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

Once you have made a decision to enter the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near South Portland ME, it's important that you select the appropriate program to ensure that you receive the necessary education to guarantee your success. As you no doubt know, healthcare is among the fastest growing fields in the USA, and increasingly more options are offered both online and on campus to obtain the training that you need. But just where does one begin? Many potential students start by looking for colleges that are within commuting distance of their homes and then comparing cost. Or they might surf the internet looking for online schools and select the cheapest one. But while cost and location are important issues when making your selection, they should not be the sole ones when comparing medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as accreditation and reputation need to be taken into consideration as well. We will review a list of questions that you need to ask the medical billing and coding schools you are researching in order to 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 educational and certification options offered.

Medical Biller and Coder Online Education and Certification

It's important that you receive your education from a reputable school, whether it's a technical school, vocational school or community college. Even though it is not required in most cases to attain a professional certification, the program you select should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). Most Maine colleges just require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to be eligible. The quickest way to become either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to obtain a certificate, which normally takes about one year to accomplish. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more expansive education, which for most programs requires two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical billing and coding are not widely offered. After your training has been completed, although not mandated in the majority of states, you may want to acquire a professional certification. Certification is an effective 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 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).

Graduating from an accredited medical coding and billing program, in conjunction with obtaining a professional certification, are the most effective ways to accelerate your new career and succeed in the rapid growing healthcare industry.

Medical Coder Job Summary

Medical coders are on the front line of the billing systems for South Portland ME medical practices and hospitals. They 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 equipment or medical supplies used. There are various 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 including nursing and physician notes, patient charts, and radiology and lab reports. Medical Coders must not only know what services were provided in total for accurate reporting, but must have a functioning knowledge of all government and private payer rules that affect coding also. Inaccurately coded claims can lead to services not being paid for, services being paid at a decreased rate, or the provider being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can actually cost South Portland ME physicians and medical facilities many thousands of dollars in revenue annually, a proficient medical coder is a vital asset for any healthcare team. They can work in any kind of healthcare facility, including family practices, hospitals, clinics and urgent care centers. It is not uncommon for professional medical coders to work at home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Biller Job Summary

As important as the medical coder's function is, it would be for naught without the contribution of the medical biller whose efforts generate revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to South Portland ME healthcare organizations and are practically responsible for keeping their doors open. Sometimes the biller and coder are the same man or woman within a healthcare facility, but they can also be 2 separate professionals. When the coder has performed his or her task, the biller utilizes the codes provided to complete and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicaid or Medicare. After they have been paid by the applicable organization, patients can then be charged for deductibles or additional out of pocket costs. On a regular basis, a medical billing professional might also do any of the following:

• Verify health insurance coverages for patients and help them with billing concerns or questions
• Check on patient claims submitted and appeal any that have been declined
• Act as a mediator between the medical provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for accurate claim resolution
• Produce and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

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

Medical Billing and Coding Online Courses

If you are interested in flexibility and the convenience of attending classes in your home, then selecting an online medical billing and coding program may be an excellent alternative. They can be especially attractive to those living in South Portland ME who plan on attending school while continuing to work or have additional obligations that make attending classes on campus difficult. And as an added benefit, online programs are often cheaper than the traditional classroom alternatives. Costs for such things as tuition, study materials and commuting may be minimized or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online schools are reputable. That's why it's imperative to confirm that any online school you select is accredited to guarantee a quality education. We will address the benefits of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to check that any online training you are looking at is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, such as the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are dedicated enough to devote yourself to this type of learning, then acquiring your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Medical Biller and Coder Programs

Now that you have a general idea just what a medical coder and biller does, in addition to what training options are offered, you need to begin the process of researching schools. But since there a large number of training options available at community colleges as well as technical, trade and vocational schools within the South Portland ME area, you must have a prepared list of questions to analyze each one. And when you add all of the online colleges that offer medical coding and billing classes, the project can become somewhat formidable. As we have already discussed, expense and location are going to be relevant factors, particularly if you have a modest budget and will be commuting to classes from your South Portland home. And confirming that the program and school are accredited should be part of your vetting procedure also. So let's review a few of the other questions that you should ask the schools you are reviewing so that you can analyze each one and make the ideal choice.

Is the School Accredited? It's important that the program and college you select are accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online school, it might also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. Not only will accreditation help ensure that the training you receive will be of the highest quality, it might help secure future employment as well. A number of South Portland ME medical organizations will only employ entry level prospects that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding training course. And financial assistance and student loans are frequently only offered for schools that have earned an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Before choosing a medical coding and billing program, check out what its ranking and reputation are compared to other colleges. This is particularly important if you have no experience in the profession, since potential employers will mainly be relying on the quality of your training. As we have addressed, confirming that the school is accredited is a first step. Checking with school rating organizations, for example U.S. News and World Report, can confirm the quality of the school also. Another option is to check with a few South Portland ME medical organizations that you may 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 exceptional reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be well regarded.

Is there an Employment Referral Program? Obtaining employment in South Portland ME after graduation in your new profession might be difficult without the support of a job assistance program. Check if the schools you are reviewing have job assistance 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 sizable network of medical care 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 intending on driving to class from your South Portland ME home, then the location of the program will be of significant importance. Of course if you select an online medical coding and billing program, then the location of the school will not be important. One thing to bear in mind is that if you go to classes at a junior or community college, many charge a higher tuition for enrollees that reside outside of their districts. So you may prefer to first consider those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Complete Expense? Medical billing and coding training courses can vary in cost based on the type of credential acquired and the amount of training provided. Just keep in mind, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Costs also consist of such things as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial assistance may be available to help offset some of the expense, so don't forget to check with the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in South Portland ME. Naturally if you decide to enroll in an online college, a portion of these added costs, particularly for commuting may be reduced or even eliminated.

Are Classes Available that Accommodate your Schedule? A number of students keep working while going to school and require a convenient class schedule. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near South Portland ME, confirm that they are offered at those times. If you can only enroll on a part time schedule, make certain that the program you pick provides that alternative. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up classes missed due to sickness, work or family responsibilities.

Find Out More on How to Enroll in a Billing and Coding School

Choose the Right South Portland ME Medical Billing and Coding Program 

Picking the ideal medical billing and coding certificate or degree course is a critical initial step to help ensure your success in this exciting sector of healthcare. Medical coding and medical billing are 2 of the fastest growing jobs in the health sector. As a result, there are a lot of vocational schools, junior colleges and other institutions that furnish training and education in medical coding and billing. As we have covered, you can opt to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also important that the college you pick has an accredited program with an exceptional reputation within the healthcare field. But however you choose to receive your training, by adhering to the previous guidelines and asking the appropriate questions, you will be better qualified to assess your options and pick the right medical billing and coding college. And with the appropriate training, you can realize your career objective to become a medical coding and billing clerk in South Portland Maine.