How to Find the Right Medical Billing and Coding Course near Athens Georgia

Once you have decided to enter the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Athens GA, it's important that you select the right program so that you receive the proper education to ensure your success. As you probably know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing sectors in the USA, and increasingly more options are offered both online and on campus to obtain the training that you need. But just where do you start? A number of potential students start by searching for schools that are within driving distance of their residences and then comparing cost. Or they may surf the internet looking for online schools and choose the cheapest one. But while location and cost are important issues when making your choice, they should not be the only ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifications as accreditation and reputation must be considered as well. We will go over a checklist of questions that you need to ask the medical billing and coding schools you are assessing in order to find out 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 educational and certification options offered.

Medical Coder and Biller Online Education and Certification

It's important that you obtain your training from a reputable school, whether it's a trade school, vocational school or community college. Even though it is not required in many cases to attain a professional certification, the school you enroll in should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). The majority of Georgia colleges simply require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to be eligible. The quickest way to become either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to obtain a certificate, which typically takes about one year to finish. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more comprehensive education, which for most programs calls for 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical coding and billing are not abundantly available. After your education has been concluded, although not required in most states, you might desire to attain a professional certification. Certification is an excellent means for those new to the profession to show potential employers that they are not only qualified but committed to their career. A few 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 course, in conjunction with obtaining a professional certification, are the most effective ways to advance your new career and succeed in the rapid growing medical care field.

Medical Coding Job Summary

Medical coders are on the front line of the billing systems for Athens GA medical practices and healthcare organizations. They have the responsibility to analyze the medical records of patients and convert all services provided into universal codes. These services can be for medical, diagnosis or dental procedures, or any equipment or medical supplies 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 including physician and nursing notes, patient charts, and lab and radiology reports. Coders must not only know what services were provided in total for accuracy, but must have a functioning knowledge of all private payer and government rules that impact coding as well. Inaccurately coded claims may result in services not being covered, services being paid for at a lower rate, or the physician or facility being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can literally cost Athens GA hospitals and doctors multiple thousands of dollars in revenue every year, a good medical coder is a vital asset to the healthcare team. They can operate in any kind of healthcare facility, including family practices, hospitals, clinics and urgent 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 Description

As essential as the medical coder's function is, it would be for nothing without the collaboration of the medical biller whose labors produce revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Athens GA healthcare facilities and are practically responsible for keeping them in business. Frequently the biller and coder may be the same man or woman within a healthcare organization, but they can also be 2 individual professionals. When the coder has carried out his or her job, the biller utilizes the codes supplied to complete and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicaid or Medicare. After being paid by the appropriate organization, patients can then be charged for deductibles and other out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical biller may also do any of the following:

• Verify health insurance benefits for patients and help them with billing questions or concerns
• Follow up on patient claims submitted and appeal those that have been denied
• Work as a mediator between the medical provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for correct claim settlement
• Generate and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and handle unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billers not only are employed by family practices, but also Athens GA emergency care facilities, hospitals, medical groups or nursing homes. They can work in any kind of medical facility that relies on the revenues generated from billing patients and third party payers.

Online Medical Billing and Coding Courses

If you are searching for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes from home, then selecting a medical billing and coding online school might be a great option. They can be especially attractive to individuals living in Athens GA who anticipate going to school while still working or have additional obligations that make attending classes on campus challenging. And as an additional advantage, online programs are in many cases less expensive than the standard classroom options. Expenses for such items as tuition, commuting and study materials may be decreased or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online courses are reputable. For that reason it's imperative to establish that the online school you enroll in is accredited to guarantee a quality education. We will address the benefits of accreditation in the next segment. Just make sure to establish that any online college you are considering is accredited by one of the national accrediting organizations, for example the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are dedicated enough to commit yourself to this type of learning, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Medical Biller and Coder Programs

Now that you have a better idea what a medical biller and coder does, in addition to what training options are offered, you need to start the process of comparing schools. But since there a large number of training options offered at community colleges as well as technical, trade and vocational schools within the Athens GA area, you should have a ready list of questions in order to evaluate each one. And when you include all of the online colleges that offer medical billing and coding classes, the project can become rather daunting. As we have already addressed, location and cost are going to be relevant issues, particularly if you have a modest budget and will be traveling to classes from your Athens home. And whether or not the program and school are accredited must be part of your vetting procedure as well. So let's review several of the other questions that you should ask the colleges you are looking at so that you can analyze each one and make the appropriate choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's important that the program and college you choose are accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, such as the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online college, it might also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Not only will accreditation help ensure that the training you receive will be of the highest quality, it may help secure future employment also. A number of Athens GA medical organizations will only hire entry level candidates that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing educational program. And financial aid and student loans are often only available for programs that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Prior to enrolling in a medical coding and billing program, find out what its ranking and reputation are compared to other schools. This is especially imperative if you have no experience in the field, since potential employers will basically be evaluating you based 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, such as U.S. News and World Report, can confirm the quality of the school as well. An alternative is to get in touch with some Athens GA medical organizations that you might have an interest in working for and ask which schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even if the school itself does not have an outstanding reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be well regarded.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding employment in Athens GA after graduating in your new field may be difficult without the support of a job placement program. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their job placement rates are. A high and rapid placement rate is an excellent indication that the coding and billing school has a considerable network of medical care employers where they can place their graduates. It also indicates that the college's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

Where is the College Located? If you are intending on commuting to class from your Athens GA home, then the location of the school will be of significant importance. Naturally if you choose an medical coding and billing online program, then the location of the college will not be a consideration. One thing to bear in mind is that if you attend classes at a community or junior college, many require a higher tuition for enrollees that live outside of their districts. So you may want to first research those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Total Cost? Medical coding and billing certification programs can differ in cost depending on the type of credential acquired and the length of training provided. Just keep in mind, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Expenditures also include such items as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial assistance might be accessible to help offset some of the cost, so don't forget to contact the school's financial aid department to find out what is available in Athens GA. Naturally if you decide to attend an online college, some of these added costs, particularly for commuting may be reduced or even eliminated.

Are Classes Accessible that Match your Schedule? A number of students keep working while going to school and require a convenient class schedule. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Athens GA, verify that they are available at those times. If you can only attend on a part time schedule, confirm that the school you select offers that option. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up classes missed due to sickness, work or family emergencies.

Find Out More on How to Enroll in a Medical Biller and Coder Class

Select the Best Athens GA Medical Billing and Coding Training 

Picking the ideal medical billing and coding degree or certificate program is a critical initial step to help assure your success in this exciting field of medical care. Medical coding and medical billing are 2 of the most rapidly expanding professions 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 reviewed, you can decide to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also essential that the school you choose has an accredited program with an outstanding reputation within the healthcare industry. But however you choose to receive your education, by following the previous guidelines and posing the appropriate questions, you will be better qualified to evaluate your options and choose the right medical billing and coding college. And with the appropriate training, you can accomplish your career goal to become a medical coding and billing clerk in Athens Georgia.