How to Enroll In the Best Medical Billing and Coding Training Classes near Lakewood Washington

Once you have made a decision to become part of the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Lakewood WA, it's crucial that you select the appropriate school to ensure that you receive the proper education to guarantee your success. As you probably know, healthcare is among the fastest growing fields in the United States, 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 future students begin by looking for colleges that are within commuting distance of their residences and then comparing cost. Or they may search the internet looking for online schools and choose the cheapest one. But while cost and location are important issues when making your determination, they should not be the only ones when comparing medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as reputation and accreditation need to be taken into consideration as well. We will cover a list of questions that you need to ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are evaluating so that you can learn what you must know before making your selection. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical billers and coders do and the academic and certification options offered.

Medical Coder and Biller Online Education and Certification

It's important that you receive your education from a reputable school, whether it's a technical school, vocational school or community college. While it is not required in most cases to obtain a professional certification, the school you enroll in should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). Most Washington programs simply require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to apply. The most expedient way to becoming either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to attain a certificate, which normally takes about one year to complete. An Associate Degree is also an option for a more expansive education, which for almost all colleges requires two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical coding and billing are not widely available. After your training has been completed, although not mandated in most states, you might want to attain a professional certification. Certification is a great means for those new to the profession to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but dedicated to their career. A few 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 coding and billing program, together with earning a professional certification, are the best ways to advance your new career and succeed in the rapid growing medical care industry.

Medical Coder Job Duties

Medical coders are on the forefront of the billing systems for Lakewood WA medical practices and healthcare organizations. They have the responsibility to review 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 medical supplies or equipment used. There are several 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 including nursing and physician notes, patient charts, and lab and radiology reports. Coders must know not only what total services were provided for accurate reporting, but must have a working knowledge of all government and private payer regulations that impact coding also. Improperly 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 Lakewood WA hospitals and doctors multiple thousands of dollars in earnings annually, a proficient medical coder is an important asset for any healthcare team. They can operate in every kind of healthcare facility, including family practices, hospitals, clinics and emergency care centers. It is not unusual for professional medical coders to work at home as an offsite employee or an independent contractor.

Medical Billing Job Description

As vital as the medical coder's job is, it would be for nothing without the collaboration of the medical biller whose efforts produce revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to Lakewood WA healthcare organizations and are practically responsible for keeping their doors open. Frequently the biller and coder can be the same man or woman within a medical organization, but they can also be two individual professionals. Once the coder has performed his or her job, the biller uses the codes furnished to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicaid or Medicare. After they have been adjusted by the applicable organization, patients can then be invoiced for deductibles or other out of pocket costs. On a regular basis, a medical biller may also do any of the following:

• Confirm medical insurance benefits for patients and assist them with billing questions or concerns
• Follow up on patient claims submitted and appeal those that have been declined
• Work as an intermediary between the healthcare provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for correct claim resolution
• Create and manage Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and handle unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billers not only are employed by family practices, but also Lakewood WA emergency care facilities, hospitals, nursing homes or medical groups. They may work in any type of medical facility that depends on the revenues generated by billing patients and third party payers.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Colleges

If you are searching for flexibility and the convenience of attending classes at home, then selecting an online medical billing and coding school might be an excellent option. They can be particularly appealing to individuals living in Lakewood WA who plan on going to school while continuing to work or have additional obligations that make attending classes on campus difficult. And as an additional advantage, online schools are frequently cheaper than the traditional classroom alternatives. Costs for such things as tuition, course materials and commuting may be decreased 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 guarantee a superior education. We will cover the benefits of accreditation in the next section. Just make sure to verify that any online instruction you are considering is accredited by one of the national accrediting organizations, such as the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to devote yourself to this style of learning, then acquiring your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.

Points to Ask Medical Coding and Billing Schools

Now that you have a general idea what a medical coder and biller does, as well as what training options are available, you need to begin the process of comparing schools. But since there many training options offered at community colleges and vocational, technical and trade schools within the Lakewood WA area, you must have a ready list of questions to evaluate each one. And when you add all of the online schools that offer medical billing and coding classes, the project can become rather formidable. As we have already covered, location and cost are going to be relevant factors, especially if you have a limited budget and will be commuting to classes from your Lakewood residence. And whether or not the program and school are accredited should be part of your vetting procedure also. So let's review several of the other questions that you should ask the colleges you are reviewing so that you can evaluate each one and make the right choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's essential that the program and school you decide on are accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for instance 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 learning. Not only will accreditation help guarantee that the education you get will be of superior quality, it might help with your future employment also. Many Lakewood WA medical organizations will only hire entry level applicants that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding training program. And financial assistance and student loans are in many cases only available for programs that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Prior to enrolling in a medical billing and coding school, check out what its ranking and reputation are compared to other colleges. This is particularly imperative if you have no experience in the industry, since potential employers will mainly be relying on the quality of your training. As we have discussed, making sure that the college is accredited is an initial step. Checking with college rating organizations, such as U.S. News and World Report, can confirm the quality of the school also. Another option is to contact a few Lakewood WA healthcare organizations that you might be interested in working for and ask which schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even if the school itself does not have an exceptional reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be well regarded.

Is there a Job Referral Program? Obtaining a job in Lakewood WA after graduation in your new profession might be difficult without the support of a job placement program. Find out 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 billing and coding school has a considerable network of medical care employers where they can place their graduates. It also indicates that the school's graduates are sought after in the marketplace.

Where is the School Located? If you are planning on commuting to class from your Lakewood WA residence, then the location of the program will be of significant importance. Obviously if you enroll in an medical billing and coding online program, then the location of the college will not be a factor. One thing to remember is that if you attend classes at a community or junior college, most charge a higher tuition for pupils that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to first research those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Complete Cost? Medical coding and billing training programs can differ in cost depending on the type of credential obtained and the length of training provided. Just keep in mind, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Costs also consist of such items as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial aid may be accessible to help offset a portion of the cost, so don't forget to get in touch with the college's financial assistance department to find out what is available in Lakewood WA. Of course 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 Offered that Match your Schedule? Many students keep working while attending college and require a convenient class schedule. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Lakewood WA, verify that they are available at those times. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you enroll in provides that alternative. Also, find out what the process is for making up classes missed because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Find Out More on How to Choose a Billing and Coding School

Enroll in the Best Lakewood WA Medical Billing and Coding Program 

Picking the right medical coding and billing certificate or degree course is a very important initial step to help assure your success in this rewarding sector of medical care. Medical coding and medical billing are 2 of the fastest growing careers in the medical industry. Because of this, there are a lot of vocational schools, junior colleges and companies that provide training and instruction in medical coding and billing. As we have discussed, you can choose to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also essential that the school you choose has an accredited program with an excellent reputation within the medical care community. But however you decide to receive your education, by following the previous guidelines and posing the right questions, you will be better qualified to evaluate your options and select the ideal medical billing and coding school. And with the appropriate training, you can realize your career goal to become a medical billing and coding specialist in Lakewood Washington.