Interview with Lisa Blair
CPC
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What is your name?
Lisa Blair
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Where are you from?
I grew up in Portland , Oregon then moved to Medford in Southern Oregon for a few years. Now I live in Yakima , Washington and have been here for the last 13 years.
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What is your favorite activity?
Going to the movies and watching Little League Games.
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Do you have any hobbies?
Quilting
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What credentials do you hold?
CPC
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What organizations do you belong to and how have they helped your career?
AAPC—I was introduced to them in 2000 when my employer told me they would like me to go to the National Conference in Minneapolis and consider getting credentialed. Then I actually tested the following year in Las Vegas . I have been lucky enough to go to conference every year since. It’s amazing the people you meet and all of the knowledge they have. I always seem to meet someone new and learn something new every year.
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How did you get into the field of medical billing and coding?
In 1986 I started working at the front desk of an orthopedic clinic and by the second year I had moved into the billing office. Starting at the front desk was great as it has made me understand the importance of getting the correct information right from the start and makes me better able to explain this to new front office staff.
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What is your current position?
Billing Manager for Five K Medical Billing. We bill for 7 clinics of various specialties.
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What is one of your accomplishments in this field that you are most proud of?
Earning my CPC. I do more billing than coding and was concerned that when I took the test I wouldn’t know enough about the actually coding. I surprised myself and passed on the first try.
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What do you find most exciting about this field?
The challenge of getting a denied claim paid.
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What do you find most frustrating?
Keeping up with the changes. Especially when you try to keep up with both the billing and the coding side of it.
What do you feel the future holds for this field?
I have no idea. Just as soon as you think you know or understand something, it changes.
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What would you tell someone just starting out in this field?
Be patient, it doesn’t come easy especially when you have no control on most of what happens.
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If there was one thing you could change about this field what would it be?
Consistency. It would great if all the carriers and agencies would use the same coding and billing rules.
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Who do you consider a mentor?
There is no one person in particular. I would have say that there are a lot of people on some coding and billing e-mail lists that I have never met that I use as resources and of course, those that I met over the years at conference. Being in a billing service working multiple specialties and with both the billing and coding side of it, I have so many people that I know I can rely on for help.
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What is your favorite billing or coding product?
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What is your affiliation with the CRN and how has that helped you?
I met Barbara at an AAPC conference (I think it was in Washington DC ) through Kerry Martin of CodeCorrect. We have continued to keep in touch over the years. She is a great resource. I also participate in the CRN E-mail list. I know Barbara can always help me or head me in the right direction. And it’s always great to see CRN at the AAPC conferences year after year.