How to Select the Right Medical Billing and Coding Program near Glastonbury Connecticut

Now that you have made a decision to enter the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Glastonbury CT, it's important that you find the right school so that you receive the proper education to ensure your success. As you may already know, healthcare is among the fastest growing fields in the USA, and a growing number of options are available both online and on campus to receive the training that you need. But just where does one start? A number of potential students begin by searching for schools that are within travelling distance of their residences and then comparing tuition. Or they may surf the internet looking for online classes and go with the cheapest one. But while cost and location are significant issues when making your selection, they should not be the sole ones when comparing medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as reputation and accreditation need to be taken into consideration as well. We will review a list of questions that you should ask the medical billing and coding courses you are researching in order to learn what you need to know before making your decision. But first, let's take a look at what medical coders and billers do.

Medical Coder Job Description

Medical coders are on the front line of the billing systems for Glastonbury CT medical practices and hospitals. Coders have the responsibility to analyze 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 medical supplies or equipment used. 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 use information from sources such as nursing and physician notes, patient charts, and radiology and lab reports. Medical Coders must not only know what services were provided in total for accuracy, but must have a functioning knowledge of all government and private payer rules that impact coding as well. Improperly coded claims can result in services not being covered, services being paid for at a reduced rate, or the provider being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can in fact cost Glastonbury CT doctors and hospitals many thousands of dollars in revenue each year, a good medical coder is an important asset to the healthcare team. They can work in every type of healthcare facility, including private practices, clinics, hospitals and emergency care centers. It is not uncommon for professional medical coders to work at home as an offsite employee or an independent contractor.

Medical Billing Job Duties

As important as the medical coder's function is, it would be for naught without the collaboration of the medical biller whose efforts generate revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Glastonbury CT healthcare organizations and are essentially responsible for keeping them in business. In many cases the biller and coder are the same individual within a healthcare organization, but they can also be two individual specialists. When the coder has carried out her or his duty, the biller uses the codes provided to complete and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicaid or Medicare. After being adjusted by the applicable entity, patients can then be billed for deductibles or additional out of pocket costs. On a regular basis, a medical billing clerk might also do any of the following:

• Confirm medical insurance coverages for patients and help them with billing questions or concerns
• Follow up on patient claims submitted and appeal those that have been denied
• Act as a mediator between the medical provider, the insurance companies and the patients for correct claim settlement
• Produce and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and take care of unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billing clerks not only are employed by private practices, but also Glastonbury CT emergency care facilities, hospitals, medical groups or nursing homes. They can practice in every type of healthcare facility that depends on the incomes generated from billing patients and third party payers.

Online Medical Biller and Coder Schools

If you are looking for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes from home, then selecting a medical billing and coding online course may be a good option. They can be particularly appealing to students living in Glastonbury CT who anticipate going to school while continuing to work or have additional commitments that make attending classes on campus difficult. And as an additional benefit, online schools are often less expensive than the traditional classroom options. Expenses for such items as tuition, study materials and commuting may be reduced or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online schools are reputable. That's why it's essential to verify that any online college you select is accredited to guarantee a superior education. We will cover the advantages of accreditation in the next section. Just make sure to confirm that any online instruction you are researching is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, for example the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to apply yourself to this type of learning, then attaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Medical Billing and Coding Training Programs

Once you have a better idea what a medical biller and coder does, along with what training options are available, you must start the process of researching colleges. But since there many training options available at community colleges and vocational, technical and trade schools within the Glastonbury CT area, you must have a prepared list of questions to evaluate each one. And when you add all of the online schools that offer medical coding and billing classes, the task can become somewhat formidable. As we have already addressed, cost and location are going to be important issues, especially if you have a modest budget and will be driving to classes from your Glastonbury residence. And whether or not the program and school are accredited should be part of your vetting procedure also. So let's take a look at several of the other questions that you should ask the programs you are looking at so that you can evaluate each one and make the best choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's crucial that the program and college you choose are accredited by a respected accrediting agency, such as the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online school, it might also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Not only will accreditation help confirm that the education you receive will be of superior quality, it might help with your future employment also. A number of Glastonbury CT medical organizations will only hire entry level candidates that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing training course. And financial assistance and student loans are in many cases only obtainable for schools that have received an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Prior to choosing a medical billing and coding school, find out what its ranking and reputation are compared to other colleges. This is particularly important if you have no experience in the field, since potential employers will mainly be relying on the quality of your training. As we have addressed, making sure that the college is accredited is a first step. Checking with college rating organizations, for instance U.S. News and World Report, can confirm the quality of the school also. Another option is to contact several Glastonbury CT healthcare organizations that you might be interested in working for and ask which programs they recommend. Bear in mind that even if the college itself does not have an excellent reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be highly regarded.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job in Glastonbury CT after graduating in your new profession might be difficult without the support of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are considering have job assistance programs and what their job placement rates are. A rapid and high placement rate is a good indication that the billing and coding school has a substantial network of medical care employers where they can place their graduates. It also implies that the school's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

Where is the School's Location? If you are planning on commuting to class from your Glastonbury CT residence, then the location of the college will be of prime importance. Obviously if you enroll in an online medical billing and coding program, then the location of the school will not be a consideration. One thing to bear in mind is that if you go to classes at a junior or community college, most charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to first consider those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Total Expense? Medical billing and coding training courses can fluctuate in cost based on the type of credential earned and the length of training provided. But remember, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Expenditures also include such items as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial aid may be obtainable to help reduce some of the expense, so be sure to check with the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in Glastonbury CT. Of course if you decide to attend an online college, a portion of these added costs, particularly for commuting may be lessened or even eliminated.

Are Classes Accessible that Match your Schedule? Many students continue working while attending college and need a convenient class schedule. If you can only go to classes during the evenings or on weekends near Glastonbury CT, make sure that they are available at those times. If you can only attend on a part time schedule, make sure that the school you pick offers that alternative. Also, ask what the process is for making up classes missed due to sickness, work or family responsibilities.

Find Out More on How to Choose a Medical Coding Program

Enroll in the Right Glastonbury CT Medical Billing and Coding Program 

Picking the ideal medical coding and billing degree or certificate program is a crucial initial step to help guarantee your success in this exciting sector of medical care. Medical coding and medical billing are two of the fastest growing careers in the health sector. As a result, there are a lot of vocational schools, junior colleges and other institutions that furnish training and education in medical billing and coding. As we have discussed, you can opt to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also important that the school you choose has an accredited program with an outstanding reputation within the healthcare industry. But however you choose to receive your training, by adhering to the previous guidelines and asking the appropriate questions, you will be better able to analyze your options and choose the right medical billing and coding program. And with the appropriate education, you can accomplish your career goal to become a medical coding and billing clerk in Glastonbury Connecticut.