How to Choose the Right Medical Billing Program near Staten Island New York

Once you have made a decision to enter the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Staten Island NY, it's essential that you choose the right school to ensure that you receive the proper education to guarantee your success. As you probably know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing sectors in the United States, and a growing number of options are offered both online and on campus to receive the training that you need. But just where do you start? A number of potential students start by looking for schools that are within driving distance of their homes and then comparing cost. Or they may surf the internet looking for online courses and choose the cheapest one. But while location and cost are important factors when making your determination, they should not be the only ones when researching medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifications as reputation and accreditation should be taken into consideration as well. We will review a checklist of questions that you need to ask the medical billing and coding courses you are evaluating so that you can find out what you must know prior to making your selection. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical billers and coders do and the training and certification options offered.

Medical Coder Job Duties

Medical coders work on the front line of the billing systems for Staten Island NY medical practices and healthcare organizations. They have the responsibility to review the treatment records of patients and assign universal codes to all services provided. These services may be for medical, diagnosis or dental procedures, or any medical supplies or equipment used. There are several 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 rely on information from sources such as nursing and physician notes, patient charts, and radiology and lab reports. Coders must not only know what services were provided in total for accuracy, but must have a functioning knowledge of all government and private payer rules that influence coding also. Improperly coded claims can result in services not being paid for, services being paid at a reduced rate, or the provider being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can in fact cost Staten Island NY doctors and hospitals multiple thousands of dollars in earnings each year, a proficient medical coder is a necessary asset for any healthcare organization. They can operate in any kind of healthcare facility, including family practices, clinics, hospitals and emergency care centers. It is not unusual for professional medical coders to work at home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Biller Job Duties

As important as the medical coder's job is, it would be for naught without the contribution of the medical biller whose efforts bring in revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to Staten Island NY healthcare organizations and are literally responsible for keeping their doors open. Sometimes the biller and coder are the same person within a medical facility, but they can also be two individual specialists. Once the coder has completed her or his job, the biller uses the codes provided to complete and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid. After they have been adjusted by the appropriate organization, patients can then be billed for deductibles and other out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical biller can also do any of the following:

• Confirm medical insurance benefits for patients and assist them with billing concerns or questions
• Follow up on submitted patient claims and appeal those that have been declined
• Act as a mediator between the healthcare provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for correct claim settlement
• Produce and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and deal with unpaid patient collections accounts

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

Medical Coding and Billing Online Instruction and Certification

It's important that you get your education from a reputable school, whether it's a community college, technical or trade school. While it is not a requirement in many cases to attain a professional certification, the program you select should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). Most New York programs only 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 earn a certificate, which normally takes about one year to accomplish. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more comprehensive education, which for almost all colleges requires 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical billing and coding are not widely available. When your training has been completed, although not mandated in the majority of states, you might want to acquire a professional certification. Certification is a great 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 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 best ways to advance your new vocation and succeed in the rapid growing healthcare field.

Online Medical Billing and Coding Schools

If you are looking for flexibility and the convenience of attending classes at home, then choosing a medical billing and coding online program might be a good alternative. They can be especially attractive to students living in Staten Island NY who anticipate going to school while still working or have additional responsibilities that make attending classes on campus difficult. And as an added advantage, online schools are often less expensive than the traditional classroom options. Expenses for such items as tuition, course materials and commuting may be decreased or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online colleges are reputable. For that reason it's important to confirm that the online school you enroll in is accredited to ensure a quality education. We will address the benefits of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to check that any online training you are researching is accredited by one of the national accrediting organizations, for example the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to apply yourself to this type of learning, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Medical Coding and Billing Schools

Now that you have a general idea just what a medical coder and biller does, in addition to what education options are available, you must start the process of comparing colleges. But since there a large number of training options available at community colleges as well as technical, trade and vocational schools within the Staten Island NY area, you need to have a prepared list of questions in order to analyze each one. And when you include all of the online programs that offer medical billing and coding classes, the project can become somewhat daunting. As we have already discussed, expense and location are going to be important factors, particularly if you have a modest budget and will be driving to classes from your Staten Island home. And verifying that the school and program are accredited must be part of your vetting process also. So let's take a look at several of the additional questions that you should ask the schools you are looking at so that you can evaluate each one and make the best choice.

Is the School Accredited? It's essential that the school and program you select are accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online school, it may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online education. Not only will accreditation help guarantee that the education you get will be of superior quality, it could help with your future employment also. A number of Staten Island NY medical organizations will only employ entry level applicants that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing educational program. And financial aid and student loans are often only offered for programs that have earned an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Before choosing a medical coding and billing college, find out what its reputation and ranking are compared to other colleges. This is particularly imperative if you have no experience in the field, since potential employers will mainly be relying on the quality of your education. As we have covered, confirming that the program is accredited is a first step. Checking with college rating organizations, such as U.S. News and World Report, can verify the quality of the school as well. Another option is to call a few Staten Island NY healthcare organizations that you might have an interest in working for and ask which colleges they recommend. Remember that even if the school itself does not have an outstanding reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be well regarded.

Is there an Employment Referral Program? Finding employment in Staten Island NY after graduation in your new profession might be difficult 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 an excellent indication that the billing and coding school has a sizable network of medical care employers where they can refer their graduates. It also suggests 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 residence, then the location of the campus will be of significant importance. Naturally if you choose an online medical coding and billing program, then the location of the school will not be important. One thing to bear in mind is that if you go to classes at a junior or community college, most require a higher tuition for pupils that live outside of their districts. So you might prefer to first consider those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Total Expense? Medical coding and billing certification courses can vary in cost based on the type of credential acquired and the length of training provided. But remember, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Expenses also include such things as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial assistance might be accessible to help reduce some of the expense, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in Staten Island NY. Naturally if you decide to enroll in an online school, some of these additional costs, particularly for commuting may be lessened or even eliminated.

Are Classes Offered that Match your Schedule? Many students keep working while attending college and need a convenient class schedule. If you can only attend classes during the evenings or on weekends near Staten Island NY, verify that they are available at those times. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, make certain that the program you decide on provides that option. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up classes missed due to illness, work or family responsibilities.

Find Out More on How to Select a Medical Biller and Coder Course

Choose the Best Staten Island NY Medical Billing and Coding Program 

Enrolling in the right medical coding and billing degree or certificate program is a very important initial step to help assure your success in this rewarding specialty of healthcare. Medical billing and medical coding are two of the most rapidly growing careers in the medical sector. As a result, there are numerous trade schools, junior colleges and companies that offer education and training in medical coding and billing. As we have discussed, you can elect to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also essential that the school you pick offers an accredited program with an excellent reputation within the medical care field. But however you choose to receive your education, by adhering to the previous guidelines and posing the right questions, you will be better prepared to evaluate your options and pick the ideal medical billing and coding college. And with the proper training, you can realize your career goal to become a medical coding and billing clerk in Staten Island New York.