How to Select the Right Medical Billing and Coding Program near Portland Maine

Once you have decided to enter the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Portland ME, it's essential that you find the appropriate program so that you receive the proper education to ensure your success. As you may already know, healthcare is among the fastest growing sectors in the United States, and increasingly more options are offered both online and on campus to obtain the training that you need. But just where do you start? A number of future students start by looking for schools that are within commuting distance of their residences and then comparing tuition. Or they might search the internet looking for online courses and select the cheapest one. But while cost and location are important issues when making your determination, they should not be the only ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifications as accreditation and reputation need to be considered as well. We will go over a checklist of topics that you should ask the medical billing and coding courses you are researching in order to find out what you must know prior to making your selection. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical coders and billers do and the academic and certification options offered.

Medical Coder and Biller Online Education and Certification

It's important that you receive your instruction from a reputable school, whether it's a technical school, vocational school or community college. Although it is not required in most cases to obtain a professional certification, the program you select should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). The majority of Maine programs simply require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to be eligible. The most expedient way to become either a medical coder or biller (or both) is to obtain a certificate, which typically takes about one year to finish. An Associate Degree is also an option for a more comprehensive education, which for almost all schools requires 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical billing and coding are not widely offered. After your education has been concluded, although not mandated in the majority of states, you might desire to acquire a professional certification. Certification is an excellent way for those new to the profession to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but dedicated to their occupation. A few of the organizations that provide 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 billing and coding program, in conjunction with obtaining a professional certification, are the best ways to advance your new profession and succeed in the fast growing healthcare industry.

Medical Coding Job Description

Medical coders are on the forefront of the billing systems for Portland ME medical practices and hospitals. They have the responsibility to review the medical records of patients and assign universal codes to all services provided. 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 use information from sources such as physician and nursing notes, patient charts, and radiology and lab reports. Coders must know not only what total services were provided for accurate reporting, but must have a working knowledge of all government and private payer regulations that affect coding as well. Incorrectly coded claims can result in services not being covered, services being paid at a reduced rate, or the physician or facility being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can actually cost Portland ME doctors and hospitals many thousands of dollars in income each year, a reliable medical coder is a vital asset for any healthcare team. They can work in every kind of healthcare facility, including private practices, clinics, hospitals and emergency care centers. It is not uncommon for experienced medical coders to work at home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Billing Job Duties

As crucial as the medical coder's function is, it would be for naught without the collaboration of the medical biller whose efforts generate revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to Portland ME medical facilities and are practically responsible for keeping them in business. Sometimes the biller and coder are the same person within a healthcare organization, but they can also be 2 separate 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 invoiced for deductibles or other out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical billing clerk can also do any of the following:

• Verify medical insurance coverages for patients and help them with billing questions or concerns
• Follow up on patient claims submitted and appeal any that have been denied
• Function as a mediator between the healthcare provider, the insurance companies and the patients for proper claim resolution
• Create and manage Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and take care of unpaid patient collections accounts

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

Medical Billing and Coding Online Schools

If you are searching for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes in your home, then enrolling in a medical billing and coding online college might be an excellent alternative. They can be particularly attractive to those living in Portland ME who plan on attending school while continuing to work or have additional responsibilities that make attending classes on campus challenging. And as an additional benefit, online programs are frequently cheaper than the standard classroom options. Expenses for such items as tuition, course materials and commuting may be minimized or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online programs are reputable. For that reason it's imperative to verify that the online school you enroll in is accredited to guarantee a superior education. We will cover the benefits of accreditation in the next segment. Just make sure to check that any online instruction you are researching is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, for instance the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to devote yourself to this style of learning, then acquiring your certificate or degree online may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Medical Biller and Coder Training Programs

Now that you have a general idea what a medical biller and coder does, as well as what education options are available, you need to start the process of comparing schools. But since there a large number of training options available at community colleges as well as technical, trade and vocational schools within the Portland ME area, you should have a prepared list of questions to analyze each one. And when you add all of the online programs that offer medical billing and coding classes, the project can become somewhat formidable. As we have already covered, cost and location are going to be significant issues, especially if you have a modest budget and will be traveling to classes from your Portland home. And whether or not the school and program are accredited must be part of your vetting procedure as well. So let's review some of the additional questions that you should ask the schools you are reviewing so that you can evaluate each one and make the appropriate choice.

Is the Training Accredited? It's crucial that the school and program 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 obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online education. Not only will accreditation help guarantee that the education you get will be of the highest quality, it may help with your future employment as well. A number of Portland ME medical facilities will only hire entry level candidates that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing training course. And financial assistance and student loans are frequently only available for programs that have received an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Prior to choosing a medical billing and coding school, find out what its ranking and reputation are compared to other programs. This is particularly relevant if you have no experience in the field, since potential employers will basically be relying on the quality of your education. As we have discussed, making sure that the school is accredited is a first step. Checking with college rating organizations, for instance U.S. News and World Report, can verify the quality of the school as well. Another option is to get in touch with some Portland ME healthcare organizations that you might have an interest in working for and find out which schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even when the school 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 a job in Portland ME after graduating in your new profession might be challenging without the support of a job assistance program. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their job placement rates are. A high and rapid placement rate is an excellent indication that the coding and billing school has a significant network of healthcare employers where they can refer their graduates. It also implies that the college's graduates are sought after in the marketplace.

Where is the College's Location? If you are planning on driving to class from your Portland ME residence, then the location of the school will be of prime importance. Obviously if you choose an medical billing and coding online program, then the location of the school will not be a factor. 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 want to first look at those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Overall Cost? Medical coding and billing training programs can fluctuate in cost depending on the type of credential earned and the length of training provided. Just keep in mind, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Expenses also include such things as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial assistance might be obtainable to help reduce some of the expense, so don't forget to check with the college's financial assistance department to find out what is available in Portland ME. Naturally if you decide to enroll in an online school, some of these added costs, particularly for commuting may be minimized or even eliminated.

Are Classes Available that Match your Schedule? Many students continue working while going to school and need a flexible class schedule. If you can only go to classes during the evenings or on weekends near Portland ME, confirm that they are offered at those times. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, confirm that the school you select offers that alternative. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up classes missed due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Find Out More on How to Select a Medical Billing Class

Enroll in the Best Portland ME Medical Billing and Coding Training 

Choosing the right medical billing and coding certificate or degree course is a critical first step to help guarantee your success in this exciting sector of healthcare. Medical billing and medical coding are two of the most rapidly expanding professions in the health industry. Because of this, there are many trade schools, community colleges and other institutions that furnish instruction and training in medical billing and coding. As we have discussed, you can elect to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also important that the school you choose offers an accredited program with an outstanding reputation within the medical care community. But however you elect to receive your education, by adhering to the previous guidelines and asking the right questions, you will be better prepared to analyze your options and select the right medical billing and coding college. And with the appropriate education, you can achieve your career objective to become a medical coding and billing specialist in Portland Maine.