How to Choose the Best Medical Billing and Coding Training Program near Lafayette Indiana

Now that you have made a decision to enter the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Lafayette IN, it's crucial that you select the appropriate school so that you receive the necessary education to guarantee your success. As you probably know, healthcare is among the fastest growing sectors in the USA, and a growing number of options are offered both on campus and online to get the training that you need. But just where do you begin? Many potential students begin by searching for schools that are within driving distance of their homes and then comparing tuition. Or they might surf the internet looking for online courses and go with the least expensive one. But while location and cost are relevant factors when making your determination, they should not be the only ones when comparing medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as reputation and accreditation should be taken into account also. We will cover a checklist of questions that you should ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are evaluating in order to find out what you need to know prior to 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 Billing and Coding Online Programs and Certification

It's essential that you get your training from a reputable school, whether it's a trade school, vocational school or community college. Even though it is not required in many cases to attain a professional certification, the program you select should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). The majority of Indiana colleges just 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 earn a certificate, which normally takes about 1 year to finish. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more comprehensive education, which for most programs requires two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical coding and billing are not widely available. When your education has been completed, although not mandated in most states, you might desire to earn a professional certification. Certification is an effective method for those new to the field to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but dedicated to their occupation. A few 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).

Completing an accredited medical coding and billing program, combined with attaining a professional certification, are the best ways to advance your new profession and succeed in the fast growing healthcare field.

Medical Coding Job Functions

Medical coders are on the front line of the billing systems for Lafayette IN private practices and hospitals. Coders have the responsibility to examine 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 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 depend on information from sources such as physician and nursing notes, patient charts, and lab and radiology reports. Coders must know not only what total services were provided for accuracy, but must have a working knowledge of all private payer and government rules that influence coding also. Incorrectly coded claims can lead to services not being covered, services being paid for at a decreased rate, or the provider being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can literally cost Lafayette IN doctors and hospitals multiple thousands of dollars in earnings annually, a reliable medical coder is a necessary asset for any healthcare team. They can operate in any type of healthcare facility, including family practices, hospitals, clinics and critical care centers. It is not unusual for seasoned medical coders to work at home as an offsite employee or an independent contractor.

Medical Billing Job Functions

As essential as the medical coder's job is, it would be for nothing without the contribution of the medical biller whose efforts generate revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Lafayette IN healthcare facilities and are essentially responsible for keeping their doors open. Sometimes the biller and coder can be the same individual within a healthcare organization, but they can also be 2 separate professionals. After the coder has performed his or her duty, the biller utilizes the codes provided to complete and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid. After being paid by the appropriate organization, patients can then be billed for deductibles or other out of pocket expenses. On a regular basis, a medical billing professional can also do any of the following:

• Confirm medical insurance coverages for patients and help them with billing questions or concerns
• Check on patient claims submitted and appeal any that have been declined
• Function as an intermediate between the healthcare provider, the insurance companies and the patients for proper claim settlement
• Generate and oversee Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billing clerks not only work for private practices, but also Lafayette IN emergency care facilities, hospitals, medical groups or nursing homes. They can work in any type of medical facility that relies on the incomes generated by billing third party payers and patients.

Online Medical Billing and Coding Schools

If you are interested in flexibility and the convenience of attending classes from home, then choosing an online medical billing and coding school may be a good option. They can be particularly attractive to students living in Lafayette IN who plan on going to school while still working or have additional responsibilities that make going to classes on campus difficult. And as an added benefit, online schools are in many cases cheaper than the traditional classroom options. Expenses for such items as tuition, commuting and study materials may be decreased or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online courses are reputable. For that reason it's important to establish that the online college you select is accredited to ensure a quality education. We will review the benefits of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to establish that any online classes you are researching is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, for example 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 might be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Medical Coder and Biller Colleges

Once you have a better idea just what a medical biller and coder does, along with what education options are offered, you must begin the process of evaluating schools. But since there a large number of training options offered at community colleges as well as technical, trade and vocational schools within the Lafayette IN area, you must have a prepared list of questions in order to evaluate each one. And when you add all of the online schools that offer medical billing and coding classes, the task can become somewhat daunting. As we have already covered, cost and location are going to be important factors, particularly if you have a limited budget and will be driving to classes from your Lafayette home. And verifying that the school and program are accredited must be part of your vetting process also. So let's take a look at a few of the additional questions that you should ask the colleges you are reviewing so that you can analyze each one and make the right choice.

Is the School Accredited? It's important that the school and program you decide on are accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online program, it can also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online education. Not only will accreditation help confirm that the education you receive will be of superior quality, it may help secure future employment also. Many Lafayette IN medical facilities will only employ entry level candidates that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing training program. And financial aid and student loans are often only offered for schools that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Before enrolling in a medical coding and billing program, check out what its reputation and ranking are compared to other programs. This is particularly imperative if you have no experience in the profession, since potential employers will mainly be relying on the quality of your education. As we have covered, confirming that the college is accredited is a first step. Checking with school rating organizations, for instance U.S. News and World Report, can validate the quality of the school also. An alternative is to get in touch with a few Lafayette IN healthcare organizations that you might be interested in working for and ask which schools they recommend. Remember that even if the school itself does not have an outstanding reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be highly regarded.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Obtaining employment in Lafayette IN after graduating in your new profession can be difficult without the support of a job placement program. Check if the colleges you are looking at 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 refer their graduates. It also implies that the school's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

Where is the College's Location? If you are anticipating driving to class from your Lafayette IN residence, then the location of the school will be of prime importance. Obviously if you select an online medical billing and coding program, then the location of the college will not be a consideration. One thing to remember is that if you go to classes at a community or junior college, many charge 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 Overall Cost? Medical billing and coding training courses can fluctuate in cost based on the type of credential earned and the length of training provided. But remember, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Expenditures also consist of such things as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial assistance may be accessible to help reduce a portion of the cost, so be sure to check with the school's financial assistance department to see what is offered in Lafayette IN. Naturally if you decide to attend an online school, some of these added costs, particularly for commuting may be reduced or even eliminated.

Are Classes Available that Accommodate your Schedule? Many students keep working while attending college and require a flexible class schedule. If you can only go to classes during the evenings or on weekends near Lafayette IN, verify that they are available at those times. If you can only attend on a part time schedule, verify that the college you choose provides that option. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up classes missed due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Find Out More on How to Choose a Billing and Coding Class

Select the Right Lafayette IN Medical Billing and Coding Training 

Picking the right medical billing and coding degree or certificate program is a very important initial step to help ensure your success in this rewarding sector of healthcare. Medical coding and medical billing are 2 of the most rapidly expanding professions in the medical industry. As a result, there are numerous vocational schools, community colleges and other institutions that offer education and training in medical billing and coding. As we have reviewed, you can choose 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 medical care community. But however you decide to receive your education, by adhering to the previous guidelines and asking the right questions, you will be better able to assess your options and pick the right medical billing and coding school. And with the proper training, you can achieve your career objective to become a medical billing and coding clerk in Lafayette Indiana.