How to Select the Best Medical Biller and Coder School near Philadelphia Pennsylvania

Once you have made a decision to become part of the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Philadelphia PA, it's important that you find the appropriate program to ensure that you receive the proper education to ensure your success. As you probably know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing fields in the Country, and more and more options are offered both online and on campus to obtain the training that you need. But just where does one start? Many future students begin by searching for programs that are within travelling distance of their residences and then comparing tuition. Or they may surf the internet looking for online classes and go with the cheapest one. But while location and cost are important issues when making your choice, they should not be the only ones when researching medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifications as reputation and accreditation must be considered also. We will review a checklist of questions that you should ask the medical billing and coding courses you are researching 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 educational and certification options available.

Medical Coding Job Description

Medical coders are on the forefront of the billing systems for Philadelphia PA medical practices and healthcare organizations. They have the responsibility to examine the treatment records of patients and convert all services provided into universal codes. These services may be for diagnosis, medical or dental procedures, or any medical supplies or equipment 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 use information from sources such as 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 government and private payer regulations that impact coding as well. Improperly coded claims can result in services not being paid for, services being paid for at a lower rate, or the provider being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can in fact cost Philadelphia PA physicians and medical facilities many thousands of dollars in income annually, a reliable medical coder is a necessary asset to the healthcare team. They can operate in every kind 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 independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Biller Job Description

As important as the medical coder's job is, it would be for nothing without the collaboration of the medical biller whose labors produce revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Philadelphia PA medical facilities and are practically responsible for keeping their doors open. Sometimes the biller and coder can be the same man or woman within a medical facility, but they can also be two separate professionals. When the coder has completed his or her task, the biller utilizes the codes furnished to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicaid or Medicare. After being paid by the applicable organization, patients can then be invoiced for deductibles and additional out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical billing clerk may also do any of the following:

• Verify health insurance benefits for patients and assist them with billing concerns or questions
• Follow up on patient claims submitted and appeal any that have been declined
• Work as an intermediary between the medical provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for proper claim settlement
• Generate and oversee Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and handle unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billing clerks not only work for private practices, but also Philadelphia PA hospitals, urgent care facilities, nursing homes or medical groups. They may practice in every type of medical facility that depends on the revenues generated by billing patients and third party payers.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Education and Certification

It's important that you receive your education from a reputable school, whether it's a trade school, vocational school or community college. Although it is not a requirement in many cases to earn a professional certification, the program you enroll in should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). The majority of Pennsylvania programs only require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to qualify. The most expedient way to becoming either a medical coder or biller (or both) is to attain a certificate, which generally takes about a year to finish. An Associate Degree is also an option for a more extensive education, which for most schools calls for 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical billing and coding are not widely offered. After your training has been completed, although not mandated in most states, you might want to acquire a professional certification. Certification is a great way for those new to the profession to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but dedicated to their occupation. A few 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 earning a professional certification, are the most effective ways to advance your new career and succeed in the fast growing medical care industry.

Medical Biller and Coder Online Classes

If you are interested in flexibility and the convenience of attending classes from home, then choosing a medical billing and coding online college may be a good option. They can be especially appealing to individuals living in Philadelphia PA who anticipate attending school while continuing to work or have other responsibilities that make attending classes on campus difficult. And as an additional benefit, online colleges are frequently cheaper than the traditional classroom options. Expenses for such items as tuition, course materials and commuting may be reduced or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online programs are reputable. That's why it's imperative to verify that any online college you choose is accredited to guarantee a premium education. We will cover 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 agencies, for example the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are dedicated enough to commit yourself to this type of learning, then earning your degree or certificate online might be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Medical Biller and Coder Courses

Once you have a general idea just what a medical biller and coder does, along with what education options are available, you must start the process of evaluating schools. But since there are numerous training options available at community colleges as well as vocational, technical and trade schools within the Philadelphia PA area, you must have a prepared list of questions to evaluate each one. And when you include all of the online schools that offer medical coding and billing classes, the task can become somewhat daunting. As we have already discussed, location and cost are going to be significant issues, especially if you have a limited budget and will be driving to classes from your Philadelphia home. And verifying that the school and program are accredited should be part of your vetting process also. So let's take a look at a few of the other questions that you should ask the schools you are reviewing so that you can compare each one and make the appropriate choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's crucial that the school and program you select are accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online college, it can also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance education. Not only will accreditation help ensure that the education you get will be of the highest quality, it might help secure future employment as well. A number of Philadelphia PA medical organizations will only employ entry level applicants that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing educational program. And financial assistance and student loans are frequently only available for colleges that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Prior to selecting a medical coding and billing program, find out what its reputation and ranking are among other schools. This is particularly 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 discussed, making sure that the school is accredited is a first 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 a few Philadelphia PA medical organizations that you might be interested in working for and ask which programs they recommend. Keep in mind that even when the college itself does not have an excellent reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be well regarded.

Is there an Employment Referral Program? Obtaining a job in Philadelphia PA after graduating in your new profession can be difficult without the support of a job assistance program. Find out if the colleges you are considering have job placement programs and what their job placement rates are. A rapid and high placement rate is an excellent indication that the billing and coding school has a sizable network of medical care 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 School's Location? If you are intending on driving to class from your Philadelphia PA residence, then the location of the college will be of significant importance. Of course if you enroll in an online medical billing and coding program, then the location of the college will not be a factor. One thing to keep in mind is that if you go to classes at a junior or community college, most require a higher tuition for pupils that live 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 coding and billing certification programs can fluctuate in cost based on the type of credential obtained and the length of training provided. Just keep in mind, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Costs also consist of such things as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial aid may be accessible to help offset some of the cost, so don't forget to check with the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Philadelphia PA. Naturally if you decide to enroll in an online school, some of these additional costs, such as for commuting may be reduced or even eliminated.

Are Classes Accessible that Accommodate your Schedule? A number of students keep working while attending college and require a convenient class schedule. If you can only go to classes during the evenings or on weekends near Philadelphia PA, verify that they are offered at those times. If you can only attend on a part time schedule, check that the program you decide on provides that option. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up classes missed due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Learn How to Enroll in a Medical Billing School

Enroll in the Best Philadelphia PA Medical Billing and Coding School 

Picking the right medical billing and coding certificate or degree program is a critical initial step to help assure your success in this rewarding sector of healthcare. Medical billing and medical coding are two of the fastest growing occupations in the medical sector. As a result, there are a lot of vocational schools, junior colleges and companies that offer instruction and training in medical billing and coding. As we have discussed, you can decide to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also imperative that the school you select has an accredited program with an exceptional reputation within the healthcare community. But however you decide to receive your education, by following the previous guidelines and posing the right questions, you will be better qualified to assess your options and pick the ideal medical billing and coding college. And with the appropriate training, you can achieve your career goal to become a medical coding and billing clerk in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.