How to Pick the Best Medical Biller and Coder School near Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

Once you have decided to become part of the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Pittsburgh PA, it's important that you choose the right school so that you receive the necessary education to ensure your success. As you may already know, healthcare is among the fastest growing fields in the USA, and more and more options are available both on campus and online to get the training that you need. But just where do you begin? Many potential students start by searching for colleges that are within driving distance of their homes and then comparing cost. Or they may surf the internet looking for online courses and choose the least expensive one. But while location and cost are relevant factors 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 cover a checklist of questions that you need to ask the medical billing and coding schools you are evaluating in order to find out what you need to know prior to making your selection. But first, let's take a look at what medical billers and coders do and the training and certification options available.

Medical Coding and Billing Online Training and Certification

It's imperative that you obtain your training from a reputable school, whether it's a community college, technical or trade school. Even though it is not required in most cases to attain a professional certification, the school you select 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 apply. The quickest way to become either a medical coder or biller (or both) is to attain a certificate, which generally takes about a year to complete. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more expansive education, which for most programs calls for two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical coding and billing are not widely offered. After your training has been concluded, although not mandated in the majority of states, you may desire to earn a professional certification. Certification is an excellent way for those new to the field to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but committed to their occupation. Just 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 coding and billing program, combined with earning a professional certification, are the best ways to advance your new career and succeed in the fast growing medical care field.

Medical Coding Job Summary

Medical coders work on the forefront of the billing systems for Pittsburgh PA medical practices and hospitals. They have the responsibility to analyze the treatment records of patients and assign universal codes to all services provided. These services can be for medical, diagnosis or dental procedures, or any equipment or medical supplies used. There are multiple 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 rely on information from sources such as physician and nursing notes, patient charts, and lab and radiology reports. Medical Coders must know not only what total services were provided for accurate reporting, but must have a working knowledge of all private payer and government rules that impact coding as well. Inaccurately coded claims can lead to services not being paid for, services being paid for at a reduced rate, or the provider being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can actually cost Pittsburgh PA doctors and hospitals many thousands of dollars in revenue annually, a reliable medical coder is a necessary asset to the healthcare organization. They can operate in any type of healthcare facility, including private practices, clinics, hospitals and urgent care centers. It is not uncommon for professional medical coders to operate at home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Billing Job Functions

As crucial as the medical coder's role is, it would be for naught without the contribution of the medical biller whose efforts produce revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Pittsburgh PA healthcare facilities and are practically responsible for keeping them in business. Sometimes the coder and biller may be the same individual within a medical facility, but they can also be two independent professionals. When the coder has performed her or his task, the biller utilizes the codes furnished to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicare or Medicaid. After they have been adjusted by the applicable entity, patients can then be charged for deductibles or other out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical billing professional might 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 any that have been declined
• Work as a mediator between the medical provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for correct claim settlement
• Generate and oversee Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and manage 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 practice in any type of healthcare facility that depends on the revenues generated by billing patients and third party payers.

Online Medical Biller and Coder Training

If you are searching for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes from home, then choosing an online medical billing and coding course might be a great alternative. They can be particularly appealing to those living in Pittsburgh PA who plan on going to school while still working or have additional obligations that make attending classes on campus difficult. And as an added benefit, online schools are often cheaper than the traditional classroom alternatives. Expenses for such things as tuition, study materials and commuting may be minimized or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online colleges are reputable. For that reason it's important to establish that the online college you enroll in is accredited to guarantee a superior education. We will address the benefits of accreditation in the next segment. Just make sure to verify that any online training you are researching is accredited by one of the national accrediting organizations, for instance the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to apply yourself to this mode of learning, then attaining your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Medical Billing and Coding Courses

Now that you have a general idea just what a medical biller and coder does, along with what education options are available, you need to begin the process of evaluating schools. But since there many training options available at community colleges as well as vocational, technical and trade schools within the Pittsburgh PA area, you need to have a prepared list of questions in order to evaluate each one. And when you include all of the online programs that offer medical coding and billing classes, the project can become somewhat formidable. As we have already covered, cost and location are going to be relevant issues, especially if you have a modest budget and will be driving to classes from your Pittsburgh home. And verifying that the school and program are accredited must be part of your vetting procedure as well. So let's take a look at some of the other questions that you should ask the colleges you are looking at so that you can analyze each one and make the appropriate choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's crucial that the program and college you choose are accredited by a highly regarded accrediting organization, such as the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online program, it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance education. Not only will accreditation help confirm that the training you get will be of superior quality, it could help secure future employment as well. A number of Pittsburgh PA healthcare facilities will only hire entry level applicants that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding training program. And financial aid and student loans are often only offered for colleges that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Before choosing a medical coding and billing college, check out what its ranking and reputation are among other programs. This is especially imperative if you have no experience in the field, since potential employers will basically be relying on the quality of your education. As we have discussed, verifying that the program is accredited is an initial step. Checking with college rating organizations, such as U.S. News and World Report, can verify the quality of the school also. An alternative is to check with some Pittsburgh PA medical organizations that you might have an interest in working for and ask which colleges they recommend. Bear in mind that even if the college itself does not have an exceptional reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be well regarded.

Is there an Employment Referral Program? Finding employment in Pittsburgh PA after graduating in your new profession may be challenging 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 an excellent indication that the coding and billing college has a considerable network of medical care employers where they can place their graduates. It also suggests that the college's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

Where is the College Located? If you are intending on commuting to class from your Pittsburgh PA residence, then the location of the college will be of significant importance. Naturally if you choose an medical billing and coding online program, then the location of the college will not be important. One thing to remember is that if you attend classes at a community or junior college, most require a higher tuition for pupils that live outside of their districts. So you might want to first consider those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Complete Cost? Medical coding and billing 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 expense for your education. Expenses also consist of such things as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial aid might be accessible to help reduce a portion of the cost, so make sure to get in touch with the college's financial aid department to see what is available in Pittsburgh PA. Of course if you decide to enroll in an online school, a portion of these additional costs, particularly for commuting may be lessened or even eliminated.

Are Classes Offered that Accommodate your Schedule? Many students continue working while attending school and need a convenient class schedule. If you can only go to 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, verify that the program you choose provides that alternative. Also, ask what the process is for making up classes missed due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn How to Enroll in a Billing and Coding Course

Enroll in the Right Pittsburgh PA Medical Billing and Coding Program 

Selecting the ideal medical coding and billing degree or certificate program is a crucial initial step to help assure your success in this rewarding sector of medical care. Medical coding and medical billing are 2 of the most rapidly growing professions in the health industry. Because of this, there are many trade schools, community colleges and companies that provide training and education in medical billing and coding. As we have discussed, you can opt to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also essential that the school you choose offers an accredited program with an exceptional reputation within the medical care industry. But however you choose to receive your education, by adhering to the previous guidelines and posing the right questions, you will be better qualified to analyze your options and choose the right medical billing and coding school. And with the proper training, you can realize your career objective to become a medical coding and billing specialist in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.