How do I Become a Medicare Consultant?

Many of those involved in the health care field may look at changing careers and becoming a Medicare consultant. A Medicare consultant is a professional who focuses on aspects of Medicare medical billing, eligibility issues, or other aspects of dealing with the federal Medicare program for patients or providers. Medicare consultants specialize in this kind of government insurance, and help expedite Medicare claims and provide the support system that helps eligible patients use the Medicare entitlement program.

Individuals interested in Medicare consulting may not need a bachelor’s degree or specialized college degree. Instead, a Medicare consultant utilizes knowledge about medical billing and medical records as well as specific knowledge about Medicare reimbursement policy. On-the-job skills, in addition to education and specific Medicare certification programs, often form the basis for a Medicare consultant career.

As a practical way to become a Medicare consultant, working in a convalescent home or other group residential home for the aged or the disabled will help beginners build a knowledge of Medicare that they can use for a career as a Medicare consultant. Time spent in billing offices will help build knowledge of specific Medicare billing procedures. It’s not uncommon for health care workers to start in direct care positions, and move toward Medicare consulting as they gain skills and certifications.

Specific Medicare certifications are important for those who want to become a Medicare consultant. A group called the National Alliance of Medicare Set-Aside Professionals maintains a web site with more information on the kinds of certifications that individuals use as Medicare consultants. A Medicare Set-Aside Consultant-Certified (MSCC) exam is one certification choice that includes information on Medicare as a second payer, and is usually a useful addition to a resume for someone who wants to become a Medicare consultant.

In addition to these certifications, specific field skills can help Medicare consultants be informed about issues that patients face. Nurses, direct care staff, and even clerical staff in medical offices can have a better starting knowledge of the Medicare system and the common hurdles for different types of patients. These job-related skills can be useful to an employer who’s hiring a Medicare consultant for a specific billing position. For the best chance to become a Medicare consultant in a particular medical network, highlight your billing skills, and your knowledge of how the Medicare program works, and use what you have learned in a previous career to give employers what they need: informed, educated responses to issues with the Medicare system.