How to Choose the Right Medical Billing College near Harrisburg Pennsylvania

Now that you have made a decision to become part of the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Harrisburg PA, it's important that you select the appropriate school so that you receive the necessary education to ensure your success. As you no doubt know, healthcare is among the fastest growing industries in the USA, and more and more options are available both online and on campus to receive the training that you need. But just where do you start? Many aspiring students start by looking for programs that are within commuting distance of their homes and then comparing cost. Or they might search the internet looking for online schools and choose the cheapest one. But while cost and location are significant factors when making your choice, they should not be the sole ones when researching medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as accreditation and reputation should be taken into account as well. We will go over a list of questions that you need to ask the medical billing and coding schools you are researching so that you can learn what you need to know prior to making your selection. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical billers and coders do and the educational and certification options available.

Medical Coder Job Description

Medical coders work on the front line of the billing systems for Harrisburg PA private practices and healthcare organizations. Coders have the responsibility to examine 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 equipment or medical supplies used. There are multiple 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 radiology and lab reports. 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 rules that impact coding as well. Improperly coded claims may lead to services not being covered, services being paid at a reduced rate, or the provider being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can literally cost Harrisburg PA hospitals and doctors many thousands of dollars in earnings every year, a reliable medical coder is an important asset to the healthcare team. They can work in every type of healthcare facility, including family practices, hospitals, clinics and urgent care centers. It is not unusual for seasoned medical coders to work at home as an offsite employee or an independent contractor.

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 labors bring in revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to Harrisburg PA medical organizations and are essentially 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 2 independent professionals. When the coder has completed her or his task, the biller uses the codes provided to complete and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid. After being adjusted by the applicable entity, patients can then be billed for deductibles and additional out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical billing clerk may also do any of the following:

• Check medical insurance benefits for patients and assist them with billing concerns or questions
• Check on patient claims submitted and appeal any that have been declined
• Work as an intermediate between the healthcare provider, the insurance companies and the patients for correct claim resolution
• Produce and manage Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and deal with unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billers not only are employed by family practices, but also Harrisburg PA emergency care facilities, hospitals, medical groups or nursing homes. They can work in any type of medical facility that depends on the revenues generated by billing third party payers and patients.

Medical Coding and Billing Online Education and Certification

It's important that you receive your education from a reputable school, whether it's a community college, technical or trade school. Even though it is not a requirement in most cases to attain a professional certification, the program you select should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). The majority of Pennsylvania colleges simply require that you earn 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 attain a certificate, which typically takes about a year to finish. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more comprehensive education, which for most colleges calls for 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical billing and coding are not widely offered. Once your training has been completed, although not required in most states, you may wish to attain a professional certification. Certification is an excellent means for those new to the profession to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but dedicated to their occupation. Some of the organizations that offer 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, along with obtaining a professional certification, are the most effective ways to accelerate your new vocation and succeed in the rapid growing medical care field.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Schools

If you are searching for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes in your home, then enrolling in an online medical billing and coding course might be a good alternative. They can be particularly appealing to those living in Harrisburg PA who plan on attending school while continuing to work or have other responsibilities that make going to classes on campus challenging. And as an added advantage, online schools are in many cases cheaper than the traditional classroom alternatives. Costs for such things as tuition, course materials and commuting may be reduced or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online courses are reputable. That's why it's important to establish that the online course you enroll in is accredited to guarantee a superior education. We will address the advantages of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to establish that any online instruction you are considering is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, such as the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to apply yourself to this mode of learning, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the right choice for you.

Points to Ask Medical Coding and Billing Schools

Once you have a better idea what a medical coder and biller does, along with what education options are offered, you need to start the process of comparing colleges. But since there a large number of training options offered at community colleges and trade, vocational and technical schools within the Harrisburg PA area, you must have a prepared list of questions in order to analyze each one. And when you add all of the online schools that offer medical billing and coding classes, the project can become rather formidable. As we have already addressed, cost and location are going to be important factors, especially if you have a modest budget and will be driving to classes from your Harrisburg home. And whether or not the program and school are accredited must be part of your vetting procedure also. So let's take a look at some of the other questions that you should ask the schools you are looking at so that you can compare each one and make the ideal choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's essential that the program and school you choose are accredited by a highly regarded accrediting organization, for example the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online college, it may also receive 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 receive will be of the highest quality, it may help with your future employment as well. A number of Harrisburg PA medical organizations will only employ entry level candidates that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding educational program. And financial aid and student loans are frequently only available for colleges that have earned an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Prior to choosing a medical billing and coding program, check out what its reputation and ranking are compared to other programs. This is especially imperative if you have no experience in the industry, since potential employers will mainly be relying on the quality of your education. As we have discussed, verifying that the college 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 also. Another option is to contact a few Harrisburg PA 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 exceptional reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be highly regarded.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding employment in Harrisburg PA after graduating in your new profession may be difficult without the support of a job assistance 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 coding and billing college has a significant network of healthcare employers where they can place their graduates. It also implies that the college's graduates are sought after in the marketplace.

Where is the College Located? If you are planning on commuting to class from your Harrisburg PA home, then the location of the campus will be of prime importance. Obviously if you choose an online medical billing and coding program, then the location of the school will not be a consideration. One thing to keep in mind is that if you go to classes at a junior or community college, many charge a higher tuition for enrollees that live outside of their districts. So you might want to first research those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Overall Expense? Medical coding and billing training programs can vary in cost based on the type of credential obtained and the length of training furnished. Just keep in mind, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Costs also consist of such things as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial assistance might be obtainable to help offset a portion of the expense, so make sure to get in touch with the college's financial aid department to see what is available in Harrisburg PA. Naturally if you decide to attend an online school, some of these added costs, such as for commuting may be lessened or even eliminated.

Are Classes Available that Accommodate your Schedule? Many students keep working while attending school and need a convenient class schedule. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Harrisburg PA, confirm that they are available at those times. If you can only enroll on a part-time schedule, verify that the college you choose offers that option. Also, find out what the process is for making up classes missed due to illness, work or family responsibilities.

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

Enroll in the Best Harrisburg PA Medical Billing and Coding School 

Enrolling in the right medical coding and billing degree or certificate program is a critical first step to help ensure your success in this rewarding specialty of healthcare. Medical billing and medical coding are two of the most rapidly expanding careers in the medical industry. As a result, there are a lot of vocational schools, junior colleges and other institutions that furnish instruction and training in medical coding and billing. As we have covered, you can choose to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also important that the school you select has an accredited program with an outstanding reputation within the healthcare industry. But however you elect to receive your education, by following the previous guidelines and asking the right questions, you will be better able to assess your options and select the right medical billing and coding program. And with the proper education, you can achieve your career objective to become a medical billing and coding clerk in Harrisburg Pennsylvania.