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

Once you have decided to enter the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near South Portland ME, it's crucial that you find the appropriate school to ensure that you receive the proper education to guarantee your success. As you may already know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing industries in the USA, and a growing number of options are offered both online and on campus to get the training that you need. But just where do you begin? Many future students begin by looking for programs that are within commuting distance of their homes and then comparing tuition. Or they may search the internet looking for online courses and choose the cheapest one. But while cost and location are significant factors when making your determination, they should not be the sole ones when researching medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifications as reputation and accreditation should be considered as well. We will cover a checklist of questions that you should ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are researching so that you can find out what you need to know prior to making your decision. But first, let's take a look at what medical billers and coders do and the academic and certification options available.

Medical Coding Job Duties

Medical coders are on the front line of the billing systems for South Portland ME private practices and healthcare organizations. Coders have the responsibility to examine the treatment records of patients and convert all services provided into universal codes. These services can be for medical, diagnosis 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 including nursing and physician notes, patient charts, and radiology and lab reports. Coders must know not only what total services were provided for accuracy, but must have a working knowledge of all government and private payer regulations that impact coding as well. Improperly coded claims can result in services not being paid for, services being paid for at a decreased rate, or the provider being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can actually cost South Portland ME hospitals and doctors many thousands of dollars in earnings each year, a proficient medical coder is a necessary asset to the healthcare team. They can operate in any type of healthcare facility, including private practices, hospitals, clinics and emergency care centers. It is not unusual for seasoned medical coders to working from home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Biller Job Functions

As crucial as the medical coder's function 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 facilities and are practically responsible for keeping them in business. Sometimes the biller and coder are the same man or woman within a medical facility, but they can also be two independent professionals. When the coder has performed her or his duty, the biller utilizes the codes furnished to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicaid or Medicare. After being paid by the appropriate entity, patients can then be billed for deductibles and additional out of pocket expenses. On a regular basis, a medical billing professional may also do any of the following:

• Confirm health insurance coverages for patients and assist them with billing questions or concerns
• Check on patient claims submitted and appeal any that have been denied
• Act as an intermediary between the healthcare provider, the insurance companies and the patients for accurate claim resolution
• Produce and oversee Accounts Receivables reports
• Produce and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

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

Medical Biller and Coder Online Instruction and Certification

It's essential that you get your education from a reputable school, whether it's a technical school, vocational school or community college. Although it is not a requirement in many cases to obtain a professional certification, the program you enroll in should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). The majority of Maine colleges simply require that you earn either a high school diploma or a GED to apply. The fastest way to becoming either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to obtain a certificate, which normally takes about one year to complete. An Associate Degree is also an option for a more comprehensive education, which for almost all schools calls for two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical coding and billing are not abundantly available. Once your training has been completed, although not required in the majority of states, you might desire to earn a professional certification. Certification is an excellent means for those new to the profession to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but committed to their career. 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 course, combined with obtaining a professional certification, are the most effective ways to advance your new vocation and succeed in the rapid growing healthcare industry.

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 a good alternative. They can be particularly appealing to individuals living in South Portland ME who plan on attending school while continuing to work or have additional commitments that make attending classes on campus challenging. And as an additional advantage, online colleges are frequently less expensive than the conventional classroom alternatives. Expenses for such items as tuition, commuting and study materials may be decreased or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online schools are reputable. That's why it's imperative to verify that the online college you choose is accredited to guarantee a quality education. We will address the benefits of accreditation in the next segment. Just be sure to verify that any online training you are considering is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, for example the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to devote yourself to this mode of learning, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Medical Coder and Biller Schools

Once you have a better idea just what a medical coder and biller does, along with what education options are available, you need to begin the process of researching schools. But since there a large number of training options offered at community colleges as well as technical, trade and vocational schools within the South Portland ME area, you should have a ready list of questions to evaluate each one. And when you include all of the online colleges that offer medical billing and coding classes, the project can become somewhat daunting. As we have already covered, cost and location are going to be important factors, especially if you have a limited budget and will be commuting to classes from your South Portland residence. And whether or not the program and school are accredited should be part of your vetting procedure as well. So let's take a look at several of the additional questions that you should ask the colleges you are reviewing so that you can analyze each one and make the best choice.

Is the Program 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 program, it can also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Not only will accreditation help guarantee that the training you receive will be of superior quality, it might help secure future employment also. Many South Portland ME medical facilities will only hire entry level applicants that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing educational program. And financial aid and student loans are often only obtainable for colleges that have earned an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Prior to picking a medical billing and coding program, find out what its reputation and ranking are compared to other colleges. This is especially relevant 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 discussed, confirming that the college is accredited is a first step. Checking with college rating organizations, for example U.S. News and World Report, can validate the quality of the school as well. Another option is to check with several South Portland ME medical organizations that you may be interested in working for and find out which programs they recommend. Remember that even when the college itself does not have an outstanding reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be well regarded.

Is there an Employment Assistance Program? Finding employment in South Portland ME after graduating in your new profession might be challenging without the support of a job assistance program. Find out if the schools you are considering have job placement programs and what their job placement rates are. A rapid and high placement rate is an excellent indication that the coding and billing school has a significant network of medical care employers where they can refer their graduates. It also indicates that the college's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

Where is the School Located? If you are intending on driving to class from your South Portland ME home, then the location of the college will be of prime importance. Naturally if you select an medical billing and coding online program, then the location of the college will not be important. One thing to remember is that if you attend classes at a junior or community college, most require a higher tuition for pupils that live outside of their districts. So you might prefer to first consider those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Complete Cost? Medical coding and billing certification programs can vary in cost based on the type of credential earned and the amount of training provided. But remember, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Costs also include such things as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial assistance may be obtainable to help reduce a portion of the expense, so don't forget to check with the college's financial assistance department to see what is offered in South Portland ME. Naturally if you decide to attend an online school, a portion of these additional costs, particularly for commuting may be reduced or even eliminated.

Are Classes Available that Match your Schedule? A number of students continue working while going to college and need a convenient class schedule. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near South Portland ME, verify that they are offered at those times. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you enroll in offers that alternative. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up classes missed because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Find Out More on How to Select a Medical Billing School

Select the Right South Portland ME Medical Billing and Coding Program 

Picking the right medical billing and coding degree or certificate course is a critical initial step to help ensure your success in this rewarding sector of healthcare. Medical billing and medical coding are 2 of the fastest growing occupations in the health sector. As a result, there are a lot of vocational schools, junior colleges and companies that offer education and training in medical coding and billing. As we have reviewed, you can choose to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also important that the school you select offers an accredited program with an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. But however you elect to receive your training, by following the previous guidelines and posing the appropriate questions, you will be better prepared to assess your options and pick the right medical billing and coding school. And with the proper education, you can realize your career objective to become a medical billing and coding specialist in South Portland Maine.