How to Find the Right Medical Billing College near Kennesaw Georgia

Now that you have decided to become part of the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Kennesaw GA, it's important that you find the right program to ensure that you receive the proper education to guarantee your success. As you may already know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing fields in the USA, and increasingly more options are offered both on campus and online to receive the training that you need. But just where does one begin? A number of aspiring students begin by looking for schools that are within travelling distance of their homes and then comparing tuition. Or they may search the internet looking for online courses and choose the least expensive one. But while cost and location are significant issues when making your selection, they should not be the sole ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifications as reputation and accreditation must be taken into consideration as well. We will go over a list of questions that you should ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are evaluating in order to find out what you must know prior to making your decision. But first, let's take a look at what medical billers and coders do and the training and certification options offered.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Education and Certification

It's essential that you obtain your instruction from a reputable school, whether it's a community college, technical or trade school. Although it is not required in most cases to obtain a professional certification, the school you enroll in should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). The majority of Georgia colleges simply require that you earn either a high school diploma or a GED to be eligible. The quickest way to becoming either a medical coder or biller (or both) is to obtain a certificate, which normally takes about 1 year to complete. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more extensive education, which for almost all programs calls for two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical billing and coding are not widely offered. When your education has been concluded, although not required in most states, you might want to earn a professional certification. Certification is an excellent way for those new to the profession to show potential employers that they are not only qualified but dedicated to their career. A few 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).

Completing an accredited medical coding and billing program, along with attaining a professional certification, are the most effective ways to advance your new profession and succeed in the rapid growing medical care industry.

Medical Coder Job Summary

Medical coders are on the forefront of the billing systems for Kennesaw GA medical practices and hospitals. They have the responsibility to examine the medical records of patients and assign universal codes to all services provided. These services can be for medical, diagnosis or dental procedures, or any equipment or medical supplies utilized. There are multiple 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 rely on information from sources such as physician and nursing 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 working knowledge of all government and private payer rules that affect coding as well. Improperly coded claims can lead to services not being paid for, services being paid at a decreased rate, or the provider being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can in fact cost Kennesaw GA doctors and hospitals multiple thousands of dollars in income each year, a reliable medical coder is a necessary asset to the healthcare team. They can work in every type of healthcare facility, including family practices, hospitals, clinics and urgent care centers. It is not unusual for seasoned medical coders to work at home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Biller Job Functions

As essential as the medical coder's role 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 Kennesaw GA healthcare organizations and are literally responsible for keeping their doors open. In many cases the biller and coder can be the same individual within a healthcare facility, but they can also be two independent specialists. After the coder has performed his or her job, the biller uses the codes provided to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid. After being adjusted by the applicable entity, patients can then be charged for deductibles and additional out of pocket expenses. On a routine basis, a medical biller can 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 denied
• Work as a mediator between the healthcare provider, the insurance companies and the patients for correct claim resolution
• Produce and oversee Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billing clerks not only are employed by family practices, but also Kennesaw GA emergency care facilities, hospitals, medical groups or nursing homes. They may practice in any kind of healthcare facility that relies on the incomes generated by billing third party payers and patients.

Medical Biller and Coder Online Colleges

If you are looking for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes in your home, then enrolling in an online medical billing and coding school may be a good alternative. They can be particularly appealing to individuals living in Kennesaw GA who anticipate going to school while still working or have additional responsibilities that make attending classes on campus difficult. And as an additional advantage, online programs are often cheaper than the traditional classroom alternatives. Expenses for such things as tuition, commuting and study materials may be decreased or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online colleges are reputable. That's why it's essential to confirm that any online school you choose is accredited to ensure a superior education. We will address the benefits of accreditation in the next segment. Just be sure to verify that any online classes you are researching is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, such as the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to commit yourself to this mode of learning, then acquiring your certificate or degree online might be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Medical Coder and Biller Programs

Once you have a general idea just what a medical coder and biller does, along with what training options are offered, you need to start the process of researching colleges. But since there are numerous training options offered at community colleges as well as trade, vocational and technical schools within the Kennesaw 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 schools that offer medical coding and billing classes, the task can become somewhat formidable. As we have already discussed, location and cost are going to be significant factors, particularly if you have a modest budget and will be driving to classes from your Kennesaw home. And confirming that the school and program are accredited must be part of your vetting process as well. So let's take a look at a few of the additional questions that you should ask the schools you are looking at so that you can compare each one and make the best choice.

Is the School Accredited? It's crucial that the school and program you choose are accredited by a highly regarded accrediting agency, for example the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online school, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online education. Not only will accreditation help ensure that the education you receive will be of the highest quality, it could help secure future employment also. Many Kennesaw GA healthcare facilities will only employ entry level candidates that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing educational course. And financial assistance and student loans are in many cases only offered for colleges that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Prior to choosing a medical coding and billing college, check out what its reputation and ranking are among other schools. This is especially important if you have no experience in the profession, since potential employers will mainly be relying on the quality of your training. As we have covered, confirming that the school is accredited is a first step. Checking with school rating organizations, for instance U.S. News and World Report, can confirm the quality of the school also. Another option is to check with a few Kennesaw GA healthcare organizations that you might be interested in working for and find out which programs they recommend. Remember that even if the college itself does not have an outstanding reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be well regarded.

Is there a Job Referral Program? Finding a job in Kennesaw GA after graduation in your new field may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. Ask if the schools you are looking at have job assistance programs and what their job placement rates are. A high and rapid placement rate is an excellent indication that the billing and coding school has a significant network of healthcare employers where they can place their graduates. It also indicates 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 Kennesaw GA residence, then the location of the campus will be of prime importance. Obviously if you select an online medical billing and coding program, then the location of the school will not be important. One thing to remember 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 look at those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Overall Cost? Medical billing and coding training programs can vary in cost based on the type of credential obtained and the amount of training furnished. But remember, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Expenditures also include such items as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial assistance may be obtainable to help reduce a portion of the cost, so be sure to check with the college's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Kennesaw GA. Naturally if you decide to attend an online school, a portion of these additional costs, such as for commuting may be lessened or even eliminated.

Are Classes Available that Fit your Schedule? Many students keep working while attending college and need a convenient class schedule. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Kennesaw GA, make sure that they are offered at those times. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify that the college you decide on provides that alternative. Also, find out what the process is for making up classes missed because of sickness, work or family responsibilities.

Learn How to Choose a Medical Billing Class

Select the Best Kennesaw GA Medical Billing and Coding School 

Selecting the right medical coding and billing certificate or degree course is a very important initial step to help assure your success in this rewarding field of medical care. Medical coding and medical billing are 2 of the fastest growing jobs in the health sector. As a result, there are numerous trade schools, community colleges and companies that provide education and training in medical billing and coding. As we have discussed, you can decide to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also imperative that the college you pick offers an accredited program with an excellent reputation within the medical care community. But however you decide to receive your education, by adhering to the previous guidelines and asking the appropriate questions, you will be better prepared to evaluate your options and select the ideal medical billing and coding school. And with the appropriate training, you can achieve your career objective to become a medical coding and billing specialist in Kennesaw Georgia.