How to Choose the Right Medical Billing School near Glastonbury Connecticut

Once you have made a decision to enter the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Glastonbury CT, it's essential that you choose the right program to ensure that you receive the proper education to guarantee your success. As you probably know, healthcare is among the fastest growing sectors in the Country, and more and more options are offered both online and on campus to receive the training that you need. But just where do you start? A number of future students start by looking for programs that are within travelling distance of their homes 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 only 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 checklist of questions that you should ask the medical billing and coding schools you are assessing so that you can learn what you need to know prior to making your decision. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical coders and billers do and the training and certification options offered.

Medical Biller and Coder Online Training and Certification

It's essential that you obtain your training from a reputable school, whether it's a technical school, vocational school or community college. While it is not required in most cases to earn a professional certification, the school you enroll in should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). The majority of Connecticut colleges only require that you earn either a high school diploma or a GED to apply. The most expedient way to become either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to attain a certificate, which generally takes about 1 year to finish. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more extensive education, which for almost all programs calls for two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical billing and coding are not abundantly offered. When your training has been completed, although not mandated in the majority of states, you may want to earn a professional certification. Certification is an effective method for those new to the profession to show potential employers that they are not only qualified but committed to their career. Just 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).

Graduating from an accredited medical coding and billing program, along with earning a professional certification, are the most effective ways to advance your new career and succeed in the fast growing healthcare industry.

Medical Coder Job Summary

Medical coders are on the forefront of the billing systems for Glastonbury CT medical practices and healthcare organizations. Coders have the responsibility to analyze the medical records of patients and assign universal codes to all services provided. These services may 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 depend on information from sources such as nursing and physician notes, patient charts, and lab and radiology reports. Coders must know not only what total services were provided for accuracy, but must have a functioning knowledge of all private payer and government rules that impact coding as well. Incorrectly coded claims can result in services not being paid for, services being paid for at a decreased rate, or the physician or facility being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can actually cost Glastonbury CT physicians and medical facilities many thousands of dollars in income annually, a proficient medical coder is a vital asset for any healthcare team. They can operate in every type of healthcare facility, including family practices, clinics, hospitals and urgent care centers. It is not unusual for seasoned medical coders to work at home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Billing Job Functions

As important as the medical coder's function is, it would be for naught without the collaboration of the medical biller whose efforts bring in revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to Glastonbury CT medical facilities and are literally responsible for keeping their doors open. Frequently the biller and coder may be the same man or woman within a healthcare facility, but they can also be two independent professionals. When the coder has carried out his or her duty, the biller utilizes the codes provided to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid. After being paid by the appropriate entity, patients can then be invoiced for deductibles and additional out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical billing clerk can also do any of the following:

• Confirm health insurance benefits for patients and help them with billing concerns or questions
• Check on submitted patient claims and appeal those that have been declined
• Function as an intermediary between the healthcare provider, the insurance companies and the patients for accurate claim resolution
• Generate and oversee Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

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

Online Medical Biller and Coder Courses

If you are searching for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes at home, then enrolling in a medical billing and coding online program may be a good option. They can be especially attractive to individuals living in Glastonbury CT who plan on attending school while still working or have additional responsibilities that make attending classes on campus difficult. And as an added benefit, online programs are often less expensive than the standard classroom alternatives. Expenses for such things as tuition, course materials and commuting may be decreased or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online colleges are reputable. For that reason it's important to confirm that any online college you choose is accredited to guarantee a premium education. We will address the benefits of accreditation in the next segment. Just make sure to check that any online training you are considering is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, such as 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 may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Medical Billing and Coding Programs

Now that you have a general idea just what a medical biller and coder does, as well as what training options are offered, you need to start the process of researching colleges. But since there a large number of training options available at community colleges as well as vocational, technical and trade schools within the Glastonbury CT area, you must have a prepared list of questions in order to analyze each one. And when you include all of the online colleges that offer medical coding and billing classes, the project can become rather formidable. As we have already addressed, location and cost are going to be relevant factors, particularly if you have a modest budget and will be traveling to classes from your Glastonbury residence. And verifying that the school and program are accredited should be part of your vetting procedure as well. So let's review a few of the additional questions that you should ask the colleges you are looking at so that you can compare each one and make the best choice.

Is the School Accredited? It's crucial that the school and program you choose are accredited by a highly regarded accrediting agency, such as the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online college, it can also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance education. Not only will accreditation help confirm that the education you receive will be of the highest quality, it may help secure future employment as well. Many Glastonbury CT medical facilities will only employ entry level prospects that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing educational course. And financial aid and student loans are in many cases only offered for colleges that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Before enrolling in a medical coding and billing school, check out what its ranking and reputation are among other schools. This is especially imperative if you have no experience in the profession, since potential employers will mainly be evaluating you based on the quality of your education. As we have discussed, making sure that the college is accredited is an initial step. Checking with college rating organizations, such as U.S. News and World Report, can verify the quality of the school also. Another option is to check with some Glastonbury CT healthcare organizations that you might have an interest in working for and ask which programs they suggest. Bear in mind that even if the college itself does not have an exceptional reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be highly regarded.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job in Glastonbury CT after graduation in your new profession may be difficult without the help of a job assistance program. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their job placement rates are. A high and rapid placement rate is a good indication that the billing and coding college has a considerable network of healthcare employers where they can place their graduates. It also suggests that the college's graduates are sought after in the marketplace.

Where is the College's Location? If you are planning on driving to class from your Glastonbury CT residence, then the location of the college will be of prime importance. Obviously if you enroll in an medical coding and billing online program, then the location of the college will not be a factor. One thing to remember is that if you attend classes at a community or junior college, most require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might want to first look at those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Total Cost? Medical billing and coding certification courses can fluctuate in cost based on the type of credential acquired and the amount of training furnished. Just keep in mind, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Expenses also include such things as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial assistance might be available to help offset a portion of the expense, so be sure to get in touch with the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Glastonbury CT. Of course if you decide to attend an online college, some of these added costs, such as for commuting may be reduced or even eliminated.

Are Classes Accessible that Fit your Schedule? Many students continue working while going to school and need a flexible class schedule. If you can only go to classes during the evenings or on weekends near Glastonbury CT, make sure that they are offered at those times. If you can only attend on a part time schedule, check that the program you decide on offers that alternative. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up classes missed because of illness, work or family responsibilities.

Find Out More on How to Enroll in a Medical Billing Class

Choose the Best Glastonbury CT Medical Billing and Coding Program 

Choosing the right medical billing and coding degree or certificate course is a very important initial step to help ensure your success in this exciting specialty of healthcare. Medical billing and medical coding are 2 of the fastest expanding careers in the medical sector. As a result, there are numerous vocational schools, community colleges and other institutions that offer training and education in medical coding and billing. As we have reviewed, you can elect to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also imperative that the college you select offers an accredited program with an exceptional reputation within the medical care community. But however you elect to receive your training, by following the previous guidelines and asking the appropriate questions, you will be better able to assess your options and select the ideal medical billing and coding college. And with the appropriate education, you can achieve your career goal to become a medical billing and coding clerk in Glastonbury Connecticut.