How to Pick the Right Medical Billing and Coding College near Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

Now that you have decided to become part of the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Pittsburgh PA, it's crucial that you find the appropriate 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 fields in the United States, and more and more options are offered both on campus and online to get the training that you need. But just where do you start? Many potential students start by searching for colleges that are within travelling distance of their homes and then comparing tuition. Or they may search the internet looking for online schools and select the cheapest one. But while location and cost are relevant issues when making your choice, they should not be the sole ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifications as accreditation and reputation must be taken into account as well. We will review a checklist of questions that you should ask the medical billing and coding schools you are assessing so that you can learn what you must know prior to making your decision. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical billers and coders do and the educational and certification options offered.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Training and Certification

It's essential that you get your instruction from a reputable school, whether it's a technical school, vocational school or community college. Although it is not a requirement in many cases to earn a professional certification, the program you select 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 most expedient way to becoming either a medical coder or biller (or both) is to attain a certificate, which usually takes about 1 year to accomplish. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more extensive education, which for the majority of schools calls for two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical billing and coding are not widely available. When your education has been concluded, although not mandated in most states, you may wish to acquire a professional certification. Certification is an excellent method for those new to the profession to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but committed to their career. Just some of the organizations that provide 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 coding and billing program, in conjunction with attaining a professional certification, are the most effective ways to advance your new vocation and succeed in the rapid growing medical care industry.

Medical Coder Job Functions

Medical coders are on the forefront of the billing systems for Pittsburgh PA medical practices and healthcare organizations. Coders have the responsibility to analyze the treatment records of patients and convert all services provided into universal codes. These services may be for medical, diagnosis or dental procedures, or any equipment or medical supplies used. 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 depend on information from sources including physician and nursing notes, patient charts, and radiology and lab reports. Coders must know not only what total services were provided for accuracy, but must have a working knowledge of all private payer and government regulations that affect coding also. Incorrectly coded claims can result in services not being covered, services being paid at a lower rate, or the provider being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can in fact cost Pittsburgh PA doctors and hospitals multiple thousands of dollars in revenue annually, a good medical coder is an important asset to the healthcare team. They can operate in every kind of healthcare facility, including family practices, clinics, hospitals and urgent care centers. It is not unusual for experienced medical coders to operate at home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Billing Job Duties

As crucial as the medical coder's function 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 Pittsburgh PA medical facilities and are essentially responsible for keeping their doors open. Frequently the biller and coder may be the same man or woman within a medical facility, but they can also be two separate professionals. After the coder has carried out her or his task, the biller utilizes the codes supplied to complete and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid. After being adjusted by the appropriate organization, patients can then be invoiced for deductibles and other out of pocket costs. On a regular basis, a medical billing clerk can also do any of the following:

• Check 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
• Act as an intermediary between the healthcare provider, the insurance companies and the patients for proper claim settlement
• Generate and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and take care of unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billing clerks not only work for private practices, but also Pittsburgh PA hospitals, urgent care facilities, nursing homes or medical groups. They may work in any kind of healthcare facility that relies on the incomes generated from billing patients and third party payers.

Online Medical Billing and Coding Programs

If you are interested in flexibility and the convenience of attending classes in your home, then selecting an online medical billing and coding course may be an excellent alternative. They can be particularly attractive to individuals living in Pittsburgh PA who anticipate going to school while continuing to work or have additional responsibilities that make attending classes on campus challenging. And as an added advantage, online programs are often less expensive than the traditional classroom options. Costs for such things as tuition, course materials and commuting may be decreased or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online courses are reputable. That's why it's important to verify that any online college you select is accredited to guarantee a quality education. We will cover the benefits of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to verify that any online instruction 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 commit yourself to this type of learning, then attaining your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Medical Coder and Biller Courses

Now that you have a general idea just what a medical coder and biller does, along with what training options are offered, you need to start the process of comparing schools. But since there a large number of training options offered at community colleges and trade, vocational and technical schools within the Pittsburgh PA area, you need to have a ready list of questions in order to assess each one. And when you include all of the online schools that offer medical billing and coding classes, the task can become rather formidable. As we have already covered, expense and location are going to be significant issues, particularly if you have a limited budget and will be commuting to classes from your Pittsburgh home. And whether or not the school and program are accredited must be part of your vetting procedure also. So let's take a look at a few of the other questions that you should ask the schools you are considering so that you can analyze each one and make the best choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's crucial that the school and program you choose are accredited by a respected accrediting agency, for example the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online college, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online education. Not only will accreditation help guarantee that the education you receive will be of the highest quality, it may help with your future employment also. A number of Pittsburgh PA healthcare facilities will only employ entry level applicants that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing educational course. And financial aid and student loans are in many cases only obtainable for programs that have earned an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Before enrolling in a medical billing and coding program, check out what its reputation and ranking are among other colleges. This is particularly relevant if you have no experience in the industry, since potential employers will basically be evaluating you based on the quality of your education. As we have discussed, confirming that the program is accredited is an initial step. Checking with school rating organizations, for instance U.S. News and World Report, can validate the quality of the school also. Another option is to contact a few Pittsburgh PA medical organizations that you might have an interest in working for and find out which programs they suggest. Remember that even if the college itself does not have an exceptional reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be highly regarded.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding employment in Pittsburgh PA after graduating in your new field can be difficult without the help 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 a good indication that the billing and coding college has a significant network of medical care employers where they can place their graduates. It also indicates that the school's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

Where is the College Located? If you are planning on driving to class from your Pittsburgh PA residence, then the location of the campus will be of significant importance. Naturally if you select an online medical billing and coding program, then the location of the school will not be important. 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 enrollees that reside outside of their districts. So you may prefer to first look at those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Complete Cost? Medical coding and billing training courses can differ 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 consist of such things as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial aid might be available to help offset some of the expense, so be sure to contact the college's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Pittsburgh PA. Naturally if you decide to attend an online school, some of these additional costs, particularly for commuting may be minimized or even eliminated.

Are Classes Offered that Match your Schedule? Many students keep working while attending college and need a convenient class schedule. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Pittsburgh PA, verify that they are available at those times. If you can only attend on a part time schedule, make certain that the college you decide on offers that alternative. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up classes missed due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn How to Enroll in a Medical Biller and Coder Class

Enroll in the Best Pittsburgh PA Medical Billing and Coding Program 

Choosing the right medical billing and coding certificate or degree course is a very important first step to help guarantee your success in this exciting specialty of medical care. Medical coding and medical billing are two of the most rapidly expanding professions in the health industry. Because of this, there are a lot of vocational schools, community colleges and companies that offer instruction and training in medical coding and billing. As we have discussed, you can elect to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also imperative that the college you select offers an accredited program with an outstanding reputation within the medical care community. But however you elect to receive your education, by adhering to the previous guidelines and asking the right questions, you will be better able to evaluate your options and choose the right medical billing and coding program. And with the proper education, you can realize your career goal to become a medical billing and coding specialist in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.