How to Choose the Right Medical Billing and Coding College near Lansing Michigan

Once you have decided to enter the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Lansing MI, it's crucial that you choose the appropriate school so that you receive the proper education to ensure your success. As you probably know, healthcare is among the fastest growing fields in the Country, and increasingly more options are available both on campus and online to get the training that you need. But just where do you start? A number of potential students start by searching for colleges that are within travelling distance of their residences and then comparing tuition. Or they may search the internet looking for online courses and go with the least expensive one. But while location and cost are important factors when making your choice, they should not be the only ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as accreditation and reputation need to be considered as well. We will go over a list of questions that you need to ask the medical billing and coding schools you are evaluating in order to find out what you need to know before 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 forefront of the billing systems for Lansing MI private practices and healthcare organizations. They have the responsibility to examine the medical records of patients and assign universal codes to all services provided. These services can be for diagnosis, medical or dental procedures, or any equipment or medical supplies utilized. There are various 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 including nursing and physician 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 government and private payer rules that influence coding also. Improperly coded claims can result in services not being covered, services being paid at a reduced rate, or the provider being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can literally cost Lansing MI doctors and hospitals many thousands of dollars in earnings annually, a proficient medical coder is an important asset to the healthcare organization. They can work in every type of healthcare facility, including private practices, clinics, hospitals and critical care centers. It is not uncommon for experienced medical coders to working from home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Biller Job Description

As crucial as the medical coder's role is, it would be for naught without the collaboration of the medical biller whose efforts produce revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Lansing MI healthcare facilities and are practically responsible for keeping their doors open. In many cases the biller and coder may be the same man or woman within a healthcare facility, but they can also be two individual professionals. When the coder has completed her or his task, the biller uses the codes provided to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicaid or Medicare. After being adjusted by the appropriate entity, patients can then be invoiced for deductibles or additional out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical billing professional may 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 denied
• Function as an intermediate between the medical provider, the insurance companies and the patients for accurate claim resolution
• Generate and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

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

Medical Billing and Coding Online Training and Certification

It's imperative that you obtain your instruction from a reputable school, whether it's a technical school, vocational school or community college. While it is not a requirement in most cases to earn a professional certification, the school you select should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). Most Michigan programs only require that you earn either a high school diploma or a GED to qualify. The fastest way to becoming either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to attain a certificate, which usually takes about 1 year to accomplish. An Associate Degree is also an option for a more expansive education, which for almost all colleges calls for 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical coding and billing are not widely available. When your education has been completed, although not mandated in the majority of states, you might desire to attain a professional certification. Certification is an excellent means for those new to the field to show potential employers that they are not only qualified but dedicated to their career. Some 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 coding and billing course, together with obtaining a professional certification, are the most effective ways to advance your new vocation and succeed in the fast growing medical care industry.

Medical Biller and Coder Online Colleges

If you are looking for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes from home, then choosing a medical billing and coding online course may be an excellent alternative. They can be especially attractive to students living in Lansing MI who anticipate going to school while still working or have other obligations that make attending classes on campus difficult. And as an additional benefit, online programs are frequently less expensive than the traditional classroom alternatives. Expenses 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 important to confirm that the online course you enroll in is accredited to guarantee a premium education. We will address the advantages of accreditation in the next segment. Just make sure to confirm that any online instruction you are researching is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, for example the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are dedicated enough to commit yourself to this type of learning, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Medical Coder and Biller Schools

Now that you have a better idea what a medical biller and coder does, as well as what education options are offered, you must start the process of comparing schools. But since there many training options available at community colleges and vocational, technical and trade 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 programs that offer medical billing and coding classes, the project can become rather formidable. As we have already covered, expense and location are going to be significant issues, particularly if you have a modest budget and will be commuting to classes from your Lansing home. And whether or not the school and program are accredited should be part of your vetting process also. So let's review a few of the other questions that you should ask the programs you are reviewing so that you can compare each one and make the ideal choice.

Is the School Accredited? It's crucial that the program and school you choose are accredited by a respected accrediting organization, 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 distance or online learning. Not only will accreditation help guarantee that the training you get will be of superior quality, it might help with your future employment also. Many Lansing MI healthcare facilities will only hire entry level prospects that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding educational program. And financial aid and student loans are often only available for programs that have received an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Prior to choosing a medical billing and coding college, find out what its ranking and reputation are among other schools. This is particularly imperative if you have no experience in the field, since potential employers will basically be relying on the quality of your education. As we have addressed, verifying that the school is accredited is an initial step. Checking with school rating organizations, such as U.S. News and World Report, can confirm the quality of the school also. An alternative is to check with several Lansing MI medical organizations that you might be interested in working for and ask which schools they recommend. Remember that even when the college itself does not have an excellent reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be highly regarded.

Is there an Employment Assistance Program? Finding employment in Lansing MI after graduating in your new profession might be difficult without the support of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their job placement rates are. A high and rapid placement rate is a good indication that the billing and coding school has a substantial network of healthcare employers where they can place their graduates. It also indicates that the college's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

Where is the College's Location? If you are planning on commuting to class from your Lansing MI residence, then the location of the program will be of significant importance. Obviously if you choose an medical coding and billing online program, then the location of the school will not be a factor. One thing to bear in mind is that if you go to classes at a junior or community college, many charge a higher tuition for enrollees that reside outside of their districts. So you may prefer to first consider those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Complete Expense? Medical coding and billing training courses can vary in cost based on the type of credential earned and the length of training furnished. Just keep in mind, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Costs also include such things as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial assistance may be available to help offset some of the expense, so be sure to check with the college's financial assistance department to see what is offered in Lansing MI. Naturally if you decide to enroll in an online college, a portion of these added costs, particularly for commuting may be minimized or even eliminated.

Are Classes Accessible that Match your Schedule? A number of students keep working while going to school and require a flexible class schedule. If you can only attend classes during the evenings or on weekends near Lansing MI, make sure that they are available at those times. If you can only enroll on a part time schedule, make certain that the college you choose offers that option. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up classes missed due to sickness, work or family responsibilities.

Learn How to Choose a Medical Coding Program

Choose the Right Lansing MI Medical Billing and Coding Training 

Choosing the ideal medical coding and billing certificate or degree course is a very important first step to help assure your success in this exciting sector of medical care. Medical coding and medical billing are 2 of the fastest growing professions 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 opt to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also imperative that the school you choose offers an accredited program with an exceptional reputation within the medical care industry. But however you choose to receive your training, by following the previous guidelines and asking the right questions, you will be better able to analyze your options and select the right medical billing and coding college. And with the appropriate training, you can achieve your career goal to become a medical coding and billing specialist in Lansing Michigan.