How to Select the Best Medical Coding Program near Atlanta Georgia

Now that you have decided to enter the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Atlanta GA, it's crucial that you select the appropriate school to ensure that you receive the necessary education to ensure your success. As you probably know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing fields in the United States, and more and more options are available both on campus and online to get the training that you need. But just where do you begin? A number of future students start by searching for programs that are within commuting distance of their homes and then comparing cost. Or they may search the internet looking for online classes and choose the cheapest one. But while location and cost are important factors when making your selection, they should not be the sole ones when researching medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifications as accreditation and reputation should be considered as well. We will go over a list of topics that you need to ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are evaluating so that you can find out what you must know before making your decision. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical billers and coders do.

Medical Coder Job Description

Medical coders work on the forefront of the billing systems for Atlanta GA medical practices and hospitals. Coders have the responsibility to analyze the treatment records of patients and assign universal codes to all services provided. These services can be for medical, diagnosis or dental procedures, or any medical supplies or equipment used. 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 depend on information from sources including 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 functioning knowledge of all private payer and government regulations that influence coding also. Incorrectly coded claims can lead to services not being covered, services being paid for at a decreased rate, or the provider being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can actually cost Atlanta GA hospitals and doctors multiple thousands of dollars in earnings each year, a reliable medical coder is a vital asset to the healthcare organization. They can operate in any type of healthcare facility, including private practices, hospitals, clinics and critical care centers. It is not uncommon for professional medical coders to work at home as an offsite employee or an independent contractor.

Medical Biller Job Functions

As important as the medical coder's function is, it would be for nothing without the contribution of the medical biller whose labors bring in revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Atlanta GA healthcare organizations and are literally responsible for keeping them in business. Often the biller and coder can be the same individual within a medical facility, but they can also be 2 individual specialists. After the coder has performed her or his job, the biller utilizes the codes furnished to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid. After they have been adjusted by the applicable entity, patients can then be invoiced for deductibles and additional out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical biller may also do any of the following:

• Confirm health insurance benefits for patients and assist them with billing questions or concerns
• Check on patient claims submitted and appeal any that have been declined
• Work as an intermediate between the medical provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for proper claim settlement
• Create and manage Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and deal with 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 any kind of healthcare facility that depends on the revenues generated from billing patients and third party payers.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Classes

If you are interested in flexibility and the convenience of attending classes from home, then enrolling in an online medical billing and coding course may be an excellent option. They can be particularly attractive to individuals living in Atlanta GA who plan on attending school while continuing to work or have additional obligations that make attending classes on campus challenging. And as an added advantage, online colleges are often cheaper than the standard classroom alternatives. Expenses for such items as tuition, course materials and commuting may be reduced or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online schools are reputable. That's why it's imperative to establish that any online program you choose is accredited to guarantee a superior education. We will cover the benefits of accreditation in the next section. Just make sure to establish that any online instruction you are looking at is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, for example the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to apply yourself to this mode of learning, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Medical Coder and Biller Programs

Once you have a better idea what a medical coder and biller does, as well as what education options are offered, you need to start the process of comparing 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 in order to analyze each one. And when you include all of the online colleges that offer medical coding and billing classes, the project can become somewhat daunting. As we have already discussed, cost and location are going to be important factors, especially if you have a limited budget and will be driving to classes from your Atlanta residence. And confirming that the school and program are accredited should be part of your vetting procedure as well. So let's review several of the additional questions that you should ask the programs you are reviewing so that you can evaluate each one and make the best choice.

Is the Training Accredited? It's essential that the program and school you decide on are accredited by a highly regarded accrediting agency, such as 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 learning. Not only will accreditation help ensure that the education you receive will be of superior quality, it may help secure future employment as well. Many Atlanta GA healthcare facilities will only employ entry level prospects that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding educational program. And financial assistance and student loans are in many cases only obtainable for programs that have earned an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Prior to choosing a medical billing and coding program, find out what its ranking and reputation are among other colleges. This is especially important if you have no experience in the industry, since potential employers will mainly be evaluating you based on the quality of your education. As we have discussed, making sure that the school is accredited is an initial step. Checking with college rating organizations, for instance U.S. News and World Report, can verify the quality of the school also. An alternative is to call several Atlanta GA healthcare organizations that you may be interested in working for and find out which colleges they suggest. Remember that even if the college itself does not have an outstanding reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be highly regarded.

Is there an Employment Placement Program? Finding employment in Atlanta GA after graduating in your new field might be challenging without the support of a job assistance program. Ask if the schools you are looking at 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 refer their graduates. It also indicates that the school's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

Where is the College's Location? If you are intending on commuting to class from your Atlanta GA residence, then the location of the school will be of prime importance. Naturally if you select an online medical coding and billing 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 junior or community college, most require a higher tuition for pupils that reside outside of their districts. So you might want to first consider those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Total Cost? Medical billing and coding training programs can vary in cost depending on the type of credential earned and the length of training provided. Just keep in mind, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Expenses also consist of such things as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial assistance may be accessible to help reduce a portion of the cost, so be sure to get in touch with the college's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Atlanta GA. Of course if you decide to attend 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? Many students keep working while going to college and need a flexible class schedule. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Atlanta GA, make sure that they are offered at those times. If you can only attend on a part time basis, verify that the program you enroll in provides that alternative. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up classes missed because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Learn How to Select a Medical Biller and Coder Class

Choose the Best Atlanta GA Medical Billing and Coding School 

Enrolling in the ideal medical coding and billing degree or certificate program is a crucial first step to help ensure your success in this rewarding sector of medical care. Medical coding and medical billing are 2 of the most rapidly growing careers in the medical sector. Because of this, there are a lot of vocational schools, junior colleges and other institutions that offer education and training in medical coding and billing. As we have reviewed, you can elect to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also essential that the school you pick has an accredited program with an outstanding reputation within the healthcare community. But however you elect to receive your training, by following the previous guidelines and posing the appropriate questions, you will be better prepared to analyze your options and select the right medical billing and coding program. And with the appropriate training, you can realize your career goal to become a medical billing and coding clerk in Atlanta Georgia.