How to Find the Right Medical Coding Program near Statesboro Georgia

Once you have decided to enter the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Statesboro GA, it's important that you choose the right school so that you receive the proper education to ensure your success. As you may already know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing fields in the United States, and a growing number of options are offered both online and on campus to obtain the training that you need. But just where do you begin? Many potential students start by searching for schools that are within driving distance of their homes and then comparing cost. Or they may search the internet looking for online classes and pick the least expensive one. But while cost and location are relevant issues when making your selection, they should not be the only ones when comparing medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as accreditation and reputation need to be taken into consideration as well. We will go over a checklist of topics that you should ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are researching in order to find out what you need to know before 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 Coding Job Summary

Medical coders work on the front line of the billing systems for Statesboro 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 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 radiology and lab reports. 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 influence coding as well. Incorrectly coded claims can lead to services not being paid for, services being paid at a lower rate, or the provider being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can actually cost Statesboro GA physicians and medical facilities multiple thousands of dollars in revenue each year, a good medical coder is an important asset to the healthcare organization. They can work in every kind of healthcare facility, including private practices, hospitals, clinics and emergency care centers. It is not unusual for professional medical coders to work at home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Biller Job Description

As vital as the medical coder's job 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 Statesboro GA healthcare organizations and are essentially responsible for keeping them in business. Sometimes the biller and coder can be the same man or woman within a healthcare facility, but they can also be 2 separate specialists. When the coder has performed his or her duty, the biller uses the codes furnished to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicare or Medicaid. After being paid by the appropriate entity, patients can then be billed for deductibles and other out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical biller may also do any of the following:

• Verify medical insurance benefits for patients and assist them with billing concerns or questions
• Follow up on patient claims submitted and appeal those that have been denied
• Act as a mediator between the healthcare provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for proper claim resolution
• Generate and oversee Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

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

Medical Biller and Coder Online Programs and Certification

It's essential that you receive your training from a reputable school, whether it's a community college, technical or trade school. While it is not required in most cases to attain a professional certification, the school you choose should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). The majority of Georgia programs just require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to qualify. The fastest way to become either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to earn a certificate, which typically takes about one year to accomplish. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more expansive education, which for the majority of colleges requires 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical coding and billing are not abundantly offered. When your training has been completed, although not required in most states, you may want to attain a professional certification. Certification is a great method for those new to the profession to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but committed to their career. A few of the organizations that make available 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 billing and coding program, in conjunction with attaining a professional certification, are the best ways to accelerate your new profession and succeed in the rapid growing healthcare field.

Online Medical Biller and Coder Programs

If you are looking for flexibility and the convenience of attending classes at home, then selecting an online medical billing and coding course might be a great alternative. They can be particularly appealing to those living in Statesboro GA who plan on attending school while continuing to work or have other obligations that make going to classes on campus challenging. And as an added advantage, online programs are often less expensive than the standard classroom options. Costs for such items as tuition, study materials and commuting may be minimized or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online courses are reputable. For that reason it's essential to establish that any online college you select is accredited to ensure a premium education. We will review the advantages of accreditation in the next segment. Just make sure to confirm that any online college you are looking at is accredited by one of the national accrediting organizations, for example the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to commit yourself to this mode of learning, then attaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Medical Coding and Billing Programs

Once you have a better idea what a medical biller and coder does, along with what education options are available, you need to begin the process of researching schools. But since there many training options offered at community colleges as well as technical, trade and vocational schools within the Statesboro GA area, you need to have a ready list of questions to evaluate each one. And when you add all of the online programs that offer medical billing and coding classes, the task can become somewhat formidable. As we have already covered, cost and location are going to be significant factors, particularly if you have a modest budget and will be commuting to classes from your Statesboro home. And confirming that the school and program are accredited must be part of your vetting process as well. So let's review some of the additional questions that you should ask the schools you are considering so that you can evaluate each one and make the ideal choice.

Is the School Accredited? It's essential that the program and school you decide on are accredited by a respected accrediting agency, for instance the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online college, it can also obtain 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 get will be of the highest quality, it might help with your future employment also. Many Statesboro GA healthcare facilities will only hire entry level applicants that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing training program. And financial aid and student loans are in many cases only obtainable for programs that have received an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Prior to enrolling in a medical billing and coding program, check out what its reputation and ranking are among other programs. This is particularly relevant if you have no experience in the profession, since potential employers will mainly be relying on the quality of your training. As we have addressed, making sure that the school is accredited is a first step. Checking with college rating organizations, such as U.S. News and World Report, can verify the quality of the school as well. Another option is to call some Statesboro GA medical organizations that you may have an interest in working for and find out which schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even if the college itself does not have an outstanding reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be well regarded.

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

Where is the School Located? If you are anticipating commuting to class from your Statesboro GA home, then the location of the college 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 a consideration. One thing to keep in mind is that if you attend classes at a community or junior college, most require a higher tuition for pupils that live outside of their districts. So you might want to first research those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Complete Expense? Medical coding and billing training courses can differ in cost depending 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 things as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial aid might be accessible to help reduce a portion of the cost, so be sure to get in touch with the college's financial assistance department to find out what is available in Statesboro GA. Of course if you decide to enroll in an online college, a portion of these added costs, particularly for commuting may be reduced or even eliminated.

Are Classes Offered that Accommodate your Schedule? A number of students continue working while going to school and require a flexible class schedule. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Statesboro GA, make sure that they are available at those times. If you can only enroll on a part time schedule, verify that the school you decide on provides that alternative. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up classes missed due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn How to Enroll in a Medical Billing Class

Choose the Best Statesboro GA Medical Billing and Coding School 

Choosing the right medical coding and billing certificate or degree course is a crucial initial step to help ensure your success in this exciting sector of healthcare. Medical coding and medical billing are 2 of the most rapidly expanding occupations in the medical sector. As a result, there are a lot of vocational schools, junior colleges and companies that provide training and instruction in medical billing and coding. As we have covered, you can elect to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also important that the school you choose has an accredited program with an outstanding reputation within the healthcare community. But however you decide to receive your training, by following the previous guidelines and asking the appropriate questions, you will be better qualified to evaluate your options and pick the ideal medical billing and coding college. And with the appropriate training, you can realize your career objective to become a medical billing and coding specialist in Statesboro Georgia.