How to Select the Right Medical Biller and Coder Training Program near Norristown Pennsylvania

Once you have decided to become part of the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Norristown PA, it's crucial that you choose the right program to ensure that you receive the proper education to guarantee your success. As you no doubt know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States, and increasingly more options are available both online and on campus to receive the training that you need. But just where do you begin? A number of potential students start by looking for colleges that are within commuting distance of their residences and then comparing cost. Or they may surf the internet looking for online schools and pick the least expensive one. But while location and cost are important factors when making your selection, they should not be the only ones when comparing medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifications as reputation and accreditation should be considered also. We will review a checklist of topics that you should ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are evaluating 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 coders and billers do and the educational and certification options available.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Education and Certification

It's important that you receive your education from a reputable school, whether it's a technical school, vocational school or community college. While it is not required in many cases to attain a professional certification, the program you enroll in should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). Most Pennsylvania programs simply require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to qualify. The quickest way to become either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to obtain a certificate, which normally takes about 1 year to complete. An Associate Degree is also an option for a more expansive education, which for most schools requires 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical billing and coding are not abundantly available. Once your training has been concluded, although not mandated in most states, you may wish to attain a professional certification. Certification is an excellent means for those new to the profession to show potential employers that they are not only qualified but dedicated to their career. 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).

Graduating from an accredited medical billing and coding course, combined with attaining a professional certification, are the best ways to accelerate your new career and succeed in the fast growing healthcare field.

Medical Coding Job Description

Medical coders work on the front line of the billing systems for Norristown PA medical practices and healthcare organizations. They have the responsibility to review the medical records of patients and assign universal codes to all services provided. These services can 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 use information from sources including physician and nursing notes, patient charts, and radiology and lab reports. Medical Coders must know not only what total services were provided for accuracy, but must have a working knowledge of all private payer and government rules that impact coding as well. Incorrectly coded claims can lead to services not being covered, services being paid for at a decreased rate, or the provider being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can actually cost Norristown PA doctors and hospitals multiple thousands of dollars in revenue annually, a proficient medical coder is an important asset for any healthcare organization. They can operate in every kind of healthcare facility, including private practices, hospitals, clinics and critical care centers. It is not uncommon for seasoned medical coders to work at home as an offsite employee or an independent contractor.

Medical Billing Job Description

As important as the medical coder's function is, it would be for nothing without the collaboration of the medical biller whose labors produce revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to Norristown PA medical facilities and are practically responsible for keeping their doors open. Sometimes the coder and biller are the same person within a healthcare organization, but they can also be two individual professionals. After the coder has completed his or her job, the biller utilizes the codes provided to complete and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicaid or Medicare. After they have been adjusted by the applicable organization, patients can then be billed for deductibles and additional out of pocket costs. On a regular basis, a medical biller may also do any of the following:

• Verify medical insurance benefits for patients and help them with billing concerns or questions
• Check on submitted patient claims and appeal those that have been denied
• Act as an intermediary between the medical provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for correct claim settlement
• Generate and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and handle unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billers not only are employed by private practices, but also Norristown PA hospitals, urgent care facilities, medical groups or nursing homes. They may practice in every kind of medical facility that depends on the revenues generated from billing third party payers and patients.

Online Medical Biller and Coder Classes

If you are searching for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes from home, then enrolling in an online medical billing and coding program may be an excellent option. They can be especially attractive to those living in Norristown PA who plan on attending school while still working or have additional responsibilities that make attending classes on campus challenging. And as an additional benefit, online schools are in many cases cheaper than the standard classroom options. Costs for such things as tuition, study materials and commuting may be minimized or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online courses are reputable. For that reason it's important to verify that any online course you select is accredited to ensure a quality education. We will review the advantages of accreditation in the next segment. Just be sure to confirm that any online school you are researching is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, for example the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to devote yourself to this style of learning, then attaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Medical Coder and Biller Programs

Once you have a better idea what a medical biller and coder does, along with what training options are offered, you must start the process of evaluating colleges. But since there many training options offered at community colleges and technical, trade and vocational schools within the Norristown PA area, you need to have a prepared list of questions to assess each one. And when you add all of the online colleges that offer medical coding and billing classes, the task can become rather formidable. As we have already covered, location and cost are going to be important factors, especially if you have a limited budget and will be commuting to classes from your Norristown residence. And confirming that the program and school are accredited should be part of your vetting procedure also. So let's review a few of the other questions that you should ask the programs you are looking at so that you can evaluate each one and make the best choice.

Is the Training Accredited? It's important that the program and school you decide on are accredited by a highly regarded accrediting agency, for example the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online program, it can also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Not only will accreditation help confirm that the education you receive will be of superior quality, it might help with your future employment as well. A number of Norristown PA healthcare organizations will only employ entry level candidates that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding training course. And financial aid and student loans are in many cases only available for programs that have earned an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Prior to selecting a medical billing and coding school, check out what its reputation and ranking are compared to other colleges. This is especially important if you have no experience in the field, since potential employers will mainly be relying on the quality of your education. As we have discussed, making sure 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 as well. An alternative is to check with several Norristown PA healthcare organizations that you might be interested in working for and find out which schools they recommend. Remember that even when the college itself does not have an outstanding reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be well regarded.

Is there an Employment Assistance Program? Obtaining a job in Norristown PA after graduation in your new profession can be challenging without the support of a job placement program. Ask if the colleges you are considering have job assistance 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 sizable network of healthcare employers where they can refer their graduates. It also implies that the college's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

Where is the College Located? If you are anticipating commuting to class from your Norristown PA residence, then the location of the school will be of significant importance. Of course if you select an medical coding and billing online program, then the location of the college will not be important. One thing to bear in mind is that if you attend classes at a junior or community college, many charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might prefer to first research those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Overall Expense? Medical billing and coding training courses can differ in cost depending on the type of credential acquired and the amount of training furnished. 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 might be obtainable to help reduce a portion of the cost, so don't forget to check with the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Norristown PA. Naturally if you decide to attend an online school, some of these added costs, particularly for commuting may be lessened or even eliminated.

Are Classes Available that Match your Schedule? Many students continue working while going to college and need a convenient class schedule. If you can only go to classes during the evenings or on weekends near Norristown PA, make sure that they are offered at those times. If you can only attend on a part time schedule, check that the school you decide on provides that alternative. Also, ask what the process is for making up classes missed because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn How to Select a Billing and Coding Course

Enroll in the Best Norristown PA Medical Billing and Coding Program 

Enrolling in the ideal medical billing and coding degree or certificate course is a crucial initial step to help guarantee your success in this rewarding field of medical care. Medical billing and medical coding are two of the fastest expanding careers in the health sector. 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 discussed, you can choose to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also essential that the school you pick offers an accredited program with an exceptional reputation within the healthcare community. But however you elect to receive your education, by following the previous guidelines and posing the right questions, you will be better prepared to assess your options and select the right medical billing and coding program. And with the proper training, you can realize your career objective to become a medical billing and coding clerk in Norristown Pennsylvania.