How to Choose the Best Medical Biller and Coder Course near Atlanta Georgia

Now that you have made a decision to become part of the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Atlanta GA, it's essential that you choose the appropriate school to ensure that you receive the proper education to ensure your success. As you may already know, healthcare is among the fastest growing industries in the Country, and increasingly more options are available both on campus and online to get the training that you need. But just where do you begin? Many future students start by searching for programs that are within travelling distance of their residences and then comparing cost. Or they might surf the internet looking for online courses and choose the cheapest one. But while location and cost 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 must be taken into account as well. We will review a list 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 selection. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical billers and coders do and the academic and certification options offered.

Medical Coding and Billing Online Programs and Certification

It's important that you obtain your instruction from a reputable school, whether it's a trade school, vocational school or community college. Even though it is not a requirement in many cases to earn a professional certification, the school you select should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). Most Georgia schools just require that you earn either a high school diploma or a GED to be eligible. The fastest way to becoming either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to attain a certificate, which usually takes about a year to accomplish. An Associate Degree is also an option for a more extensive education, which for almost all programs requires 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical billing and coding are not widely available. After your education has been completed, although not required in the majority of states, you might want to attain a professional certification. Certification is a great means for those new to the profession to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but committed to their occupation. 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, combined with attaining a professional certification, are the best ways to accelerate your new profession and succeed in the fast growing medical care field.

Medical Coding Job Duties

Medical coders are on the forefront of the billing systems for Atlanta GA medical practices and hospitals. They have the responsibility to review the medical 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 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 rely on information from sources including nursing and physician 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 functioning knowledge of all private payer and government regulations that impact coding as well. Inaccurately coded claims may lead to services not being paid for, services being paid for at a reduced rate, or the provider being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can in fact cost Atlanta GA physicians and medical facilities multiple thousands of dollars in earnings every year, a reliable medical coder is a vital asset for any healthcare organization. They can work in any kind of healthcare facility, including private practices, clinics, hospitals and urgent care centers. It is not unusual for seasoned medical coders to work at home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Billing Job Duties

As essential as the medical coder's function is, it would be for naught without the collaboration of the medical biller whose efforts generate revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to Atlanta GA healthcare organizations and are literally responsible for keeping them in business. Frequently the biller and coder are the same man or woman within a healthcare facility, but they can also be two independent professionals. After the coder has performed her or his job, the biller utilizes the codes provided to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid. After being adjusted by the appropriate entity, patients can then be charged for deductibles and additional out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical billing clerk might also do any of the following:

• Check health insurance benefits for patients and help them with billing concerns or questions
• Follow up on submitted patient claims and appeal any that have been declined
• Act as an intermediary between the medical provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for correct claim settlement
• Produce and oversee Accounts Receivables reports
• Produce and take care of unpaid patient collections accounts

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

Online Medical Biller and Coder Colleges

If you are searching for flexibility and the convenience of attending classes at home, then selecting a medical billing and coding online school may be a great alternative. They can be particularly appealing to students living in Atlanta GA who plan on going to school while continuing to work or have other obligations that make attending classes on campus challenging. And as an added advantage, online programs are in many cases less expensive than the standard classroom alternatives. Expenses for such things as tuition, study materials and commuting may be reduced or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online schools are reputable. That's why it's important to confirm that the online school you enroll in is accredited to ensure a superior education. We will review the benefits of accreditation in the next section. Just make sure to verify that any online classes you are considering is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, for example the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are dedicated enough to commit yourself to this style of learning, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Medical Coding and Billing Courses

Now that you have a better idea just what a medical biller and coder does, as well as what education options are offered, you need to start the process of evaluating colleges. But since there are numerous training options available at community colleges and technical, trade and vocational schools within the Atlanta GA area, you need to have a ready list of questions to analyze each one. And when you add all of the online programs that offer medical billing and coding classes, the project can become somewhat formidable. As we have already discussed, expense and location are going to be significant issues, particularly if you have a limited budget and will be driving to classes from your Atlanta home. And verifying that the program and school are accredited should be part of your vetting process as well. So let's take a look at a few of the other questions that you should ask the colleges you are considering so that you can evaluate each one and make the ideal choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's essential that the school and program you select are accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, such as the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online school, it can also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Not only will accreditation help confirm that the education you get will be of the highest quality, it may help with your future employment as well. Many Atlanta GA healthcare organizations will only hire entry level prospects that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding training program. And financial aid and student loans are in many cases only available for colleges that have received an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Before picking a medical coding and billing school, check out what its reputation and ranking are among other colleges. This is especially important if you have no experience in the profession, since potential employers will basically be relying on the quality of your education. As we have covered, verifying that the school is accredited is an initial step. Checking with college rating organizations, for example U.S. News and World Report, can confirm the quality of the school also. An alternative is to call several Atlanta GA medical organizations that you might have an interest in working for and ask which programs they suggest. Keep in mind that even when the school itself does not have an exceptional reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be highly regarded.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Obtaining employment in Atlanta GA after graduating in your new profession may be challenging without the help of a job placement 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 school has a sizable network of healthcare employers where they can place their graduates. It also indicates that the school's graduates are sought after in the marketplace.

Where is the College's Location? If you are planning on commuting to class from your Atlanta GA residence, then the location of the school will be of significant importance. Of course if you choose an online medical coding and billing program, then the location of the college will not be important. One thing to remember is that if you go to classes at a community or junior college, many require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may want to first look at those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Total Expense? Medical coding and billing certification programs can vary in cost depending on the type of credential acquired and the length of training provided. But remember, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Costs also consist of such items as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial aid may be accessible to help reduce some of the cost, so be sure to check with the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Atlanta GA. Of course if you decide to attend an online college, a portion of these added costs, such as for commuting may be lessened or even eliminated.

Are Classes Available that Fit your Schedule? Many students continue working while attending college and need a convenient class schedule. If you can only attend classes during the evenings or on weekends near Atlanta GA, verify that they are offered at those times. If you can only enroll on a part time basis, check that the college you decide on offers that option. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up classes missed due to sickness, work or family responsibilities.

Get Info on How to Enroll in a Billing and Coding School

Choose the Right Atlanta GA Medical Billing and Coding Training 

Choosing the right medical coding and billing certificate or degree course is a very important first step to help assure your success in this rewarding specialty of healthcare. Medical coding and medical billing are two of the fastest expanding jobs in the medical industry. Because of this, there are a lot of vocational schools, junior colleges and other institutions that furnish instruction and training in medical coding and billing. As we have covered, you can opt to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also imperative that the college you pick offers an accredited program with an outstanding reputation within the healthcare field. But however you elect to receive your training, by adhering to the previous guidelines and posing the right questions, you will be better qualified to evaluate your options and pick the ideal medical billing and coding program. And with the appropriate training, you can accomplish your career goal to become a medical billing and coding clerk in Atlanta Georgia.