How to Enroll In the Right Medical Billing College near Staten Island New York

Once you have made a decision to enter the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Staten Island NY, it's important that you select the right program so that you receive the proper education to ensure your success. As you no doubt know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing fields 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 does one begin? Many aspiring students start by looking for schools that are within commuting distance of their residences and then comparing cost. Or they may surf the internet looking for online schools and choose the least expensive one. But while cost and location are important factors when making your determination, they should not be the only ones when comparing medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as accreditation and reputation must be considered also. We will go over a list of topics that you should ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are researching so that you can find out 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 available.

Medical Coder Job Duties

Medical coders work on the forefront of the billing systems for Staten Island NY medical practices and healthcare organizations. Coders 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 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 use information from sources such as nursing and physician notes, patient charts, and radiology and lab reports. Medical Coders must not only know what services were provided in total for accuracy, but must have a working knowledge of all private payer and government regulations that affect coding also. Incorrectly coded claims may lead to services not being covered, services being paid for 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 many thousands of dollars in earnings each year, a proficient medical coder is a necessary asset for any healthcare organization. They can work in every type of healthcare facility, including family practices, clinics, hospitals and urgent care centers. It is not uncommon for experienced medical coders to operate at home as an offsite employee or an independent contractor.

Medical Billing Job Duties

As vital as the medical coder's role is, it would be for naught without the contribution of the medical biller whose labors produce revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Staten Island NY healthcare facilities and are essentially responsible for keeping them in business. Often the biller and coder may be the same man or woman within a medical organization, but they can also be two individual professionals. When the coder has completed her or his duty, the biller utilizes the codes supplied to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid. After they have been paid by the applicable organization, patients can then be charged for deductibles and other out of pocket expenses. On a routine basis, a medical biller can also do any of the following:

• Check health insurance coverages for patients and assist them with billing concerns or questions
• Check on submitted patient claims and appeal those that have been denied
• Function as an intermediate between the healthcare provider, the insurance companies and the patients for correct claim settlement
• Create and manage Accounts Receivables reports
• Produce and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

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

Medical Coder and Biller Online Instruction and Certification

It's essential that you receive your education from a reputable school, whether it's a community college, technical or trade school. Even though it is not required in many cases to obtain a professional certification, the program you select should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). Most New York schools just require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to qualify. The quickest way to become either a medical coder or biller (or both) is to earn a certificate, which normally takes about a year to accomplish. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more comprehensive education, which for almost all schools calls for 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical coding and billing are not abundantly available. When your training has been concluded, although not mandated in most states, you might wish to attain a professional certification. Certification is an excellent method for those new to the profession to show potential employers that they are not only qualified but dedicated to their occupation. 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).

Completing an accredited medical billing and coding program, together with attaining a professional certification, are the best ways to advance your new career and succeed in the fast growing healthcare field.

Online Medical Biller and Coder Programs

If you are looking for flexibility and the convenience of attending classes from home, then choosing an online medical billing and coding program may be a great alternative. They can be particularly attractive to individuals living in Staten Island NY who anticipate going to school while continuing to work or have other obligations that make attending classes on campus difficult. And as an added advantage, online colleges are often less expensive than the traditional classroom alternatives. Expenses for such items as tuition, study materials and commuting may be decreased or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online courses are reputable. For that reason it's important to establish that the online college you enroll in is accredited to ensure a quality education. We will address the advantages of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to check that any online training 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 dedicated enough to apply yourself to this type of learning, then earning your degree or certificate online might be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Medical Coding and Billing Training Programs

Now that you have a general idea just what a medical coder and biller does, as well as what training options are available, you must start the process of comparing schools. But since there a large number of training options offered at community colleges as well as technical, trade and vocational schools within the Staten Island NY area, you should have a ready list of questions in order to assess each one. And when you add all of the online schools that offer medical billing and coding classes, the task can become somewhat formidable. As we have already covered, expense and location are going to be relevant factors, especially if you have a limited budget and will be traveling to classes from your Staten Island home. And confirming that the school and program are accredited should be part of your vetting process as well. 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 analyze each one and make the right choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's essential that the school and program you decide on are accredited by a highly regarded accrediting organization, such as the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online college, it can also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. Not only will accreditation help confirm that the education you get will be of the highest quality, it might help with your future employment as well. Many Staten Island NY healthcare organizations will only hire entry level candidates that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing training program. And financial assistance and student loans are in many cases only offered for schools that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Before choosing a medical billing and coding program, find out what its reputation and ranking are among other schools. This is particularly imperative if you have no experience in the industry, since potential employers will primarily be relying on the quality of your education. As we have addressed, verifying that the school is accredited is a first step. Checking with college rating organizations, for example U.S. News and World Report, can confirm the quality of the school as well. Another option is to call several Staten Island NY medical organizations that you might be interested in working for and find out which colleges they suggest. Keep in mind that even when the school itself does not have an outstanding reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be highly regarded.

Is there an Employment Placement Program? Finding employment in Staten Island NY after graduation in your new profession may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. Check if the schools you are looking at have job assistance programs and what their job placement rates are. A rapid and high placement rate is an excellent indication that the billing and coding school has a considerable network of medical care 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 Located? If you are planning on commuting to class from your Staten Island NY home, then the location of the school will be of prime importance. Of course if you choose an medical coding and billing online program, then the location of the college will not be a factor. One thing to bear in mind is that if you go to classes at a community or junior college, many charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to first research those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Overall Cost? Medical coding and billing certification programs can fluctuate in cost depending on the type of credential earned and the amount 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 aid might be obtainable to help offset a portion of the expense, so don't forget to contact the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Staten Island NY. Of course if you decide to enroll in an online school, a portion of these additional costs, particularly for commuting may be lessened or even eliminated.

Are Classes Available that Fit your Schedule? A number of students continue working while going to school and require a convenient class schedule. If you can only attend classes during the evenings or on weekends near Staten Island NY, verify that they are offered at those times. If you can only attend on a part time schedule, verify that the school you pick provides that option. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up classes missed because of illness, work or family responsibilities.

Learn How to Enroll in a Medical Biller and Coder School

Enroll in the Best Staten Island NY Medical Billing and Coding Training 

Choosing the right medical coding and billing degree or certificate course is a critical first step to help assure your success in this exciting field of healthcare. Medical coding and medical billing are two of the most rapidly growing professions in the medical industry. Because of this, there are many vocational schools, junior colleges and other institutions that offer 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 imperative that the college you select has an accredited program with an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. But however you choose to receive your training, by following the previous guidelines and posing the appropriate questions, you will be better prepared to evaluate your options and select the right medical billing and coding program. And with the appropriate training, you can achieve your career objective to become a medical coding and billing clerk in Staten Island New York.