How to Find the Best Medical Billing and Coding Program near Lansing Michigan

Once you have made a decision to become part of the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Lansing MI, it's essential that you find the right school to ensure that you receive the proper education to ensure your success. As you no doubt know, healthcare is among the fastest growing sectors in the Country, and increasingly more options are offered both on campus and online to get the training that you need. But just where does one begin? A number of aspiring students start by searching for colleges that are within driving distance of their homes and then comparing cost. Or they might surf the internet looking for online schools and go with the least expensive one. But while cost and location are relevant factors when making your selection, they should not be the sole ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as accreditation and reputation should be considered as well. We will review a list of topics that you should ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are evaluating so that you can find out what you need to know prior to making your selection. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical billers and coders do and the academic and certification options offered.

Medical Coding Job Duties

Medical coders are on the front line of the billing systems for Lansing MI private practices and healthcare organizations. They have the responsibility to review 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 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 depend on information from sources such as 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 regulations that impact coding also. Incorrectly coded claims may lead to services not being paid for, services being paid at a lower rate, or the physician or facility being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can in fact cost Lansing MI hospitals and doctors multiple thousands of dollars in income annually, a reliable medical coder is a vital asset for any healthcare team. They can work in any kind of healthcare facility, including private practices, hospitals, clinics and urgent care centers. It is not uncommon for seasoned 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 nothing without the collaboration of the medical biller whose efforts bring in revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Lansing MI medical organizations and are practically responsible for keeping them in business. Sometimes the coder and biller can be the same individual within a healthcare organization, but they can also be two independent professionals. When the coder has performed her or his duty, the biller uses the codes provided to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicare or Medicaid. After they have been paid by the applicable entity, patients can then be charged for deductibles and other out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical billing clerk might also do any of the following:

• Check health insurance benefits for patients and help them with billing questions or concerns
• Follow up on submitted patient claims and appeal any that have been declined
• Work as a mediator between the healthcare provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for correct claim resolution
• Create and oversee Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and deal with unpaid patient collections accounts

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

Medical Billing and Coding Online Education and Certification

It's imperative that you obtain your instruction from a reputable school, whether it's a community college, technical or trade school. Even though it is not a requirement in many cases to obtain a professional certification, the school you choose should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). Most Michigan schools simply require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to be eligible. The most expedient way to become either a medical coder or biller (or both) is to earn a certificate, which generally takes about one year to complete. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more comprehensive education, which for the majority of programs calls for 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical coding and billing are not widely available. Once your education has been completed, although not mandated in most states, you might desire to earn a professional certification. Certification is a great way for those new to the profession to show potential employers that they are not only qualified but dedicated 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 billing and coding program, combined with earning a professional certification, are the most effective ways to advance your new vocation and succeed in the fast growing medical care field.

Online Medical Biller and Coder Schools

If you are interested in flexibility and the convenience of attending classes in your home, then choosing a medical billing and coding online program may be a great option. They can be especially attractive to those living in Lansing MI who anticipate attending school while continuing to work or have other commitments that make attending classes on campus challenging. And as an additional advantage, online programs are frequently cheaper than the conventional classroom alternatives. Costs for such things as tuition, commuting and study materials may be reduced or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online schools are reputable. That's why it's essential to confirm that any online program you select is accredited to ensure a quality education. We will review the advantages of accreditation in the next segment. Just make sure to check that any online school you are looking at is accredited by one of the national accrediting organizations, for example the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to commit yourself to this style of learning, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the right choice for you.

Points to Ask Medical Coder and Biller Schools

Once you have a better idea just what a medical coder and biller does, in addition to what training options are available, you must start the process of comparing colleges. But since there a large number of training options offered at community colleges and vocational, technical and trade schools within the Lansing MI area, you must have a prepared list of questions in order to evaluate each one. And when you include all of the online programs that offer medical coding and billing classes, the task can become somewhat daunting. As we have already addressed, cost and location are going to be important factors, particularly if you have a limited budget and will be driving to classes from your Lansing residence. And verifying that the program and school are accredited must be part of your vetting procedure as well. 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 Program Accredited? It's vital that the school and program you choose are accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online school, it can 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 get will be of superior quality, it could help with your future employment as well. A number of Lansing MI healthcare organizations will only employ entry level candidates that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding 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 enrolling in a medical coding and billing college, find out what its reputation and ranking are compared to other programs. This is especially imperative if you have no experience in the field, since potential employers will mostly be relying on the quality of your education. As we have addressed, verifying 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 call a few Lansing MI healthcare organizations that you may have an interest in working for and find out which colleges they recommend. Keep in mind that even when the school itself does not have an outstanding reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be well regarded.

Is there an Employment Placement Program? Finding a job in Lansing MI after graduation in your new field might be difficult without the support of a job placement 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 substantial network of healthcare employers where they can place their graduates. It also suggests 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 Lansing MI home, then the location of the campus will be of significant importance. Obviously if you select an online medical billing and coding program, then the location of the school will not be a consideration. One thing to bear in mind is that if you go to classes at a community or junior college, many require a higher tuition for pupils that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to first research those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Complete Expense? Medical billing and coding certification courses can differ in cost depending on the type of credential obtained and the length of training provided. Just keep in mind, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Expenses also consist of such things as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial assistance might be available to help reduce some of the cost, so don't forget to get in touch with the college's financial assistance department to see what is offered in Lansing MI. Of course if you decide to enroll in an online college, some of these additional costs, such as for commuting may be lessened or even eliminated.

Are Classes Offered that Accommodate your Schedule? Many students keep working while going to school and need a convenient class schedule. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Lansing MI, make sure that they are available at those times. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the program you choose offers that alternative. Also, ask what the process is for making up classes missed because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Learn How to Choose a Billing and Coding Class

Enroll in the Right Lansing MI Medical Billing and Coding School 

Enrolling in the ideal medical coding and billing certificate or degree program is a crucial first step to help guarantee your success in this exciting sector of medical care. Medical billing and medical coding are 2 of the most rapidly expanding jobs in the medical industry. Because of this, there are a lot of vocational schools, community colleges and other institutions that provide training and education in medical coding and billing. As we have covered, you can decide to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also important that the school you choose has an accredited program with an outstanding reputation within the medical care field. But however you elect to receive your education, by following the previous guidelines and posing the right questions, you will be better able to analyze your options and select the right medical billing and coding school. And with the appropriate training, you can realize your career goal to become a medical coding and billing clerk in Lansing Michigan.