How to Select the Best Medical Billing and Coding Training Program near Atlanta Georgia

Once you have decided to become part of the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Atlanta GA, it's essential that you select the right program so that you receive the proper education to guarantee your success. As you probably know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States, and increasingly more options are available both online and on campus to receive the training that you need. But just where do you begin? Many aspiring students begin by looking for schools that are within commuting distance of their homes and then comparing cost. Or they may search the internet looking for online classes and pick the cheapest one. But while cost and location are important issues when making your determination, they should not be the sole ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as accreditation and reputation should be considered also. We will review a checklist of topics that you need to ask the medical billing and coding schools you are researching so that you can learn what you must 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 Biller and Coder Online Programs and Certification

It's important that you get your instruction from a reputable school, whether it's a technical school, vocational school or community college. Even though it is not a requirement in most cases to obtain a professional certification, the program you enroll in should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). The majority of Georgia colleges simply require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to qualify. The most expedient way to becoming either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to attain a certificate, which usually takes about 1 year to accomplish. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more extensive education, which for most colleges calls for two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical billing and coding are not abundantly offered. Once your education has been concluded, although not mandated in most states, you may desire to attain a professional certification. Certification is an effective way for those new to the profession to show potential employers that they are not only qualified but committed to their occupation. Some of the organizations that provide 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 coding and billing course, in conjunction with earning a professional certification, are the best ways to accelerate your new career and succeed in the fast growing medical care field.

Medical Coding Job Duties

Medical coders are on the front line of the billing systems for Atlanta GA private practices and hospitals. They have the responsibility to review the treatment 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 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 such as physician and nursing notes, patient charts, and lab and radiology reports. Coders must know not only what total services were provided for accurate reporting, but must have a working knowledge of all private payer and government regulations that affect coding also. Improperly coded claims can result in services not being covered, services being paid at a decreased rate, or the provider being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can literally cost Atlanta GA doctors and hospitals many thousands of dollars in revenue every year, a proficient medical coder is an important asset for any healthcare team. They can operate in every kind of healthcare facility, including family practices, clinics, hospitals and critical care centers. It is not uncommon for experienced medical coders to operate at home as an offsite employee or an independent contractor.

Medical Billing Job Description

As essential as the medical coder's role is, it would be for nothing without the collaboration of the medical biller whose labors produce revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Atlanta GA medical organizations and are essentially responsible for keeping them in business. Often the biller and coder are the same individual within a medical organization, but they can also be 2 independent professionals. After the coder has carried out his or her task, the biller uses the codes furnished 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 charged for deductibles or other out of pocket costs. On a regular basis, a medical billing professional might also do any of the following:

• Confirm health insurance benefits for patients and help them with billing concerns or questions
• Check on submitted patient claims and appeal any that have been denied
• Work as a mediator between the medical provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for correct claim settlement
• Generate and oversee Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and take care of unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billing clerks not only are employed by family practices, but also Atlanta GA hospitals, urgent care facilities, nursing homes or medical groups. They may work in every type of healthcare facility that relies on the revenues generated by billing third party payers and patients.

Online Medical Billing and Coding Classes

If you are looking for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes from home, then choosing an online medical billing and coding program may be a great option. They can be especially appealing to individuals living in Atlanta GA who anticipate going to school while continuing to work or have other obligations that make going to classes on campus challenging. And as an additional advantage, online programs are often less expensive than the standard classroom options. Expenses for such items as tuition, study materials and commuting may be decreased or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online colleges are reputable. For that reason it's essential to establish that the online course you enroll in is accredited to ensure a quality education. We will cover the advantages of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to verify that any online school you are considering is accredited by one of the national accrediting organizations, for example the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to devote yourself to this style of learning, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Medical Coder and Biller Colleges

Once you have a better idea what a medical coder and biller does, along with what education options are available, you must begin the process of comparing schools. But since there are numerous training options available at community colleges and trade, vocational and technical schools within the Atlanta GA area, you must have a prepared list of questions in order to analyze each one. And when you include all of the online schools that offer medical billing and coding classes, the task can become rather daunting. As we have already discussed, cost and location are going to be significant issues, particularly if you have a modest budget and will be traveling to classes from your Atlanta home. And whether or not the school and program are accredited should be part of your vetting process as well. So let's take a look at several of the additional questions that you should ask the programs you are considering so that you can compare each one and make the best choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's important that the program and school you pick are accredited by a respected accrediting agency, for example the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online program, it can also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Not only will accreditation help ensure that the education you receive will be of superior quality, it could help secure future employment as well. A number of Atlanta GA medical facilities will only hire entry level candidates that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing training course. And financial assistance and student loans are frequently only available for programs that have received an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Prior to choosing a medical coding and billing college, find out what its ranking and reputation are among other colleges. This is especially imperative if you have no experience in the profession, since potential employers will mainly be evaluating you based on the quality of your training. As we have discussed, making sure that the program is accredited is a first step. Checking with school rating organizations, such as U.S. News and World Report, can validate the quality of the school as well. Another option is to check with a few Atlanta GA healthcare organizations that you may have an interest in working for and find out which colleges they recommend. Remember that even when the college itself does not have an excellent reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be well regarded.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding employment in Atlanta GA after graduation in your new field might be challenging 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 high and rapid placement rate is a good indication that the billing and coding school has a sizable network of medical care employers where they can refer their graduates. It also suggests that the school's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

Where is the School's Location? If you are planning on commuting to class from your Atlanta GA residence, then the location of the program will be of prime importance. Of course if you select an online medical billing and coding program, then the location of the school will not be a factor. One thing to keep in mind is that if you attend classes at a community or junior college, most require a higher tuition for enrollees that live outside of their districts. So you might want to first consider those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Total Expense? Medical coding and billing training programs can fluctuate in cost depending on the type of credential earned and the length of training furnished. But remember, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Expenses also include such items as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial assistance may be available to help reduce some of the expense, so be sure to contact the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Atlanta GA. Naturally if you decide to enroll in an online college, some of these added costs, particularly for commuting may be reduced or even eliminated.

Are Classes Accessible that Accommodate your Schedule? A number of students keep working while attending school and need a convenient class schedule. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Atlanta GA, verify that they are offered at those times. If you can only attend on a part-time schedule, make sure that the school you select offers that alternative. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up classes missed due to illness, work or family emergencies.

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Select the Right Atlanta GA Medical Billing and Coding Training 

Choosing the ideal medical billing and coding certificate or degree course is a critical first step to help guarantee your success in this rewarding specialty of healthcare. Medical coding and medical billing are two of the fastest growing jobs in the health industry. As a result, there are many vocational schools, community colleges and other institutions that furnish education and training in medical coding and billing. As we have reviewed, you can elect to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also imperative that the school you choose has an accredited program with an exceptional reputation within the healthcare community. But however you choose to receive your training, by adhering to the previous guidelines and asking the appropriate questions, you will be better qualified to analyze your options and pick the ideal medical billing and coding college. And with the appropriate education, you can achieve your career goal to become a medical billing and coding clerk in Atlanta Georgia.