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Entrepreneur: MOSS’ Hansen sorts through medical offices’ paper crunch

Every time the federal government piles on more health care regulations, Jane Hansen gets busier.

Gazette Staff

She’s not saying she favors more bureaucracy, but she is looking forward to adding more clients and staff.

Hansen owns Medical Office Support Services, a Billings company that helps medical offices keep up with paperwork.

"I do a lot of work in coding issues," Hansen said. "Physicians are required to send in certain codes with their claim forms and I make sure they’re using the right codes. It can get complicated."

Hansen can be reached at 252-1887. Here’s what else she had to say about her growing business.

Nature of the business:

Medical Office Support Services (MOSS) provides support to medical offices in the areas of coding, medical billing, accounts receivable review/clean-up, follow-up on outstanding insurance claims, management support, chart auditing, physician and staff education, and bookkeeping.

Why start this business?

I started MOSS because a physician came to Billings and needed help setting up his practice. This is something I love to do, and there was no one else who could or would do the work. One of my former employers recommended me to him and six years later, he and I still work very closely together. Many small practices cannot afford to hire permanent staff to complete project work, so I am the perfect person for the job. I can go in and complete the job in a matter of a month or so, depending on the job, for a fairly reasonable amount of money.

Where did start-up funding come from?

Start-up costs came from my personal savings. The costs were minimal as I had most of the tools I needed already in a home computer, the Internet and some selected reference books and materials.

How long have you been in business?

I started MOSS in January 1999. In July 1999 I took a position with a local company doing the same thing I had been doing on my own. In August 2002 I decided it was in the best interest of my family and myself to go back and develop MOSS further, so here I am.

Biggest challenges in running the business?

My biggest challenge in running the business has been trying to do everything myself. Ironically, I finally realized that, in some cases, a business needs to outsource.

What was done to overcome those challenges?

I used my mom and mother-in-law, both retired, to help me with the projects they could. My husband eventually quit his job to help me out with the bookkeeping aspect of the business. He and I work really well together, so the transition to both of us working from home was fairly simple.

What is being done to expand the business?

I mail postcards on a quarterly business, and I always pass out business cards. I rely heavily on word of mouth.

Your worst business mistake?

Taking on too much by myself.

Advice for someone running a business?

Always have a plan and a back-up plan. Don’t take on a project for the big bucks if your gut is telling you not to.

Number of workers?

Two

What’s your five-year plan for the business?

Slow growth so I can give my clients the best possible service. I would like to add five clients per year and grow to five high quality employees by 2007.

A question you would ask other entrepreneurs?

What can I do to help you get started?

If you weren’t doing what you do now, what would be your dream job?

I would like to be a sports medicine specialist for the University of Nebraska or a research expert in the area of pediatrics.

“Entrepreneurs” appears regularly in the WorkWeek section. The feature will help readers become familiar with new businesses, as well as educate others in the challenges of starting a business. If you have been in business for at least one year and would like to tell your story, please contact:

Chris Jorgensen

Billings Gazette

401 N. Broadway

Billings, MT, 59101

657-1311, office

657-1208, fax

[email protected]

Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.

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