How to Enroll In the Right Medical Biller and Coder Course near Portland Maine

Once you have decided to become part of the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Portland ME, it's crucial that you find the appropriate school to ensure that you receive the necessary education to guarantee your success. As you probably know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing industries in the USA, and increasingly more options are offered both online and on campus to receive the training that you need. But just where do you begin? A number of aspiring students begin by searching for colleges that are within commuting distance of their homes and then comparing cost. Or they may search the internet looking for online courses and go with the cheapest one. But while cost and location are relevant factors when making your determination, they should not be the sole ones when comparing medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifications as accreditation and reputation need to be taken into account as well. We will go over a checklist of topics that you need to ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are researching in order to find out what you must 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 Coder 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 analyze the medical records of patients and assign universal codes to all services provided. These services may be for medical, diagnosis or dental procedures, or any equipment or medical supplies utilized. There are several 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 nursing and physician 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 functioning knowledge of all government and private payer rules that impact coding also. Inaccurately coded claims can lead to services not being paid for, services being paid at a reduced rate, or the provider being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can actually cost Portland ME hospitals and doctors multiple thousands of dollars in revenue annually, a good medical coder is an important asset to the healthcare organization. They can operate in any type of healthcare facility, including family practices, clinics, hospitals and urgent care centers. It is not unusual for seasoned medical coders to operate at home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Biller Job Duties

As crucial as the medical coder's job is, it would be for naught without the collaboration of the medical biller whose labors bring in revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to Portland ME medical organizations and are essentially responsible for keeping their doors open. In many cases the coder and biller may be the same person within a medical facility, but they can also be 2 independent professionals. When the coder has performed her or his task, the biller utilizes the codes furnished to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicare or Medicaid. After they have been paid by the applicable organization, patients can then be billed for deductibles or additional out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical billing clerk might also do any of the following:

• Verify health insurance coverages for patients and assist them with billing concerns or questions
• Follow up on submitted patient claims and appeal any that have been denied
• Act as an intermediate between the healthcare provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for proper claim resolution
• Generate and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and deal with unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billing clerks not only are employed by family practices, but also Portland ME hospitals, urgent care facilities, nursing homes or medical groups. They can work in any kind of medical facility that depends on the revenues generated from billing third party payers and patients.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Education and Certification

It's important that you get your training from a reputable school, whether it's a community college, technical or trade school. Even though it is not a requirement in most cases to obtain a professional certification, the program you choose should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). The majority of Maine schools just require that you earn either a high school diploma or a GED to apply. The quickest way to becoming either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to attain a certificate, which normally takes about one year to complete. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more extensive education, which for the majority of schools calls for 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical coding and billing are not abundantly offered. After your education has been concluded, although not required in the majority of states, you may want to attain a professional certification. Certification is a great way for those new to the field to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but committed to their career. 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, combined with earning a professional certification, are the best ways to accelerate your new career and succeed in the rapid growing healthcare industry.

Medical Biller and Coder Online Colleges

If you are interested in flexibility and the convenience of attending classes in your home, then enrolling in an online medical billing and coding course may be an excellent alternative. They can be particularly appealing to individuals living in Portland ME who plan on attending school while continuing to work or have other obligations that make attending classes on campus challenging. And as an added benefit, online colleges are in many cases less expensive than the standard classroom options. Expenses for such items as tuition, commuting and study materials may be minimized or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online courses are reputable. That's why it's imperative to verify that any online course you select is accredited to guarantee a superior education. We will cover the benefits of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to establish that any online school you are looking at is accredited by one of the national accrediting organizations, such as the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are dedicated enough to commit yourself to this mode of learning, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.

Points to Ask Medical Biller and Coder Courses

Now that you have a general idea just what a medical biller and coder does, as well as what education options are offered, you need to start the process of evaluating colleges. But since there many training options offered at community colleges and technical, trade and vocational schools within the Portland ME area, you must have a prepared list of questions to assess each one. And when you include all of the online colleges that offer medical billing and coding classes, the task can become rather daunting. As we have already addressed, cost and location are going to be relevant issues, particularly if you have a limited budget and will be driving to classes from your Portland home. And verifying that the school and program are accredited must be part of your vetting process also. So let's review some of the additional questions that you should ask the schools you are considering so that you can compare each one and make the ideal choice.

Is the Training Accredited? It's crucial that the program and school you select are accredited by a respected accrediting organization, for instance 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 online or distance education. Not only will accreditation help confirm that the education you receive will be of superior quality, it could help with your future employment also. Many Portland ME healthcare organizations will only hire entry level applicants that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding educational program. And financial aid and student loans are in many cases only obtainable for colleges that have received an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Prior to selecting a medical coding and billing school, check out what its reputation and ranking are compared to other colleges. This is especially important if you have no experience in the field, since potential employers will basically be relying on the quality of your training. As we have discussed, confirming that the program is accredited is an initial step. Checking with college rating organizations, for instance U.S. News and World Report, can verify the quality of the school also. Another option is to contact several Portland ME medical organizations that you may have an interest in working for and find out which colleges they suggest. Remember that even if the school itself does not have an exceptional reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be highly regarded.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job in Portland ME after graduation in your new profession might be challenging without the help of a job assistance program. Check if the schools you are considering have job placement programs and what their job placement rates are. A high and rapid placement rate is a good indication that the coding and billing college has a substantial network of healthcare employers where they can place their graduates. It also suggests that the college's graduates are sought after in the marketplace.

Where is the School's Location? If you are planning on driving to class from your Portland ME home, then the location of the campus will be of prime importance. Of course if you select an online medical coding and billing program, then the location of the college will not be a consideration. One thing to remember is that if you attend classes at a junior or community college, many charge a higher tuition for students 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 Expense? Medical billing and coding certification courses can differ in cost based on the type of credential earned and the amount of training provided. Just keep in mind, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Costs also consist of such items as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial assistance might be obtainable to help reduce some of the cost, so don't forget to contact the school's financial aid department to find out what is available in Portland ME. Naturally if you decide to enroll in an online college, a portion of these added costs, such as for commuting may be minimized or even eliminated.

Are Classes Offered that Accommodate your Schedule? A number of students continue working while attending college and require a convenient 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 attend on a part-time schedule, confirm that the college you choose offers that option. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up classes missed because of sickness, work or family responsibilities.

Find Out More on How to Select a Medical Biller and Coder School

Select the Best Portland ME Medical Billing and Coding School 

Choosing the right medical coding and billing certificate or degree program is a very important first step to help ensure your success in this rewarding sector of medical care. Medical billing and medical coding are two of the most rapidly growing jobs in the medical sector. Because of this, there are many trade schools, junior colleges and other institutions that offer instruction and training in medical coding and billing. As we have discussed, you can elect to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also important that the school you select offers an accredited program with an outstanding reputation within the healthcare field. But however you decide to receive your education, 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 school. And with the appropriate training, you can achieve your career goal to become a medical billing and coding clerk in Portland Maine.