How to Find the Right Medical Billing and Coding Training Classes near Dunwoody Georgia

Once you have decided to become part of the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Dunwoody GA, it's essential that you select the appropriate school to ensure that you receive the necessary education to ensure your success. As you may already know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing fields in the Country, and a growing number of options are offered both online and on campus to get the training that you need. But just where do you begin? A number of potential students start by looking for schools that are within driving distance of their residences and then comparing tuition. Or they might search the internet looking for online schools and go with the cheapest one. But while location and cost are important issues when making your selection, they should not be the only ones when researching medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifications as accreditation and reputation should be considered as well. We will review a list of topics that you should ask the medical billing and coding courses you are assessing in order to find out what you need to 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 and Biller Online Education and Certification

It's imperative that you receive your training from a reputable school, whether it's a technical school, vocational school or community college. Although it is not a requirement in most cases to obtain a professional certification, the school you enroll in should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). The majority of Georgia programs just require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to be eligible. The most expedient way to becoming either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to earn a certificate, which normally takes about one year to finish. An Associate Degree is also an option for a more comprehensive education, which for almost all programs calls for two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical coding and billing are not widely offered. Once your training has been completed, although not required in the majority of states, you might wish to attain a professional certification. Certification is an effective means for those new to the field to show potential employers that they are not only qualified but dedicated to their career. Just 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, along with obtaining a professional certification, are the most effective ways to accelerate your new profession and succeed in the fast growing healthcare industry.

Medical Coder Job Duties

Medical coders work on the front line of the billing systems for Dunwoody GA private practices and healthcare organizations. Coders have the responsibility to analyze 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 utilized. There are various 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 depend on information from sources such as nursing and physician notes, patient charts, and lab and radiology reports. Medical Coders must know not only what total services were provided for accuracy, but must have a functioning knowledge of all private payer and government regulations that impact coding also. Inaccurately coded claims may result in services not being paid for, services being paid at a lower rate, or the provider being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can in fact cost Dunwoody GA doctors and hospitals multiple thousands of dollars in revenue every year, a proficient medical coder is a vital asset to the healthcare team. They can work in any kind of healthcare facility, including family practices, hospitals, clinics and emergency care centers. It is not unusual for professional medical coders to work at home as an offsite employee or an independent contractor.

Medical Billing Job Description

As important as the medical coder's job is, it would be for naught without the contribution of the medical biller whose efforts bring in revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Dunwoody GA medical organizations and are literally responsible for keeping them in business. Often the coder and biller are the same man or woman within a healthcare organization, but they can also be two separate professionals. When the coder has completed her or his task, the biller uses the codes furnished to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid. After they have been adjusted by the appropriate entity, patients can then be charged for deductibles and other out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical billing clerk may also do any of the following:

• Check medical insurance coverages for patients and assist them with billing concerns or questions
• Follow up on patient claims submitted and appeal any that have been declined
• Function as an intermediary between the healthcare provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for accurate claim resolution
• Generate and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and take care of unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billers not only work for family practices, but also Dunwoody GA hospitals, urgent care facilities, medical groups or nursing homes. They may practice in any kind of healthcare facility that depends on the incomes generated from billing patients and third party payers.

Medical Biller and Coder Online Programs

If you are interested in convenience and the flexibility of attending classes at home, then enrolling in a medical billing and coding online course may be a good alternative. They can be especially appealing to individuals living in Dunwoody GA who plan on attending school while continuing to work or have additional obligations that make going to classes on campus challenging. And as an additional advantage, online colleges are often cheaper than the standard classroom alternatives. Expenses for such things as tuition, course 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 confirm that any online college you choose is accredited to ensure a premium education. We will cover the advantages of accreditation in the next section. Just make sure to verify that any online instruction you are looking at 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 acquiring your degree or certificate online might be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Medical Coding and Billing Programs

Now that you have a general idea what a medical coder and biller does, as well as what education options are offered, you must start the process of evaluating colleges. But since there are numerous training options available at community colleges as well as trade, vocational and technical schools within the Dunwoody GA area, you must have a ready list of questions to analyze each one. And when you include all of the online schools that offer medical billing and coding classes, the task can become somewhat daunting. As we have already covered, expense and location are going to be important issues, particularly if you have a limited budget and will be driving to classes from your Dunwoody residence. 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 looking at so that you can compare each one and make the best choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's important that the school and program you decide on are accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online school, it might 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 education you receive will be of superior quality, it could help secure future employment also. A number of Dunwoody GA medical organizations will only employ entry level prospects that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding educational program. And financial assistance and student loans are often only obtainable for colleges that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Before choosing a medical billing and coding program, find out what its ranking and reputation are among other programs. 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, making sure that the program is accredited is an initial step. Checking with school rating organizations, such as U.S. News and World Report, can confirm the quality of the school also. An alternative is to get in touch with some Dunwoody GA medical organizations that you might have an interest in working for and ask which colleges they suggest. Bear in mind that even when the school itself does not have an excellent reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be highly regarded.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Obtaining employment in Dunwoody GA after graduation in your new field can be challenging without the help of a job assistance program. Find out 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 significant network of medical care employers where they can refer their graduates. It also suggests that the college's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

Where is the College Located? If you are planning on commuting to class from your Dunwoody GA home, then the location of the program will be of significant importance. Of course if you enroll in 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 go to classes at a community or junior college, most require a higher tuition for pupils that live outside of their districts. So you might want to first look at those schools that are within your local area.

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

Are Classes Accessible that Match your Schedule? A number of students keep working while going to school and require a convenient class schedule. If you can only attend classes during the evenings or on weekends near Dunwoody GA, make sure that they are offered at those times. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the school you decide on offers that option. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up classes missed due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Find Out More on How to Select a Medical Biller and Coder School

Select the Right Dunwoody GA Medical Billing and Coding Training 

Choosing the ideal medical coding and billing certificate or degree program is a crucial first step to help ensure your success in this rewarding field of medical care. Medical coding and medical billing are two of the fastest growing occupations in the health sector. Because of this, there are numerous vocational schools, community colleges and other institutions that provide training and instruction in medical coding and billing. As we have covered, you can elect to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also important that the school you pick has an accredited program with an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. But however you elect to receive your training, by following the previous guidelines and asking the appropriate questions, you will be better qualified to evaluate your options and choose the right medical billing and coding college. And with the proper education, you can achieve your career objective to become a medical coding and billing specialist in Dunwoody Georgia.