need for better communication across different roles within healthcare management. Her extensive knowledge and certifications, such as CPC, CRC, and COC, have played a significant role in her success. Join us as Natasha provides valuable insights into the intricacies of medical coding and auditing, and offers advice for those looking to advance in this field.
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SHOW NOTES 🔗
TRANSCRIPT 🔗
WEBVTT
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It's time for the Contempo Coding Podcast Discussions knowledge and insight to help you succeed in the medical coding industry.
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And now here's your host, victoria.
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Hey everyone, and welcome back to the podcast.
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Today I am sharing with you my interview with Natasha Timberlake.
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We recorded this interview while both attending HealthCon 2024 in beautiful Las Vegas, nevada.
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Today's podcast is sponsored by MedicalCodingMasterclasscom.
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If you are interested in starting a career in medical billing and coding and you need training, the best way you can obtain that is through medicalcodingmasterclasscom, where I give you the blueprint of how you can go from someone with no healthcare experience to someone who's job ready as a medical biller and coder in as little as six months.
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This program that was featured in the masterclass preppy can prepare you for an amazing job in medical billing and coding and help you prepare for certifications such as the CPC.
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It is a free career masterclass that you can attend.
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To find out more about this great career, sign up today at medicalcodingmasterclasscom and, without further ado, here's today's interview with Natasha Timberlake.
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Hey everyone, welcome back to the channel.
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I am here today with Natasha Timberlake.
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Natasha is a seasoned professional with over 13 years of experience in revenue cycle management.
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Her diverse career spans several crucial areas of healthcare administration, including front office operations, medical assisting, billing, coding, managing accounts, receivable.
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Natasha holds a bachelor's degree from WGU in healthcare management and she has a pretty strong academic background going back for your master's soon, it sounds management.
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And she has a pretty strong academic background going back for your master's soon, it sounds like and currently she works as a clinical provider auditor at Elevance Health, where she continues to contribute to her extensive knowledge and skills to enhance healthcare management practices.
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Natasha's journey reflects her dedication to the healthcare sector and her commitment to excellence in every aspect of her work.
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Thank you so much, natasha, for coming onto the channel today.
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Thank you so much for having me.
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I really appreciate it.
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I'm so honored.
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Yeah, I'm excited to have you here.
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You've really been like shining lately and I'm just so happy to have you on here.
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So you've got over 13 years of experience now in healthcare, in revenue cycle, like not just billing, coding, like whole rev cycle, the whole thing.
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Yes, so starting from you know, medical assisting, billing, coding, accounts, receivable can you share what kind of initially drew you into that kind of healthcare management field and particularly then, how did you get into like medical coding and auditing?
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Funny story.
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My mom was actually a medical coder.
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She was in the medical field for a very long time.
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She was in the Navy and then when she retired she went into the medical system and coding.
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So I actually knew about medical coding back in junior high and high school.
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So I remember her looking through the books the regular monitor used to go back into the office.
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My sister's a medical coder, so I actually didn't want to become a medical coder originally because I knew all the extensitivity, but I knew being in the medical field was a great field to be into.
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So I started off in the front office and then I went into pediatric medical assisting and then I moved into billing and accounts receivable.
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But I realized going through it that coding was actually part of the puzzle pieces for it and I really like solving the problems and putting the pieces together, because coding is essential with the billing and accounts receivable, which is the back end, and the medical assisting in the front office.
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So all the positions are integral for it.
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I'm really, really glad that I did it from the beginning instead of from the end.
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So that's how I got into coding and then I'm in the auditing now for provide it for the payer side as well.
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But I feel like, for if I started over just on one end and then do the others, then I wouldn't have an understanding of it Right right.
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So it's funny like you were reluctant at first to get like right into medical coding, but it kind of made you more well-rounded that you didn't start out.
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That's awesome.
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So your mom was also.
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Yes, my mom was a medical coder for many years.
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Oh wow.
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And she actually did the HEMA side.
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So she did um musicians and outpatients, so she was in AHIMA before it kind of AAPC got big as well, the CCSP Um, so she um before she passed she actually retired as a medical coach.
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She did it for a very long time, wow.
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So I was kind of hesitant to do it because I knew it was such hard work to do.
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But I really like how you know you're able to, you know and look, and actually that was before Encoder and that was back when you had to.
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Sometimes, I think before they did CMS 151.
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I know, sometimes when they did paper claims, sometimes you'd write it.
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I remember the IC9.
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Yes, I remember her going through those codes, but it was just very interesting, I remember hearing back before we made the transition to I-10.
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I didn't know anything about, you know, it wasn't PCS back then, I don't remember what they called it but on the inpatient side, about how you had to like calculate the DRGs and stuff, and I'm like, wow, that sounds way above and beyond what I'm ready for right now, like I'm going to stay in my little little provider coding world right now, but, yeah, I can appreciate that.
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So so, reflecting on, you know you've had multiple roles now as a you're currently a clinical provider, educator, auditor.
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Yes, so you work for the payer end.
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I work with the payer side, but you're auditing the providers, yes, yeah, so that's cool.
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So what have been some of the most challenging aspects of working in health care management and medical coding and how have you kind of navigated that?
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I am a fixer, I like to fix things.
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So I guess the downside is is that I see some of the documentation.
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I'm like partner needs definitely needs a lot of provider education, and then I see stuff on, you know, the medical assisting side in the front office.
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But my big concern is that the left hand doesn't talk to the right hand and then one blames the other or blames the other blames the other, or blames the other blames the other, because a lot of departments, even small practices and big practices, they don't talk to each other.
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Yes, um, and so I can't really fix anything like the claim denied but then not able to talk to coding or talk to billing, and then it may all start up just in the front office but then not able to talk to each other.
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That's timely, filing, lost revenue, right, and then that means that the provider doesn't get paid the.
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You know you're um, you're not able to keep the lights on, and then the payer doesn't pay what they need to pay.
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But you also make sure you don't get overpaid either because you deal with all that.
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So my thing is I want a whole 100 clean claim.
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You know, and the payer gets paid like the payer um sends out the correct payment provider gets the correct payment.
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There's no more extra patient responsibility.
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They know exactly what they're paying and then everything is golden.
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But unfortunately it doesn't work like that.
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So it's more of like an understanding and appreciation of each role, so that you're able to have more understanding of it.
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So maybe you can come in and help that role.
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Or, if you're an AR, you can send better questions to coding in regards to those claims.
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Yeah, I think it takes having the correct leadership in place to really bridge those gaps in some of the segmentation we have in the revenue cycle, where we have people that are in their silos and they don't speak to each other.
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It really takes.
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It's not difficult to do if you have the right communication and the right segues in there, that someone can almost liaison in between and say, yes, it's OK, you can go out to the front desk and do some training there.
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Maybe and maybe they're doing some things that you know registrate doing registration wrong, for example that has a huge impact down the line for the entire cycle of the claim that starts up for it, Right?
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So you know we have to really work on getting out of that cycle where it's like, oh well, they're not doing this, right?
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They're not registering the patient, Right?
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Well, if I don't do this, they're not going to bill, but they're not giving time to people to research what's going on.
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So then we may have to call the insurance company.
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The patient may have to do that.
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So it's kind of making sure that we don't have all this angriness.
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Or even I've noticed it's kind of a passive way of educating the patient, where you'll walk into a facility, one of the ones that looks like a provider's office, and they have that sheet of paper attached to that that goes this is a facility and you're going to get a facility charge for coming into this provider office.
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Well, a patient who's checking in because they're sick or they're not paying any attention, they don't know what the heck a facility fee is.
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So that's, it's a step maybe in the right direction, but not all there.
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No, we need more.
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Now that we're back into a lot of in-person, we need more communication.
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Now that we're back into a lot of in-person, we need more communication in person as well.
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Yeah, absolutely, absolutely.
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And you have a lot, of, a lot of background, not just in communication, doing the front office and the billing and the coding and the auditing.
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Now you have a lot of certifications too as well.
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Yeah, you have.
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Do they call it the chonk?
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I feel like some people do call it the chonk, right?
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Yeah, I sell it out CHRC, but yes, but I have a many coding certification, the CRC, cpm, coc.
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You have a CRCR which is through HFMA, which is really growing in popularity, and their training for that is dry as hell.
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I'm so sorry, natasha, you're fine.
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I tried it once and I'm like, oh, the CRCR is growing.
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I'm like I want to see what this is.
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Maybe I can do some videos talking about the CRCR and how to prepare for the exam.
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And I could not get through the material.
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Oh my God, I could not get through the material.
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Oh my God, I could not.
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I could not.
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It was hard for me.
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It was very hard for me too.
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It was like it wasn't even like video presentations or anything, all of their like here.
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It was literally yeah, it was just, it was just, it is.
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It's hard, it's tough material to get through.
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So hats off to anyone whoinent.
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I have to give them that, though.
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They have a lot of pertinent information that I didn't personally learn yeah, the different web articles, so I'll give them that.
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Yeah, they did really well with that, yeah, so how have all these different certifications kind of impacted your career and what advice do you have for people that want to get a lot of certifications as well, and especially if it's through, like, multiple organizations?
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Well, when I originally, like I said, I didn't originally want to become a coder, but as I went through the processes, especially in AR, I saw codes all the time because you're seeing the approvals, you're seeing the analysis, you know towards like a zero pay and bundling NCCI edits, you're seeing the modifier issues.
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You know your primary code and your secondary code, but they just built the secondary code.
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So I think the coding really really helped me.
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In regards to my AR, I came to be one of those go-to people.
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Plus, I was able to call the insurance company.
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So I actually became CPC and COC before coding, because now I knew exactly Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
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So you weren't even in no, so you were in billing Accounts, receivable, accounts receivable, and you got your CPC, cpc, cpc and COC, cpc and COC yes, yes, well, because I looked at UBO4s all day, every day for five years, so that had a lot to do with the outpatient.
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Okay, because there's definite methodologies for it.
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You have the Revcos and such as well, so that really helped which I'm able to call the insurance company.
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I know what I'm looking for.
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Insurance company may say, hey, it denied, and they deny.
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I need to know why it denied, what's going on.
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If not, I have more pushback.
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Or I can pull information Okay, denied for this denied and that's it, because then it's lost in translation.
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Or I can find payer trends like okay, well, this one, a lot of these are denying what's going on.
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Maybe it's upper level, maybe the tax ID number API is not working correctly.
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So that really helped.
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And also that also helps getting towards the A, because that is still technically experienced as well, yeah, and that's a great tip too Anything where you're working with codes can help you get that apprenticeship status removed.
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It doesn't have to be that your job title is medical coder, as long as you can prove that you're working with ICD or CPT or HCPCS on a regular basis, not necessarily coding things from scratch, but you're working with those code books, working with the code set.
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Because I had my apprentice off before I started coding.
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Yeah, because the CPC and the COC are the only ones that have you.
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Yeah, those are the two.
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And productivity, working AR, you have to deal with productivity because you have to keep your numbers up.
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That's a big thing whether you're in the office or working from home and coding, you have productivity.
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So this also helped me get into my coding roles, because I already knew about productivity, standards and quality and quantity, because you're going to have to make sure that you're keeping up your quality with your productivity, but also your quantity, because you're getting audited.
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You need to make sure you're getting those percentages like for auditing, like 95, 98%.
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That'll really help you into your role.
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And then actually, when it makes you want to code better, because you know what happens after it doesn't get coded correctly, or if it's denied or pushing insurance company, you have to call them.
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So now you want as clean claim as possible because you know what happens whenever it's not processed correctly.
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Yeah, and then you have patients calling, exactly.
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I mean, I know people don't like getting medical bills, I don't like getting medical bills, but it's just when the process works as efficiently as it should and you don't get the medical bill and the patient doesn't get that surprise in the mail.
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It's like everything works okay and it's smooth.
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It's just when we have problems that's when you hear about Saturday, and it helps you read the EOBs and the denials and such as well, even your own EOBs, like hey, this actually was not proscribed, so now you can call the make sure, verify it.
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But it helps solve them.
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I like to.
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I'm a problem solver, so I like trying to fix things and each certification is different, like mine's, my personal, like I got each one depending on what role I was doing and what I wanted to learn because I want to continue my education.
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But you know, like mine's different than yours, and the next person, next person, so don't have that to tear you Like you may just have CPC and that's amazing, or you may want everything else, and that's wonderful as well.
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So with having your oncology certification.
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Did you specialize in oncology at some point?
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Do you work right now a lot in oncology or not?
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So much Not so much.
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I've worked part-time before for oncology hematology.
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Actually, that's my first coding when I worked at Yale for oncology hematology.
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I love it, that's my niche and that's actually where I got certified about a year later.
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I will always want to code in oncology hematology.
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It's very hard and difficult with infusions and injections, but once you get it it's like boom light bulb is golden.
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I also want to learn different specialties as well, not necessarily coding, but like learning cardiology Very difficult.
00:14:04.280 --> 00:14:10.731
We have, you know, dermatology, but it's a little harder for me because of depending.
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You know the biopsies and such as well, but the specialty ones I got was because of the role I was in or I want to learn, so I don't necessarily have to take the certification exam but getting, like you know, the AAPC or other entities, their information, study guides, knowledge that's just to knowledge base and help you out in regards, just in case you ever come across that.
00:14:28.065 --> 00:14:32.908
So let me ask you this, because you work so much with UBO4s, I used to not used to.
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Yes, have you?
00:14:33.769 --> 00:14:35.875
considered getting like an AHIMA certification.
00:14:35.875 --> 00:14:44.293
Yes, actually I am CCS, I'm interested in CCS and the reason being I actually did inpatient denials, so I understand the PCS coding.
00:14:44.293 --> 00:14:48.928
I like how they build the codes but it's very difficult and so I.
00:14:48.928 --> 00:14:53.809
But I like a challenge, and then actually I'm going back to school for my master's, for a master's in HIM, so I can sit with ARIA.
00:14:53.809 --> 00:15:06.482
I don't want to be all well-rounded, but it is difficult in the beginning to have multiple certifications with multiple entities, so that's the only downside and that's a great segue because I want to talk to you about the formal education.
00:15:06.503 --> 00:15:09.413
So you're going back for your master's and where are you going for your master's?
00:15:09.413 --> 00:15:10.034
Southern New Hampshire.
00:15:10.034 --> 00:15:11.086
Southern New Hampshire Awesome.
00:15:11.086 --> 00:15:26.255
So how do you kind of view the role of formal education in preparing professionals for health care management and health care billing and coding and stuff Like do you think who not only in like management, but director and eventually the C-suites?
00:15:38.025 --> 00:15:39.633
because they need the higher education.
00:15:39.633 --> 00:15:41.746
That's usually a requirement and plus.
00:15:41.746 --> 00:15:42.328
Not only that, though.
00:15:42.328 --> 00:15:45.596
Sometimes it does help in a boost in pay because you have that additional.
00:15:45.596 --> 00:15:50.650
So it really depends on what you want to do, but a lot of times having this certification also helps as well.
00:15:51.772 --> 00:15:52.673
But my thing is pigeonholed.
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I want more opportunity, available opportunities just depending on what I want to be able to do, and I'm a gun for punishment.
00:15:59.738 --> 00:16:03.561
I just want to continue learning and growing and just keep on with my education.
00:16:03.561 --> 00:16:04.761
I said, no, I'm not going to do my master's.
00:16:04.761 --> 00:16:05.322
What am I doing now?
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Wasn't going to do my bachelor's, finish that.
00:16:07.354 --> 00:16:07.634
But it's.
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It's hard work, but it's having that diploma on your wall and have it, even certifications, even have to cpc hanging up on your wall.
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I'm proud of your accomplishment, even the small things.
00:16:16.557 --> 00:16:18.539
It's just like I did this.
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I'm like, oh, this is just amazing, and you know the people that you can show that anybody can do anything at any age.
00:16:23.511 --> 00:16:26.769
Because I didn't get my bachelor's completed until September 2022.
00:16:26.769 --> 00:16:28.313
It took me a long time to complete it.
00:16:28.313 --> 00:16:32.207
You know family work and all this stuff, but just take one class at a time.
00:16:32.288 --> 00:16:42.480
Well, and we have such great programs out there now that it's not like it was 10, 20 years ago, where you had to take night classes for forever and a day, in addition to having the family, if that's what you wanted to do.
00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:44.149
Now everything's online.
00:16:44.149 --> 00:16:45.173
It's so flexible.
00:16:45.173 --> 00:16:47.293
You can take a semester off if you need to.
00:16:47.293 --> 00:16:48.655
You can take after classes if you need.
00:16:48.655 --> 00:16:51.221
Everything is just so flexible.
00:16:51.221 --> 00:17:02.173
So, more accommodating now to that flexibility that we have in our lifestyle, so it makes it so much easier to go back when you're past typical college age.
00:17:02.173 --> 00:17:16.666
I was definitely was to do that, yeah, so that's great, and I think one of the interesting things about getting additional formal education is, like you said, it's great if you're getting into leadership roles.
00:17:16.666 --> 00:17:26.153
You want to be more well-rounded, you want to understand more, but we need to also understand that the fact of having a bachelor's degree alone doesn't always mean the bump in pay.
00:17:26.192 --> 00:17:34.951
You have to do the associated work with the roles that necessitate a bachelor's degree, Because my official certifications didn't bump my pay even before.
00:17:34.951 --> 00:17:36.875
As a coder, Sometimes your pay will bump up.
00:17:36.875 --> 00:17:48.732
Like you said, the additional work, that's a big thing and showing what you not only your worth, but show what you can do for the company, how you can help them, how you can bring them to the table, Because sometimes they may not have the extra revenue to give you the extra pay, or sometimes you're capped at the role.
00:17:48.732 --> 00:18:01.165
So, and not only that, my jobs, so it really all depends on find out what jobs that you want to do in your role.
00:18:01.165 --> 00:18:03.653
I mean pay is great, but it depends on where you live at too.
00:18:03.653 --> 00:18:12.689
I mean that's a big thing and everything's virtual, but I mean California pays a lot more than other states, but at the same time they're cost of living, so they need that.
00:18:13.088 --> 00:18:26.461
I've heard now, though, that there's some kind of situations going on where, because of tax laws or something going on with California, like more organizations aren't allowing you to apply for the jobs in California unless you actually live in.
00:18:26.461 --> 00:18:27.041
California.
00:18:27.041 --> 00:18:35.134
That is true, yeah, so we're starting to see some pullback on that and I don't know exactly what all the laws and regulations are, but I know I've heard that and experience helps.
00:18:35.194 --> 00:18:41.872
So the longer you have experience and the years of experience will help, just because what if you're new and you haven't any experience you may not get?
00:18:41.872 --> 00:18:43.537
But also customer service really helps.
00:18:43.537 --> 00:19:04.294
But starting in those positions that I started with what some people call entry levels, like I'm quoting it, it kind of with that piece is that it's still hard, it's still integral and you'll still learn a lot Like it is a great position to get into because you may not want to be a coder, you may want to be in being a nurse, or you may not want to do medical assisting, you may want to do different positions you may never realize or different specialties you would have gotten in before.
00:19:05.035 --> 00:19:25.248
So definitely keep your up as they are as well, like we've seen in the past with electronic medical record, where people have started getting Epic certified and they work in all these different aspects of Epic and they get you know Resolute and all those different certifications they can get.
00:19:25.248 --> 00:19:29.467
So we might start seeing that with some of our AI software as well, that'd be neat.
00:19:29.507 --> 00:19:42.553
I guess that's all like the IT portion of it in healthcare, because there's so much to do with health care on all different ends and hospitals and physician's office, like there's the, you know, the opportunities are endless and there's enough seat at the table so everybody can come in and help out.
00:19:43.114 --> 00:19:50.450
So you mentioned that you kind of have a passion for understanding how all of the positions come together within the revenue cycle and that they're all very integral.
00:19:50.450 --> 00:20:00.948
Could you talk a little bit more about this and do you have any stories that maybe you could share about collaborating with different roles and how that was impactful or provided some operational efficiencies?
00:20:31.400 --> 00:20:31.641
Sure.
00:20:31.641 --> 00:20:39.425
So, like I said, I started in 2010 as a front office, so I actually finished graduating with my associate's medical insurance billing and coding, but I didn't start.
00:20:39.425 --> 00:20:43.480
You know, when they started that that was like they were just talking about ICD-10-CM.
00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:48.088
You know, cm Granted five years later that happened, but it really helped to be able to.
00:20:48.088 --> 00:20:55.161
I realized that the claim it's more to claim to patients.
00:20:55.161 --> 00:20:56.567
So what you're doing in all aspects, you're helping out the patient.
00:20:56.567 --> 00:21:00.041
That's my goal Because from the front office checking the patient in, you're great customer service, great rapport.
00:21:00.041 --> 00:21:01.225
You're like the face of the company.
00:21:01.225 --> 00:21:02.537
You never know you're walking in.
00:21:02.537 --> 00:21:03.357
They have a bad day.
00:21:03.357 --> 00:21:04.780
You could be the person to help them out.
00:21:05.201 --> 00:21:07.686
Medical assisting it helps you look at clinical charts.
00:21:07.686 --> 00:21:11.850
Now, when I'm looking at soaped-ups, I'm like, oh, medical assistant, bp looking at medications.
00:21:11.850 --> 00:21:14.231
You know, helping a lot of asking the questions.
00:21:14.231 --> 00:21:18.741
Now, with a lot of social determinants of health, they can ask a lot of those questions now the physician may not think about as well.
00:21:18.741 --> 00:21:23.048
We're able to work with them and then also, you see them all the time.
00:21:23.048 --> 00:21:28.891
Like I work in pediatrics, I got to see the babies grow from newborn all the way up and that was really interesting, you know.
00:21:28.931 --> 00:21:29.471
And then billing.
00:21:29.510 --> 00:21:42.364
Now I'm like, okay, so what happens after the claim, the paid, the provider sees a patient, now they're you know we're having before I did coding, so this is all before I did code to see the billing after it's being coded and you're sending out these shirts is when I get to learn shirts, as medicare has certain codes.
00:21:42.805 --> 00:21:48.944
And then, if they're you know, as abn need to be signed, you know, and provider documentation and then accounts receivable.
00:21:48.944 --> 00:21:56.720
Now you're more understanding of what happens whenever you're seeing a click clam or more pushback or even fighting for the payer or fighting for the provider, like for all the revenue.
00:21:56.720 --> 00:22:04.799
But yeah, at the end of the day, my goal is to make sure that the patient pays what they're due, like they're supposed to, but nothing, anything extra, because what if they have something other going on and they may be able to pay?
00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:08.307
But at the same time, you know patients are due their responsibility.
00:22:08.307 --> 00:22:11.642
You know could be deductibles, but what we're doing makes a difference.
00:22:11.642 --> 00:22:18.736
Even if you're not in the office, I feel like if I can just help one person or one patient, even I'm not there, make their day, then that's all that matters.
00:22:19.115 --> 00:22:21.961
Have you been involved much with local chapters?
00:22:21.961 --> 00:22:24.826
I can't remember if you've worked as an officer in the past.
00:22:25.666 --> 00:22:35.861
I'm an officer this year, an educational officer, and I'm also a speaker as well and I really like that being able to help with the education because we have new coders, seasoned coders, but now I really look glad.
00:22:35.861 --> 00:22:37.721
I know it's kind of sad with post-COVID.
00:22:37.721 --> 00:22:42.747
I'm really glad that a lot of them we can have virtual, because there's a lot of people who were able to speak what we didn't realize before.
00:22:48.615 --> 00:22:52.023
It's so much different specialties and so much different aspects, because we're all looking at different areas that I never would have thought of.
00:22:52.023 --> 00:22:57.577
Looking at it Right right, the pool of skills that we have that we can tap into now and understanding and knowledge is just amazing.
00:22:57.577 --> 00:23:09.048
Because before yeah, it used to be if you were working in cardiology and you didn't know what you were doing, you either had to find someone nearby that knew cardiology, you had to maybe fly to a cardiology seminar.
00:23:09.048 --> 00:23:13.714
But now you can keep an eye out for all those local chapters and be like, oh, where's Terry Fletcher speaking at I'm going to?
00:23:13.714 --> 00:23:14.537
Oh, my goodness.
00:23:14.938 --> 00:23:17.302
I love her, she's amazing.
00:23:17.302 --> 00:23:23.040
And then, even if you don't know about speaking, if you have a specialty that you're really good and you love, go for it.
00:23:23.040 --> 00:23:23.902
Just start speaking about it.
00:23:23.902 --> 00:23:24.804
Like, share the knowledge.
00:23:24.804 --> 00:23:32.741
Like that's and I've learned from people like you and others who are like eventually we're going to retire, like later on, yeah, retire, I was like, but we want to share the knowledge, to give it to the new coders.
00:23:32.741 --> 00:23:33.243
That's my goal.
00:23:33.243 --> 00:23:34.760
It's like just, and everything's changing.
00:23:34.760 --> 00:23:49.542
I have AI, so people, five, 10 years from now, coming thing is change Slowly but don't be afraid of change.
00:23:49.542 --> 00:23:52.054
Like it's going to happen whether we want it or not, but as long as we can acclimate it to and just overall, just be positive.
00:23:52.054 --> 00:23:53.317
But I'm a positive person, I guess.
00:23:54.759 --> 00:24:03.607
So then, kind of speaking to some of the advancements that we're having in healthcare, what kind of trends and innovations are you seeing that you're kind of excited about?
00:24:03.607 --> 00:24:08.044
And then how are we as professionals kind of supposed to prepare for some of what's coming up?
00:24:08.345 --> 00:24:09.607
I'm excited about new technologies.
00:24:09.607 --> 00:24:11.861
I know there's a lot of different clinical trials going on.
00:24:11.861 --> 00:24:19.416
There's different, and they're like cardiology of different surgeries, oncology of different clinical trials for different medications, so that's really interesting.
00:24:19.416 --> 00:24:30.508
I know things are quite expensive now, but I like how we're able to save people's lives compared to back when, you know a long, long time ago, where they just started getting antibiotics and actually that was kind of by accident, I believe.
00:24:30.508 --> 00:24:32.922
Don't quote me on that, but it's one of those things of just.
00:24:32.922 --> 00:24:35.491
I like how the technology is different.
00:24:35.491 --> 00:24:36.816
I like how we're able to do things.
00:24:36.816 --> 00:24:37.658
I don't know AI.
00:24:37.658 --> 00:24:40.926
I'm hesitant, but I'm not because I know it's going to be there.
00:24:40.926 --> 00:24:44.041
But as long as it's done good and the right purposes, then that's great.
00:24:44.041 --> 00:24:53.221
But knowing that we are still going to have a job, our role may be different and so that way we're able to still help or have our input in it.
00:24:53.221 --> 00:24:53.442
It's just.
00:24:53.442 --> 00:24:54.285
I'm excited to see what's going to happen.
00:24:54.305 --> 00:25:07.225
I feel like with some of the AI things it's starting to almost feel reminiscent of when we had to go on electronic medical records and there's that initial panic and I'm like you know what, now that I'm kind of thinking about it and how it kind of is the same as when we brought on EMRs.
00:25:07.225 --> 00:25:09.569
When we need to figure it out, we'll kind of figure it out.
00:25:09.569 --> 00:25:15.567
I don't know that there's anything we can do to prepare for the systems that we haven't even implemented and developed yet.
00:25:16.475 --> 00:25:18.763
But it's not really going with the flow.
00:25:18.763 --> 00:25:24.504
Like speak up, if you find an issue, help ground it, but at the same time you know just what you can do to help the same time.
00:25:24.504 --> 00:25:27.166
But be prepared, like not be prepared but be okay with it.
00:25:27.166 --> 00:25:30.589
Like it's going to be here, but how can we make it better for everybody to be able to use?
00:25:30.589 --> 00:25:36.778
So that way it's more efficient and, like you said, especially the EHR, like they're it's amazing now, but you don't have like a little truck.
00:25:36.778 --> 00:25:44.946
But a lot of people were very, very afraid in all different aspects of it and I'm like you know it's here, so miles will just make the best of it.
00:25:45.508 --> 00:25:54.285
And I'm sure back then they were saying probably the same things that they're saying now oh, when we get onto electronic health records, all your jobs are going to be gone, and we're not going to.
00:25:54.285 --> 00:25:55.048
So I'm just like you know what?
00:25:55.048 --> 00:25:56.654
Now we've been through this so many times I'm tired of hearing I know.
00:25:56.654 --> 00:26:07.247
So, finally, for those that are looking to start or advance their career in health care management and and medical coding, what is your key piece of advice that you would offer, based off of your journey, your experiences?
00:26:07.367 --> 00:26:07.988
Just go for it.
00:26:07.988 --> 00:26:09.230
Like, don't be afraid.
00:26:09.230 --> 00:26:17.565
And when you're looking at different positions, make sure it's kind of an idea of what you want to do, like don't go just for the pay and don't go just for the job itself.
00:26:17.565 --> 00:26:21.578
Know that maybe, maybe job that is just a stepping stone and that's okay.
00:26:21.578 --> 00:26:32.886
Or you know I want to go here and kind of pivot and kind of go around, but or you know I want to go here and kind of pivot and kind of go around, but it's going to take time and that's the big thing is that my role took a long time, but I chose that.
00:26:32.886 --> 00:26:34.589
Somebody else's role may take longer or shorter, it really depends.
00:26:34.589 --> 00:26:35.631
But don't give up and don't and I know it's really hard.
00:26:35.631 --> 00:26:39.715
But don't compare to others, because a lot of time in social media you're just seeing the end result.
00:26:39.715 --> 00:26:49.568
You're not seeing the long hard hours, the work, the ups and downs, the cries, and just know we've all been where you've been at, we've all been new coders, we've all been exactly about the frustration.
00:26:50.890 --> 00:26:52.758
And then be positive, especially on social media.
00:26:52.758 --> 00:26:58.449
Put a good name out there for yourself, because a lot of people I know and I follow they're like healthcare is a small field.
00:26:58.449 --> 00:27:07.248
One in five people are going to know who you are and you may be sitting next to your new employer or the next person that you may be seeing later in life.
00:27:07.248 --> 00:27:15.801
It's just you want to make sure that you have positive career field and let you know there's enough spot here, there's plenty of room, and don't pigeonhole yourself.
00:27:15.801 --> 00:27:16.683
Make sure that you're.
00:27:16.683 --> 00:27:22.576
Make yourself invaluable because you're a valuable person, you're very integral to what we're doing and everybody's important.
00:27:22.576 --> 00:27:24.938
And then at the same time, it's all about patient care.
00:27:24.938 --> 00:27:28.742
Like that's a big thing that we're trying to help patients because we are also looking at coming in from us.
00:27:28.742 --> 00:27:30.305
How would we want to be treated?
00:27:30.305 --> 00:27:31.165
When we go in the office?
00:27:31.165 --> 00:27:36.311
You know the whole aspects and in the back end, like if we're getting all these bills, like how do we want to be treated?
00:27:36.754 --> 00:27:37.254
Absolutely.
00:27:37.254 --> 00:27:37.556
I love that.
00:27:37.556 --> 00:27:39.857
So well, good luck on your master's degree program.
00:27:39.857 --> 00:27:42.799
Is there anything else exciting coming up for you, natasha Master's degree program.
00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:44.102
Is there anything else exciting coming?
00:27:44.142 --> 00:27:44.942
up for you, natasha.
00:27:44.942 --> 00:27:45.722
That's a big one.
00:27:45.722 --> 00:27:46.324
I start in May.
00:27:46.324 --> 00:27:47.884
I'm really nervous, but I'm going to.
00:27:47.884 --> 00:27:52.990
I'm just going to go for it because I definitely I, like you, know the health information portion of it.
00:27:52.990 --> 00:27:56.011
I have my business degree and I just want to continue with that and then be able to sit with Maria.
00:27:56.011 --> 00:28:01.641
But it's just like, honestly, I don't know what I want to do, like there's.
00:28:01.641 --> 00:28:03.502
So Keep going, keep your options open?
00:28:03.542 --> 00:28:04.384
Yes, definitely.
00:28:04.384 --> 00:28:07.906
So where can my viewers connect with you online if they want to know more?
00:28:07.926 --> 00:28:09.189
about Natasha Everywhere.
00:28:09.189 --> 00:28:15.578
So I'm really big on LinkedIn and I'm the only Natasha Timberlake I have to thank my husband for my famous last name.
00:28:15.578 --> 00:28:18.547
I'm also, you know, on social media like AAPC and Facebook and all that stuff.
00:28:18.547 --> 00:28:29.647
But, yeah, and in my email too, you can reach out anywhere and if you have any questions, I'll reach out to my you know connections and stuff and we'll be able to help you out, because we're all here to help each other out, all right, well, great, thank you so much, natasha, for coming on today.
00:28:29.647 --> 00:28:30.990
Thank you so much, I appreciate it.
00:28:32.015 --> 00:28:32.710
And thank you guys as well.
00:00:02.544 --> 00:00:10.746
It's time for the Contempo Coding Podcast Discussions knowledge and insight to help you succeed in the medical coding industry.
00:00:10.746 --> 00:00:13.253
And now here's your host, victoria.
00:00:17.960 --> 00:00:20.146
Hey everyone, and welcome back to the podcast.
00:00:20.146 --> 00:00:24.402
Today I am sharing with you my interview with Natasha Timberlake.
00:00:24.402 --> 00:00:31.414
We recorded this interview while both attending HealthCon 2024 in beautiful Las Vegas, nevada.
00:00:31.414 --> 00:00:35.770
Today's podcast is sponsored by MedicalCodingMasterclasscom.
00:00:35.770 --> 00:00:53.051
If you are interested in starting a career in medical billing and coding and you need training, the best way you can obtain that is through medicalcodingmasterclasscom, where I give you the blueprint of how you can go from someone with no healthcare experience to someone who's job ready as a medical biller and coder in as little as six months.
00:00:53.051 --> 00:01:03.552
This program that was featured in the masterclass preppy can prepare you for an amazing job in medical billing and coding and help you prepare for certifications such as the CPC.
00:01:03.552 --> 00:01:06.620
It is a free career masterclass that you can attend.
00:01:06.620 --> 00:01:16.391
To find out more about this great career, sign up today at medicalcodingmasterclasscom and, without further ado, here's today's interview with Natasha Timberlake.
00:01:16.920 --> 00:01:18.287
Hey everyone, welcome back to the channel.
00:01:18.287 --> 00:01:20.260
I am here today with Natasha Timberlake.
00:01:20.260 --> 00:01:25.861
Natasha is a seasoned professional with over 13 years of experience in revenue cycle management.
00:01:25.861 --> 00:01:35.820
Her diverse career spans several crucial areas of healthcare administration, including front office operations, medical assisting, billing, coding, managing accounts, receivable.
00:01:35.820 --> 00:01:46.701
Natasha holds a bachelor's degree from WGU in healthcare management and she has a pretty strong academic background going back for your master's soon, it sounds management.
00:01:46.701 --> 00:01:58.265
And she has a pretty strong academic background going back for your master's soon, it sounds like and currently she works as a clinical provider auditor at Elevance Health, where she continues to contribute to her extensive knowledge and skills to enhance healthcare management practices.
00:01:58.265 --> 00:02:05.320
Natasha's journey reflects her dedication to the healthcare sector and her commitment to excellence in every aspect of her work.
00:02:05.320 --> 00:02:07.995
Thank you so much, natasha, for coming onto the channel today.
00:02:08.014 --> 00:02:09.100
Thank you so much for having me.
00:02:09.100 --> 00:02:09.943
I really appreciate it.
00:02:09.962 --> 00:02:10.525
I'm so honored.
00:02:10.525 --> 00:02:12.349
Yeah, I'm excited to have you here.
00:02:12.349 --> 00:02:16.747
You've really been like shining lately and I'm just so happy to have you on here.
00:02:16.747 --> 00:02:25.852
So you've got over 13 years of experience now in healthcare, in revenue cycle, like not just billing, coding, like whole rev cycle, the whole thing.
00:02:25.852 --> 00:02:43.699
Yes, so starting from you know, medical assisting, billing, coding, accounts, receivable can you share what kind of initially drew you into that kind of healthcare management field and particularly then, how did you get into like medical coding and auditing?
00:02:43.941 --> 00:02:44.301
Funny story.
00:02:44.301 --> 00:02:45.724
My mom was actually a medical coder.
00:02:45.724 --> 00:02:48.151
She was in the medical field for a very long time.
00:02:48.151 --> 00:02:52.951
She was in the Navy and then when she retired she went into the medical system and coding.
00:02:52.951 --> 00:02:55.435
So I actually knew about medical coding back in junior high and high school.
00:02:55.435 --> 00:02:59.724
So I remember her looking through the books the regular monitor used to go back into the office.
00:02:59.884 --> 00:03:07.876
My sister's a medical coder, so I actually didn't want to become a medical coder originally because I knew all the extensitivity, but I knew being in the medical field was a great field to be into.
00:03:07.876 --> 00:03:14.126
So I started off in the front office and then I went into pediatric medical assisting and then I moved into billing and accounts receivable.
00:03:14.126 --> 00:03:28.490
But I realized going through it that coding was actually part of the puzzle pieces for it and I really like solving the problems and putting the pieces together, because coding is essential with the billing and accounts receivable, which is the back end, and the medical assisting in the front office.
00:03:28.490 --> 00:03:30.729
So all the positions are integral for it.
00:03:30.729 --> 00:03:34.323
I'm really, really glad that I did it from the beginning instead of from the end.
00:03:34.323 --> 00:03:39.182
So that's how I got into coding and then I'm in the auditing now for provide it for the payer side as well.
00:03:39.182 --> 00:03:46.474
But I feel like, for if I started over just on one end and then do the others, then I wouldn't have an understanding of it Right right.
00:03:46.979 --> 00:03:53.051
So it's funny like you were reluctant at first to get like right into medical coding, but it kind of made you more well-rounded that you didn't start out.
00:03:53.051 --> 00:03:53.913
That's awesome.
00:03:53.913 --> 00:03:56.006
So your mom was also.
00:03:56.639 --> 00:03:58.606
Yes, my mom was a medical coder for many years.
00:03:58.687 --> 00:03:59.068
Oh wow.
00:03:59.401 --> 00:04:00.727
And she actually did the HEMA side.
00:04:00.727 --> 00:04:11.062
So she did um musicians and outpatients, so she was in AHIMA before it kind of AAPC got big as well, the CCSP Um, so she um before she passed she actually retired as a medical coach.
00:04:11.062 --> 00:04:12.687
She did it for a very long time, wow.
00:04:12.687 --> 00:04:15.862
So I was kind of hesitant to do it because I knew it was such hard work to do.
00:04:15.862 --> 00:04:22.713
But I really like how you know you're able to, you know and look, and actually that was before Encoder and that was back when you had to.
00:04:22.713 --> 00:04:25.899
Sometimes, I think before they did CMS 151.
00:04:25.899 --> 00:04:28.689
I know, sometimes when they did paper claims, sometimes you'd write it.
00:04:28.689 --> 00:04:29.925
I remember the IC9.
00:04:29.925 --> 00:04:37.870
Yes, I remember her going through those codes, but it was just very interesting, I remember hearing back before we made the transition to I-10.
00:04:37.959 --> 00:04:59.528
I didn't know anything about, you know, it wasn't PCS back then, I don't remember what they called it but on the inpatient side, about how you had to like calculate the DRGs and stuff, and I'm like, wow, that sounds way above and beyond what I'm ready for right now, like I'm going to stay in my little little provider coding world right now, but, yeah, I can appreciate that.
00:04:59.528 --> 00:05:09.452
So so, reflecting on, you know you've had multiple roles now as a you're currently a clinical provider, educator, auditor.
00:05:09.452 --> 00:05:12.387
Yes, so you work for the payer end.
00:05:12.387 --> 00:05:16.309
I work with the payer side, but you're auditing the providers, yes, yeah, so that's cool.
00:05:16.309 --> 00:05:23.353
So what have been some of the most challenging aspects of working in health care management and medical coding and how have you kind of navigated that?
00:05:24.360 --> 00:05:26.805
I am a fixer, I like to fix things.
00:05:26.805 --> 00:05:30.622
So I guess the downside is is that I see some of the documentation.
00:05:30.622 --> 00:05:38.088
I'm like partner needs definitely needs a lot of provider education, and then I see stuff on, you know, the medical assisting side in the front office.
00:05:38.088 --> 00:05:52.572
But my big concern is that the left hand doesn't talk to the right hand and then one blames the other or blames the other blames the other, or blames the other blames the other, because a lot of departments, even small practices and big practices, they don't talk to each other.
00:05:52.593 --> 00:06:00.242
Yes, um, and so I can't really fix anything like the claim denied but then not able to talk to coding or talk to billing, and then it may all start up just in the front office but then not able to talk to each other.
00:06:00.242 --> 00:06:05.569
That's timely, filing, lost revenue, right, and then that means that the provider doesn't get paid the.
00:06:05.569 --> 00:06:10.562
You know you're um, you're not able to keep the lights on, and then the payer doesn't pay what they need to pay.
00:06:10.562 --> 00:06:13.781
But you also make sure you don't get overpaid either because you deal with all that.
00:06:13.781 --> 00:06:16.146
So my thing is I want a whole 100 clean claim.
00:06:16.567 --> 00:06:22.571
You know, and the payer gets paid like the payer um sends out the correct payment provider gets the correct payment.
00:06:22.571 --> 00:06:24.564
There's no more extra patient responsibility.
00:06:24.564 --> 00:06:27.132
They know exactly what they're paying and then everything is golden.
00:06:27.132 --> 00:06:28.564
But unfortunately it doesn't work like that.
00:06:28.564 --> 00:06:35.752
So it's more of like an understanding and appreciation of each role, so that you're able to have more understanding of it.
00:06:35.752 --> 00:06:37.401
So maybe you can come in and help that role.
00:06:37.401 --> 00:06:42.201
Or, if you're an AR, you can send better questions to coding in regards to those claims.
00:06:42.261 --> 00:06:55.836
Yeah, I think it takes having the correct leadership in place to really bridge those gaps in some of the segmentation we have in the revenue cycle, where we have people that are in their silos and they don't speak to each other.
00:06:55.836 --> 00:06:57.180
It really takes.
00:06:57.180 --> 00:07:09.649
It's not difficult to do if you have the right communication and the right segues in there, that someone can almost liaison in between and say, yes, it's OK, you can go out to the front desk and do some training there.
00:07:09.649 --> 00:07:20.043
Maybe and maybe they're doing some things that you know registrate doing registration wrong, for example that has a huge impact down the line for the entire cycle of the claim that starts up for it, Right?
00:07:20.043 --> 00:07:26.706
So you know we have to really work on getting out of that cycle where it's like, oh well, they're not doing this, right?
00:07:26.706 --> 00:07:27.786
They're not registering the patient, Right?
00:07:27.786 --> 00:07:32.810
Well, if I don't do this, they're not going to bill, but they're not giving time to people to research what's going on.
00:07:32.829 --> 00:07:34.290
So then we may have to call the insurance company.
00:07:34.290 --> 00:07:35.170
The patient may have to do that.
00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:54.125
So it's kind of making sure that we don't have all this angriness.
00:07:54.125 --> 00:08:07.980
Or even I've noticed it's kind of a passive way of educating the patient, where you'll walk into a facility, one of the ones that looks like a provider's office, and they have that sheet of paper attached to that that goes this is a facility and you're going to get a facility charge for coming into this provider office.
00:08:07.980 --> 00:08:13.165
Well, a patient who's checking in because they're sick or they're not paying any attention, they don't know what the heck a facility fee is.
00:08:13.165 --> 00:08:18.762
So that's, it's a step maybe in the right direction, but not all there.
00:08:18.762 --> 00:08:19.283
No, we need more.
00:08:19.283 --> 00:08:21.447
Now that we're back into a lot of in-person, we need more communication.
00:08:21.468 --> 00:08:25.516
Now that we're back into a lot of in-person, we need more communication in person as well.
00:08:27.079 --> 00:08:28.141
Yeah, absolutely, absolutely.
00:08:28.141 --> 00:08:36.836
And you have a lot, of, a lot of background, not just in communication, doing the front office and the billing and the coding and the auditing.
00:08:36.836 --> 00:08:39.412
Now you have a lot of certifications too as well.
00:08:39.412 --> 00:08:40.467
Yeah, you have.
00:08:40.467 --> 00:08:41.993
Do they call it the chonk?
00:08:41.993 --> 00:08:44.133
I feel like some people do call it the chonk, right?
00:08:44.173 --> 00:08:52.153
Yeah, I sell it out CHRC, but yes, but I have a many coding certification, the CRC, cpm, coc.
00:08:57.304 --> 00:08:59.823
You have a CRCR which is through HFMA, which is really growing in popularity, and their training for that is dry as hell.
00:08:59.823 --> 00:09:01.553
I'm so sorry, natasha, you're fine.
00:09:01.553 --> 00:09:04.975
I tried it once and I'm like, oh, the CRCR is growing.
00:09:04.975 --> 00:09:06.269
I'm like I want to see what this is.
00:09:06.269 --> 00:09:11.638
Maybe I can do some videos talking about the CRCR and how to prepare for the exam.
00:09:11.638 --> 00:09:13.250
And I could not get through the material.
00:09:13.250 --> 00:09:14.854
Oh my God, I could not get through the material.
00:09:14.854 --> 00:09:15.434
Oh my God, I could not.
00:09:15.434 --> 00:09:15.975
I could not.
00:09:15.975 --> 00:09:16.515
It was hard for me.
00:09:16.515 --> 00:09:17.437
It was very hard for me too.
00:09:17.437 --> 00:09:22.067
It was like it wasn't even like video presentations or anything, all of their like here.
00:09:22.067 --> 00:09:24.894
It was literally yeah, it was just, it was just, it is.
00:09:24.894 --> 00:09:33.394
It's hard, it's tough material to get through.
00:09:33.413 --> 00:09:35.495
So hats off to anyone whoinent.
00:09:35.495 --> 00:09:36.397
I have to give them that, though.
00:09:36.397 --> 00:09:40.785
They have a lot of pertinent information that I didn't personally learn yeah, the different web articles, so I'll give them that.
00:09:40.826 --> 00:09:53.631
Yeah, they did really well with that, yeah, so how have all these different certifications kind of impacted your career and what advice do you have for people that want to get a lot of certifications as well, and especially if it's through, like, multiple organizations?
00:09:53.971 --> 00:10:10.552
Well, when I originally, like I said, I didn't originally want to become a coder, but as I went through the processes, especially in AR, I saw codes all the time because you're seeing the approvals, you're seeing the analysis, you know towards like a zero pay and bundling NCCI edits, you're seeing the modifier issues.
00:10:10.552 --> 00:10:15.091
You know your primary code and your secondary code, but they just built the secondary code.
00:10:15.091 --> 00:10:17.414
So I think the coding really really helped me.
00:10:17.414 --> 00:10:20.679
In regards to my AR, I came to be one of those go-to people.
00:10:20.679 --> 00:10:22.708
Plus, I was able to call the insurance company.
00:10:22.708 --> 00:10:28.711
So I actually became CPC and COC before coding, because now I knew exactly Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
00:10:28.952 --> 00:10:43.722
So you weren't even in no, so you were in billing Accounts, receivable, accounts receivable, and you got your CPC, cpc, cpc and COC, cpc and COC yes, yes, well, because I looked at UBO4s all day, every day for five years, so that had a lot to do with the outpatient.
00:10:43.743 --> 00:10:45.511
Okay, because there's definite methodologies for it.
00:10:45.511 --> 00:11:00.895
You have the Revcos and such as well, so that really helped which I'm able to call the insurance company.
00:11:00.895 --> 00:11:01.937
I know what I'm looking for.
00:11:01.937 --> 00:11:04.619
Insurance company may say, hey, it denied, and they deny.
00:11:04.619 --> 00:11:06.320
I need to know why it denied, what's going on.
00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:07.561
If not, I have more pushback.
00:11:07.561 --> 00:11:20.192
Or I can pull information Okay, denied for this denied and that's it, because then it's lost in translation.
00:11:20.192 --> 00:11:24.912
Or I can find payer trends like okay, well, this one, a lot of these are denying what's going on.
00:11:24.912 --> 00:11:28.212
Maybe it's upper level, maybe the tax ID number API is not working correctly.
00:11:28.212 --> 00:11:29.616
So that really helped.
00:11:30.306 --> 00:11:41.034
And also that also helps getting towards the A, because that is still technically experienced as well, yeah, and that's a great tip too Anything where you're working with codes can help you get that apprenticeship status removed.
00:11:41.034 --> 00:11:54.335
It doesn't have to be that your job title is medical coder, as long as you can prove that you're working with ICD or CPT or HCPCS on a regular basis, not necessarily coding things from scratch, but you're working with those code books, working with the code set.
00:11:54.335 --> 00:11:56.187
Because I had my apprentice off before I started coding.
00:11:56.187 --> 00:11:59.575
Yeah, because the CPC and the COC are the only ones that have you.
00:11:59.895 --> 00:12:00.716
Yeah, those are the two.
00:12:00.716 --> 00:12:05.875
And productivity, working AR, you have to deal with productivity because you have to keep your numbers up.
00:12:05.875 --> 00:12:09.495
That's a big thing whether you're in the office or working from home and coding, you have productivity.
00:12:09.495 --> 00:12:20.148
So this also helped me get into my coding roles, because I already knew about productivity, standards and quality and quantity, because you're going to have to make sure that you're keeping up your quality with your productivity, but also your quantity, because you're getting audited.
00:12:20.148 --> 00:12:24.450
You need to make sure you're getting those percentages like for auditing, like 95, 98%.
00:12:24.450 --> 00:12:26.235
That'll really help you into your role.
00:12:26.235 --> 00:12:33.610
And then actually, when it makes you want to code better, because you know what happens after it doesn't get coded correctly, or if it's denied or pushing insurance company, you have to call them.
00:12:33.610 --> 00:12:39.000
So now you want as clean claim as possible because you know what happens whenever it's not processed correctly.
00:12:39.525 --> 00:12:41.774
Yeah, and then you have patients calling, exactly.
00:12:41.774 --> 00:12:57.235
I mean, I know people don't like getting medical bills, I don't like getting medical bills, but it's just when the process works as efficiently as it should and you don't get the medical bill and the patient doesn't get that surprise in the mail.
00:12:57.235 --> 00:12:59.471
It's like everything works okay and it's smooth.
00:12:59.510 --> 00:13:10.609
It's just when we have problems that's when you hear about Saturday, and it helps you read the EOBs and the denials and such as well, even your own EOBs, like hey, this actually was not proscribed, so now you can call the make sure, verify it.
00:13:10.609 --> 00:13:11.889
But it helps solve them.
00:13:11.889 --> 00:13:12.230
I like to.
00:13:12.230 --> 00:13:23.278
I'm a problem solver, so I like trying to fix things and each certification is different, like mine's, my personal, like I got each one depending on what role I was doing and what I wanted to learn because I want to continue my education.
00:13:23.278 --> 00:13:33.636
But you know, like mine's different than yours, and the next person, next person, so don't have that to tear you Like you may just have CPC and that's amazing, or you may want everything else, and that's wonderful as well.
00:13:33.817 --> 00:13:36.258
So with having your oncology certification.
00:13:36.258 --> 00:13:38.840
Did you specialize in oncology at some point?
00:13:38.840 --> 00:13:41.260
Do you work right now a lot in oncology or not?
00:13:41.260 --> 00:13:42.261
So much Not so much.
00:13:42.361 --> 00:13:44.243
I've worked part-time before for oncology hematology.
00:13:44.243 --> 00:13:47.071
Actually, that's my first coding when I worked at Yale for oncology hematology.
00:13:47.071 --> 00:13:50.485
I love it, that's my niche and that's actually where I got certified about a year later.
00:13:50.485 --> 00:13:53.149
I will always want to code in oncology hematology.
00:13:53.149 --> 00:13:58.394
It's very hard and difficult with infusions and injections, but once you get it it's like boom light bulb is golden.
00:13:58.394 --> 00:14:04.280
I also want to learn different specialties as well, not necessarily coding, but like learning cardiology Very difficult.
00:14:04.280 --> 00:14:10.731
We have, you know, dermatology, but it's a little harder for me because of depending.
00:14:10.772 --> 00:14:27.770
You know the biopsies and such as well, but the specialty ones I got was because of the role I was in or I want to learn, so I don't necessarily have to take the certification exam but getting, like you know, the AAPC or other entities, their information, study guides, knowledge that's just to knowledge base and help you out in regards, just in case you ever come across that.
00:14:28.065 --> 00:14:32.908
So let me ask you this, because you work so much with UBO4s, I used to not used to.
00:14:32.908 --> 00:14:33.750
Yes, have you?
00:14:33.769 --> 00:14:35.875
considered getting like an AHIMA certification.
00:14:35.875 --> 00:14:44.293
Yes, actually I am CCS, I'm interested in CCS and the reason being I actually did inpatient denials, so I understand the PCS coding.
00:14:44.293 --> 00:14:48.928
I like how they build the codes but it's very difficult and so I.
00:14:48.928 --> 00:14:53.809
But I like a challenge, and then actually I'm going back to school for my master's, for a master's in HIM, so I can sit with ARIA.
00:14:53.809 --> 00:15:06.482
I don't want to be all well-rounded, but it is difficult in the beginning to have multiple certifications with multiple entities, so that's the only downside and that's a great segue because I want to talk to you about the formal education.
00:15:06.503 --> 00:15:09.413
So you're going back for your master's and where are you going for your master's?
00:15:09.413 --> 00:15:10.034
Southern New Hampshire.
00:15:10.034 --> 00:15:11.086
Southern New Hampshire Awesome.
00:15:11.086 --> 00:15:26.255
So how do you kind of view the role of formal education in preparing professionals for health care management and health care billing and coding and stuff Like do you think who not only in like management, but director and eventually the C-suites?
00:15:38.025 --> 00:15:39.633
because they need the higher education.
00:15:39.633 --> 00:15:41.746
That's usually a requirement and plus.
00:15:41.746 --> 00:15:42.328
Not only that, though.
00:15:42.328 --> 00:15:45.596
Sometimes it does help in a boost in pay because you have that additional.
00:15:45.596 --> 00:15:50.650
So it really depends on what you want to do, but a lot of times having this certification also helps as well.
00:15:51.772 --> 00:15:52.673
But my thing is pigeonholed.
00:15:52.673 --> 00:15:59.738
I want more opportunity, available opportunities just depending on what I want to be able to do, and I'm a gun for punishment.
00:15:59.738 --> 00:16:03.561
I just want to continue learning and growing and just keep on with my education.
00:16:03.561 --> 00:16:04.761
I said, no, I'm not going to do my master's.
00:16:04.761 --> 00:16:05.322
What am I doing now?
00:16:05.322 --> 00:16:07.354
Wasn't going to do my bachelor's, finish that.
00:16:07.354 --> 00:16:07.634
But it's.
00:16:07.634 --> 00:16:13.672
It's hard work, but it's having that diploma on your wall and have it, even certifications, even have to cpc hanging up on your wall.
00:16:13.672 --> 00:16:16.557
I'm proud of your accomplishment, even the small things.
00:16:16.557 --> 00:16:18.539
It's just like I did this.
00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:23.511
I'm like, oh, this is just amazing, and you know the people that you can show that anybody can do anything at any age.
00:16:23.511 --> 00:16:26.769
Because I didn't get my bachelor's completed until September 2022.
00:16:26.769 --> 00:16:28.313
It took me a long time to complete it.
00:16:28.313 --> 00:16:32.207
You know family work and all this stuff, but just take one class at a time.
00:16:32.288 --> 00:16:42.480
Well, and we have such great programs out there now that it's not like it was 10, 20 years ago, where you had to take night classes for forever and a day, in addition to having the family, if that's what you wanted to do.
00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:44.149
Now everything's online.
00:16:44.149 --> 00:16:45.173
It's so flexible.
00:16:45.173 --> 00:16:47.293
You can take a semester off if you need to.
00:16:47.293 --> 00:16:48.655
You can take after classes if you need.
00:16:48.655 --> 00:16:51.221
Everything is just so flexible.
00:16:51.221 --> 00:17:02.173
So, more accommodating now to that flexibility that we have in our lifestyle, so it makes it so much easier to go back when you're past typical college age.
00:17:02.173 --> 00:17:16.666
I was definitely was to do that, yeah, so that's great, and I think one of the interesting things about getting additional formal education is, like you said, it's great if you're getting into leadership roles.
00:17:16.666 --> 00:17:26.153
You want to be more well-rounded, you want to understand more, but we need to also understand that the fact of having a bachelor's degree alone doesn't always mean the bump in pay.
00:17:26.192 --> 00:17:34.951
You have to do the associated work with the roles that necessitate a bachelor's degree, Because my official certifications didn't bump my pay even before.
00:17:34.951 --> 00:17:36.875
As a coder, Sometimes your pay will bump up.
00:17:36.875 --> 00:17:48.732
Like you said, the additional work, that's a big thing and showing what you not only your worth, but show what you can do for the company, how you can help them, how you can bring them to the table, Because sometimes they may not have the extra revenue to give you the extra pay, or sometimes you're capped at the role.
00:17:48.732 --> 00:18:01.165
So, and not only that, my jobs, so it really all depends on find out what jobs that you want to do in your role.
00:18:01.165 --> 00:18:03.653
I mean pay is great, but it depends on where you live at too.
00:18:03.653 --> 00:18:12.689
I mean that's a big thing and everything's virtual, but I mean California pays a lot more than other states, but at the same time they're cost of living, so they need that.
00:18:13.088 --> 00:18:26.461
I've heard now, though, that there's some kind of situations going on where, because of tax laws or something going on with California, like more organizations aren't allowing you to apply for the jobs in California unless you actually live in.
00:18:26.461 --> 00:18:27.041
California.
00:18:27.041 --> 00:18:35.134
That is true, yeah, so we're starting to see some pullback on that and I don't know exactly what all the laws and regulations are, but I know I've heard that and experience helps.
00:18:35.194 --> 00:18:41.872
So the longer you have experience and the years of experience will help, just because what if you're new and you haven't any experience you may not get?
00:18:41.872 --> 00:18:43.537
But also customer service really helps.
00:18:43.537 --> 00:19:04.294
But starting in those positions that I started with what some people call entry levels, like I'm quoting it, it kind of with that piece is that it's still hard, it's still integral and you'll still learn a lot Like it is a great position to get into because you may not want to be a coder, you may want to be in being a nurse, or you may not want to do medical assisting, you may want to do different positions you may never realize or different specialties you would have gotten in before.
00:19:05.035 --> 00:19:25.248
So definitely keep your up as they are as well, like we've seen in the past with electronic medical record, where people have started getting Epic certified and they work in all these different aspects of Epic and they get you know Resolute and all those different certifications they can get.
00:19:25.248 --> 00:19:29.467
So we might start seeing that with some of our AI software as well, that'd be neat.
00:19:29.507 --> 00:19:42.553
I guess that's all like the IT portion of it in healthcare, because there's so much to do with health care on all different ends and hospitals and physician's office, like there's the, you know, the opportunities are endless and there's enough seat at the table so everybody can come in and help out.
00:19:43.114 --> 00:19:50.450
So you mentioned that you kind of have a passion for understanding how all of the positions come together within the revenue cycle and that they're all very integral.
00:19:50.450 --> 00:20:00.948
Could you talk a little bit more about this and do you have any stories that maybe you could share about collaborating with different roles and how that was impactful or provided some operational efficiencies?
00:20:31.400 --> 00:20:31.641
Sure.
00:20:31.641 --> 00:20:39.425
So, like I said, I started in 2010 as a front office, so I actually finished graduating with my associate's medical insurance billing and coding, but I didn't start.
00:20:39.425 --> 00:20:43.480
You know, when they started that that was like they were just talking about ICD-10-CM.
00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:48.088
You know, cm Granted five years later that happened, but it really helped to be able to.
00:20:48.088 --> 00:20:55.161
I realized that the claim it's more to claim to patients.
00:20:55.161 --> 00:20:56.567
So what you're doing in all aspects, you're helping out the patient.
00:20:56.567 --> 00:21:00.041
That's my goal Because from the front office checking the patient in, you're great customer service, great rapport.
00:21:00.041 --> 00:21:01.225
You're like the face of the company.
00:21:01.225 --> 00:21:02.537
You never know you're walking in.
00:21:02.537 --> 00:21:03.357
They have a bad day.
00:21:03.357 --> 00:21:04.780
You could be the person to help them out.
00:21:05.201 --> 00:21:07.686
Medical assisting it helps you look at clinical charts.
00:21:07.686 --> 00:21:11.850
Now, when I'm looking at soaped-ups, I'm like, oh, medical assistant, bp looking at medications.
00:21:11.850 --> 00:21:14.231
You know, helping a lot of asking the questions.
00:21:14.231 --> 00:21:18.741
Now, with a lot of social determinants of health, they can ask a lot of those questions now the physician may not think about as well.
00:21:18.741 --> 00:21:23.048
We're able to work with them and then also, you see them all the time.
00:21:23.048 --> 00:21:28.891
Like I work in pediatrics, I got to see the babies grow from newborn all the way up and that was really interesting, you know.
00:21:28.931 --> 00:21:29.471
And then billing.
00:21:29.510 --> 00:21:42.364
Now I'm like, okay, so what happens after the claim, the paid, the provider sees a patient, now they're you know we're having before I did coding, so this is all before I did code to see the billing after it's being coded and you're sending out these shirts is when I get to learn shirts, as medicare has certain codes.
00:21:42.805 --> 00:21:48.944
And then, if they're you know, as abn need to be signed, you know, and provider documentation and then accounts receivable.
00:21:48.944 --> 00:21:56.720
Now you're more understanding of what happens whenever you're seeing a click clam or more pushback or even fighting for the payer or fighting for the provider, like for all the revenue.
00:21:56.720 --> 00:22:04.799
But yeah, at the end of the day, my goal is to make sure that the patient pays what they're due, like they're supposed to, but nothing, anything extra, because what if they have something other going on and they may be able to pay?
00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:08.307
But at the same time, you know patients are due their responsibility.
00:22:08.307 --> 00:22:11.642
You know could be deductibles, but what we're doing makes a difference.
00:22:11.642 --> 00:22:18.736
Even if you're not in the office, I feel like if I can just help one person or one patient, even I'm not there, make their day, then that's all that matters.
00:22:19.115 --> 00:22:21.961
Have you been involved much with local chapters?
00:22:21.961 --> 00:22:24.826
I can't remember if you've worked as an officer in the past.
00:22:25.666 --> 00:22:35.861
I'm an officer this year, an educational officer, and I'm also a speaker as well and I really like that being able to help with the education because we have new coders, seasoned coders, but now I really look glad.
00:22:35.861 --> 00:22:37.721
I know it's kind of sad with post-COVID.
00:22:37.721 --> 00:22:42.747
I'm really glad that a lot of them we can have virtual, because there's a lot of people who were able to speak what we didn't realize before.
00:22:48.615 --> 00:22:52.023
It's so much different specialties and so much different aspects, because we're all looking at different areas that I never would have thought of.
00:22:52.023 --> 00:22:57.577
Looking at it Right right, the pool of skills that we have that we can tap into now and understanding and knowledge is just amazing.
00:22:57.577 --> 00:23:09.048
Because before yeah, it used to be if you were working in cardiology and you didn't know what you were doing, you either had to find someone nearby that knew cardiology, you had to maybe fly to a cardiology seminar.
00:23:09.048 --> 00:23:13.714
But now you can keep an eye out for all those local chapters and be like, oh, where's Terry Fletcher speaking at I'm going to?
00:23:13.714 --> 00:23:14.537
Oh, my goodness.
00:23:14.938 --> 00:23:17.302
I love her, she's amazing.
00:23:17.302 --> 00:23:23.040
And then, even if you don't know about speaking, if you have a specialty that you're really good and you love, go for it.
00:23:23.040 --> 00:23:23.902
Just start speaking about it.
00:23:23.902 --> 00:23:24.804
Like, share the knowledge.
00:23:24.804 --> 00:23:32.741
Like that's and I've learned from people like you and others who are like eventually we're going to retire, like later on, yeah, retire, I was like, but we want to share the knowledge, to give it to the new coders.
00:23:32.741 --> 00:23:33.243
That's my goal.
00:23:33.243 --> 00:23:34.760
It's like just, and everything's changing.
00:23:34.760 --> 00:23:49.542
I have AI, so people, five, 10 years from now, coming thing is change Slowly but don't be afraid of change.
00:23:49.542 --> 00:23:52.054
Like it's going to happen whether we want it or not, but as long as we can acclimate it to and just overall, just be positive.
00:23:52.054 --> 00:23:53.317
But I'm a positive person, I guess.
00:23:54.759 --> 00:24:03.607
So then, kind of speaking to some of the advancements that we're having in healthcare, what kind of trends and innovations are you seeing that you're kind of excited about?
00:24:03.607 --> 00:24:08.044
And then how are we as professionals kind of supposed to prepare for some of what's coming up?
00:24:08.345 --> 00:24:09.607
I'm excited about new technologies.
00:24:09.607 --> 00:24:11.861
I know there's a lot of different clinical trials going on.
00:24:11.861 --> 00:24:19.416
There's different, and they're like cardiology of different surgeries, oncology of different clinical trials for different medications, so that's really interesting.
00:24:19.416 --> 00:24:30.508
I know things are quite expensive now, but I like how we're able to save people's lives compared to back when, you know a long, long time ago, where they just started getting antibiotics and actually that was kind of by accident, I believe.
00:24:30.508 --> 00:24:32.922
Don't quote me on that, but it's one of those things of just.
00:24:32.922 --> 00:24:35.491
I like how the technology is different.
00:24:35.491 --> 00:24:36.816
I like how we're able to do things.
00:24:36.816 --> 00:24:37.658
I don't know AI.
00:24:37.658 --> 00:24:40.926
I'm hesitant, but I'm not because I know it's going to be there.
00:24:40.926 --> 00:24:44.041
But as long as it's done good and the right purposes, then that's great.
00:24:44.041 --> 00:24:53.221
But knowing that we are still going to have a job, our role may be different and so that way we're able to still help or have our input in it.
00:24:53.221 --> 00:24:53.442
It's just.
00:24:53.442 --> 00:24:54.285
I'm excited to see what's going to happen.
00:24:54.305 --> 00:25:07.225
I feel like with some of the AI things it's starting to almost feel reminiscent of when we had to go on electronic medical records and there's that initial panic and I'm like you know what, now that I'm kind of thinking about it and how it kind of is the same as when we brought on EMRs.
00:25:07.225 --> 00:25:09.569
When we need to figure it out, we'll kind of figure it out.
00:25:09.569 --> 00:25:15.567
I don't know that there's anything we can do to prepare for the systems that we haven't even implemented and developed yet.
00:25:16.475 --> 00:25:18.763
But it's not really going with the flow.
00:25:18.763 --> 00:25:24.504
Like speak up, if you find an issue, help ground it, but at the same time you know just what you can do to help the same time.
00:25:24.504 --> 00:25:27.166
But be prepared, like not be prepared but be okay with it.
00:25:27.166 --> 00:25:30.589
Like it's going to be here, but how can we make it better for everybody to be able to use?
00:25:30.589 --> 00:25:36.778
So that way it's more efficient and, like you said, especially the EHR, like they're it's amazing now, but you don't have like a little truck.
00:25:36.778 --> 00:25:44.946
But a lot of people were very, very afraid in all different aspects of it and I'm like you know it's here, so miles will just make the best of it.
00:25:45.508 --> 00:25:54.285
And I'm sure back then they were saying probably the same things that they're saying now oh, when we get onto electronic health records, all your jobs are going to be gone, and we're not going to.
00:25:54.285 --> 00:25:55.048
So I'm just like you know what?
00:25:55.048 --> 00:25:56.654
Now we've been through this so many times I'm tired of hearing I know.
00:25:56.654 --> 00:26:07.247
So, finally, for those that are looking to start or advance their career in health care management and and medical coding, what is your key piece of advice that you would offer, based off of your journey, your experiences?
00:26:07.367 --> 00:26:07.988
Just go for it.
00:26:07.988 --> 00:26:09.230
Like, don't be afraid.
00:26:09.230 --> 00:26:17.565
And when you're looking at different positions, make sure it's kind of an idea of what you want to do, like don't go just for the pay and don't go just for the job itself.
00:26:17.565 --> 00:26:21.578
Know that maybe, maybe job that is just a stepping stone and that's okay.
00:26:21.578 --> 00:26:32.886
Or you know I want to go here and kind of pivot and kind of go around, but or you know I want to go here and kind of pivot and kind of go around, but it's going to take time and that's the big thing is that my role took a long time, but I chose that.
00:26:32.886 --> 00:26:34.589
Somebody else's role may take longer or shorter, it really depends.
00:26:34.589 --> 00:26:35.631
But don't give up and don't and I know it's really hard.
00:26:35.631 --> 00:26:39.715
But don't compare to others, because a lot of time in social media you're just seeing the end result.
00:26:39.715 --> 00:26:49.568
You're not seeing the long hard hours, the work, the ups and downs, the cries, and just know we've all been where you've been at, we've all been new coders, we've all been exactly about the frustration.
00:26:50.890 --> 00:26:52.758
And then be positive, especially on social media.
00:26:52.758 --> 00:26:58.449
Put a good name out there for yourself, because a lot of people I know and I follow they're like healthcare is a small field.
00:26:58.449 --> 00:27:07.248
One in five people are going to know who you are and you may be sitting next to your new employer or the next person that you may be seeing later in life.
00:27:07.248 --> 00:27:15.801
It's just you want to make sure that you have positive career field and let you know there's enough spot here, there's plenty of room, and don't pigeonhole yourself.
00:27:15.801 --> 00:27:16.683
Make sure that you're.
00:27:16.683 --> 00:27:22.576
Make yourself invaluable because you're a valuable person, you're very integral to what we're doing and everybody's important.
00:27:22.576 --> 00:27:24.938
And then at the same time, it's all about patient care.
00:27:24.938 --> 00:27:28.742
Like that's a big thing that we're trying to help patients because we are also looking at coming in from us.
00:27:28.742 --> 00:27:30.305
How would we want to be treated?
00:27:30.305 --> 00:27:31.165
When we go in the office?
00:27:31.165 --> 00:27:36.311
You know the whole aspects and in the back end, like if we're getting all these bills, like how do we want to be treated?
00:27:36.754 --> 00:27:37.254
Absolutely.
00:27:37.254 --> 00:27:37.556
I love that.
00:27:37.556 --> 00:27:39.857
So well, good luck on your master's degree program.
00:27:39.857 --> 00:27:42.799
Is there anything else exciting coming up for you, natasha Master's degree program.
00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:44.102
Is there anything else exciting coming?
00:27:44.142 --> 00:27:44.942
up for you, natasha.
00:27:44.942 --> 00:27:45.722
That's a big one.
00:27:45.722 --> 00:27:46.324
I start in May.
00:27:46.324 --> 00:27:47.884
I'm really nervous, but I'm going to.
00:27:47.884 --> 00:27:52.990
I'm just going to go for it because I definitely I, like you, know the health information portion of it.
00:27:52.990 --> 00:27:56.011
I have my business degree and I just want to continue with that and then be able to sit with Maria.
00:27:56.011 --> 00:28:01.641
But it's just like, honestly, I don't know what I want to do, like there's.
00:28:01.641 --> 00:28:03.502
So Keep going, keep your options open?
00:28:03.542 --> 00:28:04.384
Yes, definitely.
00:28:04.384 --> 00:28:07.906
So where can my viewers connect with you online if they want to know more?
00:28:07.926 --> 00:28:09.189
about Natasha Everywhere.
00:28:09.189 --> 00:28:15.578
So I'm really big on LinkedIn and I'm the only Natasha Timberlake I have to thank my husband for my famous last name.
00:28:15.578 --> 00:28:18.547
I'm also, you know, on social media like AAPC and Facebook and all that stuff.
00:28:18.547 --> 00:28:29.647
But, yeah, and in my email too, you can reach out anywhere and if you have any questions, I'll reach out to my you know connections and stuff and we'll be able to help you out, because we're all here to help each other out, all right, well, great, thank you so much, natasha, for coming on today.
00:28:29.647 --> 00:28:30.990
Thank you so much, I appreciate it.
00:28:32.015 --> 00:28:32.710
And thank you guys as well.
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