How to Select the Right Medical Coding Training Program near South Portland Maine

Once you have made a decision to become part of the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near South Portland ME, it's important that you choose the appropriate school so that you receive the necessary education to guarantee your success. As you probably know, healthcare is among the fastest growing industries in the USA, and increasingly more options are offered both on campus and online to obtain the training that you need. But just where do you start? A number of future students start by searching for colleges that are within driving distance of their residences and then comparing cost. Or they might search the internet looking for online courses and go with the cheapest one. But while cost and location are important factors when making your determination, they should not be the only ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as accreditation and reputation need to be considered as well. We will cover a checklist of questions that you need to ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are researching so that you can learn 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 academic and certification options offered.

Medical Coding Job Duties

Medical coders are on the front line of the billing systems for South Portland ME medical practices and healthcare organizations. They have the responsibility to analyze the medical 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 use information from sources such as nursing and physician notes, patient charts, and radiology and lab 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 as well. Incorrectly coded claims can result in services not being covered, services being paid for at a decreased rate, or the physician or facility being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can in fact cost South Portland ME hospitals and doctors multiple thousands of dollars in income every year, a good medical coder is a vital asset to the healthcare organization. They can operate in every type of healthcare facility, including family practices, hospitals, clinics and critical care centers. It is not unusual for seasoned medical coders to working from home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Billing Job Functions

As vital as the medical coder's job is, it would be for naught without the contribution of the medical biller whose efforts bring in revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to South Portland ME healthcare organizations and are literally responsible for keeping them in business. Sometimes the biller and coder can be the same person within a healthcare facility, but they can also be two separate professionals. When the coder has carried out his or her duty, the biller uses the codes furnished to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid. After being paid by the applicable organization, patients can then be charged for deductibles and additional out of pocket expenses. On a regular basis, a medical billing clerk can also do any of the following:

• Check 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 declined
• Work as a mediator between the medical provider, the insurance companies and the patients for accurate claim settlement
• Create and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

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

Medical Coder and Biller Online Programs and Certification

It's important that you obtain 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 earn a professional certification, the program you enroll in should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). Most Maine schools simply require that you earn 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 generally takes about a year to accomplish. An Associate Degree is also an option for a more expansive education, which for the majority of schools calls for two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical coding and billing are not abundantly available. Once your education has been concluded, although not mandated in the majority of states, you might want to earn a professional certification. Certification is an excellent method for those new to the profession to show potential employers that they are not only qualified but committed to their career. Just some 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 coding and billing program, combined with attaining a professional certification, are the most effective ways to accelerate your new profession and succeed in the fast growing healthcare field.

Online Medical Billing and Coding Training

If you are interested in flexibility and the convenience of attending classes at home, then selecting an online medical billing and coding school might be a good option. They can be particularly appealing to individuals living in South Portland ME who anticipate going to school while still working or have additional responsibilities that make going to classes on campus difficult. And as an added benefit, online colleges are often cheaper than the conventional classroom alternatives. Costs for such items as tuition, course materials and commuting may be reduced or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online colleges are reputable. For that reason it's imperative to establish that the online college you enroll in is accredited to guarantee a premium education. We will address the advantages of accreditation in the next segment. Just make sure to confirm that any online college you are considering is accredited by one of the national accrediting organizations, for instance the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to devote yourself to this mode of learning, then obtaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Medical Billing and Coding Courses

Now that you have a general idea what a medical biller and coder does, in addition to what training options are offered, you need to start the process of researching schools. But since there a large number of training options available at community colleges as well as vocational, technical and trade schools within the South Portland ME area, you must have a prepared list of questions in order to assess each one. And when you include all of the online programs that offer medical billing and coding classes, the project can become somewhat daunting. As we have already discussed, expense and location are going to be significant issues, particularly if you have a limited budget and will be driving to classes from your South Portland residence. And verifying that the school and program are accredited must be part of your vetting process also. So let's review a few of the additional questions that you should ask the colleges you are looking at 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 decide on are accredited by a highly regarded accrediting organization, for example the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online college, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance education. Not only will accreditation help guarantee that the training you get will be of the highest quality, it might help with your future employment also. Many South Portland ME medical organizations will only hire entry level prospects that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing training course. And financial aid and student loans are often only available for programs that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Prior to picking a medical coding and billing college, check out what its reputation and ranking are among other colleges. This is particularly important if you have no experience in the field, since potential employers will primarily be evaluating you based on the quality of your education. As we have addressed, making sure that the program is accredited is a first step. Checking with school rating organizations, for example U.S. News and World Report, can verify the quality of the school also. An alternative is to check with a few South Portland ME healthcare organizations that you might be interested in working for and ask which schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even if the college itself does not have an outstanding reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be highly regarded.

Is there an Employment Referral Program? Finding employment in South Portland ME after graduating in your new profession might be challenging without the support of a job assistance program. Check if the colleges you are considering have job assistance programs and what their job placement rates are. A high and rapid placement rate is an excellent indication that the billing and coding college has a substantial network of healthcare employers where they can place their graduates. It also implies that the college's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

Where is the College's Location? If you are planning on driving to class from your South Portland ME home, then the location of the program will be of significant importance. Obviously if you choose an medical billing and coding online program, then the location of the college will not be a factor. One thing to remember is that if you go to classes at a junior or community college, most charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to first look at those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Overall Cost? Medical coding and billing training courses can differ in cost depending on the type of credential earned and the amount of training furnished. But remember, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Costs also consist of such things as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial aid might be available to help reduce a portion of the expense, so don't forget to contact the school's financial assistance department to see what is available in South Portland ME. Naturally if you decide to attend an online school, a portion of these added costs, particularly for commuting may be minimized or even eliminated.

Are Classes Accessible that Accommodate your Schedule? A number of students keep working while attending school and need a convenient class schedule. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near South Portland ME, verify that they are offered at those times. If you can only attend on a part-time schedule, confirm that the school you pick offers that alternative. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn How to Select a Medical Coding School

Choose the Best South Portland ME Medical Billing and Coding School 

Choosing the ideal medical billing and coding certificate or degree course is a crucial initial step to help ensure your success in this rewarding specialty of healthcare. Medical billing and medical coding are two of the most rapidly growing jobs in the medical sector. As a result, there are numerous vocational schools, community colleges and companies that offer training and education in medical coding and billing. As we have discussed, you can choose to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also imperative that the college you choose offers an accredited program with an outstanding reputation within the medical care field. But however you elect to receive your education, by adhering to the previous guidelines and posing the appropriate questions, you will be better able to evaluate your options and pick the right medical billing and coding college. And with the proper education, you can achieve your career goal to become a medical billing and coding specialist in South Portland Maine.