How to Choose the Best Medical Billing College near Grand Rapids Michigan

Now that you have decided to become part of the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Grand Rapids MI, it's crucial that you select the right program to ensure that you receive the necessary education to ensure your success. As you no doubt know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States, and more and more options are offered both online and on campus to receive the training that you need. But just where does one begin? A number of future students start by looking for schools that are within travelling distance of their homes and then comparing cost. Or they might surf the internet looking for online classes and select the least expensive one. But while location and cost are relevant 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 taken into consideration also. We will review a checklist of questions that you need to ask the medical billing and coding courses you are assessing so that you can learn what you must know before making your selection. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical billers and coders do and the training and certification options offered.

Medical Coding and Billing Online Instruction and Certification

It's important that you receive your training from a reputable school, whether it's a community college, technical or trade school. Although it is not required in many cases to obtain a professional certification, the program you choose should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). The majority of Michigan schools just require that you earn either a high school diploma or a GED to apply. The fastest 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 comprehensive education, which for the majority of schools calls for 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical coding and billing are not widely offered. When your training has been completed, although not mandated in the majority of states, you may desire to earn a professional certification. Certification is an effective way for those new to the field to show potential employers that they are not only qualified but dedicated to their occupation. A few 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, along with obtaining a professional certification, are the best ways to accelerate your new vocation and succeed in the rapid growing healthcare field.

Medical Coding Job Description

Medical coders are on the front line of the billing systems for Grand Rapids MI medical practices and hospitals. Coders have the responsibility to examine the treatment records of patients and convert all services provided into universal codes. These services can be for diagnosis, medical or dental procedures, or any medical supplies or equipment 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 use information from sources such as physician and nursing notes, patient charts, and lab and radiology 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 affect coding as well. Inaccurately 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 actually cost Grand Rapids MI physicians and medical facilities many thousands of dollars in earnings annually, a reliable medical coder is a vital asset to the healthcare organization. They can work in every kind of healthcare facility, including private practices, hospitals, clinics and urgent care centers. It is not uncommon for professional medical coders to operate at 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 collaboration of the medical biller whose efforts produce revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Grand Rapids MI medical organizations and are essentially responsible for keeping them in business. In many cases the biller and coder can be the same person within a medical organization, but they can also be two separate professionals. Once the coder has carried out her or his task, the biller utilizes the codes provided to complete and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicare or Medicaid. After being adjusted by the appropriate organization, patients can then be billed for deductibles and other out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical billing clerk might also do any of the following:

• Verify health insurance benefits for patients and assist them with billing concerns or questions
• Follow up on patient claims submitted and appeal those that have been declined
• Work as an intermediary between the medical provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for accurate claim resolution
• Create and manage Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and handle unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billers not only are employed by family practices, but also Grand Rapids MI emergency care facilities, hospitals, medical groups or nursing homes. They may practice in every kind of medical facility that relies on the revenues generated by billing patients and third party payers.

Online Medical Biller and Coder Colleges

If you are interested in flexibility and the convenience of attending classes at home, then enrolling in an online medical billing and coding college might be a good alternative. They can be especially attractive to individuals living in Grand Rapids MI who anticipate going to school while still working or have additional responsibilities that make attending classes on campus challenging. And as an added advantage, online programs are in many cases less expensive than the traditional classroom alternatives. Costs for such things as tuition, course materials and commuting may be reduced or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online programs are reputable. That's why it's essential to confirm that any online program you select is accredited to ensure a superior education. We will review the benefits of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to confirm that any online instruction you are researching is accredited by one of the national accrediting organizations, such as the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are dedicated enough to commit yourself to this style of learning, then attaining your certificate or degree online may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Medical Billing and Coding Colleges

Now that you have a general idea what a medical biller and coder does, as well as what education options are available, you must begin the process of comparing colleges. But since there a large number of training options available at community colleges and vocational, technical and trade schools within the Grand Rapids MI area, you must have a prepared list of questions in order to assess each one. And when you add all of the online colleges that offer medical coding and billing classes, the project can become rather formidable. As we have already addressed, expense and location are going to be relevant issues, especially if you have a modest budget and will be driving to classes from your Grand Rapids home. And confirming that the program and school are accredited must be part of your vetting procedure as well. So let's take a look at some of the other questions that you should ask the colleges you are considering so that you can analyze each one and make the appropriate choice.

Is the Training Accredited? It's crucial that the program and college you decide on are accredited by a highly regarded accrediting organization, such as the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online college, it can also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online education. Not only will accreditation help guarantee that the education you receive will be of the highest quality, it may help with your future employment as well. Many Grand Rapids MI healthcare facilities will only hire entry level applicants that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding training course. And financial assistance and student loans are in many cases only offered for schools that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Before enrolling in a medical billing and coding program, find out what its ranking and reputation are among other colleges. This is particularly important if you have no experience in the industry, since potential employers will mostly be relying on the quality of your education. As we have covered, verifying that the school is accredited is an initial 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 contact several Grand Rapids MI healthcare organizations that you might have an interest in working for and ask which schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even if the college itself does not have an exceptional reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be well regarded.

Is there a Job Referral Program? Obtaining a job in Grand Rapids MI after graduation in your new field might be difficult 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 an excellent indication that the billing and coding school has a substantial network of medical care employers where they can refer their graduates. It also suggests that the school's graduates are sought after in the marketplace.

Where is the College's Location? If you are planning on driving to class from your Grand Rapids MI home, then the location of the college will be of significant importance. Obviously if you choose an online medical coding and billing program, then the location of the school will not be a factor. One thing to remember is that if you go to classes at a junior or community college, many charge a higher tuition for students that reside 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 coding and billing training courses can fluctuate in cost based on the type of credential obtained and the amount of training provided. Just keep in mind, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Costs also include such items as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial assistance may be available to help offset some of the cost, so be sure to get in touch with the college's financial assistance department to find out what is offered in Grand Rapids MI. Of course if you decide to attend an online school, some of these additional costs, particularly for commuting may be lessened or even eliminated.

Are Classes Available that Match your Schedule? Many students continue working while attending school and require a flexible class schedule. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Grand Rapids MI, make sure that they are offered at those times. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the college you pick offers that alternative. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up classes missed because of sickness, work or family emergencies.

Find Out More on How to Choose a Medical Billing Course

Select the Best Grand Rapids MI Medical Billing and Coding Training 

Enrolling in the ideal medical billing and coding degree or certificate course is a very important initial step to help assure your success in this rewarding field of healthcare. Medical billing and medical coding are two of the most rapidly growing careers in the medical sector. Because of this, there are a lot of vocational schools, community colleges and companies that provide training and instruction in medical billing and coding. As we have discussed, you can opt to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also imperative that the college you select offers an accredited program with an exceptional reputation within the healthcare community. But however you choose to receive your education, by following the previous guidelines and asking the right questions, you will be better prepared to evaluate your options and select the ideal medical billing and coding college. And with the proper training, you can realize your career objective to become a medical coding and billing clerk in Grand Rapids Michigan.