How to Pick the Best Medical Billing School 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 important that you find the appropriate school so that you receive the necessary education to ensure your success. As you may already know, healthcare is among the fastest growing sectors in the United States, and a growing number of options are offered both online and on campus to receive the training that you need. But just where does one start? A number of potential students begin by looking for schools that are within travelling distance of their homes and then comparing tuition. Or they may search the internet looking for online classes and go with the cheapest one. But while cost and location are relevant issues when making your selection, they should not be the only ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifications as accreditation and reputation should be considered also. We will review a list 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 decision. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical coders and billers do and the educational and certification options available.

Medical Coder Job Summary

Medical coders work on the front line of the billing systems for Atlanta GA private practices and healthcare organizations. They have the responsibility to review the medical records of patients and assign universal codes to all services provided. These services can be for diagnosis, medical or dental procedures, or any equipment or medical supplies utilized. There are various 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 use information from sources such as nursing and physician notes, patient charts, and radiology and lab reports. Coders must know not only what total services were provided for accurate reporting, but must have a working knowledge of all government and private payer regulations that affect coding also. Improperly coded claims may result in services not being paid for, services being paid for 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 reliable medical coder is an important asset for any healthcare organization. They can work in every type of healthcare facility, including private practices, clinics, hospitals and critical care centers. It is not unusual for professional medical coders to working from home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Biller Job Duties

As vital as the medical coder's function is, it would be for naught without the contribution of the medical biller whose labors bring in revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to Atlanta GA medical organizations and are practically responsible for keeping them in business. Often the coder and biller can be the same person within a healthcare facility, but they can also be 2 individual professionals. When the coder has performed his or her duty, the biller uses the codes supplied to complete and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicare or Medicaid. After being paid by the appropriate organization, patients can then be invoiced for deductibles or additional out of pocket expenses. On a regular basis, a medical billing professional may also do any of the following:

• Confirm medical insurance coverages for patients and assist them with billing questions or concerns
• Follow up on submitted patient claims and appeal any that have been declined
• Function as a mediator between the medical provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for proper claim settlement
• Create and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and deal with unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billing clerks not only work for private practices, but also Atlanta GA hospitals, urgent care facilities, nursing homes or medical groups. They may practice in every kind of medical facility that depends on the revenues generated from billing patients and third party payers.

Medical Coder and Biller Online Instruction and Certification

It's imperative that you get your training from a reputable school, whether it's a trade school, vocational school or community college. Although it is not a requirement in most cases to attain a professional certification, the program you select should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). The majority of Georgia programs only require that you earn either a high school diploma or a GED to be eligible. The quickest way to become either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to attain a certificate, which normally takes about a year to accomplish. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more expansive education, which for almost all colleges requires two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical billing and coding are not abundantly offered. Once your education has been completed, although not mandated in most states, you may wish to attain a professional certification. Certification is a great way for those new to the field to show potential 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).

Graduating from an accredited medical coding and billing program, combined with obtaining a professional certification, are the best ways to advance your new profession and succeed in the rapid growing medical care industry.

Medical Biller and Coder Online Training

If you are looking for flexibility and the convenience of attending classes at home, then selecting an online medical billing and coding school may be a good alternative. They can be especially appealing to those living in Atlanta GA who plan on attending school while still working or have other commitments that make going to classes on campus difficult. And as an added advantage, online colleges are frequently cheaper than the traditional 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. That's why it's imperative to verify that the online school you enroll in is accredited to guarantee a premium education. We will cover the advantages of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to establish that any online classes you are considering is accredited by one of the national accrediting organizations, for example the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are dedicated enough to commit yourself to this type of learning, then attaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Medical Biller and Coder Courses

Once you have a general idea what a medical coder and biller does, in addition to what training options are available, you must start the process of researching schools. But since there many training options available at community colleges and vocational, technical and trade 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 colleges that offer medical billing and coding classes, the task can become rather formidable. As we have already addressed, location and cost are going to be important factors, 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 must be part of your vetting procedure also. So let's review a few of the other questions that you should ask the programs you are reviewing so that you can compare each one and make the appropriate choice.

Is the School Accredited? It's crucial that the school and program you choose are accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online college, it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. Not only will accreditation help ensure that the training you get will be of the highest quality, it could help with your future employment as well. Many Atlanta GA healthcare facilities will only employ entry level candidates that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing educational course. And financial assistance and student loans are in many cases only offered for programs that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Prior to choosing a medical billing and coding school, check out what its reputation and ranking are compared to other colleges. This is particularly important if you have no experience in the industry, since potential employers will primarily be evaluating you based on the quality of your training. As we have addressed, confirming that the program is accredited is an initial step. Checking with college rating organizations, for instance U.S. News and World Report, can validate the quality of the school as well. An alternative is to call several Atlanta GA medical organizations that you may be interested in working for and find out which schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even if the college itself does not have an outstanding 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 profession can be difficult without the help of a job assistance program. Ask if the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and what their job placement rates are. A rapid and high placement rate is an excellent indication that the billing and coding school has a substantial network of healthcare 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 College Located? If you are anticipating driving to class from your Atlanta GA home, then the location of the program will be of prime importance. Naturally if you choose an medical billing and coding online program, then the location of the school will not be a consideration. One thing to remember is that if you attend classes at a community or junior college, many require a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might want to first research those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Complete Cost? Medical coding and billing training programs can differ in cost depending on the type of credential obtained and the length of training provided. But remember, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Expenditures also consist of such things as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial aid may be available to help reduce a portion of the expense, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Atlanta GA. Of course if you decide to attend an online college, some of these additional costs, particularly for commuting may be minimized or even eliminated.

Are Classes Offered that Match your Schedule? Many students continue working while going to school and need a flexible class schedule. If you can only attend classes during 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, make sure that the college you select provides that option. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up classes missed due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Find Out More on How to Enroll in a Medical Biller and Coder Class

Choose the Best Atlanta GA Medical Billing and Coding School 

Choosing the ideal medical coding and billing certificate or degree program is a critical first step to help guarantee your success in this exciting specialty of healthcare. Medical billing and medical coding are 2 of the fastest expanding professions in the health sector. Because of this, there are many vocational schools, community colleges and companies that furnish training and education in medical coding and billing. As we have reviewed, you can decide to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also essential that the college you choose has an accredited program with an excellent reputation within the healthcare field. But however you choose to receive your training, by adhering to the previous guidelines and asking the right questions, you will be better qualified to analyze your options and select the right medical billing and coding college. And with the appropriate training, you can realize your career objective to become a medical billing and coding clerk in Atlanta Georgia.