How to Select the Right Medical Billing and Coding Training Program near Dunwoody Georgia

Once you have made a decision to enter the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Dunwoody GA, it's important that you choose the appropriate school to ensure 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 increasingly more options are offered both on campus and online to get the training that you need. But just where do you begin? A number of aspiring students start by searching for colleges that are within driving distance of their residences and then comparing tuition. Or they might search the internet looking for online classes and pick the cheapest one. But while location and cost are significant factors when making your selection, they should not be the only ones when comparing medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as reputation and accreditation need to be considered as well. We will go over a checklist of topics that you need to ask the medical billing and coding courses you are assessing in order to learn what you must know before making your decision. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical billers and coders do and the educational and certification options offered.

Medical Coding Job Summary

Medical coders work on the front line of the billing systems for Dunwoody GA medical practices and hospitals. Coders have the responsibility to examine the treatment records of patients and convert all services provided into universal codes. These services may be for medical, diagnosis 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 rely on information from sources such as physician and nursing notes, patient charts, and radiology and lab reports. Medical Coders must not only know what services were provided in total for accuracy, but must have a working knowledge of all government and private payer regulations that impact coding as well. Improperly coded claims can result in services not being paid for, services being paid at a decreased 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 each year, a reliable medical coder is an important asset to the healthcare team. They can work in any kind of healthcare facility, including private practices, hospitals, clinics and emergency care centers. It is not unusual for professional medical coders to working from home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Biller Job Functions

As essential as the medical coder's function is, it would be for nothing without the contribution of the medical biller whose efforts produce revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Dunwoody GA healthcare organizations and are essentially responsible for keeping their doors open. In many cases the biller and coder can be the same individual within a medical facility, but they can also be 2 separate specialists. Once the coder has carried out his or her duty, the biller uses the codes furnished to complete and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicare or Medicaid. After they have been adjusted by the applicable organization, patients can then be billed for deductibles and other out of pocket costs. On a regular basis, a medical billing clerk can also do any of the following:

• Check medical insurance benefits for patients and assist them with billing questions or concerns
• Check on submitted patient claims and appeal any that have been denied
• Function as an intermediary between the medical provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for proper claim resolution
• Create and oversee Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billers not only are employed by private practices, but also Dunwoody GA hospitals, urgent care facilities, medical groups or nursing homes. They can work in any type of healthcare facility that relies on the incomes generated from billing third party payers and patients.

Medical Coding and Billing Online Training and Certification

It's important that you obtain your education from a reputable school, whether it's a community college, technical or trade school. Even though it is not a requirement in many cases to attain a professional certification, the school you select should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). The majority of Georgia schools only require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to be eligible. The quickest way to becoming either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to attain a certificate, which normally takes about a year to complete. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more extensive education, which for almost all schools calls for two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical billing and coding are not abundantly available. Once your education has been completed, although not required in the majority of states, you may want to attain a professional certification. Certification is an excellent means for those new to the field to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but committed to their occupation. Just some 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 coding and billing program, in conjunction with obtaining a professional certification, are the best ways to advance your new profession and succeed in the fast growing healthcare industry.

Medical Biller and Coder Online Classes

If you are interested in convenience and the flexibility of attending classes in your home, then selecting a medical billing and coding online course might be a great alternative. They can be especially attractive to those living in Dunwoody GA who plan on going to school while continuing to work or have other obligations that make attending classes on campus difficult. And as an added benefit, online schools are frequently cheaper than the conventional classroom alternatives. Expenses for such things as tuition, commuting and study materials may be minimized or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online programs are reputable. For that reason it's important to verify that any online school you choose is accredited to ensure a superior education. We will review the benefits of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to confirm that any online instruction you are considering is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, for instance the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to apply yourself to this mode of learning, then attaining your certificate or degree online may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Medical Biller and Coder Training Programs

Now that you have a general idea 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 trade, vocational and technical schools within the Dunwoody GA area, you should have a ready list of questions in order to assess each one. And when you add all of the online programs that offer medical billing and coding classes, the project can become rather formidable. As we have already discussed, location and cost are going to be important factors, particularly if you have a limited budget and will be driving to classes from your Dunwoody home. And verifying that the school and program are accredited must be part of your vetting procedure as well. So let's take a look at some of the other questions that you should ask the colleges you are considering so that you can evaluate each one and make the best choice.

Is the Training Accredited? It's essential that the program and college you select are accredited by a respected accrediting organization, for example the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online school, it might also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Not only will accreditation help confirm that the education you receive will be of superior quality, it might help with your future employment also. Many Dunwoody GA healthcare organizations will only employ entry level prospects that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing educational program. And financial aid and student loans are often only obtainable for programs that have received an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Before picking a medical billing and coding school, find out what its reputation and ranking are compared to other programs. This is particularly important if you have no experience in the field, since potential employers will mostly be relying on the quality of your education. As we have addressed, confirming that the program is accredited is a first step. Checking with school rating organizations, for example U.S. News and World Report, can validate the quality of the school also. Another option is to call a few Dunwoody GA healthcare organizations that you may be interested in working for and find out which schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even if the school itself does not have an exceptional reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be highly regarded.

Is there an Employment Placement Program? Obtaining employment in Dunwoody GA after graduating in your new field may be challenging without the support of a job assistance program. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have job placement programs and what their job placement rates are. A high and rapid placement rate is a good indication that the coding and billing college has a substantial network of healthcare employers where they can place their graduates. It also indicates that the college's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

Where is the School's Location? If you are intending on driving to class from your Dunwoody GA home, then the location of the campus will be of prime importance. Of course 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, many require a higher tuition for pupils that live outside of their districts. So you might prefer to first consider those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Complete Expense? Medical billing and coding training courses can vary in cost depending on the type of credential acquired and the amount of training furnished. Just keep in mind, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Expenditures also consist of such things as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial assistance may be available to help reduce some of the cost, so don't forget to get in touch with the school's financial assistance department to find out what is offered in Dunwoody GA. Naturally if you decide to attend an online college, a portion of these added costs, such as for commuting may be lessened or even eliminated.

Are Classes Offered that Match your Schedule? A number of students keep working while attending college and need a flexible class schedule. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Dunwoody GA, confirm that they are available at those times. If you can only attend on a part time basis, verify that the college you pick provides that alternative. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up classes missed because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Get Info on How to Select a Billing and Coding Class

Select the Best Dunwoody GA Medical Billing and Coding Program 

Selecting the ideal medical billing and coding certificate or degree program is a crucial first step to help ensure your success in this rewarding field of medical care. Medical billing and medical coding are two of the fastest growing jobs in the medical industry. As a result, there are many vocational schools, junior colleges and companies that offer education and training in medical billing and coding. As we have covered, you can choose to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also important that the college you pick has an accredited program with an exceptional reputation within the healthcare field. But however you elect to receive your education, by following the previous guidelines and asking the right questions, you will be better prepared to analyze your options and pick the right medical billing and coding college. And with the proper education, you can achieve your career goal to become a medical coding and billing specialist in Dunwoody Georgia.