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

Now that you have decided to enter the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Dunwoody GA, it's essential that you select the appropriate program so that you receive the proper education to guarantee your success. As you probably know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing sectors in the United States, 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 future 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 schools and choose the least expensive one. But while location and cost are relevant issues when making your determination, they should not be the sole ones when comparing medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifications as accreditation and reputation must be considered also. We will go over a checklist of questions that you need to ask the medical billing and coding courses you are assessing in order to learn what you need to know before making your selection. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical coders and billers do.

Medical Coding Job Duties

Medical coders are on the forefront of the billing systems for Dunwoody GA medical practices and healthcare organizations. They have the responsibility to analyze the treatment records of patients and convert all services provided into universal codes. These services can be for diagnosis, medical or dental procedures, or any medical supplies or equipment utilized. There are multiple 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 rely on information from sources such as nursing and physician 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 government and private payer rules that impact coding as well. Improperly coded claims can lead to 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 Dunwoody GA doctors and hospitals many thousands of dollars in earnings each year, a proficient medical coder is a necessary asset to the healthcare team. They can operate in any type of healthcare facility, including family practices, clinics, hospitals and emergency care centers. It is not unusual for experienced medical coders to operate at home as an offsite employee or an independent contractor.

Medical Billing Job Duties

As important as the medical coder's job is, it would be for nothing without the collaboration 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 their doors open. Often the coder and biller are the same man or woman within a healthcare organization, but they can also be 2 individual professionals. When the coder has carried out her or his task, the biller uses the codes furnished to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicare or Medicaid. After they have been paid by the applicable entity, patients can then be charged for deductibles or additional out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical biller can also do any of the following:

• Verify health insurance benefits for patients and help them with billing questions or concerns
• Follow up on submitted patient claims and appeal any that have been declined
• Act as a mediator between the healthcare provider, the insurance companies and the patients for proper claim resolution
• Generate and manage Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and deal with unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billing clerks not only work for family practices, but also Dunwoody GA emergency care facilities, hospitals, medical groups or nursing homes. They can work in any type of medical facility that relies on the incomes generated by billing third party payers and patients.

Online Medical Billing and Coding Training

If you are searching for flexibility and the convenience of attending classes from home, then selecting a medical billing and coding online college may be a great alternative. They can be especially appealing to those living in Dunwoody GA who plan on going to school while continuing to work or have other responsibilities that make attending classes on campus difficult. And as an added benefit, online programs are in many cases less expensive than the conventional classroom options. Expenses for such items as tuition, commuting and study materials may be decreased or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online colleges are reputable. That's why it's imperative to establish that any online course you select is accredited to guarantee a superior education. We will cover the advantages of accreditation in the next segment. Just be sure to confirm that any online instruction you are looking at is accredited by one of the national accrediting organizations, such as the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are dedicated enough to devote yourself to this style of learning, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Medical Coder and Biller Colleges

Now that you have a better idea what a medical biller and coder does, in addition to what education options are offered, you need to start the process of comparing schools. But since there are numerous training options offered at community colleges and trade, vocational and technical schools within the Dunwoody GA area, you need to have a ready list of questions in order to evaluate each one. And when you add all of the online schools that offer medical billing and coding classes, the task can become somewhat daunting. As we have already discussed, cost and location are going to be significant issues, especially if you have a modest budget and will be traveling to classes from your Dunwoody home. And verifying that the program and school are accredited must be part of your vetting process also. So let's review several of the additional questions that you should ask the colleges you are reviewing so that you can evaluate each one and make the ideal choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's important that the program and school you decide on are accredited by a highly regarded accrediting organization, for instance the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online program, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. Not only will accreditation help guarantee that the training you get will be of superior quality, it might help secure future employment as well. Many Dunwoody GA medical organizations will only employ entry level prospects that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding training program. And financial assistance and student loans are in many cases only obtainable for programs that have received an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Prior to picking a medical coding and billing program, check 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 relying on the quality of your education. As we have covered, making sure that the school is accredited is an initial step. Checking with school rating organizations, for example U.S. News and World Report, can confirm the quality of the school as well. Another option is to get in touch with a few Dunwoody GA healthcare organizations that you might have an interest in working for and find out which colleges they suggest. Keep in mind that even when the college itself does not have an outstanding reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be highly regarded.

Is there an Employment Assistance Program? Obtaining employment in Dunwoody GA after graduation in your new profession can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. Ask if the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and what their job placement rates are. A high and rapid placement rate is an excellent indication that the coding and billing school has a sizable network of healthcare employers where they can refer their graduates. It also suggests that the college's graduates are sought after in the marketplace.

Where is the College Located? If you are anticipating driving to class from your Dunwoody GA residence, then the location of the campus will be of prime importance. Naturally if you choose an online medical coding and billing program, then the location of the school will not be important. One thing to remember is that if you attend classes at a community or junior college, most charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may prefer to first consider those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Total Cost? Medical billing and coding certification programs can fluctuate in cost depending on the type of credential acquired and the amount of training provided. But remember, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Costs also include such items as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial aid may be available to help offset some of the expense, so make sure to check with the school's financial assistance department to see what is offered in Dunwoody GA. Of course if you decide to attend an online college, a portion of these additional costs, particularly for commuting may be lessened or even eliminated.

Are Classes Accessible that Match your Schedule? A number of students continue working while going to school and require a convenient class schedule. If you can only attend classes at night 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, check that the program you decide on offers that alternative. Also, ask what the process is for making up classes missed because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn How to Select a Medical Billing School

Choose the Right Dunwoody GA Medical Billing and Coding School 

Enrolling in the right medical billing and coding degree or certificate program is a very important initial step to help ensure your success in this exciting field of healthcare. Medical coding and medical billing are two of the most rapidly expanding occupations in the health sector. As a result, there are a lot of vocational schools, junior colleges and other institutions that furnish instruction and training in medical coding and billing. As we have covered, you can choose to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also important that the school you choose offers an accredited program with an excellent reputation within the healthcare industry. But however you choose to receive your education, by adhering to the previous guidelines and asking the right questions, you will be better prepared to evaluate your options and choose the ideal medical billing and coding college. And with the proper training, you can realize your career objective to become a medical billing and coding specialist in Dunwoody Georgia.