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

Now that you have made a decision to enter the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Lansing MI, it's crucial that you select the right school to ensure that you receive the necessary education to guarantee your success. As you probably know, healthcare is among the fastest growing sectors in the United States, and more and more options are offered both online and on campus to get the training that you need. But just where does one start? A number of potential students start by looking for schools that are within travelling distance of their homes and then comparing tuition. Or they might search the internet looking for online schools and select the cheapest one. But while cost and location are important issues when making your selection, they should not be the sole ones when comparing medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifications as reputation and accreditation should be considered as well. We will go over a checklist of questions that you should ask the medical billing and coding courses you are assessing so that you can learn what you must know prior to making your decision. 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 Job Duties

Medical coders are on the front line of the billing systems for Lansing MI private practices and hospitals. They have the responsibility to examine the treatment records of patients and assign universal codes to all services provided. These services can be for medical, diagnosis or dental procedures, or any equipment or medical supplies utilized. There are multiple 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 rely on information from sources including physician and nursing notes, patient charts, and radiology and lab reports. Coders must know not only what total services were provided for accurate reporting, but must have a working knowledge of all private payer and government rules that impact coding also. Inaccurately coded claims can lead to services not being covered, services being paid at a decreased rate, or the provider being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can in fact cost Lansing MI doctors and hospitals multiple thousands of dollars in earnings each year, a good medical coder is an important asset to the healthcare organization. They can operate in any type of healthcare facility, including family practices, hospitals, clinics and emergency care centers. It is not uncommon for professional medical coders to operate at home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Billing Job Description

As essential as the medical coder's role is, it would be for nothing without the contribution of the medical biller whose efforts produce revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to Lansing MI healthcare facilities and are literally responsible for keeping them in business. Sometimes the biller and coder may be the same person within a healthcare facility, but they can also be two separate specialists. After the coder has performed her or his task, the biller utilizes the codes supplied to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicare or Medicaid. After being paid by the applicable organization, patients can then be invoiced for deductibles or other out of pocket costs. On a regular basis, a medical billing professional can also do any of the following:

• Confirm medical insurance benefits for patients and help them with billing questions or concerns
• Follow up on patient claims submitted and appeal those that have been denied
• Act as a mediator between the medical provider, the insurance companies and the patients for correct claim resolution
• Produce and manage Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and deal with unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billers not only work for family practices, but also Lansing MI emergency care facilities, hospitals, medical groups or nursing homes. They can work in every kind of healthcare facility that depends on the incomes generated from billing third party payers and patients.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Education and Certification

It's important that you obtain your education from a reputable school, whether it's a community college, technical or trade school. Although it is not required in many cases to earn a professional certification, the program you choose should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). The majority of Michigan programs only require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to be eligible. The most expedient way to becoming either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to attain a certificate, which generally takes about a year to accomplish. An Associate Degree is also an option for a more expansive education, which for the majority of colleges calls for two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical billing and coding are not widely available. Once your training has been completed, although not mandated in most states, you may wish to acquire a professional certification. Certification is a great method for those new to the profession to show potential employers that they are not only qualified but dedicated 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, along with obtaining a professional certification, are the most effective ways to accelerate your new vocation and succeed in the rapid growing medical care industry.

Medical Biller and Coder Online Classes

If you are searching for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes in your home, then enrolling in an online medical billing and coding program may be a great alternative. They can be especially attractive to individuals living in Lansing MI who plan on attending school while still working or have additional commitments that make attending classes on campus difficult. And as an added benefit, online schools are in many cases less expensive than the traditional classroom options. Expenses for such things as tuition, commuting and study materials may be minimized or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online colleges are reputable. That's why it's imperative to verify that the online school you enroll in is accredited to ensure a premium education. We will address the advantages of accreditation in the next segment. Just be sure to establish that any online training you are considering is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, for instance the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to commit yourself to this type of learning, then attaining your certificate or degree online may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Medical Coding and Billing Schools

Now that you have a general idea just what a medical coder and biller does, along with what training options are offered, you must begin the process of evaluating colleges. But since there are numerous training options offered at community colleges and technical, trade and vocational schools within the Lansing MI area, you need to have a prepared list of questions in order to analyze each one. And when you add all of the online programs that offer medical billing and coding classes, the project can become rather formidable. As we have already covered, cost and location are going to be significant factors, particularly if you have a modest 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 also. So let's take a look at several of the other questions that you should ask the colleges you are reviewing so that you can compare each one and make the ideal choice.

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

What is the School's Reputation? Prior to choosing a medical coding and billing program, find out what its reputation and ranking are among other colleges. This is particularly important if you have no experience in the field, since potential employers will mainly be evaluating you based on the quality of your training. As we have covered, verifying that the program 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 call several Lansing MI medical organizations that you might be interested in working for and ask which colleges they suggest. Remember that even if the college itself does not have an outstanding reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be highly regarded.

Is there an Employment Referral Program? Finding a job in Lansing MI after graduation in your new profession can be challenging without the support of a job assistance program. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their job placement rates are. A high and rapid placement rate is an excellent indication that the coding and billing college has a substantial network of medical care employers where they can refer their graduates. It also suggests that the school's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

Where is the School Located? If you are anticipating driving to class from your Lansing MI residence, then the location of the program will be of prime importance. Naturally if you enroll in an online medical coding and billing program, then the location of the college will not be important. One thing to keep in mind is that if you go to classes at a community or junior college, many charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might want to first research those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Total Cost? Medical billing and coding certification courses can fluctuate in cost depending on the type of credential earned and the length of training provided. Just keep in mind, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Expenses also include such items as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial assistance may be obtainable to help offset some of the expense, so be sure to contact the college's financial assistance department to find out what is available in Lansing MI. Naturally if you decide to attend an online school, a portion of these added costs, such as for commuting may be reduced or even eliminated.

Are Classes Offered that Accommodate your Schedule? A number of students keep working while going to college and require a flexible class schedule. If you can only attend classes during the evenings or on weekends near Lansing MI, verify that they are offered at those times. If you can only enroll on a part time schedule, verify that the program you decide on offers that alternative. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up classes missed due to illness, work or family responsibilities.

Learn How to Choose a Medical Billing School

Choose the Right Lansing MI Medical Billing and Coding School 

Selecting the ideal medical billing and coding certificate or degree course is a critical first step to help guarantee your success in this rewarding specialty of medical care. Medical billing and medical coding are 2 of the most rapidly growing occupations in the health sector. Because of this, there are numerous trade schools, community colleges and other institutions that offer training and education in medical billing and coding. As we have reviewed, you can decide to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also essential that the college you select offers an accredited program with an outstanding reputation within the medical care industry. But however you choose to receive your education, by following the previous guidelines and asking the right questions, you will be better able to evaluate your options and choose the right medical billing and coding college. And with the appropriate training, you can accomplish your career objective to become a medical coding and billing clerk in Lansing Michigan.