How to Find the Best Medical Billing and Coding College near Raleigh North Carolina

Once you have made a decision to enter the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Raleigh NC, it's essential that you choose the right program to ensure that you receive the proper education to ensure 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 available both online and on campus to obtain the training that you need. But just where do you begin? A number of future students begin by searching for colleges that are within commuting distance of their residences and then comparing tuition. Or they may search the internet looking for online courses and pick the least expensive one. But while cost and location are significant factors when making your choice, they should not be the sole ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as reputation and accreditation must be taken into account also. We will cover a list of topics that you should ask the medical billing and coding schools you are assessing so that you can find out what you need to know before making your decision. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical coders and billers do and the academic and certification options available.

Medical Coding Job Duties

Medical coders work on the front line of the billing systems for Raleigh NC medical practices and healthcare organizations. Coders have the responsibility to analyze the treatment 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 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 use 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 functioning knowledge of all government and private payer rules that impact coding as well. Inaccurately coded claims may lead to services not being paid for, services being paid at a decreased rate, or the physician or facility being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can literally cost Raleigh NC physicians and medical facilities multiple thousands of dollars in income annually, a proficient medical coder is a vital asset to the healthcare team. They can operate in any type of healthcare facility, including family practices, hospitals, clinics and emergency care centers. It is not unusual for experienced medical coders to operate at home as an offsite employee or an independent contractor.

Medical Biller Job Functions

As important as the medical coder's function is, it would be for nothing without the contribution of the medical biller whose efforts produce revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to Raleigh NC medical facilities and are literally responsible for keeping them in business. Frequently the coder and biller can be the same individual within a medical facility, but they can also be two individual professionals. Once the coder has completed his or her job, the biller utilizes the codes furnished to complete and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicaid or Medicare. After they have been adjusted by the appropriate entity, patients can then be invoiced for deductibles and additional out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical billing professional can also do any of the following:

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

Medical billing clerks not only work for private practices, but also Raleigh NC hospitals, urgent care facilities, medical groups or nursing homes. They can work in any kind of healthcare facility that depends on the incomes generated from billing third party payers and patients.

Medical Coder and Biller Online Programs and Certification

It's imperative that you obtain your instruction from a reputable school, whether it's a community college, technical or trade school. Although it is not required in many cases to attain a professional certification, the school you enroll in should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). The majority of North Carolina colleges only require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to qualify. The quickest way to becoming either a medical coder or biller (or both) is to attain a certificate, which generally takes about one year to complete. An Associate Degree is also an option for a more expansive education, which for most colleges calls for two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical coding and billing are not widely offered. When your education has been completed, although not required in the majority of states, you might wish to earn a professional certification. Certification is an excellent way 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 course, combined with obtaining a professional certification, are the best ways to advance your new vocation and succeed in the rapid growing healthcare field.

Medical Biller and Coder Online Colleges

If you are looking for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes at home, then choosing a medical billing and coding online school may be a great option. They can be particularly attractive to individuals living in Raleigh NC who anticipate going to school while still working or have additional responsibilities that make attending classes on campus challenging. And as an added benefit, online programs are in many cases less expensive than the traditional classroom options. Expenses for such items as tuition, commuting and study materials may be reduced or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online courses are reputable. For that reason it's important to establish that any online program you select is accredited to ensure a premium education. We will address the advantages of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to confirm that any online training you are researching is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, such as the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are dedicated enough to commit yourself to this style of learning, then acquiring your certificate or degree online may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Medical Biller and Coder Training Programs

Now that you have a general idea just what a medical biller and coder does, along with what education options are available, you need to begin the process of comparing colleges. But since there a large number of training options available at community colleges and vocational, technical and trade schools within the Raleigh NC area, you should have a prepared list of questions in order to analyze each one. And when you include all of the online schools that offer medical billing and coding classes, the project can become somewhat daunting. As we have already covered, location and cost are going to be important issues, especially if you have a modest budget and will be driving to classes from your Raleigh home. And verifying that the school and program are accredited must be part of your vetting procedure as well. So let's take a look at a few of the additional questions that you should ask the schools you are considering so that you can compare each one and make the ideal choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's vital that the school and program you choose are accredited by a highly regarded accrediting agency, such as the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online program, it can also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Not only will accreditation help ensure that the education you get will be of superior quality, it might help with your future employment as well. Many Raleigh NC medical facilities will only employ entry level prospects that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing educational program. And financial aid and student loans are in many cases only obtainable for programs that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Before selecting a medical coding and billing program, check out what its ranking and reputation are among other schools. This is especially important if you have no experience in the field, since potential employers will basically be relying on the quality of your education. As we have discussed, verifying that the school is accredited is an initial 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 get in touch with several Raleigh NC medical organizations that you may have an interest in working for and ask which programs they recommend. Bear in mind that even when the college itself does not have an excellent reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be highly regarded.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job in Raleigh NC after graduating in your new profession might be difficult without the help of a job assistance program. Find out if the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and what their job placement rates are. A rapid and high placement rate is a good indication that the billing and coding school has a significant network of medical care employers where they can place their graduates. It also implies that the college's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

Where is the School's Location? If you are anticipating commuting to class from your Raleigh NC residence, then the location of the school will be of significant importance. Obviously if you choose an medical billing and coding online program, then the location of the college will not be a consideration. One thing to remember is that if you go to classes at a community or junior college, most charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to first look at those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Total Cost? Medical billing and coding certification courses can vary in cost depending on the type of credential earned and the length of training furnished. But remember, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Costs also consist of such items as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial aid might be obtainable to help offset a portion of the cost, so don't forget to get in touch with the college's financial aid department to find out what is available in Raleigh NC. Of course if you decide to attend an online college, a portion of these additional costs, particularly for commuting may be minimized or even eliminated.

Are Classes Offered that Accommodate your Schedule? Many students continue working while going to school and need a convenient class schedule. If you can only go to classes during the evenings or on weekends near Raleigh NC, verify that they are offered at those times. If you can only enroll on a part-time schedule, verify that the program you choose provides that alternative. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of sickness, work or family responsibilities.

Learn How to Enroll in a Medical Coding School

Enroll in the Right Raleigh NC Medical Billing and Coding Program 

Choosing the right medical coding and billing certificate or degree course is a critical initial step to help guarantee your success in this exciting specialty of healthcare. Medical coding and medical billing are two of the most rapidly expanding careers in the medical industry. Because of this, there are a lot of vocational schools, community colleges and other institutions that furnish education and training in medical coding and billing. As we have discussed, you can elect to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also imperative that the school you select offers an accredited program with an excellent reputation within the medical care field. But however you elect to receive your training, by adhering to the previous guidelines and asking the appropriate questions, you will be better able to analyze your options and select the right medical billing and coding school. And with the appropriate education, you can realize your career objective to become a medical coding and billing clerk in Raleigh North Carolina.