How to Find the Right Medical Billing and Coding Training Program near Memphis Tennessee

Once you have made a decision to become part of the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Memphis TN, it's crucial that you choose the appropriate program to ensure that you receive the proper education to ensure your success. As you may already know, healthcare is among the fastest growing industries in the Country, and more and more options are offered both on campus and online to receive the training that you need. But just where does one begin? A number of aspiring students begin by looking for schools that are within driving distance of their homes and then comparing cost. Or they might search the internet looking for online courses and pick the cheapest one. But while location and cost are important factors when making your selection, they should not be the sole ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as reputation and accreditation need to be taken into consideration as well. We will review a checklist of questions that you should ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are evaluating so that you can find out what you need to know before making your decision. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical billers and coders do and the training and certification options offered.

Medical Coding Job Functions

Medical coders are on the front line of the billing systems for Memphis TN private practices and healthcare organizations. 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 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 use information from sources such as physician and nursing notes, patient charts, and lab and radiology reports. Coders must not only know what services were provided in total for accuracy, but must have a functioning knowledge of all government and private payer regulations that affect coding as well. Incorrectly coded claims may lead to services not being covered, services being paid for at a lower rate, or the provider being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can literally cost Memphis TN hospitals and doctors multiple thousands of dollars in income every year, a good medical coder is an important asset for any healthcare organization. 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 working from home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Billing Job Summary

As crucial as the medical coder's job is, it would be for nothing without the collaboration of the medical biller whose labors bring in revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to Memphis TN medical organizations and are literally responsible for keeping their doors open. In many cases the coder and biller are the same individual within a healthcare organization, but they can also be 2 independent specialists. Once the coder has completed her or his duty, the biller utilizes the codes furnished to complete and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicare or Medicaid. After they have been paid by the appropriate organization, patients can then be charged for deductibles or additional out of pocket costs. On a regular basis, a medical billing clerk may also do any of the following:

• Check health insurance benefits for patients and help them with billing questions or concerns
• Follow up on patient claims submitted and appeal any that have been denied
• Function as an intermediary between the medical provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for accurate claim resolution
• Produce and oversee Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billers not only work for family practices, but also Memphis TN hospitals, urgent care facilities, nursing homes or medical groups. They may work in every kind of medical facility that depends on the incomes generated from billing patients and third party payers.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Instruction and Certification

It's essential that you receive your instruction from a reputable school, whether it's a technical school, vocational school or community college. While it is not required in many cases to obtain a professional certification, the program you choose should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). The majority of Tennessee programs simply require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to be eligible. The quickest way to become either a medical coder or biller (or both) is to attain a certificate, which normally takes about one year to accomplish. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more extensive education, which for most schools requires two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical coding and billing are not abundantly available. After your training has been completed, although not mandated in the majority of states, you might desire to attain a professional certification. Certification is an excellent means for those new to the profession to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but committed to their occupation. 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 program, together with earning a professional certification, are the best ways to accelerate your new profession and succeed in the fast growing healthcare field.

Online Medical Biller and Coder Programs

If you are looking for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes at home, then choosing a medical billing and coding online program may be a good option. They can be particularly attractive to individuals living in Memphis TN who plan on going to school while continuing to work or have other commitments that make going to classes on campus difficult. And as an added advantage, online programs are frequently less expensive than the conventional classroom alternatives. Expenses for such things as tuition, commuting and study materials may be minimized or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online colleges are reputable. That's why it's imperative to confirm that any online school you select is accredited to ensure a premium education. We will cover the advantages of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to check that any online school you are looking at is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, for instance the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to devote yourself to this mode of learning, then obtaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.

Points to Ask Medical Biller and Coder Colleges

Once you have a general idea what a medical coder and biller does, as well as what training options are offered, you need to begin the process of researching colleges. But since there many training options available at community colleges as well as vocational, technical and trade schools within the Memphis TN area, you need to have a ready 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 project can become somewhat daunting. As we have already addressed, cost and location are going to be important factors, especially if you have a limited budget and will be traveling to classes from your Memphis residence. And confirming that the school and program are accredited must be part of your vetting procedure as well. So let's review a few of the additional questions that you should ask the colleges you are considering so that you can analyze each one and make the best choice.

Is the Training Accredited? It's essential that the program and college you select are accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online school, it might also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Not only will accreditation help confirm that the education you receive will be of superior quality, it may help with your future employment as well. A number of Memphis TN medical organizations will only hire entry level prospects that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing educational course. And financial aid and student loans are in many cases only available for schools that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Before selecting a medical coding and billing college, check out what its reputation and ranking are compared to other colleges. This is especially important if you have no experience in the industry, since potential employers will mainly be relying on the quality of your education. As we have covered, verifying that the college is accredited is a first step. Checking with college rating organizations, for instance U.S. News and World Report, can confirm the quality of the school as well. Another option is to check with some Memphis TN medical organizations that you may be interested in working for and find out which programs they suggest. Remember that even when the school itself does not have an excellent reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be well regarded.

Is there a Job Referral Program? Obtaining a job in Memphis TN after graduation in your new profession may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. Check if the colleges you are considering have job assistance programs and what their job placement rates are. A high and rapid placement rate is an excellent indication that the billing and coding college has a considerable network of medical care employers where they can place their graduates. It also suggests 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 Memphis TN residence, then the location of the college will be of significant importance. Obviously if you enroll in an medical billing and coding online program, then the location of the school will not be a factor. One thing to keep in mind is that if you go to classes at a community or junior college, most require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might prefer to first research those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Overall Cost? Medical billing and coding certification programs can fluctuate in cost depending on the type of credential earned and the amount of training provided. But remember, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Expenditures also include such things as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial aid might be obtainable to help reduce a portion of the cost, so be sure to get in touch with the college's financial assistance department to find out what is offered in Memphis TN. Of course if you decide to attend an online college, a portion of these added costs, such as for commuting may be reduced or even eliminated.

Are Classes Available that Fit your Schedule? Many students continue working while attending college and require a flexible class schedule. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Memphis TN, make sure that they are offered at those times. If you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the college you enroll in offers that option. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn How to Choose a Medical Coding Program

Enroll in the Best Memphis TN Medical Billing and Coding Training 

Choosing the right medical billing and coding degree or certificate program is a crucial first step to help ensure your success in this exciting specialty of healthcare. Medical coding and medical billing are two of the most rapidly growing occupations in the medical industry. Because of this, there are a lot of vocational schools, community colleges and companies that offer education and training in medical billing and coding. As we have discussed, you can choose to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also imperative that the school you choose has an accredited program with an exceptional reputation within the healthcare field. But however you elect to receive your education, by adhering to the previous guidelines and posing the appropriate questions, you will be better able to evaluate your options and select the right medical billing and coding college. And with the proper education, you can accomplish your career goal to become a medical coding and billing clerk in Memphis Tennessee.