How to Pick the Best Medical Billing College near Lansing Michigan

Now that you have made a decision to become part of the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Lansing MI, it's important that you select the right program so that you receive the necessary education to ensure your success. As you probably know, healthcare is one of 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 do you start? A number of aspiring students start by searching for programs that are within driving distance of their residences and then comparing tuition. Or they might surf the internet looking for online courses and go with the least expensive one. But while location and cost are important issues when making your choice, they should not be the sole ones when comparing medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as reputation and accreditation must be taken into account as well. We will go over a list of topics that you should ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are evaluating in order to learn what you need to know prior to making your decision. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical coders and billers do and the educational and certification options available.

Medical Coding and Billing Online Programs and Certification

It's imperative that you receive your instruction from a reputable school, whether it's a community college, technical or trade school. Although it is not a requirement in many cases to earn a professional certification, the program you select should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). Most Michigan schools just require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to be eligible. The fastest way to become either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to attain a certificate, which generally takes about 1 year to complete. An Associate Degree is also an option for a more comprehensive education, which for almost all programs requires 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical coding and billing are not abundantly available. After your education has been concluded, although not mandated in the majority of states, you might wish to attain 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. A few 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 billing and coding course, in conjunction with earning a professional certification, are the most effective ways to advance your new profession and succeed in the fast growing healthcare industry.

Medical Coding Job Functions

Medical coders work on the front line of the billing systems for Lansing MI private practices and hospitals. Coders have the responsibility to analyze the treatment 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 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 physician and nursing notes, patient charts, and lab and radiology reports. Medical Coders must not only know what services were provided in total for accuracy, but must have a working knowledge of all government and private payer rules that affect coding also. Incorrectly coded claims can result in services not being covered, services being paid at a reduced rate, or the provider being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can actually cost Lansing MI physicians and medical facilities many thousands of dollars in earnings every year, a proficient medical coder is a vital asset for any healthcare organization. They can work in any type of healthcare facility, including family practices, clinics, hospitals and critical care centers. It is not unusual for seasoned medical coders to operate at home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Biller Job Summary

As crucial as the medical coder's function is, it would be for naught without the collaboration of the medical biller whose labors generate revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to Lansing MI healthcare facilities and are essentially responsible for keeping them in business. Frequently the biller and coder are the same person within a medical organization, but they can also be two independent professionals. After the coder has completed his or her task, the biller uses the codes supplied to complete and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicaid or Medicare. After being adjusted by the applicable organization, patients can then be invoiced for deductibles and additional out of pocket expenses. On a regular basis, a medical biller can also do any of the following:

• Verify health insurance coverages for patients and assist them with billing questions or concerns
• Follow up on patient claims submitted and appeal those that have been declined
• Function as an intermediate between the healthcare provider, the insurance companies and the patients for proper claim settlement
• Produce and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Produce and deal with unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billing clerks not only work for family practices, but also Lansing MI hospitals, urgent care facilities, medical groups or nursing homes. They may work in every type of healthcare facility that depends on the incomes generated by billing third party payers and patients.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Training

If you are interested in convenience and the flexibility of attending classes from home, then enrolling in an online medical billing and coding program may be a great option. They can be particularly appealing to those living in Lansing MI who plan on attending school while still working or have additional obligations that make attending classes on campus difficult. And as an added benefit, online programs are often less expensive than the conventional classroom alternatives. Costs for such things as tuition, course materials and commuting may be decreased or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online programs are reputable. For that reason it's imperative to verify that any online program you choose is accredited to ensure a premium education. We will cover the advantages of accreditation in the next segment. Just be sure to verify 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 apply yourself to this mode of learning, then attaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Medical Coding and Billing Colleges

Now that you have a better idea just what a medical biller and coder does, in addition to what education options are available, you must start the process of comparing colleges. But since there are numerous training options offered at community colleges as well as technical, trade and vocational schools within the Lansing MI area, you need to have a prepared list of questions in order to evaluate each one. And when you include all of the online schools that offer medical billing and coding classes, the task can become rather daunting. As we have already covered, expense and location are going to be important issues, especially if you have a limited budget and will be driving to classes from your Lansing home. And confirming that the program and school are accredited should be part of your vetting process as well. So let's review some of the additional questions that you should ask the schools you are reviewing so that you can compare each one and make the right choice.

Is the Training Accredited? It's important that the school and program you decide on are accredited by a respected accrediting organization, for example the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online school, it might also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Not only will accreditation help ensure that the education you receive will be of superior quality, it may help with your future employment as well. A number of Lansing MI healthcare facilities will only employ entry level applicants that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding educational program. And financial assistance and student loans are frequently only offered for colleges that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Prior to selecting a medical billing and coding program, check out what its reputation and ranking are compared to other schools. This is especially important if you have no experience in the field, since potential employers will basically be relying on the quality of your training. As we have covered, making sure that the school is accredited is a first step. Checking with college rating organizations, for example U.S. News and World Report, can confirm the quality of the school as well. An alternative is to get in touch with several Lansing MI medical organizations that you might have an interest in working for and find out which colleges they recommend. Keep in mind that even when the college itself does not have an outstanding reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be highly regarded.

Is there an Employment Assistance Program? Finding employment in Lansing MI after graduation in your new field might be difficult without the support of a job assistance program. Check if the colleges you are considering have job assistance programs and what their job placement rates are. A rapid and high placement rate is an excellent indication that the billing and coding college has a considerable network of medical care 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 School's Location? If you are anticipating commuting to class from your Lansing MI home, then the location of the campus will be of prime importance. Of course if you select an online medical billing and coding program, then the location of the school will not be important. One thing to bear in mind is that if you attend classes at a community or junior college, most charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to first look at those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Total Expense? Medical coding and billing certification courses can vary in cost depending on the type of credential obtained and the length of training provided. But remember, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Expenditures also consist of such items as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial aid may be accessible to help offset a portion of the expense, so don't forget to get in touch with the school's financial assistance department to see what is offered in Lansing MI. Of course if you decide to attend an online college, a portion of these additional costs, particularly for commuting may be minimized or even eliminated.

Are Classes Available that Accommodate your Schedule? A number of students continue working while attending school and need a flexible class schedule. If you can only attend classes during the evenings or on weekends near Lansing MI, confirm that they are available at those times. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select offers that option. Also, find out what the process is for making up classes missed due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Learn How to Select a Medical Coding Program

Enroll in the Best Lansing MI Medical Billing and Coding School 

Choosing the ideal medical coding and billing certificate or degree program is a very important initial step to help ensure your success in this exciting sector of medical care. Medical billing and medical coding are two of the most rapidly expanding professions in the health sector. As a result, there are numerous trade schools, junior colleges and other institutions that provide instruction and training in medical billing and coding. As we have covered, you can decide to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also essential that the school you choose has an accredited program with an exceptional reputation within the medical care field. But however you elect to receive your training, by adhering to the previous guidelines and posing the appropriate questions, you will be better able to assess your options and choose the ideal medical billing and coding program. And with the proper training, you can realize your career goal to become a medical billing and coding specialist in Lansing Michigan.