How to Pick the Best Medical Billing and Coding College near Bethlehem Pennsylvania

Once you have made a decision to enter the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Bethlehem PA, it's essential that you find the right program so that you receive the necessary education to guarantee your success. As you may already know, healthcare is among the fastest growing industries in the USA, and a growing number of options are available both on campus and online to receive the training that you need. But just where does one begin? A number of future students start by looking for colleges that are within commuting distance of their residences and then comparing tuition. Or they may surf the internet looking for online schools and go with the cheapest one. But while location and cost are important factors when making your choice, they should not be the only ones when researching medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as accreditation and reputation must be taken into account also. We will review a list of questions that you need to ask the medical billing and coding schools you are researching in order to learn what you must know prior to making your selection. But first, let's take a look at what medical coders and billers do.

Medical Coder Job Summary

Medical coders are on the front line of the billing systems for Bethlehem PA medical practices and healthcare organizations. Coders have the responsibility to analyze the medical records of patients and assign universal codes to all services provided. These services may be for medical, diagnosis or dental procedures, or any equipment or medical supplies utilized. 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 rely on information from sources such as physician and nursing notes, patient charts, and radiology and lab reports. Medical Coders must not only know what services were provided in total for accurate reporting, but must have a working knowledge of all government and private payer regulations that impact coding as well. Inaccurately coded claims can result in services not being covered, services being paid for at a decreased rate, or the provider being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can literally cost Bethlehem PA doctors and hospitals many thousands of dollars in income each year, a good medical coder is an important asset to the healthcare organization. They can work in any type of healthcare facility, including private practices, clinics, hospitals and urgent care centers. It is not unusual for seasoned medical coders to work at home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Billing Job Summary

As important as the medical coder's job is, it would be for naught without the contribution of the medical biller whose labors bring in revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Bethlehem PA healthcare organizations and are practically responsible for keeping their doors open. Sometimes the coder and biller are the same person within a medical organization, but they can also be two individual specialists. After the coder has completed her or his job, the biller uses the codes provided to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicaid or Medicare. After being adjusted by the applicable entity, patients can then be charged for deductibles or additional out of pocket expenses. On a routine basis, a medical biller might also do any of the following:

• Verify health insurance benefits for patients and help them with billing concerns or questions
• Follow up on patient claims submitted and appeal those that have been declined
• Work as a mediator between the medical provider, the insurance companies and the patients for correct claim settlement
• Create and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billers not only are employed by family practices, but also Bethlehem PA emergency care facilities, hospitals, nursing homes or medical groups. They can practice in every kind of medical facility that relies on the revenues generated by billing third party payers and patients.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Classes

If you are looking for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes from home, then enrolling in a medical billing and coding online college may be a good option. They can be especially appealing to those living in Bethlehem PA who plan on attending school while continuing to work or have additional responsibilities that make attending classes on campus challenging. And as an added benefit, online colleges are in many cases less expensive than the traditional classroom options. Costs for such items as tuition, study materials and commuting may be decreased or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online colleges are reputable. That's why it's important to verify that the online school you select is accredited to guarantee a premium education. We will address the advantages of accreditation in the next section. Just make sure to establish that any online college 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 disciplined enough to commit yourself to this mode of learning, then attaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Medical Biller and Coder Courses

Once you have a better idea what a medical coder and biller does, along with what education options are offered, you must start the process of comparing schools. But since there many training options available at community colleges and vocational, technical and trade schools within the Bethlehem PA area, you must have a prepared list of questions to analyze each one. And when you add all of the online programs that offer medical billing and coding classes, the task can become rather formidable. As we have already discussed, cost and location are going to be important issues, particularly if you have a modest budget and will be traveling to classes from your Bethlehem home. And whether or not the program and school are accredited should be part of your vetting procedure also. So let's take a look at some of the additional questions that you should ask the programs you are reviewing so that you can evaluate each one and make the right choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's crucial that the program and college you select are accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online school, it can also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online education. Not only will accreditation help confirm that the training you receive will be of the highest quality, it might help with your future employment also. A number of Bethlehem PA healthcare facilities will only employ entry level applicants that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing educational course. And financial assistance and student loans are often only offered for colleges that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Before picking a medical billing and coding program, find out what its ranking and reputation are compared to other colleges. This is especially relevant if you have no experience in the profession, since potential employers will mostly be evaluating you based on the quality of your education. As we have addressed, making sure that the school is accredited is a first step. Checking with school rating organizations, for example U.S. News and World Report, can verify the quality of the school as well. An alternative is to get in touch with a few Bethlehem PA healthcare organizations that you might be interested in working for and ask which colleges they suggest. Bear in mind that even if the school itself does not have an outstanding reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be highly regarded.

Is there an Employment Placement Program? Obtaining employment in Bethlehem PA after graduation in your new field can be challenging without the support of a job placement program. Ask 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 coding and billing school has a considerable network of healthcare employers where they can refer their graduates. It also suggests that the college's graduates are sought after in the marketplace.

Where is the College Located? If you are anticipating driving to class from your Bethlehem PA residence, then the location of the campus will be of significant importance. Naturally if you enroll in an online medical billing and coding program, then the location of the school will not be important. One thing to keep in mind is that if you attend classes at a junior or community college, many require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might prefer to first look at those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Total Cost? Medical billing and coding training courses can differ in cost based on the type of credential earned 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 supplies, books and commuting. Financial aid may be available to help offset some of the expense, so be sure to get in touch with the college's financial aid department to see what is available in Bethlehem PA. Naturally if you decide to attend an online college, some of these added costs, particularly for commuting may be lessened or even eliminated.

Are Classes Offered that Match your Schedule? A number of students keep working while going to school and require a flexible class schedule. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Bethlehem PA, verify that they are offered at those times. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check that the college you choose provides that option. Also, ask what the process is for making up classes missed because of illness, work or family responsibilities.

Find Out More on How to Select a Medical Coding Class

Enroll in the Right Bethlehem PA Medical Billing and Coding School 

Choosing the ideal medical billing and coding certificate or degree program is a very important first step to help ensure your success in this rewarding sector of healthcare. Medical coding and medical billing are 2 of the fastest growing careers in the health industry. As a result, there are numerous vocational schools, community colleges and other institutions that provide education and training in medical coding and billing. As we have covered, you can opt to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also important that the school you pick has an accredited program with an excellent reputation within the healthcare industry. But however you elect to receive your training, by adhering to the previous guidelines and posing the right questions, you will be better able to evaluate your options and pick the ideal medical billing and coding school. And with the proper training, you can accomplish your career goal to become a medical coding and billing specialist in Bethlehem Pennsylvania.