How to Select the Right Medical Biller and Coder College near Athens Georgia

Once you have decided to enter the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Athens GA, it's essential that you select the right program so that you receive the necessary education to guarantee your success. As you no doubt know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing industries in the USA, and increasingly more options are offered both on campus and online to obtain the training that you need. But just where does one begin? A number of future students start by looking for schools that are within travelling distance of their homes and then comparing cost. Or they might search the internet looking for online classes and pick the least expensive one. But while cost and location are important issues when making your choice, they should not be the only ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as accreditation and reputation should be taken into consideration also. We will review a checklist of questions that you should ask the medical billing and coding schools you are evaluating in order to learn what you need to know before making your decision. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical billers and coders do and the academic and certification options offered.

Medical Biller and Coder Online Education and Certification

It's essential that you obtain your education from a reputable school, whether it's a trade school, vocational school or community college. Although it is not required in many cases to obtain a professional certification, the school you choose should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). The majority of Georgia schools simply require that you earn either a high school diploma or a GED to be eligible. The fastest way to becoming either a medical coder or biller (or both) is to earn a certificate, which typically takes about one year to accomplish. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more extensive education, which for almost all schools calls for 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical coding and billing are not widely available. After your education has been concluded, although not required in the majority of states, you may desire to acquire a professional certification. Certification is an excellent way for those new to the field to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but committed to their occupation. 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 billing and coding course, along with earning a professional certification, are the best ways to accelerate your new profession and succeed in the rapid growing healthcare field.

Medical Coder Job Duties

Medical coders work on the forefront of the billing systems for Athens GA medical practices and healthcare organizations. Coders have the responsibility to analyze the medical records of patients and convert all services provided into universal codes. These services may be for medical, diagnosis or dental procedures, or any medical supplies or equipment used. There are several 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 use information from sources such as physician and nursing notes, patient charts, and lab and radiology reports. Medical Coders must not only know what services were provided in total for accuracy, but must have a working knowledge of all private payer and government rules that influence coding also. Improperly coded claims may lead to services not being paid for, services being paid for at a lower rate, or the physician or facility being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can literally cost Athens GA physicians and medical facilities many thousands of dollars in income annually, a good medical coder is an important asset to the healthcare organization. They can work in every type of healthcare facility, including family practices, clinics, hospitals and emergency care centers. It is not unusual for seasoned medical coders to work at home as an offsite employee or an independent contractor.

Medical Billing Job Summary

As vital as the medical coder's role is, it would be for naught without the contribution of the medical biller whose efforts generate revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to Athens GA healthcare facilities and are practically responsible for keeping their doors open. Often the coder and biller may be the same individual within a medical organization, but they can also be 2 individual specialists. When the coder has performed her or his job, the biller utilizes the codes supplied to complete and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicare or Medicaid. After they have been paid by the appropriate entity, patients can then be invoiced for deductibles and other out of pocket costs. On a regular basis, a medical billing professional can also do any of the following:

• Check medical insurance benefits for patients and help them with billing questions or concerns
• Follow up on submitted patient claims and appeal those that have been denied
• Function as an intermediate between the healthcare provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for proper claim resolution
• Produce and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

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

Online Medical Billing and Coding Courses

If you are looking for flexibility and the convenience of attending classes from home, then choosing a medical billing and coding online school may be an excellent option. They can be especially attractive to those living in Athens GA who plan on going to school while still working or have additional responsibilities that make attending classes on campus difficult. And as an added advantage, online programs are in many cases cheaper than the standard classroom options. Costs for such things as tuition, commuting and study materials may be minimized or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online programs are reputable. That's why it's important to establish that any online course you select is accredited to ensure a superior education. We will address the advantages of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to confirm that any online training you are researching is accredited by one of the national accrediting organizations, for instance the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are dedicated enough to commit yourself to this style of learning, then acquiring your degree or certificate online might be the ideal choice for you.

Points to Ask Medical Biller and Coder Courses

Once you have a general idea just what a medical coder and biller does, in addition to what education options are offered, you must start the process of evaluating colleges. But since there a large number of training options available at community colleges as well as trade, vocational and technical schools within the Athens GA area, you should have a prepared list of questions to evaluate each one. And when you add all of the online colleges that offer medical billing and coding classes, the task can become rather daunting. As we have already addressed, cost and location are going to be significant issues, especially if you have a modest budget and will be driving to classes from your Athens residence. And verifying that the program and school are accredited should be part of your vetting process also. So let's review a few of the other questions that you should ask the programs you are reviewing so that you can analyze each one and make the right choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's important that the program and school you pick are accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online college, it can also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online education. Not only will accreditation help guarantee that the education you receive will be of the highest quality, it may help secure future employment also. Many Athens GA healthcare organizations will only hire entry level candidates that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing training program. And financial aid and student loans are often only offered for programs that have earned an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Before selecting 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, verifying that the college is accredited is a first step. Checking with school rating organizations, such as U.S. News and World Report, can confirm the quality of the school as well. Another option is to call some Athens GA medical organizations that you may have an interest in working for and ask which schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even if the school itself does not have an exceptional reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be highly regarded.

Is there an Employment Referral Program? Finding employment in Athens GA after graduating in your new profession may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. Check 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 college has a significant 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 Located? If you are intending on commuting to class from your Athens GA home, then the location of the school will be of prime importance. Obviously if you enroll in an online medical coding and billing program, then the location of the school will not be a factor. One thing to bear in mind is that if you attend classes at a junior or community college, most charge a higher tuition for enrollees that live outside of their districts. So you may want to first consider those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Complete Cost? Medical coding and billing certification courses can fluctuate in cost depending on the type of credential earned and the amount of training provided. But remember, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Costs also consist of such things as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial assistance might be available to help reduce a portion of the expense, so be sure to contact the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in Athens GA. Of course if you decide to attend an online college, a portion of these added costs, particularly for commuting may be minimized or even eliminated.

Are Classes Offered that Fit your Schedule? A number of students continue working while going to school and require a flexible class schedule. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Athens GA, make sure that they are available at those times. If you can only enroll on a part time schedule, make sure that the school you decide on offers that option. Also, find out what the process is for making up classes missed because of sickness, work or family emergencies.

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

Select the Right Athens GA Medical Billing and Coding Program 

Picking the ideal medical coding and billing degree or certificate course is a crucial first step to help guarantee your success in this rewarding field of medical care. Medical coding and medical billing are 2 of the most rapidly growing occupations in the health industry. Because of this, there are numerous vocational schools, community colleges and companies that provide instruction and training in medical billing and coding. As we have reviewed, you can opt to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also imperative that the college you pick offers an accredited program with an excellent reputation within the healthcare industry. But however you elect to receive your education, by adhering to the previous guidelines and posing the appropriate questions, you will be better qualified to assess your options and choose the right medical billing and coding school. And with the proper training, you can realize your career objective to become a medical coding and billing specialist in Athens Georgia.