How to Enroll In the Right Medical Billing and Coding School near Ann Arbor Michigan

Now that you have made a decision to become part of the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Ann Arbor MI, it's crucial that you choose the right school to ensure that you receive the proper education to guarantee your success. As you probably know, healthcare is among the fastest growing fields in the United States, and increasingly more options are available both online and on campus to get the training that you need. But just where does one begin? A number of potential students start by looking for colleges that are within driving distance of their residences and then comparing cost. Or they may surf the internet looking for online schools and choose the least expensive one. But while cost and location are relevant factors when making your selection, they should not be the only ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as reputation and accreditation need to be taken into consideration as well. We will review a checklist of topics that you need to ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are researching so that you can find out what you must know prior to making your decision. But first, let's take a look at what medical coders and billers do and the training and certification options available.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Education 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. Although it is not a requirement in many cases to attain a professional certification, the program you select should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). The majority of Michigan programs just require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to be eligible. The fastest way to become either a medical coder or biller (or both) is to obtain a certificate, which generally takes about 1 year to accomplish. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more extensive education, which for the majority of schools requires two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical coding and billing are not abundantly available. After your training has been concluded, although not required in most states, you might want to earn a professional certification. Certification is an excellent means for those new to the field to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but committed 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).

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

Medical Coder Job Functions

Medical coders are on the forefront of the billing systems for Ann Arbor MI private practices and hospitals. Coders have the responsibility to analyze the treatment 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 used. There are several 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 physician and nursing notes, patient charts, and lab and radiology reports. Medical Coders must not only know what services were provided in total for accurate reporting, but must have a working knowledge of all private payer and government rules that impact coding also. Improperly coded claims can result in services not being covered, services being paid at a decreased rate, or the provider being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can actually cost Ann Arbor MI physicians and medical facilities multiple thousands of dollars in income each year, a proficient medical coder is a vital asset to the healthcare organization. They can work in any kind of healthcare facility, including family practices, hospitals, clinics and critical care centers. It is not uncommon for professional medical coders to operate at home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Billing Job Duties

As important as the medical coder's function is, it would be for naught without the contribution of the medical biller whose efforts produce revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Ann Arbor MI medical facilities and are practically responsible for keeping them in business. Often the biller and coder can be the same person within a medical organization, but they can also be 2 separate specialists. When the coder has completed her or his job, the biller utilizes the codes supplied to complete and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicare or Medicaid. After being paid by the appropriate organization, patients can then be invoiced for deductibles or additional out of pocket expenses. On a regular basis, a medical billing clerk may also do any of the following:

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

Medical billers not only work for private practices, but also Ann Arbor MI hospitals, urgent care facilities, nursing homes or medical groups. They can work in any type of healthcare facility that depends on the incomes generated by billing third party payers and patients.

Medical Biller and Coder Online Colleges

If you are searching for flexibility and the convenience of attending classes from home, then selecting a medical billing and coding online course may be a good option. They can be especially attractive to those living in Ann Arbor MI who anticipate attending school while still working or have other obligations that make going to classes on campus difficult. And as an added advantage, online schools are frequently less expensive than the conventional classroom options. Costs for such things as tuition, course materials and commuting may be decreased or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online courses are reputable. That's why it's imperative to establish that any online school you enroll in 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 school 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 apply yourself to this style of learning, then earning your degree or certificate online might be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Medical Coder and Biller Courses

Now that you have a better idea what a medical coder and biller does, in addition to what education options are available, you need to start the process of comparing colleges. But since there a large number of training options available at community colleges as well as technical, trade and vocational schools within the Ann Arbor MI area, you need to have a ready list of questions to evaluate each one. And when you add all of the online schools that offer medical billing and coding classes, the task can become rather daunting. As we have already discussed, location and cost are going to be significant issues, particularly if you have a limited budget and will be traveling to classes from your Ann Arbor residence. And confirming that 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 other questions that you should ask the colleges you are looking at so that you can analyze each one and make the right choice.

Is the Training Accredited? It's vital that the school and program you select are accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, such as 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 distance or online education. Not only will accreditation help ensure that the training you get will be of superior quality, it may help with your future employment as well. Many Ann Arbor MI medical facilities will only hire entry level candidates that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding training course. And financial assistance and student loans are often only obtainable for colleges that have received an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Before choosing a medical billing and coding program, find 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 primarily be relying on the quality of your training. As we have addressed, verifying that the college is accredited is a first step. Checking with college rating organizations, such as U.S. News and World Report, can validate the quality of the school also. An alternative is to check with several Ann Arbor MI healthcare organizations that you may be interested in working for and ask which colleges they suggest. Keep in mind that even when the college itself does not have an exceptional reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be well regarded.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Obtaining employment in Ann Arbor MI after graduation in your new field may be challenging without the support of a job assistance program. Ask if the schools you are looking at have job placement 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 considerable network of medical care employers where they can refer their graduates. It also indicates 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 Ann Arbor MI home, then the location of the campus will be of significant importance. Naturally if you select an online medical coding and billing program, then the location of the college will not be important. One thing to bear in mind is that if you attend classes at a junior or community college, many require a higher tuition for enrollees that live outside of their districts. So you may prefer to first research those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Total Expense? Medical billing and coding certification courses can differ in cost depending on the type of credential acquired and the length of training provided. But remember, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Costs also include such items as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial assistance may be obtainable to help offset a portion of the cost, so don't forget to get in touch with the school's financial assistance department to see what is available in Ann Arbor MI. Naturally if you decide to enroll in an online college, some of these additional costs, such as for commuting may be minimized or even eliminated.

Are Classes Offered that Accommodate your Schedule? A number of students keep working while going to college and require a convenient class schedule. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Ann Arbor MI, verify that they are offered at those times. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the program you select provides that alternative. Also, find out what the process is for making up classes missed due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Find Out More on How to Select a Medical Billing Course

Choose the Right Ann Arbor MI Medical Billing and Coding Training 

Picking the ideal medical billing and coding certificate or degree program is a critical initial step to help assure your success in this rewarding field of medical care. Medical billing and medical coding are two of the fastest growing jobs in the health sector. Because of this, there are many vocational schools, community colleges and companies that offer training and instruction in medical coding and billing. As we have discussed, you can decide to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also important that the college you choose has an accredited program with an excellent reputation within the healthcare field. But however you elect to receive your training, by adhering to the previous guidelines and posing the right questions, you will be better prepared to assess your options and select the right medical billing and coding program. And with the proper training, you can accomplish your career objective to become a medical billing and coding specialist in Ann Arbor Michigan.