A medical claims analyst works in the health insurance or
services industry. He or she is responsible for reviewing all medical claims
over a specific period of time and identifying patterns and trends. The things
you would need to become a medical claims analyst include critical thinking
skills, computer skills and formal training in this field. The most important
skill for anyone who wants to become a medical claims analyst is the ability to
recognize patterns. The analyst is expected to work with a variety of tools to
review huge sets of data. The ability to formulate a theory on behavior and
trends and create the query to look for this pattern is very important. Although
the techniques used are covered in the formal training, practice is required to
obtain a professional level of skill. Critical thinking is a combination of
several problem-solving techniques used to assist in the decision-making
process. Data is collected from reliable sources, and a series of iterative
questions are posed to arrive at a list of options. This method of solving
problems relies heavily on data and logic, and it tends to disregard emotions or
intuition. These techniques are very useful if you want to become a medical
claims analyst. Intermediate or advanced computer skills are essential if you
want to become a medical claims analyst. The vast majority of the day is spent
using computer programs to select data, run reports and queries and review the
results. These skills can be learned through formal education or
employer-provided training. There is no specific degree or diploma in claims
analysis. However, a college degree in business administration or statistics is
quite relevant and provides the skills necessary to perform this job
successfully. In many cases, a health insurance company or government agency is
looking for job candidates who have completed post-secondary education.
Additional training is provided in the actual programs and methods used by the
organization. Career advancement opportunities for a medical claims analyst
include working as a department supervisor, manager or senior analyst. In order
to be considered for these positions, talk with the human resources
professionals about the academic credentials and experience required to move
forward. On occasion, additional courses in management, supervision or computer
software is recommended. Think about soft skills, such as communication and
conflict resolution, that are important in a management position. Working with a
career counselor is a great way to identify your strengths and formulate a plan
to move to the next stage of your career. |