How to Pick the Best Medical Billing School near South Portland Maine

Now that you have decided 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 right school to ensure that you receive the necessary education to ensure your success. As you may already know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing fields in the United States, and more and more options are available both on campus and online to obtain the training that you need. But just where does one begin? Many aspiring students begin by looking for schools that are within commuting 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 cost and location are significant factors when making your selection, they should not be the sole ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as accreditation and reputation must be considered also. We will cover a list of questions that you need to ask the medical billing and coding courses you are researching 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 coders and billers do and the training and certification options available.

Medical Coder Job Functions

Medical coders are on the forefront of the billing systems for South Portland ME private practices and hospitals. Coders have the responsibility to examine the treatment 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 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 lab and radiology reports. Medical Coders must know not only what total services were provided for accurate reporting, but must have a working knowledge of all private payer and government rules that influence coding as well. Incorrectly coded claims can result in services not being covered, services being paid for at a reduced rate, or the physician or facility being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can in fact cost South Portland ME physicians and medical facilities many thousands of dollars in earnings each year, a reliable medical coder is an important asset to the healthcare organization. They can work in any type of healthcare facility, including private practices, clinics, hospitals and emergency care centers. It is not unusual for experienced medical coders to working from home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Billing Job Functions

As essential as the medical coder's role is, it would be for naught without the collaboration of the medical biller whose labors generate revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to South Portland ME medical organizations and are literally responsible for keeping their doors open. Sometimes the biller and coder may be the same man or woman within a medical facility, but they can also be two separate specialists. After the coder has completed 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 other out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical billing clerk may also do any of the following:

• Check medical insurance benefits for patients and assist them with billing concerns or questions
• Check on submitted patient claims and appeal those that have been declined
• Function as an intermediate between the healthcare provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for accurate claim settlement
• Produce and oversee Accounts Receivables reports
• Produce and deal with unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billing clerks not only are employed by family practices, but also South Portland ME emergency care facilities, hospitals, nursing homes or medical groups. They may practice in any kind of healthcare facility that depends on the incomes generated by billing patients and third party payers.

Medical Coding and Billing Online Instruction and Certification

It's important 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 obtain a professional certification, the school you enroll in should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). The majority of Maine colleges only require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to qualify. The fastest way to becoming either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to obtain a certificate, which generally takes about a year to finish. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more expansive education, which for the majority of schools calls for two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical billing and coding are not widely available. After your education has been completed, although not mandated in most states, you may desire to acquire a professional certification. Certification is a great method for those new to the profession to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but committed to their occupation. Just some of the organizations that make available 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 obtaining a professional certification, are the best ways to accelerate your new profession and succeed in the fast growing medical care industry.

Medical Biller and Coder Online Courses

If you are interested in flexibility and the convenience of attending classes at home, then selecting a medical billing and coding online course may be a great option. They can be particularly attractive to individuals living in South Portland ME who plan on attending school while still working or have additional responsibilities that make going to classes on campus challenging. And as an added benefit, online schools are in many cases less expensive than the traditional classroom options. Expenses for such items as tuition, study materials and commuting may be reduced or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online courses are reputable. For that reason it's important to confirm that any online course you select is accredited to guarantee a quality education. We will review the advantages of accreditation in the next segment. Just be sure to confirm that any online school you are looking at is accredited by one of the national accrediting organizations, for instance the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are dedicated enough to apply yourself to this mode of learning, then attaining your degree or certificate online might be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Medical Billing and Coding Schools

Now that you have a better idea just what a medical coder and biller does, as well as 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 and technical, trade and vocational schools within the South Portland ME area, you must have a ready list of questions to analyze each one. And when you include all of the online schools that offer medical billing and coding classes, the task can become somewhat daunting. As we have already discussed, location and cost are going to be important issues, especially if you have a modest budget and will be driving to classes from your South Portland residence. And whether or not 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 considering so that you can compare each one and make the appropriate choice.

Is the School Accredited? It's important that the program and college you pick are accredited by a highly regarded accrediting organization, such as the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online school, it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Not only will accreditation help confirm that the education you receive will be of superior quality, it may help secure future employment also. Many South Portland ME medical organizations will only employ entry level prospects that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding educational program. And financial aid and student loans are often only available for schools that have received an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Prior to enrolling in a medical billing and coding school, check out what its reputation and ranking are among other colleges. This is particularly imperative if you have no experience in the field, since potential employers will basically be relying on the quality of your education. As we have covered, making sure that the college 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 also. Another option is to call several South Portland ME healthcare organizations that you might be interested in working for and find out which schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even if the school itself does not have an excellent reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be highly regarded.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding employment in South Portland ME after graduating in your new profession may be difficult without the support of a job assistance program. Find out if the schools 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 school has a substantial network of healthcare employers where they can refer their graduates. It also suggests that the college's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

Where is the College's Location? If you are planning on commuting to class from your South Portland ME residence, then the location of the campus will be of significant importance. Naturally if you enroll in an online medical billing and coding program, then the location of the college will not be a factor. One thing to keep in mind is that if you go to classes at a community or junior college, many charge a higher tuition for enrollees that live outside of their districts. So you may prefer to first consider those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Total Cost? Medical coding and billing certification courses can differ in cost depending on the type of credential earned and the amount of training furnished. 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 aid may be obtainable to help reduce some of the expense, so don't forget to get in touch with the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in South Portland ME. Of course if you decide to attend an online college, a portion of these added costs, particularly for commuting may be reduced or even eliminated.

Are Classes Offered that Match your Schedule? Many students keep working while attending school and need a convenient class schedule. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near South Portland ME, confirm that they are available at those times. If you can only attend on a part time basis, verify that the program you choose provides that option. Also, find out what the process is for making up classes missed due to sickness, work or family responsibilities.

Learn How to Select a Billing and Coding School

Enroll in the Best South Portland ME Medical Billing and Coding School 

Picking the ideal medical coding and billing degree or certificate course is a critical first step to help ensure your success in this exciting specialty of healthcare. 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, community colleges and companies that furnish education and training in medical coding and billing. As we have reviewed, you can opt to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also essential that the school you choose offers an accredited program with an exceptional reputation within the medical care community. But however you choose 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 ideal medical billing and coding college. And with the proper education, you can accomplish your career objective to become a medical coding and billing clerk in South Portland Maine.