How to Select the Best Medical Billing and Coding Course near Dunwoody Georgia

Now that you have decided to enter the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Dunwoody GA, it's essential that you select the appropriate program to ensure that you receive the proper education to guarantee your success. As you no doubt know, healthcare is among the fastest growing sectors in the USA, and increasingly more options are available both on campus and online to get the training that you need. But just where does one start? Many aspiring students start by looking for colleges that are within driving distance of their homes and then comparing tuition. Or they might search the internet looking for online schools and choose the cheapest one. But while cost and location are relevant factors when making your choice, they should not be the sole ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifications as reputation and accreditation need to be considered as well. We will go over a checklist of topics that you should ask the medical billing and coding schools you are researching in order to find out what you must know before making your selection. But first, let's take a look at what medical coders and billers do and the academic and certification options available.

Medical Coding and Billing Online Instruction and Certification

It's important that you receive your instruction from a reputable school, whether it's a technical school, vocational school or community college. While it is not required 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 simply require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to be eligible. The most expedient way to become either a medical coder or biller (or both) is to obtain a certificate, which generally takes about a year to accomplish. An Associate Degree is also an option for a more comprehensive education, which for almost all colleges calls for 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical billing and coding are not abundantly available. When your education has been completed, although not required in the majority of states, you may want to earn a professional certification. Certification is an excellent means for those new to the field to show potential employers that they are not only qualified but dedicated to their career. 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 billing and coding course, combined with earning a professional certification, are the best ways to accelerate your new profession and succeed in the fast growing healthcare industry.

Medical Coding Job Summary

Medical coders are on the front line of the billing systems for Dunwoody GA private practices and hospitals. They have the responsibility to analyze the medical records of patients and convert all services provided into universal codes. These services can be for medical, diagnosis or dental procedures, or any equipment or medical supplies used. 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 including physician and nursing notes, patient charts, and lab and radiology reports. Medical Coders must not only know what services were provided in total for accurate reporting, but must have a working knowledge of all government and private payer rules that influence coding also. Improperly coded claims may lead to services not being covered, services being paid at a decreased rate, or the provider being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can literally cost Dunwoody GA doctors and hospitals many thousands of dollars in revenue each year, a reliable medical coder is a vital asset for any healthcare organization. They can operate in every type of healthcare facility, including family practices, hospitals, clinics and urgent care centers. It is not uncommon for professional medical coders to operate at home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Billing Job Duties

As important as the medical coder's job is, it would be for naught 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. In many cases the coder and biller are the same individual within a healthcare facility, but they can also be two individual professionals. Once the coder has carried out her or his duty, the biller utilizes the codes provided to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid. After being paid by the appropriate entity, patients can then be invoiced for deductibles or other out of pocket expenses. On a regular basis, a medical biller might also do any of the following:

• Confirm medical insurance benefits for patients and assist them with billing questions or concerns
• Check on patient claims submitted and appeal those that have been declined
• Act as an intermediary between the medical provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for proper claim settlement
• Create and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and deal with unpaid patient collections accounts

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

Medical Biller and Coder Online Classes

If you are looking for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes in your home, then enrolling in an online medical billing and coding college may be a great option. They can be especially attractive to individuals living in Dunwoody GA who anticipate attending school while still working or have other commitments that make going to classes on campus difficult. And as an added benefit, online programs are often less expensive than the standard classroom alternatives. Expenses for such items as tuition, study materials and commuting may be reduced or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online courses are reputable. That's why it's essential to verify that the online school you choose is accredited to ensure a quality education. We will cover the benefits of accreditation in the next segment. Just be sure to establish that any online training you are considering is accredited by one of the national accrediting organizations, for instance the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to apply yourself to this mode of learning, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the right choice for you.

Points to Ask Medical Billing and Coding Colleges

Now that you have a better idea just what a medical biller and coder does, as well as what training options are available, you need to begin the process of evaluating colleges. But since there many training options offered at community colleges and trade, vocational and technical schools within the Dunwoody GA area, you need to have a prepared 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 task can become rather daunting. As we have already addressed, cost and location are going to be relevant factors, particularly if you have a limited budget and will be commuting to classes from your Dunwoody home. And confirming that the program and school are accredited must be part of your vetting procedure also. So let's take a look at several of the other questions that you should ask the colleges you are considering so that you can analyze each one and make the ideal choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's important that the program and college you choose are accredited by a respected accrediting organization, for instance the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online school, it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Not only will accreditation help ensure that the education you receive will be of superior quality, it could help with your future employment as well. A number of Dunwoody GA healthcare facilities will only employ entry level prospects that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding educational course. And financial assistance and student loans are frequently only obtainable for schools that have received an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Prior to selecting a medical billing and coding program, find out what its reputation and ranking are among other programs. This is especially important if you have no experience in the field, since potential employers will primarily be relying on the quality of your training. As we have discussed, making sure 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 as well. An alternative is to contact several Dunwoody GA healthcare organizations that you may be interested in working for and find out which programs they suggest. Keep in mind that even if the school itself does not have an exceptional reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be well regarded.

Is there an Employment Referral Program? Obtaining a job in Dunwoody GA after graduation in your new field might be challenging without the help of a job assistance program. Check 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 billing and coding school has a considerable network of medical care employers where they can refer their graduates. It also suggests that the school's graduates are sought after in the marketplace.

Where is the School Located? If you are intending on driving to class from your Dunwoody GA home, then the location of the campus will be of significant importance. Of course if you select an medical billing and coding online program, then the location of the college will not be a consideration. One thing to bear in mind is that if you go to classes at a junior or community college, many require a higher tuition for pupils that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to first look at those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Complete Expense? Medical billing and coding certification courses can fluctuate in cost depending on the type of credential acquired and the length of training furnished. Just keep in mind, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Expenditures also include such things as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial aid might be obtainable to help offset some of the cost, so don't forget to get in touch with the college's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Dunwoody GA. Naturally 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 Accessible that Fit your Schedule? A number of students keep working while attending college and require a convenient class schedule. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Dunwoody GA, verify that they are available at those times. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, check that the school you decide on provides that option. Also, ask what the process is for making up classes missed because of illness, work or family responsibilities.

Learn How to Enroll in a Medical Billing Class

Choose the Best Dunwoody GA Medical Billing and Coding School 

Choosing the right medical coding and billing certificate or degree course is a critical first step to help assure your success in this rewarding field of medical care. Medical billing and medical coding are 2 of the fastest expanding professions in the health industry. As a result, there are a lot of vocational schools, junior colleges and other institutions that offer training and education in medical billing and coding. As we have reviewed, you can decide to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also imperative that the school you select offers an accredited program with an exceptional reputation within the medical care community. But however you choose to receive your education, by following the previous guidelines and posing the right questions, you will be better prepared to evaluate your options and choose the ideal medical billing and coding school. And with the proper training, you can accomplish your career goal to become a medical coding and billing specialist in Dunwoody Georgia.