How to Select the Best Medical Biller and Coder Program near Portland Maine

Now that you have decided to enter the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Portland ME, it's crucial that you choose the right program so that you receive the necessary education to guarantee your success. As you may already know, healthcare is among the fastest growing fields in the United States, and more and more options are offered both on campus and online to get the training that you need. But just where do you begin? A number of aspiring students start by searching for schools that are within commuting distance of their residences and then comparing tuition. Or they might surf the internet looking for online classes and select the cheapest one. But while location and cost are important issues when making your choice, they should not be the sole ones when researching medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as accreditation and reputation should be considered also. We will cover a checklist of topics that you need to ask the medical billing and coding courses you are assessing 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 training and certification options available.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Instruction and Certification

It's imperative that you receive your training from a reputable school, whether it's a community college, technical or trade school. While it is not a requirement in many cases to earn a professional certification, the program you select should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). Most Maine programs only require that you earn either a high school diploma or a GED to qualify. The quickest way to become either a medical coder or biller (or both) is to earn a certificate, which usually takes about one year to finish. An Associate Degree is also an option for a more expansive education, which for most schools calls for two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical billing and coding are not widely offered. When your training has been completed, although not mandated in most states, you may wish to attain a professional certification. Certification is a great method for those new to the profession to show potential employers that they are not only qualified but dedicated to their occupation. 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).

Completing an accredited medical billing and coding course, in conjunction with earning a professional certification, are the best ways to advance your new career and succeed in the fast growing healthcare field.

Medical Coding Job Duties

Medical coders are on the forefront of the billing systems for Portland ME medical practices and healthcare organizations. Coders have the responsibility to review the medical records of patients and convert all services provided into universal codes. These services may be for medical, diagnosis or dental procedures, or any medical supplies or equipment 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 rely on information from sources including nursing and physician notes, patient charts, and radiology and lab reports. Coders must not only know what services were provided in total for accuracy, but must have a functioning knowledge of all government and private payer regulations that impact coding also. Incorrectly coded claims can lead to 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 literally cost Portland ME hospitals and doctors many thousands of dollars in income each year, a good medical coder is a necessary asset to the healthcare team. They can work in any type of healthcare facility, including family practices, clinics, hospitals and emergency care centers. It is not unusual for professional medical coders to working from home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Billing Job Duties

As essential as the medical coder's job is, it would be for nothing without the collaboration of the medical biller whose labors bring in revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Portland ME medical organizations and are practically responsible for keeping them in business. Sometimes the coder and biller may be the same man or woman within a medical facility, but they can also be 2 separate specialists. When the coder has performed his or her task, the biller uses the codes provided to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid. After they have been adjusted by the appropriate entity, patients can then be invoiced for deductibles or additional out of pocket expenses. On a routine basis, a medical billing clerk might also do any of the following:

• Check health insurance benefits for patients and assist them with billing questions or concerns
• Follow up on submitted patient claims and appeal any that have been declined
• Work as an intermediary between the healthcare provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for correct claim settlement
• Produce and oversee Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billers not only work for private practices, but also Portland ME hospitals, urgent care facilities, nursing homes or medical groups. They may work in every type of healthcare facility that relies on the revenues generated from billing patients and third party payers.

Online Medical Biller and Coder Schools

If you are looking for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes from home, then selecting a medical billing and coding online school might be an excellent alternative. They can be particularly appealing to individuals living in Portland ME who plan on going to school while continuing to work or have additional obligations that make attending classes on campus difficult. And as an added advantage, online programs are often less expensive than the conventional classroom alternatives. Expenses for such things as tuition, commuting and study materials may be minimized or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online colleges are reputable. For that reason it's imperative to establish that the online school you choose is accredited to ensure a superior education. We will review the benefits of accreditation in the next section. Just make sure to verify that any online instruction you are researching is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, for example 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 may be the ideal choice for you.

Points to Ask Medical Coder and Biller Colleges

Now that you have a general idea just what a medical biller and coder does, along with what education options are offered, you must start the process of evaluating colleges. But since there many training options available at community colleges as well as technical, trade and vocational schools within the Portland ME area, you should have a ready list of questions in order to analyze each one. And when you add all of the online colleges that offer medical billing and coding classes, the task can become somewhat formidable. As we have already discussed, location and cost are going to be relevant factors, especially if you have a modest budget and will be commuting to classes from your Portland residence. And confirming that the school and program are accredited must be part of your vetting procedure as well. So let's review a few of the additional questions that you should ask the colleges you are looking at so that you can analyze each one and make the best choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's vital 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 program, it may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Not only will accreditation help ensure that the training you receive will be of the highest quality, it could help with your future employment also. Many Portland ME healthcare facilities will only hire entry level applicants that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding training course. And financial assistance and student loans are often only offered for schools 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 ranking and reputation are compared to other schools. This is especially important if you have no experience in the profession, since potential employers will mostly be relying on the quality of your training. As we have discussed, making sure that the college is accredited is an initial step. Checking with college rating organizations, for example U.S. News and World Report, can verify the quality of the school also. An alternative is to get in touch with some Portland ME medical organizations that you may be interested in working for and ask which programs they recommend. Keep in mind that even if the college itself does not have an excellent reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be highly regarded.

Is there an Employment Placement Program? Finding employment in Portland ME after graduation in your new profession might be difficult without the support of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their job placement rates are. A rapid and high placement rate is an excellent indication that the coding and billing college has a sizable network of healthcare employers where they can refer their graduates. It also implies that the school's graduates are sought after in the marketplace.

Where is the College Located? If you are anticipating driving to class from your Portland ME residence, then the location of the campus will be of prime importance. Of course 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 junior or community college, many charge a higher tuition for enrollees that live outside of their districts. So you may want to first consider those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Total Cost? Medical coding and billing training programs can fluctuate in cost depending on the type of credential earned and the amount of training provided. Just keep in mind, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Expenses also consist of such items as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial aid might be obtainable to help offset a portion of the expense, so make sure to check with the college's financial assistance department to find out what is available in Portland ME. Of course if you decide to attend an online college, some of these added costs, such as for commuting may be lessened or even eliminated.

Are Classes Offered that Accommodate your Schedule? A number of students continue working while attending school and require a flexible class schedule. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Portland ME, confirm that they are available at those times. If you can only enroll on a part time schedule, make sure that the college you select provides that option. Also, ask what the process is for making up classes missed due to sickness, work or family responsibilities.

Learn How to Enroll in a Billing and Coding School

Choose the Best Portland ME Medical Billing and Coding Program 

Picking the ideal medical billing and coding certificate or degree program is a critical initial step to help assure your success in this rewarding field of healthcare. Medical billing and medical coding are two of the fastest expanding jobs in the health industry. Because of this, there are many trade schools, community colleges and companies that furnish training and instruction in medical billing and coding. As we have covered, you can decide to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also important that the college you select offers an accredited program with an outstanding reputation within the medical care industry. But however you decide to receive your training, by adhering to the previous guidelines and posing the appropriate questions, you will be better able to assess your options and select the right medical billing and coding program. And with the proper training, you can accomplish your career objective to become a medical coding and billing clerk in Portland Maine.