How to Enroll In the Right Medical Billing and Coding Course near Staten Island New York

Once you have decided to enter the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Staten Island NY, it's essential that you select the right school so that you receive the proper education to guarantee your success. As you no doubt know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing fields in the USA, and increasingly more options are available both on campus and online to get the training that you need. But just where does one begin? A number of potential students begin by looking for schools that are within driving distance of their homes and then comparing cost. Or they may search the internet looking for online classes and select the cheapest one. But while cost and location are important factors when making your choice, they should not be the only ones when comparing medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as accreditation and reputation should be taken into consideration also. We will review a checklist of topics that you need to ask the medical billing and coding schools you are researching in order to find out 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.

Medical Coding Job Summary

Medical coders are on the forefront of the billing systems for Staten Island NY medical practices and hospitals. They have the responsibility to review the medical 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 used. 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 rely on information from sources including nursing and physician notes, patient charts, and lab and radiology reports. Medical Coders must know not only what total services were provided for accuracy, but must have a working knowledge of all private payer and government rules that affect coding also. Improperly coded claims can 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 literally cost Staten Island NY hospitals and doctors many thousands of dollars in income annually, a reliable medical coder is a necessary asset for any healthcare organization. They can operate in every kind of healthcare facility, including private practices, hospitals, clinics and urgent care centers. It is not uncommon for experienced medical coders to work at home as an offsite employee or an independent contractor.

Medical Biller Job Duties

As essential as the medical coder's role is, it would be for naught without the contribution of the medical biller whose efforts bring in revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Staten Island NY medical facilities and are essentially responsible for keeping their doors open. Frequently the coder and biller can be the same individual within a medical facility, but they can also be two individual specialists. When the coder has performed his or her duty, the biller uses the codes provided to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicaid or Medicare. After being adjusted by the applicable entity, patients can then be charged for deductibles and other out of pocket costs. On a regular basis, a medical billing clerk can also do any of the following:

• Confirm medical 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 an intermediate between the healthcare provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for correct claim resolution
• Generate and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

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

Online Medical Biller and Coder Colleges

If you are searching for flexibility and the convenience of attending classes from home, then enrolling in an online medical billing and coding school might be an excellent alternative. They can be particularly appealing to individuals living in Staten Island NY who anticipate going to school while still working or have additional obligations that make going to classes on campus difficult. And as an additional advantage, online schools are in many cases cheaper than the conventional classroom options. Costs for such things as tuition, course materials and commuting may be reduced or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online colleges are reputable. That's why it's important to establish that the online school you enroll in is accredited to guarantee a superior education. We will review the advantages of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to verify that any online training you are looking at is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, such as the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are dedicated enough to devote yourself to this style of learning, then attaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Medical Coder and Biller Courses

Now that you have a better idea just what a medical biller and coder does, along with what training options are available, you must start the process of comparing schools. But since there are numerous training options offered at community colleges as well as trade, vocational and technical schools within the Staten Island NY area, you must have a prepared list of questions in order to evaluate each one. And when you add all of the online colleges that offer medical billing and coding classes, the task can become rather formidable. As we have already addressed, cost and location are going to be important issues, especially if you have a limited budget and will be traveling to classes from your Staten Island home. And whether or not the program and school are accredited must be part of your vetting process also. So let's review several of the other questions that you should ask the colleges you are reviewing so that you can compare each one and make the best choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's important that the program and school you select 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 online or distance learning. Not only will accreditation help ensure that the training you get will be of the highest quality, it could help with your future employment also. A number of Staten Island NY medical facilities will only hire entry level applicants that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding training program. And financial assistance and student loans are in many cases only offered for schools that have received an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Prior to selecting a medical coding and billing program, find out what its ranking and reputation are among other schools. This is especially relevant if you have no experience in the profession, since potential employers will mostly be relying on the quality of your training. As we have addressed, making sure that the college is accredited is a first step. Checking with school rating organizations, for instance U.S. News and World Report, can verify the quality of the school as well. Another option is to check with a few Staten Island NY medical organizations that you might have an interest in working for and ask which colleges they recommend. Remember that even if the college itself does not have an excellent reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be highly regarded.

Is there an Employment Referral Program? Finding a job in Staten Island NY after graduation in your new field may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have job placement programs and what their job placement rates are. A high and rapid placement rate is a good indication that the coding and billing college has a sizable network of medical care employers where they can refer their graduates. It also indicates that the college's graduates are sought after in the marketplace.

Where is the School Located? If you are intending on driving to class from your Staten Island NY home, then the location of the campus will be of prime importance. Naturally if you choose an online medical billing and coding 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, most require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may prefer to first consider those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Overall Expense? Medical coding and billing certification courses can vary in cost depending on the type of credential obtained and the length of training furnished. But remember, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Expenses also include such things as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial aid might be obtainable to help reduce some of the expense, so be sure to check with the college's financial assistance department to see what is available in Staten Island NY. Naturally if you decide to attend an online school, some of these added costs, particularly for commuting may be minimized or even eliminated.

Are Classes Available that Accommodate your Schedule? A number of students keep working while attending school and require a convenient class schedule. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Staten Island NY, make sure that they are offered at those times. If you can only enroll on a part time basis, make certain that the college you select offers that alternative. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up classes missed because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Find Out More on How to Enroll in a Medical Biller and Coder School

Choose the Best Staten Island NY Medical Billing and Coding School 

Choosing the ideal medical billing and coding certificate or degree course is a very important first step to help assure your success in this exciting field of healthcare. Medical coding and medical billing are two of the fastest expanding occupations in the medical industry. Because of this, there are many 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 online or on campus. It's also essential that the college you select offers an accredited program with an outstanding reputation within the healthcare community. But however you choose to receive your education, by adhering to the previous guidelines and asking the right questions, you will be better qualified to assess your options and select the ideal medical billing and coding program. And with the appropriate education, you can accomplish your career objective to become a medical coding and billing specialist in Staten Island New York.