How to Find the Right Medical Billing and Coding College near Atlanta Georgia

Once you have made a decision to enter the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Atlanta GA, it's essential that you choose the right school so that you receive the proper education to guarantee your success. As you probably know, healthcare is among the fastest growing fields in the Country, and a growing number of options are offered both online and on campus to receive the training that you need. But just where do you start? A number of potential students start by searching for programs that are within driving distance of their homes and then comparing cost. Or they may surf the internet looking for online courses and pick the cheapest one. But while location and cost are significant issues when making your selection, they should not be the only ones when comparing medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as reputation and accreditation must be taken into consideration as well. We will go over a checklist of questions that you should ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are researching so that you can find out what you must know prior to making your selection. But first, let's take a look at what medical coders and billers do and the educational and certification options offered.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Programs and Certification

It's essential that you get your instruction from a reputable school, whether it's a community college, technical or trade school. While it is not required in many cases to obtain a professional certification, the school you choose should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). The majority of Georgia schools only require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to qualify. The fastest way to becoming either a medical coder or biller (or both) is to earn a certificate, which generally takes about a year to complete. An Associate Degree is also an option for a more expansive education, which for almost all schools requires two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical billing and coding are not abundantly available. Once your education has been concluded, although not required in most states, you might wish to attain a professional certification. Certification is an excellent method for those new to the field to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but dedicated to their career. A few of the organizations that offer 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 billing and coding course, in conjunction with earning a professional certification, are the most effective ways to advance your new career and succeed in the fast growing medical care field.

Medical Coding Job Summary

Medical coders are on the front line of the billing systems for Atlanta GA private practices and hospitals. Coders have the responsibility to review the medical 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 utilized. There are several 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 use information from sources such as 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 working knowledge of all private payer and government rules that impact coding also. Inaccurately coded claims may result in services not being paid for, services being paid at a reduced rate, or the physician or facility being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can in fact cost Atlanta GA doctors and hospitals multiple thousands of dollars in income annually, a reliable medical coder is an important asset for any healthcare organization. They can operate in every type of healthcare facility, including family practices, hospitals, clinics 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 crucial as the medical coder's function is, it would be for naught without the contribution of the medical biller whose efforts produce revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Atlanta GA medical facilities and are practically responsible for keeping their doors open. Often the coder and biller may be the same man or woman within a healthcare facility, but they can also be two separate professionals. After the coder has carried out her or his job, the biller utilizes the codes provided to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicare or Medicaid. After being paid by the applicable entity, patients can then be invoiced for deductibles and other out of pocket costs. On a regular basis, a medical biller can also do any of the following:

• Confirm medical insurance benefits for patients and assist them with billing concerns or questions
• Check on patient claims submitted and appeal those that have been denied
• Work as an intermediate between the medical provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for correct claim settlement
• Produce and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Produce and handle unpaid patient collections accounts

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

Online Medical Billing and Coding Schools

If you are searching for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes from home, then selecting a medical billing and coding online course might be a great option. They can be especially attractive to those living in Atlanta GA who plan on attending school while still working or have additional commitments that make attending classes on campus challenging. And as an additional advantage, online schools are frequently less expensive than the traditional classroom alternatives. Costs for such items as tuition, study materials and commuting may be decreased or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online schools are reputable. For that reason it's important to establish that the online school you enroll in is accredited to guarantee a superior education. We will address the benefits of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to check that any online instruction 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 attaining your certificate or degree online might be the right choice for you.

Points to Ask Medical Coding and Billing Programs

Once you have a general idea just what a medical biller and coder does, along with what education options are offered, you need to start the process of comparing colleges. But since there many training options available at community colleges and technical, trade and vocational schools within the Atlanta GA area, you must have a ready list of questions in order to analyze each one. And when you include all of the online programs that offer medical coding and billing classes, the project can become somewhat formidable. As we have already covered, cost and location are going to be important factors, particularly if you have a limited budget and will be driving to classes from your Atlanta residence. And verifying that the program and school are accredited must be part of your vetting process as well. So let's review a few of the other questions that you should ask the schools you are reviewing so that you can evaluate each one and make the ideal choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's crucial that the program and college you choose are accredited by a highly regarded accrediting organization, for example 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 online or distance education. Not only will accreditation help guarantee that the training you get will be of superior quality, it could help with your future employment also. Many Atlanta GA healthcare organizations will only employ entry level applicants that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing educational course. And financial assistance and student loans are often only offered for colleges that have received an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Before choosing a medical coding and billing program, find out what its ranking and reputation are among other schools. This is especially relevant if you have no experience in the field, since potential employers will mainly be relying on the quality of your training. As we have covered, verifying that the college is accredited is a first step. Checking with school rating organizations, for instance U.S. News and World Report, can confirm the quality of the school also. Another option is to call several Atlanta GA healthcare organizations that you may have an interest in working for and ask which schools they recommend. Remember that even if the college itself does not have an outstanding reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be well regarded.

Is there an Employment Referral Program? Finding a job in Atlanta GA after graduating in your new profession might be challenging without the help of a job placement program. Check if the colleges you are considering have job placement 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 substantial 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 College Located? If you are anticipating driving to class from your Atlanta GA residence, then the location of the campus will be of prime importance. Naturally if you select an online medical coding and billing program, then the location of the college will not be a factor. One thing to keep in mind is that if you go to classes at a junior or community college, most charge a higher tuition for enrollees that reside outside of their districts. So you may prefer to first consider those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Complete Cost? Medical billing and coding training courses can differ in cost depending on the type of credential obtained and the amount of training furnished. But remember, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Expenses also include such items as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial aid might be obtainable to help reduce some of the expense, so don't forget to check with the college's financial assistance department to see what is offered in Atlanta GA. Of course if you decide to enroll in an online college, some of these added costs, such as for commuting may be minimized or even eliminated.

Are Classes Offered that Accommodate your Schedule? Many students keep working while going to college and need a flexible class schedule. If you can only attend classes during the evenings or on weekends near Atlanta GA, confirm that they are offered at those times. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you pick offers that option. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up classes missed due to work, illness or family emergencies.

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Select the Right Atlanta GA Medical Billing and Coding Training 

Choosing the right medical billing and coding degree or certificate program is a very important initial step to help guarantee your success in this exciting specialty of medical care. Medical billing and medical coding are 2 of the most rapidly expanding professions in the medical sector. As a result, there are numerous vocational schools, community colleges and other institutions that provide training and education in medical coding and billing. As we have covered, you can opt to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also essential that the school you pick has an accredited program with an excellent reputation within the medical care industry. But however you decide to receive your training, by adhering to the previous guidelines and posing the appropriate questions, you will be better qualified to assess your options and choose the ideal medical billing and coding college. And with the appropriate education, you can achieve your career objective to become a medical billing and coding specialist in Atlanta Georgia.