How to Find the Right Medical Billing and Coding School near Petaluma California

Once you have made a decision to enter the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Petaluma CA, it's important that you find the right program so that you receive the proper education to guarantee your success. As you no doubt know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing sectors in the United States, and more and more options are available both online and on campus to get the training that you need. But just where do you begin? Many potential students begin by searching for programs that are within travelling distance of their homes and then comparing tuition. Or they might surf the internet looking for online courses and go with the cheapest one. But while location and cost are relevant issues when making your choice, they should not be the sole ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as reputation and accreditation need to be considered as well. We will review a list of questions that you should ask the medical billing and coding schools you are evaluating in order to find out what you must know before making your decision. But first, let's take a look at what medical coders and billers do and the educational and certification options available.

Medical Coding Job Description

Medical coders work on the front line of the billing systems for Petaluma CA private practices and healthcare organizations. Coders have the responsibility to examine the medical records of patients and assign universal codes to all services provided. These services can be for medical, diagnosis or dental procedures, or any equipment or medical supplies utilized. There are multiple codes that are used in this conversion process, including the following:

• CPT codes (Current Procedural Terminology).
• ICD codes (International Classification of Diseases).
• HCPCS codes (Healthcare Common Procedure Coding).

Medical coders depend on information from sources including physician and nursing notes, patient charts, and radiology and lab reports. Coders must not only know what services were provided in total for accurate reporting, but must have a functioning knowledge of all government and private payer rules that influence coding as well. Incorrectly coded claims may result in services not being paid for, services being paid at a reduced rate, or the physician or facility being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can literally cost Petaluma CA hospitals and doctors many thousands of dollars in earnings each year, a reliable medical coder is a necessary asset for any healthcare team. They can operate in every type of healthcare facility, including family practices, clinics, hospitals and emergency care centers. It is not unusual for seasoned medical coders to operate at home as an offsite employee or an independent contractor.

Medical Billing Job Summary

As essential as the medical coder's job is, it would be for nothing without the contribution of the medical biller whose efforts produce revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to Petaluma CA medical facilities and are essentially responsible for keeping them in business. In many cases the coder and biller can be the same individual within a healthcare organization, but they can also be two individual professionals. When the coder has performed his or her duty, the biller uses the codes furnished to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid. After they have been adjusted by the applicable organization, patients can then be charged for deductibles or additional out of pocket expenses. On a regular basis, a medical biller might also do any of the following:

• Confirm health insurance benefits for patients and help them with billing concerns or questions
• Follow up on patient claims submitted and appeal those that have been declined
• Function as a mediator between the healthcare provider, the insurance companies and the patients for accurate claim settlement
• Create and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and take care of unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billing clerks not only are employed by family practices, but also Petaluma CA emergency care facilities, hospitals, medical groups or nursing homes. They may work in any type of healthcare facility that relies on the revenues generated from billing third party payers and patients.

Medical Coder and Biller Online Education and Certification

It's essential that you get your education from a reputable school, whether it's a community college, technical or trade school. Even though it is not required in many cases to attain a professional certification, the program you choose should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). The majority of California colleges just require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to qualify. The fastest way to become either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to earn a certificate, which typically takes about one year to finish. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more expansive education, which for almost all schools requires two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical coding and billing are not widely available. After your training has been completed, although not mandated in most states, you may wish to earn a professional certification. Certification is an excellent way for those new to the profession to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but dedicated to their occupation. Some of the organizations that offer certifications are:

• American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).
• Board of Medical Specialty Coding (BMSC).
• The Professional Association of Healthcare Coding Specialists (PAHCS).
• American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

Completing an accredited medical billing and coding program, combined with earning a professional certification, are the most effective ways to advance your new profession and succeed in the rapid growing healthcare industry.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Programs

If you are searching for flexibility and the convenience of attending classes from home, then choosing an online medical billing and coding course may be a great alternative. They can be especially attractive to those living in Petaluma CA who anticipate going to school while continuing to work or have other responsibilities that make attending classes on campus challenging. And as an additional benefit, online schools are often less expensive than the traditional classroom alternatives. Expenses for such items as tuition, study materials and commuting may be minimized or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online courses are reputable. That's why it's essential to verify that any online course you select is accredited to guarantee a superior education. We will cover the benefits of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to verify that any online school you are looking at is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, for instance the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are dedicated enough to apply yourself to this type of learning, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the ideal choice for you.

Points to Ask Medical Coding and Billing Courses

Now that you have a better idea just what a medical biller and coder does, in addition to what education options are available, you need to begin the process of evaluating colleges. But since there are numerous training options available at community colleges as well as trade, vocational and technical schools within the Petaluma CA area, you should have a prepared list of questions to assess each one. And when you include all of the online colleges that offer medical billing and coding classes, the task can become somewhat daunting. As we have already discussed, location and cost are going to be important issues, especially if you have a modest budget and will be driving to classes from your Petaluma home. And verifying that the school and program are accredited must be part of your vetting procedure as well. So let's review a few of the additional questions that you should ask the schools you are considering so that you can analyze each one and make the appropriate choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's essential that the program and college you pick are accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online program, it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. Not only will accreditation help guarantee that the training you receive will be of superior quality, it may help secure future employment as well. A number of Petaluma CA medical organizations will only employ entry level candidates that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding educational course. And financial aid and student loans are frequently only offered for programs that have earned an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Prior to choosing a medical billing and coding program, check out what its reputation and ranking are compared to other colleges. This is particularly important if you have no experience in the field, since potential employers will mostly be relying on the quality of your education. As we have addressed, making sure that the program is accredited is a first step. Checking with college rating organizations, such as U.S. News and World Report, can validate the quality of the school as well. Another option is to call several Petaluma CA medical organizations that you might have an interest in working for and find out which programs they recommend. Bear in mind that even if the college itself does not have an exceptional reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be well regarded.

Is there an Employment Referral Program? Finding employment in Petaluma CA after graduating in your new profession can be challenging without the support of a job placement program. Check if the schools you are looking at have job assistance programs and what their job placement rates are. A rapid and high placement rate is an excellent indication that the billing and coding school has a significant network of medical care employers where they can place their graduates. It also implies that the school's graduates are sought after in the marketplace.

Where is the College's Location? If you are planning on commuting to class from your Petaluma CA home, then the location of the program will be of prime importance. Obviously if you choose an medical billing and coding online program, then the location of the college will not be a factor. One thing to remember is that if you go to classes at a community or junior college, many charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may want to first research those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Overall Expense? Medical coding and billing certification courses can differ in cost based on the type of credential obtained and the amount of training furnished. But remember, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Expenditures also include such things as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial assistance may be available to help reduce some of the expense, so don't forget to get in touch with the college's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Petaluma CA. Of course if you decide to enroll in an online school, some of these added costs, such as for commuting may be minimized or even eliminated.

Are Classes Available that Match your Schedule? A number of students keep working while attending school and require a convenient class schedule. If you can only go to classes during the evenings or on weekends near Petaluma CA, make sure that they are available at those times. If you can only enroll on a part-time schedule, check that the school you choose provides that alternative. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up classes missed due to sickness, work or family emergencies.

Find Out More on How to Choose a Billing and Coding School

Choose the Right Petaluma CA Medical Billing and Coding Program 

Picking the right medical coding and billing degree or certificate course is a very important first step to help ensure your success in this rewarding field of healthcare. Medical coding and medical billing are two of the most rapidly growing occupations in the medical industry. Because of this, there are numerous vocational schools, community colleges and other institutions that furnish education and training in medical coding and billing. As we have covered, you can choose to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also imperative that the college you pick has an accredited program with an exceptional reputation within the medical care field. But however you elect to receive your education, by adhering to the previous guidelines and posing the appropriate questions, you will be better able to assess your options and pick the right medical billing and coding college. And with the proper training, you can realize your career goal to become a medical coding and billing specialist in Petaluma California.