Today we’d like to introduce you to Ericia Smith.
Hi Ericia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a third-party medical billing, coding, and credentialing specialist for a wide variety of privately owned physician offices, urgent care clinics, etc. I started my company in 2021 in the state of Alabama, I was married and looking to start this fabulous life, however, my marriage did not work out, and I was forced to close my business down to move back to my hometown of Lagrange Georgia.
Once I moved back, I did not immediately start my company, simply because I didn’t have the funds to do so. I was working a full-time job, going to school for my associate degree, and also being a single mom of 4 kids. One day, I received a call from a physician, and I had to turn down his offer because I was not licensed in the state of Ga, at that very moment I knew I had to start my company back up and make it work on the budget that I had. I started putting pieces together with each work check that I received until I had everything together.
My kids and I were staying in Government housing (projects) there was a lot of crime in that area, and I was determined to get my family out of that living arrangement, after I was able to afford to move, I was still working my full-time job. However, I began to find ways to market my company while working, and eventually, it paid off, and I got my very first client. I was so happy and scared, I was scared to quit my 9-5 job in fear of having to go back to the projects with my family. so, most days I would work at my job and then working at my company after hours.
With the money I earned from my first client, I was able to market myself more and more until I started getting calls from new potential clients. On October 25, I lost my full-time job at no fault of my own, and I just felt like that was God releasing me from something that was holding me back, I immediately began going so hard on my company, and it paid off I now have 4 clients, and I make more money than I ever have made work for an actual company.
I have been investing in myself so much, and now in 2024, I will be a licensed AAPC instructor which is where I plan to start my second company teaching others about the medical billing and coding sector of healthcare, and also helping them with the tools they will need to start their own company.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road for me, I came from a world of bad things I began having kids at an early age, and we’ve mostly had to stay in government housing, I have been in so many abusive relationships to where I never thought I’d amount to anything in my life.
There have been so many stumbling blocks in my life I honestly just wanted to give up. When I started my company, I had three high school students two of whom were preparing to go off to college, So I was never able to invest in myself due to being a single mom, and not having the best income or support team, but somehow through the grace of God I am now a successful business owner.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in medical billing, coding, and provider credentialing. I am responsible for getting the providers paid for the services they render to the different patients they see daily.
I have the joy of working from the comfort of my own home, I bill the patient insurance companies for the medical service they receive, and I am also responsible for following up on those claims until they are paid in full.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting.
The best advice I can give from personal experience is to not give up on your dreams.
No matter how hard it gets, or how much you feel that you won’t be able to do it, I highly suggest putting all of your fears away and going for everything you deserve.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.elsmedicalbillinggroup.net
- Instagram: @ericia_thebiller
- Facebook: Ericia L Smith
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericia-smith-ba1b61b1/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/els-medical-billing-group-lagrange
- Other: https://www.chamberofcommerce.com/business-directory/georgia/lagrange/medical-billing-service/2025424941-els-medical-billing-group-llc
