Chapter Three
BEWARE of Scams
Medical coding is a white hot career, and anytime anything is hugely popular, there's potential for scams. You must know how to protect yourself against them.
For example, we've all seen the work at-home ads proclaiming you can earn $3,000 a week as a medical coder, and schools promising a medical coding certificate in 30 days. Sound too good to be true? It probably is.
The truth is, you can't trust everything you read, and you must be cautious and thoroughly research your options before you make a decision - whether it's choosing an online medical coding school or applying for a work-at-home position.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of unscrupulous people out there looking to make a quick buck off of innocent people.
To protect yourself, make sure:
- You always check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The Better Business Bureau reports complaints, so you can get an idea of a company or school's reputation before you invest your time and money.
- You must trust your intuition. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- You research before you commit to a job or a school. Do an internet search looking for any information you can find on the company/school.
- Ask the company/school for references. Make sure you get the phone numbers of references to whom you can physically talk. Don't settle for email addresses.
- You can learn about scams and how you can protect yourself against them with the Riley Guide by clicking here.
Next: Chapter Four: Certification - The American Health Information Management Association
Previous: Chapter Three: Education and Medical Coding
Table of Contents for the Medical Coding Career Guide:
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