How to Choose the Right Medical Billing and Coding School near Raleigh North Carolina

Once you have decided to enter the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Raleigh NC, it's crucial that you choose the right school so that you receive the necessary education to ensure your success. As you no doubt know, healthcare is among the fastest growing sectors in the USA, and more and more options are available both on campus and online to receive the training that you need. But just where do you start? A number of aspiring students start by looking for programs that are within travelling distance of their residences and then comparing tuition. Or they might search the internet looking for online schools and choose the cheapest one. But while cost and location are important factors when making your determination, they should not be the only ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as reputation and accreditation should be considered also. We will cover a checklist of questions that you need to ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are evaluating so that you can learn what you must know before making your decision. But first, let's take a look at what medical coders and billers do and the academic and certification options offered.

Medical Biller and Coder Online Education and Certification

It's imperative that you obtain your instruction from a reputable school, whether it's a trade school, vocational school or community college. Even though it is not required in many cases to earn a professional certification, the program you choose should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). Most North Carolina schools only require that you earn either a high school diploma or a GED to be eligible. The quickest way to become either a medical coder or biller (or both) is to attain a certificate, which typically takes about 1 year to finish. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more extensive education, which for most programs requires 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical billing and coding are not abundantly offered. After your training has been completed, although not mandated in most states, you may wish to attain a professional certification. Certification is an excellent means for those new to the field to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but committed to their occupation. A few 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, combined with obtaining a professional certification, are the best ways to advance your new career and succeed in the rapid growing healthcare industry.

Medical Coder Job Duties

Medical coders are on the front line of the billing systems for Raleigh NC medical practices and hospitals. Coders have the responsibility to review the medical records of patients and assign universal codes to all services provided. These services may be for diagnosis, medical or dental procedures, or any equipment or medical supplies used. There are various 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 depend on information from sources including physician and nursing 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 private payer and government rules that influence coding as well. Inaccurately coded claims may result in services not being covered, services being paid for at a reduced 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 many thousands of dollars in income every year, a proficient medical coder is a necessary asset to the healthcare organization. They can operate in any type of healthcare facility, including private practices, clinics, hospitals and critical care centers. It is not unusual for professional medical coders to work at home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Billing 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 extremely important to Raleigh NC healthcare organizations and are practically responsible for keeping their doors open. Often the biller and coder can be the same person within a medical organization, but they can also be 2 separate professionals. After the coder has performed her or his task, the biller uses the codes furnished to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicare or Medicaid. After they have been paid by the appropriate entity, patients can then be billed for deductibles and additional out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical billing clerk can also do any of the following:

• Verify medical 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 medical provider, the insurance companies and the patients for proper claim settlement
• Generate and manage Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billing clerks not only are employed by private practices, but also Raleigh NC hospitals, urgent care facilities, medical groups or nursing homes. They may work in any type of medical facility that relies on the incomes generated by billing third party payers and patients.

Online Medical Biller and Coder Courses

If you are interested in convenience and the flexibility of attending classes from home, then selecting an online medical billing and coding program may be a good option. They can be particularly attractive to individuals living in Raleigh NC who anticipate attending school while still working or have additional responsibilities that make attending classes on campus difficult. And as an added benefit, online programs are in many cases less expensive than the standard classroom alternatives. Costs for such items as tuition, commuting and study materials may be decreased or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online courses are reputable. For that reason it's essential to verify that the online program you select is accredited to ensure a superior education. We will review the advantages of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to verify that any online college you are looking at is accredited by one of the national accrediting organizations, such as the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to apply yourself to this type of learning, then attaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Medical Biller and Coder Programs

Now that you have a general idea what a medical biller and coder does, in addition to what training 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 trade, vocational and technical schools within the Raleigh NC area, you must have a prepared list of questions in order to evaluate each one. And when you add all of the online schools that offer medical coding and billing classes, the project can become somewhat formidable. As we have already discussed, expense and location are going to be significant issues, especially if you have a limited budget and will be commuting to classes from your Raleigh residence. And whether or not the school and program are accredited should be part of your vetting procedure also. So let's review several of the other questions that you should ask the schools you are considering so that you can evaluate each one and make the best choice.

Is the School Accredited? It's important that the program and college you choose are accredited by a respected accrediting organization, for instance the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online program, it might also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online education. Not only will accreditation help guarantee that the training you get will be of superior quality, it could help with your future employment also. Many Raleigh NC medical facilities will only employ entry level candidates that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding educational course. And financial assistance and student loans are often only offered for schools that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Before choosing a medical coding and billing school, find out what its reputation and ranking are among other schools. This is especially important if you have no experience in the industry, since potential employers will mostly be evaluating you based on the quality of your training. As we have covered, making sure that the college is accredited is an initial step. Checking with college rating organizations, for example U.S. News and World Report, can confirm the quality of the school also. Another option is to get in touch with several Raleigh NC medical organizations that you may have an interest in working for and find out which schools they suggest. Remember that even when the school itself does not have an outstanding 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 graduation in your new profession can be challenging without the support of a job assistance program. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their job placement rates are. A rapid and high placement rate is a good indication that the coding and billing college has a sizable network of healthcare employers where they can refer their graduates. It also suggests that the college's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

Where is the School's Location? If you are intending on driving to class from your Raleigh NC home, then the location of the college will be of significant importance. Of course if you choose an medical coding and billing online program, then the location of the college will not be important. One thing to remember 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 might want to first research those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Total Expense? Medical billing and coding training programs can vary in cost based on the type of credential obtained and the length of training provided. Just keep in mind, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Expenditures also include such items as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial assistance may be available to help offset some of the cost, so be sure to contact the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in Raleigh NC. Of course if you decide to attend an online school, some of these added costs, such as for commuting may be reduced or even eliminated.

Are Classes Available that Match your Schedule? Many students continue working while attending college and need a flexible 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 attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you choose offers that option. Also, ask what the process is for making up classes missed because of sickness, work or family emergencies.

Learn How to Enroll in a Billing and Coding Program

Select the Best Raleigh NC Medical Billing and Coding School 

Enrolling in the right medical billing and coding degree or certificate program is a critical first step to help ensure your success in this rewarding specialty of medical care. Medical billing and medical coding are 2 of the most rapidly expanding careers in the medical sector. Because of this, there are numerous trade schools, junior colleges and other institutions that provide instruction and training 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 exceptional reputation within the healthcare industry. But however you choose to receive your education, by following the previous guidelines and posing the right questions, you will be better prepared to assess your options and choose the ideal medical billing and coding school. And with the proper training, you can achieve your career objective to become a medical billing and coding specialist in Raleigh North Carolina.