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

Now that you have decided to enter the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Athens GA, it's crucial that you find the appropriate school so that you receive the necessary education to ensure your success. As you no doubt know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing industries in the USA, 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? Many potential students start by looking for programs that are within travelling distance of their homes and then comparing tuition. Or they might surf the internet looking for online schools and select the least expensive one. But while cost and location are relevant factors when making your determination, they should not be the only ones when evaluating 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 need to ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are evaluating 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 billers and coders do.

Medical Coding Job Duties

Medical coders are on the forefront of the billing systems for Athens GA private practices and hospitals. Coders have the responsibility to examine the treatment records of patients and assign universal codes to all services provided. These services may be for medical, diagnosis or dental procedures, or any equipment or medical supplies utilized. There are multiple 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 rely on information from sources including 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 regulations that impact coding as well. Incorrectly coded claims can result in services not being paid for, services being paid for at a reduced rate, or the physician or facility being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can actually cost Athens GA hospitals and doctors multiple thousands of dollars in earnings 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, hospitals, clinics and critical care centers. It is not unusual for experienced medical coders to work at home as an offsite employee or an independent contractor.

Medical Biller Job Description

As vital as the medical coder's function is, it would be for nothing without the contribution of the medical biller whose efforts bring in revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to Athens GA medical facilities and are literally responsible for keeping their doors open. Sometimes the biller and coder are the same man or woman within a medical facility, but they can also be two individual specialists. Once the coder has completed his or her job, the biller utilizes the codes provided to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicaid or Medicare. After being paid by the applicable organization, patients can then be billed for deductibles and additional out of pocket expenses. On a routine basis, a medical biller may also do any of the following:

• Verify medical insurance coverages for patients and assist them with billing questions or concerns
• Check on patient claims submitted and appeal those that have been denied
• Function as an intermediate between the medical provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for correct claim settlement
• Generate and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billers not only work for family practices, but also Athens GA emergency care facilities, hospitals, nursing homes or medical groups. They can practice in any type of medical facility that depends on the incomes generated by billing patients and third party payers.

Online Medical Biller and Coder Classes

If you are looking for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes in your home, then enrolling in a medical billing and coding online course may be a good option. They can be particularly attractive to those living in Athens GA who plan on going to school while continuing to work or have other responsibilities that make going to classes on campus difficult. And as an added benefit, online programs are often less expensive than the standard classroom alternatives. Expenses for such items as tuition, study materials and commuting may be decreased or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online courses are reputable. For that reason it's important to verify that the online school you choose is accredited to ensure a premium education. We will review the advantages of accreditation in the next section. Just make sure to establish that any online school you are looking at is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, for instance the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are dedicated enough to apply yourself to this mode of learning, then obtaining your certificate or degree online might be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Medical Coding and Billing Courses

Once you have a better idea just what a medical coder and biller does, along with what education options are offered, you need to begin 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 must have a ready list of questions in order to assess each one. And when you add all of the online programs that offer medical coding and billing classes, the project can become rather daunting. As we have already covered, expense and location are going to be significant factors, particularly if you have a modest budget and will be driving to classes from your Athens home. And whether or not the program and school are accredited must be part of your vetting process as well. So let's take a look at some of the other questions that you should ask the colleges you are looking at so that you can evaluate each one and make the right choice.

Is the Training Accredited? It's essential that the school and program you choose are accredited by a highly regarded accrediting organization, for example 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 online or distance learning. Not only will accreditation help ensure that the education you get will be of superior quality, it might help with your future employment also. A number of Athens GA medical facilities will only employ entry level candidates that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing educational program. And financial assistance and student loans are often only offered for programs that have earned an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Before enrolling in a medical coding and billing school, find out what its reputation and ranking are among other colleges. This is particularly relevant if you have no experience in the profession, since potential employers will mainly be relying on the quality of your training. As we have discussed, making sure that the college is accredited is an initial step. Checking with school rating organizations, for instance U.S. News and World Report, can verify the quality of the school also. Another option is to check with some Athens GA medical organizations that you may be interested in working for and ask which programs they suggest. Keep in mind that even if the school itself does not have an exceptional reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be well regarded.

Is there an Employment Placement Program? Finding employment in Athens GA after graduation in your new field may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. Ask 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 substantial network of medical care employers where they can place their graduates. It also indicates that the college's graduates are sought after in the marketplace.

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

What is the Complete Expense? Medical billing and coding certification courses can vary in cost depending on the type of credential obtained and the length of training furnished. Just keep in mind, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Expenditures also consist of such things as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial assistance might be obtainable to help offset some of the expense, so don't forget to check with the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Athens GA. Of course if you decide to enroll in an online school, a portion of these additional costs, particularly for commuting may be minimized or even eliminated.

Are Classes Accessible that Accommodate your Schedule? A number of students continue working while going to college and need a convenient class schedule. If you can only go to classes during the evenings or on weekends near Athens GA, verify that they are available at those times. If you can only attend on a part time schedule, check that the college you pick provides that option. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of illness, work or family responsibilities.

Find Out More on How to Choose a Billing and Coding Program

Choose the Right Athens GA Medical Billing and Coding Program 

Choosing the right medical coding and billing certificate or degree course is a very important initial step to help guarantee your success in this exciting specialty of healthcare. Medical billing and medical coding are two of the most rapidly growing careers in the health industry. As a result, there are a lot of trade schools, junior colleges and companies that provide training and instruction in medical billing and coding. As we have covered, you can decide to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also important that the school you pick has an accredited program with an excellent reputation within the medical care field. But however you elect to receive your education, by following the previous guidelines and posing the right questions, you will be better able to assess your options and choose the right medical billing and coding school. And with the appropriate training, you can accomplish your career goal to become a medical coding and billing clerk in Athens Georgia.