How to Find the Right Medical Billing and Coding College near Philadelphia Pennsylvania

Once you have decided to enter the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Philadelphia PA, it's essential that you find the right school so that you receive the necessary education to guarantee your success. As you may already know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing fields in the Country, and a growing number of options are offered both online and on campus to get the training that you need. But just where does one begin? A number of aspiring students begin by looking for colleges that are within driving distance of their residences and then comparing cost. Or they might surf the internet looking for online courses and pick the least expensive one. But while cost and location are relevant issues when making your selection, they should not be the sole ones when researching medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifications as reputation and accreditation need to be taken into consideration as well. We will cover a checklist of questions that you should ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are assessing in order to learn what you must know before making your selection. But first, let's take a look at what medical billers and coders do and the academic and certification options offered.

Medical Coder Job Summary

Medical coders work on the forefront of the billing systems for Philadelphia PA medical practices and hospitals. They have the responsibility to analyze the treatment records of patients and convert all services provided into universal codes. These services can be for diagnosis, medical or dental procedures, or any medical supplies or equipment utilized. There are several 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 nursing and physician notes, patient charts, and lab and radiology reports. Medical Coders must know not only what total services were provided for accuracy, but must have a functioning knowledge of all government and private payer rules that affect coding also. Incorrectly coded claims can result in services not being paid for, services being paid at a lower rate, or the provider being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can actually cost Philadelphia PA hospitals and doctors many thousands of dollars in earnings annually, a reliable medical coder is a vital asset for any healthcare team. They can operate in every type of healthcare facility, including private practices, clinics, hospitals and urgent care centers. It is not uncommon for professional medical coders to working from home as an offsite employee or an independent contractor.

Medical Billing Job Functions

As vital as the medical coder's function is, it would be for nothing without the contribution of the medical biller whose labors bring in revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to Philadelphia PA medical facilities and are literally responsible for keeping their doors open. Frequently the biller and coder are the same man or woman within a medical organization, but they can also be two individual specialists. When the coder has performed his or her task, the biller uses the codes furnished to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicaid or Medicare. After they have been adjusted by the appropriate organization, patients can then be charged for deductibles and other out of pocket costs. On a regular basis, a medical billing clerk might also do any of the following:

• Check medical insurance benefits for patients and help them with billing questions or concerns
• Follow up on submitted patient claims and appeal those that have been denied
• Act as an intermediate between the healthcare provider, the insurance companies and the patients for proper claim resolution
• Generate and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and deal with unpaid patient collections accounts

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

Medical Coder and Biller Online Programs and Certification

It's imperative that you get your education from a reputable school, whether it's a trade 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 just require that you have 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 1 year to accomplish. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more extensive education, which for almost all programs requires 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical coding and billing are not widely available. After your education has been completed, although not required in the majority of states, you may want to acquire a professional certification. Certification is an excellent means for those new to the field to show potential employers that they are not only qualified but committed to their career. Just some 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).

Completing an accredited medical billing and coding course, in conjunction with obtaining a professional certification, are the most effective ways to advance your new career and succeed in the fast growing medical care industry.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Colleges

If you are searching for flexibility and the convenience of attending classes from home, then enrolling in an online medical billing and coding school may be a great option. They can be especially attractive to individuals living in Philadelphia PA who anticipate attending school while continuing to work or have additional obligations that make going to classes on campus challenging. And as an additional advantage, online schools are in many cases cheaper than the traditional classroom alternatives. Costs for such things as tuition, study materials and commuting may be minimized or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online programs are reputable. For that reason it's essential to verify that any online school you select is accredited to ensure a premium education. We will address the advantages of accreditation in the next segment. Just make sure to verify that any online college you are researching is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, for instance 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 may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Medical Coder and Biller Courses

Now that you have a better idea what a medical biller and coder does, in addition to what training options are available, you must start the process of researching colleges. But since there many training options offered at community colleges and vocational, technical and trade schools within the Philadelphia PA area, you must have a ready list of questions to assess each one. And when you add all of the online schools that offer medical billing and coding classes, the project can become rather daunting. As we have already addressed, location and cost are going to be important issues, particularly if you have a limited budget and will be traveling to classes from your Philadelphia home. And verifying that the program and school are accredited must be part of your vetting procedure also. So let's review a few of the additional questions that you should ask the programs you are looking at so that you can compare each one and make the right choice.

Is the Training Accredited? It's essential that the school and program you select are accredited by a respected accrediting agency, for example the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online program, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. Not only will accreditation help guarantee that the training you receive will be of the highest quality, it might help secure future employment also. A number of Philadelphia PA healthcare organizations will only employ entry level candidates that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing educational program. And financial aid and student loans are in many cases only obtainable for colleges that have earned an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Before picking a medical billing and coding program, find out what its reputation and ranking are compared to other schools. This is especially relevant if you have no experience in the industry, since potential employers will basically be evaluating you based on the quality of your training. As we have discussed, confirming that the program is accredited is an initial step. Checking with school rating organizations, such as U.S. News and World Report, can validate the quality of the school as well. An alternative is to get in touch with some Philadelphia PA medical organizations that you may be interested in working for and ask which schools they suggest. Keep in mind 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 an Employment Placement Program? Obtaining a job in Philadelphia PA after graduation in your new profession can be difficult without the support of a job assistance program. Ask if the schools you are looking at have job assistance programs and what their job placement rates are. A high and rapid placement rate is a good indication that the billing and coding college has a sizable network of healthcare employers where they can refer their graduates. It also implies that the school's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

Where is the College's Location? If you are planning on commuting to class from your Philadelphia PA home, then the location of the school will be of prime importance. Naturally if you choose an medical billing and coding online program, then the location of the school 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 live outside of their districts. So you might prefer to first research those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Complete Expense? Medical billing and coding certification programs can fluctuate in cost depending on the type of credential earned and the length of training furnished. But remember, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Expenditures also include such items as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial aid might be obtainable to help reduce some of the expense, so don't forget to contact the school's financial assistance department to see what is offered 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 Available that Accommodate your Schedule? A number of students continue working while attending school and require a convenient class schedule. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Philadelphia PA, confirm that they are available at those times. If you can only attend on a part-time schedule, confirm that the college you choose offers that option. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Learn How to Select a Medical Coding Class

Enroll in the Best Philadelphia PA Medical Billing and Coding Program 

Picking the right medical coding and billing degree or certificate course is a very important first step to help ensure your success in this rewarding field of medical care. Medical coding and medical billing are 2 of the fastest expanding jobs in the medical sector. Because of this, there are a lot of trade schools, junior colleges and other institutions that provide training and education in medical coding and billing. As we have discussed, you can decide to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also essential that the college you choose has an accredited program with an outstanding reputation within the medical care field. But however you choose to receive your education, by following the previous guidelines and asking the appropriate questions, you will be better qualified to analyze your options and choose the ideal medical billing and coding program. And with the proper training, you can accomplish your career goal to become a medical billing and coding clerk in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.