How to Select the Best Medical Billing and Coding Course near Philadelphia Pennsylvania

Once you have decided to enter the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Philadelphia PA, it's important that you choose the right program to ensure that you receive the necessary education to ensure your success. As you no doubt know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing industries in the USA, and increasingly more options are offered both on campus and online to get the training that you need. But just where do you begin? A number of potential students begin by searching for colleges that are within travelling distance of their homes and then comparing tuition. Or they might search the internet looking for online courses and choose the cheapest one. But while cost and location are important issues when making your choice, they should not be the sole ones when researching medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as accreditation and reputation must be considered as well. We will go over a checklist of topics that you need to ask the medical billing and coding schools you are evaluating in order to 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 training and certification options offered.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Education and Certification

It's essential that you receive your training from a reputable school, whether it's a community college, technical or trade school. While it is not required in many cases to obtain a professional certification, the school you select should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). The majority of Pennsylvania colleges simply require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to qualify. The most expedient way to become either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to obtain a certificate, which normally takes about one year to finish. An Associate Degree is also an option for a more extensive education, which for most programs requires 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical coding and billing are not widely offered. When your training has been completed, although not mandated in the majority of states, you may desire to acquire a professional certification. Certification is an effective method 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).

Graduating from an accredited medical coding and billing course, in conjunction with obtaining a professional certification, are the best ways to accelerate your new profession and succeed in the rapid growing medical care industry.

Medical Coding Job Functions

Medical coders are on the forefront of the billing systems for Philadelphia PA medical practices and healthcare organizations. They 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 used. There are various codes that are utilized 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 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 private payer and government regulations that influence coding as well. Improperly coded claims may lead to services not being paid for, services being paid for at a lower rate, or the provider being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can literally cost Philadelphia PA doctors and hospitals multiple thousands of dollars in income annually, a good medical coder is an important asset to the healthcare team. They can work in any type of healthcare facility, including family practices, hospitals, clinics and urgent care centers. It is not uncommon for experienced medical coders to operate at home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Billing Job Summary

As vital as the medical coder's job is, it would be for naught without the contribution of the medical biller whose efforts bring in revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Philadelphia PA medical organizations and are practically responsible for keeping them in business. Frequently the biller and coder may be the same individual within a medical facility, but they can also be two individual specialists. When the coder has completed her or his duty, the biller utilizes 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 or other out of pocket costs. On a regular basis, a medical biller may also do any of the following:

• Verify health insurance benefits for patients and assist them with billing questions or concerns
• Check on submitted patient claims and appeal those that have been denied
• Work as a mediator between the medical provider, the insurance companies and the patients for proper claim resolution
• Create and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and take care of unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billers not only are employed by family 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 incomes generated by billing third party payers and patients.

Online Medical Biller and Coder Colleges

If you are looking for flexibility and the convenience of attending classes at home, then choosing a medical billing and coding online course may be an excellent option. They can be particularly appealing to individuals living in Philadelphia PA who anticipate attending school while continuing to work or have additional commitments that make attending classes on campus difficult. And as an additional advantage, online colleges are often less expensive than the conventional classroom options. Costs for such things as tuition, study materials and commuting may be minimized or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online programs are reputable. For that reason it's imperative to verify that the online program you enroll in is accredited to ensure a premium education. We will cover the benefits of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to confirm that any online instruction you are looking at is accredited by one of the national accrediting organizations, such as the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are dedicated enough to apply yourself to this style of learning, then attaining your certificate or degree online may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Medical Billing and Coding Programs

Once you have a better idea what a medical biller and coder does, as well as what education options are offered, you need to start the process of researching schools. But since there many training options available at community colleges and vocational, technical and trade schools within the Philadelphia PA area, you need to have a prepared list of questions in order to analyze each one. And when you include all of the online colleges that offer medical coding and billing classes, the task can become somewhat formidable. As we have already addressed, location and cost are going to be significant issues, particularly if you have a modest budget and will be traveling to classes from your Philadelphia residence. And whether or not the program and school are accredited should be part of your vetting procedure as well. So let's take a look at a few of the additional questions that you should ask the colleges you are looking at so that you can analyze each one and make the right choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's vital that the program and college you decide on are accredited by a highly regarded accrediting organization, 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 confirm that the education you get will be of superior quality, it could help secure future employment as well. A number of Philadelphia PA healthcare facilities will only hire entry level candidates 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 received an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Prior to picking a medical billing and coding college, check out what its ranking and reputation are compared to other schools. This is especially important if you have no experience in the field, since potential employers will mostly be evaluating you based on the quality of your training. As we have discussed, confirming that the program is accredited is a first step. Checking with school rating organizations, such as U.S. News and World Report, can verify the quality of the school also. An alternative is to call several Philadelphia PA medical organizations that you might be interested in working for and find out which schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even if the college itself does not have an excellent reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be well regarded.

Is there an Employment Placement Program? Obtaining employment in Philadelphia PA after graduation in your new profession can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. Check if the colleges you are reviewing 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 considerable network of medical care employers where they can place their graduates. It also implies that the school's graduates are sought after in the marketplace.

Where is the School's Location? If you are planning on commuting to class from your Philadelphia PA home, then the location of the school will be of significant importance. Obviously if you select an online medical billing and coding program, then the location of the college will not be a consideration. One thing to bear in mind is that if you attend classes at a junior or community college, most require a higher tuition for enrollees 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 coding and billing training programs can differ in cost based on the type of credential acquired and the length of training furnished. But remember, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Expenditures also include such things as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial assistance may be accessible to help offset some of the expense, so be sure to check with the college's financial aid department to find out what is available in Philadelphia PA. Of course if you decide to attend an online college, a portion of these added costs, such as for commuting may be minimized or even eliminated.

Are Classes Available that Accommodate your Schedule? A number of students keep 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 Philadelphia PA, verify that they are available at those times. If you can only attend on a part-time schedule, confirm that the program you decide on offers that alternative. Also, find out what the process is for making up classes missed because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Learn How to Choose a Billing and Coding Program

Choose the Right Philadelphia PA Medical Billing and Coding School 

Selecting the right medical coding and billing degree or certificate program is a critical initial step to help guarantee your success in this rewarding sector of healthcare. Medical billing and medical coding are 2 of the fastest growing careers in the medical sector. As a result, there are a lot of trade schools, community colleges and companies that offer training and education in medical billing and coding. As we have reviewed, you can decide to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also essential that the college you pick has an accredited program with an exceptional reputation within the medical care field. But however you elect to receive your education, by following the previous guidelines and posing the appropriate questions, you will be better qualified to assess your options and select the ideal medical billing and coding college. And with the proper education, you can achieve your career goal to become a medical billing and coding clerk in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.