How to Choose the Best Medical Billing Program near Atlanta Georgia

Now that you have decided to become part of the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Atlanta GA, it's crucial that you select the appropriate program to ensure that you receive the proper education to ensure your success. As you may already know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing sectors in the Country, and a growing number of options are offered both on campus and online to get the training that you need. But just where do you begin? Many aspiring students start by looking for colleges that are within commuting distance of their residences and then comparing tuition. Or they may surf the internet looking for online classes and choose the cheapest one. But while location and cost are relevant issues when making your selection, they should not be the only ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as reputation and accreditation need to be considered also. We will review a list of topics that you should 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. But first, let's take a look at what medical coders and billers do.

Medical Coding Job Description

Medical coders are on the front line of the billing systems for Atlanta GA medical practices and hospitals. They have the responsibility to examine the treatment records of patients and assign universal codes to all services provided. These services may be for diagnosis, medical or dental procedures, or any medical supplies or equipment used. 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 nursing and physician 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 regulations that affect coding as well. Improperly coded claims can result in services not being paid for, services being paid at a lower rate, or the provider being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can actually cost Atlanta GA doctors and hospitals many thousands of dollars in revenue every year, a proficient medical coder is a necessary asset for any healthcare team. They can operate in every kind of healthcare facility, including family practices, hospitals, clinics and urgent care centers. It is not uncommon for professional medical coders to operate at home as an offsite employee or an independent contractor.

Medical Biller Job Duties

As important as the medical coder's job is, it would be for nothing without the contribution of the medical biller whose efforts generate revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Atlanta GA healthcare facilities and are literally responsible for keeping them in business. Sometimes the biller and coder are the same person within a medical facility, but they can also be two independent specialists. After the coder has carried out her or his job, the biller uses the codes provided to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicaid or Medicare. After being adjusted by the appropriate organization, 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:

• Verify medical insurance benefits for patients and assist them with billing questions or concerns
• Follow up on submitted patient claims and appeal any that have been declined
• Work as an intermediate between the medical provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for correct claim resolution
• Produce and oversee Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and take care of unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billing clerks not only are employed by private practices, but also Atlanta GA hospitals, urgent care facilities, nursing homes or medical groups. They can practice in any kind of healthcare facility that depends on the incomes generated from billing patients and third party payers.

Online Medical Biller and Coder Colleges

If you are interested in flexibility and the convenience of attending classes at home, then enrolling in a medical billing and coding online course may be an excellent option. They can be especially appealing to individuals living in Atlanta GA who anticipate attending school while continuing to work or have additional responsibilities that make attending classes on campus challenging. And as an added advantage, online colleges are in many cases less expensive than the traditional classroom options. Costs for such things as tuition, course materials and commuting may be decreased or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online colleges are reputable. For that reason it's essential to verify that the online school you select is accredited to ensure a quality education. We will review the advantages of accreditation in the next segment. Just make sure to establish that any online college you are researching is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, such as the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are dedicated enough to devote yourself to this mode of learning, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Medical Coding and Billing Colleges

Now that you have a general idea what a medical biller and coder does, as well as what education options are available, you must begin the process of evaluating colleges. But since there are numerous training options offered at community colleges and technical, trade and vocational schools within the Atlanta GA area, you need to have a ready list of questions in order to assess each one. And when you include all of the online programs that offer medical coding and billing classes, the project can become rather formidable. As we have already covered, cost and location are going to be important issues, especially if you have a limited budget and will be commuting to classes from your Atlanta home. And verifying that the school and program are accredited should be part of your vetting process as well. So let's take a look at some of the additional questions that you should ask the colleges you are looking at so that you can evaluate each one and make the ideal choice.

Is the Training Accredited? It's essential that the school and program you decide on are accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, for example 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 online or distance education. Not only will accreditation help guarantee that the training you receive will be of superior quality, it might help secure future employment as well. Many Atlanta GA medical organizations will only employ entry level prospects that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing educational course. And financial assistance and student loans are frequently only obtainable for programs that have earned an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Before enrolling in a medical billing and coding school, check out what its reputation and ranking are compared to other schools. This is especially imperative if you have no experience in the profession, since potential employers will primarily be evaluating you based on the quality of your training. As we have covered, confirming that the college is accredited is an initial step. Checking with school rating organizations, for example U.S. News and World Report, can validate the quality of the school as well. An alternative is to get in touch with a few Atlanta GA healthcare organizations that you may be interested in working for and find out which colleges they suggest. Keep in mind that even when the school itself does not have an outstanding reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be highly regarded.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Obtaining a job in Atlanta GA after graduation in your new profession might be difficult without the support of a job assistance program. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their job placement rates are. A rapid and high placement rate is a good indication that the coding and billing college has a significant network of medical care employers where they can refer 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 intending on commuting to class from your Atlanta GA home, then the location of the school will be of significant importance. Of course if you enroll in 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 go to classes at a junior or community college, many require a higher tuition for enrollees that reside outside of their districts. So you might want to first consider those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Total Cost? Medical billing and coding certification programs can fluctuate in cost based on the type of credential acquired and the amount of training furnished. But remember, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Costs also include such things as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial aid might be accessible to help offset a portion of the cost, so don't forget to contact the college's financial assistance department to see what is available in Atlanta GA. Of course if you decide to enroll in an online school, some of these additional costs, such as for commuting may be minimized or even eliminated.

Are Classes Offered that Accommodate your Schedule? A number of students keep working while going to school and need a flexible class schedule. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Atlanta GA, verify that they are available at those times. If you can only enroll on a part time schedule, confirm that the school you choose provides that option. Also, ask what the process is for making up classes missed because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Find Out More on How to Select a Medical Coding Program

Enroll in the Best Atlanta GA Medical Billing and Coding Program 

Enrolling in the right medical coding and billing certificate or degree program is a very important initial step to help ensure your success in this exciting specialty of medical care. Medical coding and medical billing are two of the most rapidly growing occupations in the medical industry. Because of this, there are many trade schools, community colleges and companies that furnish instruction and training in medical coding and billing. As we have discussed, you can opt to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also important that the college you choose has an accredited program with an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. But however you choose to receive your education, by following the previous guidelines and asking the appropriate questions, you will be better able to assess your options and pick the ideal medical billing and coding program. And with the appropriate education, you can accomplish your career goal to become a medical coding and billing specialist in Atlanta Georgia.