How to Choose the Right Medical Billing and Coding School near Stratford Connecticut

Once you have made a decision to become part of the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Stratford CT, it's crucial that you select the right school to ensure that you receive the necessary education to ensure your success. As you no doubt know, healthcare is among the fastest growing industries in the Country, and more and more options are available both online and on campus to obtain the training that you need. But just where does one begin? A number of potential students begin by searching for programs that are within driving distance of their residences and then comparing tuition. Or they may surf the internet looking for online classes and pick the cheapest one. But while location and cost are significant factors when making your selection, they should not be the only ones when researching medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as accreditation and reputation should be taken into account as well. We will cover a checklist of questions that you should ask the medical billing and coding schools you are researching so that you can learn what you need to know prior to making your selection. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical billers and coders do and the educational and certification options available.

Medical Coding Job Functions

Medical coders work on the forefront of the billing systems for Stratford CT private practices and hospitals. They have the responsibility to review the treatment records of patients and convert all services provided into universal codes. These services may be for diagnosis, medical or dental procedures, or any equipment or medical supplies utilized. There are various codes that are utilized 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 know not only what total services were provided for accurate reporting, but must have a working knowledge of all private payer and government regulations that influence coding also. Improperly 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 fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can actually cost Stratford CT doctors and hospitals multiple thousands of dollars in revenue annually, a good medical coder is an important asset to the healthcare organization. They can operate in any type of healthcare facility, including family practices, hospitals, clinics and critical care centers. It is not uncommon for experienced medical coders to working from home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Billing Job Duties

As essential as the medical coder's job is, it would be for naught without the collaboration of the medical biller whose labors produce revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Stratford CT medical facilities and are essentially responsible for keeping their doors open. In many cases the coder and biller may be the same man or woman within a medical organization, but they can also be two separate professionals. When the coder has performed her or his task, the biller utilizes the codes supplied to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid. After they have been paid by the applicable entity, patients can then be charged for deductibles or additional out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical billing clerk might also do any of the following:

• Check health insurance coverages for patients and assist them with billing concerns or questions
• Follow up on submitted patient claims and appeal any that have been declined
• Work as an intermediate between the healthcare provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for correct claim resolution
• Create and oversee Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and handle unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billing clerks not only work for private practices, but also Stratford CT hospitals, urgent care facilities, nursing homes or medical groups. They can practice in every kind of medical facility that depends on the revenues generated from billing third party payers and patients.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Programs and Certification

It's imperative that you receive your instruction from a reputable school, whether it's a technical school, vocational school or community college. Even though it is not required in many cases to obtain a professional certification, the school you select should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). Most Connecticut schools only require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to qualify. The most expedient way to becoming either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to attain a certificate, which usually takes about one year to accomplish. An Associate Degree is also an option for a more extensive education, which for most colleges calls for two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical coding and billing are not abundantly available. When your education has been concluded, although not required in most states, you may wish to earn a professional certification. Certification is an excellent method for those new to the field to show potential employers that they are not only qualified but committed to their occupation. Just some of the organizations that make available 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 vocation and succeed in the fast growing medical care field.

Online Medical Biller and Coder Training

If you are interested in convenience and the flexibility of attending classes from home, then enrolling in an online medical billing and coding college may be an excellent option. They can be especially attractive to students living in Stratford CT who plan on attending school while continuing to work or have additional responsibilities that make attending classes on campus difficult. And as an additional advantage, online programs are often less expensive than the standard classroom options. Costs for such things as tuition, course materials and commuting may be decreased or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online schools are reputable. For that reason it's important to establish that the online course you select is accredited to ensure a superior education. We will review the advantages of accreditation in the next segment. Just be sure to confirm that any online school you are looking at is accredited by one of the national accrediting organizations, such as the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are dedicated enough to apply yourself to this type of learning, then attaining your certificate or degree online might be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Medical Biller and Coder Colleges

Once you have a better idea what a medical coder and biller does, along with what training options are available, you need to begin the process of comparing colleges. But since there many training options available at community colleges as well as technical, trade and vocational schools within the Stratford CT area, you should have a ready list of questions to assess each one. And when you include all of the online schools that offer medical coding and billing classes, the task can become rather daunting. As we have already addressed, location and cost are going to be significant issues, especially if you have a modest budget and will be commuting to classes from your Stratford residence. And whether or not the program and school are accredited must be part of your vetting process as well. So let's review several of the additional questions that you should ask the colleges you are reviewing so that you can compare each one and make the appropriate choice.

Is the School Accredited? It's crucial that the program and school you select are accredited by a respected accrediting agency, for instance the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online college, it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance education. Not only will accreditation help ensure that the education you receive will be of superior quality, it may help secure future employment as well. Many Stratford CT healthcare facilities will only hire entry level candidates that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding educational course. And financial aid and student loans are often only offered for schools that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Prior to enrolling in a medical coding and billing program, check out what its reputation and ranking are among other programs. This is especially important if you have no experience in the field, since potential employers will basically be evaluating you based on the quality of your education. As we have addressed, confirming that the college is accredited is a first step. Checking with college rating organizations, for instance U.S. News and World Report, can verify the quality of the school as well. An alternative is to check with a few Stratford CT medical organizations that you might be interested in working for and find out which programs they suggest. Keep in mind that even if the school itself does not have an excellent reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be highly regarded.

Is there an Employment Referral Program? Finding a job in Stratford CT after graduating in your new profession may be difficult without the support of a job assistance program. Check if the schools you are looking at have job assistance 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 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 Located? If you are intending on driving to class from your Stratford CT home, then the location of the campus will be of prime importance. Obviously if you choose an online medical billing and coding program, then the location of the college will not be important. One thing to bear in mind is that if you attend classes at a community or junior college, many charge a higher tuition for pupils that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to first look at those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Overall Expense? Medical coding and billing training programs can differ in cost based on the type of credential obtained and the length of training furnished. But remember, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Costs also include such things as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial aid may be obtainable to help offset some of the expense, so be sure to check with the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Stratford CT. Naturally if you decide to attend an online college, a portion of these additional costs, such as for commuting may be minimized or even eliminated.

Are Classes Accessible that Accommodate your Schedule? A number of students continue working while going to school and need a convenient class schedule. If you can only go to classes during the evenings or on weekends near Stratford CT, make sure that they are available at those times. If you can only attend on a part time basis, verify that the program you enroll in provides 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

Choose the Best Stratford CT Medical Billing and Coding School 

Enrolling in the ideal medical billing and coding degree or certificate program is a very important initial step to help guarantee your success in this rewarding specialty of medical care. Medical billing and medical coding are two of the fastest growing jobs in the medical industry. As a result, there are numerous trade schools, junior colleges and companies that furnish training and education in medical coding and billing. As we have discussed, you can choose to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also important that the school you choose offers an accredited program with an excellent reputation within the medical care community. But however you elect to receive your education, by adhering to the previous guidelines and posing the right questions, you will be better prepared to assess your options and choose the right medical billing and coding program. And with the appropriate education, you can achieve your career goal to become a medical billing and coding clerk in Stratford Connecticut.