How to Pick the Best Medical Billing and Coding School near Marietta Georgia

Once you have decided to enter the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Marietta GA, it's crucial that you find the appropriate program to ensure that you receive the necessary education to ensure your success. As you probably know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing industries in the Country, and more and more options are offered both online and on campus to get the training that you need. But just where does one start? Many potential students begin by looking for colleges that are within travelling distance of their homes and then comparing cost. Or they may surf the internet looking for online classes and go with the cheapest one. But while cost and location are important factors when making your selection, they should not be the sole ones when researching medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as accreditation and reputation should be taken into account also. We will cover a list of topics that you need to ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are researching so that you can find out what you need to know before making your selection. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical billers and coders do and the educational and certification options available.

Medical Coding and Billing Online Instruction and Certification

It's imperative that you get your instruction from a reputable school, whether it's a trade school, vocational school or community college. Even though it is not a requirement in most cases to earn a professional certification, the program you enroll in should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). Most Georgia schools simply require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to apply. The fastest way to become either a medical coder or biller (or both) is to attain a certificate, which normally takes about a year to finish. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more comprehensive education, which for almost all schools calls for 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical coding and billing are not widely offered. When your education has been concluded, although not mandated in most states, you might desire to acquire a professional certification. Certification is a great way for those new to the field to show potential 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 course, in conjunction with attaining a professional certification, are the most effective ways to accelerate your new profession and succeed in the rapid growing medical care industry.

Medical Coding Job Description

Medical coders work on the front line of the billing systems for Marietta GA private practices and hospitals. Coders have the responsibility to analyze the treatment records of patients and convert all services provided into universal codes. These services can be for medical, diagnosis or dental procedures, or any medical supplies or equipment 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 nursing and physician notes, patient charts, and radiology and lab 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 impact coding also. Inaccurately coded claims can result in services not being covered, services being paid for at a lower rate, or the provider being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can actually cost Marietta GA physicians and medical facilities multiple thousands of dollars in revenue annually, a good 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 critical care centers. It is not unusual for experienced medical coders to operate at home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Biller Job Description

As essential as the medical coder's role is, it would be for nothing without the contribution of the medical biller whose labors bring in revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Marietta GA healthcare organizations and are essentially responsible for keeping their doors open. In many cases the biller and coder are the same man or woman within a medical facility, but they can also be two individual specialists. Once the coder has completed her or his task, the biller uses the codes supplied to complete and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicaid or Medicare. After being paid by the applicable entity, patients can then be invoiced for deductibles or additional out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical billing clerk might also do any of the following:

• Check medical insurance benefits for patients and assist them with billing concerns or questions
• Follow up on patient claims submitted and appeal any that have been declined
• Act as an intermediate between the medical provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for correct claim resolution
• Generate and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

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

Medical Billing and Coding Online Programs

If you are interested in convenience and the flexibility of attending classes in your home, then enrolling in an online medical billing and coding college might be a good option. They can be particularly appealing to those living in Marietta GA who anticipate going to school while continuing to work or have additional obligations that make attending classes on campus challenging. And as an additional advantage, online colleges are frequently cheaper than the standard classroom options. Expenses for such items as tuition, study materials and commuting may be minimized or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online colleges are reputable. For that reason it's important to establish that the online school you choose is accredited to ensure a premium education. We will review the benefits of accreditation in the next section. Just make sure to verify that any online college you are researching is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, 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.

Things to Ask Medical Coding and Billing Training Programs

Now that you have a general idea just what a medical biller and coder does, along with what training options are available, you must begin the process of comparing schools. But since there are numerous training options available at community colleges and technical, trade and vocational schools within the Marietta GA area, you should have a ready 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 somewhat formidable. As we have already discussed, cost and location are going to be relevant factors, particularly if you have a limited budget and will be commuting to classes from your Marietta home. And confirming that the school and program are accredited should be part of your vetting procedure as well. So let's review some of the additional questions that you should ask the colleges you are reviewing so that you can compare each one and make the right choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's vital that the program and college you decide on are accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online program, it might also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. Not only will accreditation help ensure that the training you receive will be of superior quality, it might help secure future employment also. Many Marietta GA healthcare organizations will only hire entry level applicants that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding training course. And financial assistance and student loans are frequently only available for colleges that have earned an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Prior to choosing a medical coding and billing school, find out what its ranking and reputation are among other schools. This is especially important if you have no experience in the industry, since potential employers will mainly be evaluating you based on the quality of your education. As we have discussed, making sure that the school is accredited is an initial step. Checking with college rating organizations, for instance U.S. News and World Report, can validate the quality of the school as well. Another option is to check with several Marietta GA medical organizations that you might be interested in working for and ask which colleges they suggest. Remember that even when the school itself does not have an outstanding reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be highly regarded.

Is there an Employment Placement Program? Finding a job in Marietta GA after graduating in your new profession might be difficult without the support of a job assistance program. Find out if the colleges you are considering have job assistance programs and what their job placement rates are. A rapid and high placement rate is an excellent indication that the billing and coding school has a sizable network of medical care employers where they can place their graduates. It also suggests that the school's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

Where is the College Located? If you are intending on driving to class from your Marietta GA residence, then the location of the campus will be of significant importance. Naturally if you choose an online medical billing and coding program, then the location of the school will not be important. One thing to bear in mind is that if you go to classes at a junior or community college, most require a higher tuition for pupils that live outside of their districts. So you might prefer to first research those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Overall Cost? Medical coding and billing training programs can differ in cost depending on the type of credential acquired and the length of training provided. Just keep in mind, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Expenditures also include such items as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial assistance may be available to help reduce a portion of the cost, so don't forget to check with the college's financial assistance department to find out what is available in Marietta GA. Naturally if you decide to attend an online school, some of these additional costs, particularly for commuting may be lessened or even eliminated.

Are Classes Available that Match your Schedule? Many students keep working while going to college and require a flexible class schedule. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Marietta GA, confirm that they are offered at those times. If you can only enroll on a part time schedule, check that the program you decide on offers that alternative. Also, find out what the process is for making up classes missed due to sickness, work or family responsibilities.

Learn How to Select a Billing and Coding Program

Choose the Right Marietta GA Medical Billing and Coding Program 

Enrolling in the ideal medical billing and coding degree or certificate course is a crucial initial step to help ensure your success in this rewarding sector of healthcare. Medical coding and medical billing are 2 of the fastest growing occupations in the health sector. Because of this, there are numerous trade schools, community colleges and companies that provide training and instruction in medical coding and billing. As we have covered, you can decide to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also imperative that the college you pick has an accredited program with an excellent reputation within the medical care community. But however you choose to receive your education, by following the previous guidelines and asking the right questions, you will be better able to evaluate your options and select the right medical billing and coding college. And with the proper training, you can accomplish your career goal to become a medical coding and billing specialist in Marietta Georgia.