How to Select the Right Medical Billing and Coding Training Program near Seattle Washington

Now that you have made a decision to become part of the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Seattle WA, it's essential that you choose the appropriate program to ensure that you receive the necessary education to guarantee your success. As you no doubt know, healthcare is among the fastest growing industries in the Country, and a growing number of options are offered both on campus and online to obtain the training that you need. But just where does one begin? Many potential students begin by looking for schools that are within commuting distance of their homes and then comparing cost. Or they may surf the internet looking for online schools and select the least expensive one. But while location and cost are important factors when making your determination, they should not be the sole ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifications as reputation and accreditation should be considered also. We will go over a list of topics that you should ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are researching so that you can learn 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 educational and certification options offered.

Medical Biller and Coder Online Education and Certification

It's essential that you receive your education from a reputable school, whether it's a technical school, vocational school or community college. Although it is not required in many cases to attain a professional certification, the school you choose should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). Most Washington colleges simply require that you earn either a high school diploma or a GED to qualify. The quickest way to become either a medical coder or biller (or both) is to attain a certificate, which normally takes about 1 year to accomplish. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more extensive education, which for almost all schools requires 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical billing and coding are not widely available. When your education has been concluded, although not required in the majority of states, you may want to earn a professional certification. Certification is an effective method for those new to the profession to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but dedicated to their career. 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, combined with obtaining a professional certification, are the most effective ways to advance your new profession and succeed in the rapid growing healthcare field.

Medical Coder Job Functions

Medical coders are on the front line of the billing systems for Seattle WA private practices and hospitals. They have the responsibility to analyze the medical records of patients and convert all services provided into universal codes. These services can be for diagnosis, medical or dental procedures, or any equipment or medical supplies utilized. There are various 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 use information from sources including physician and nursing notes, patient charts, and radiology and lab reports. Medical Coders must know not only what total services were provided for accurate reporting, but must have a functioning knowledge of all government and private payer regulations that affect coding as well. Inaccurately coded claims can 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 in fact cost Seattle WA physicians and medical facilities many thousands of dollars in revenue annually, a reliable medical coder is an important asset to the healthcare organization. They can operate in every kind of healthcare facility, including private practices, clinics, hospitals and critical care centers. It is not uncommon for seasoned medical coders to work at home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Biller Job Functions

As crucial as the medical coder's role is, it would be for naught without the collaboration of the medical biller whose efforts generate revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to Seattle WA medical organizations and are essentially responsible for keeping their doors open. Frequently the coder and biller are the same man or woman within a healthcare organization, but they can also be 2 individual specialists. After the coder has performed his or her task, the biller utilizes the codes supplied to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicare or Medicaid. After they have been paid by the applicable organization, patients can then be billed for deductibles and additional out of pocket expenses. On a routine basis, a medical biller might also do any of the following:

• Confirm health insurance benefits for patients and help them with billing questions or concerns
• Check on patient claims submitted and appeal any that have been denied
• Act as an intermediary between the healthcare provider, the insurance companies and the patients for correct claim resolution
• Create and oversee Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and take care of unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billing clerks not only are employed by private practices, but also Seattle WA hospitals, urgent care facilities, medical groups or nursing homes. They can practice in any type of medical facility that depends on the revenues generated by billing third party payers and patients.

Online Medical Billing and Coding Colleges

If you are searching for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes from home, then selecting an online medical billing and coding school might be a great alternative. They can be particularly appealing to those living in Seattle WA who anticipate going to school while continuing to work or have other obligations that make going to classes on campus difficult. And as an additional benefit, online programs are often less expensive than the conventional classroom alternatives. Costs for such things as tuition, commuting and study materials may be minimized or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online courses are reputable. That's why it's important to confirm that the online school you enroll in is accredited to guarantee a superior education. We will review the advantages of accreditation in the next segment. Just be sure to establish that any online training you are looking at is accredited by one of the national accrediting organizations, for example the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are dedicated enough to devote yourself to this mode of learning, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal choice for you.

Points to Ask Medical Coding and Billing Colleges

Now that you have a general idea just what a medical coder and biller does, along with what education options are available, you need to begin the process of comparing schools. But since there many training options offered at community colleges and trade, vocational and technical schools within the Seattle WA area, you need to have a prepared list of questions to assess each one. And when you add all of the online schools that offer medical coding and billing classes, the task can become rather formidable. As we have already discussed, cost and location are going to be significant issues, particularly if you have a modest budget and will be traveling to classes from your Seattle residence. And whether or not the school and program are accredited should be part of your vetting procedure as well. So let's take a look at several of the additional questions that you should ask the schools you are considering so that you can evaluate each one and make the appropriate choice.

Is the Training Accredited? It's vital that the program and school you pick 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 distance or online education. Not only will accreditation help confirm that the training you receive will be of the highest quality, it might help with your future employment also. A number of Seattle WA healthcare organizations will only employ entry level applicants that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding training course. And financial aid and student loans are frequently only available for schools that have earned an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Before picking a medical billing and coding school, find out what its reputation and ranking are among other colleges. This is particularly imperative if you have no experience in the profession, since potential employers will basically be evaluating you based on the quality of your training. As we have covered, verifying that the school is accredited is a first step. Checking with college rating organizations, such as U.S. News and World Report, can validate the quality of the school also. An alternative is to call several Seattle WA healthcare organizations that you might be interested in working for and ask which schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even when the school itself does not have an exceptional reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be well regarded.

Is there an Employment Placement Program? Obtaining a job in Seattle WA after graduating in your new field can be difficult without the support of a job assistance program. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have job placement 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 refer 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 planning on driving to class from your Seattle WA home, then the location of the campus will be of prime importance. Of course if you select an online medical coding and billing program, then the location of the college will not be a consideration. 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 pupils that live outside of their districts. So you may prefer to first consider those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Complete Expense? Medical billing and coding training courses can vary in cost depending on the type of credential earned and the amount of training furnished. But remember, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Costs also consist of such things as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial assistance might be accessible to help offset a portion of the expense, so be sure to contact the college's financial assistance department to find out what is available in Seattle WA. Of course if you decide to attend an online school, some of these added costs, particularly for commuting may be reduced or even eliminated.

Are Classes Available that Accommodate your Schedule? A number of students continue working while attending college and need a flexible class schedule. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Seattle WA, confirm that they are available at those times. If you can only enroll on a part time schedule, verify that the school you enroll in provides that alternative. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up classes missed due to sickness, work or family responsibilities.

Get Info on How to Enroll in a Medical Biller and Coder Program

Enroll in the Right Seattle WA Medical Billing and Coding School 

Selecting the ideal medical coding and billing degree or certificate program is a very important first step to help guarantee your success in this rewarding specialty of healthcare. Medical coding and medical billing are 2 of the most rapidly growing jobs in the health industry. As a result, there are numerous trade schools, community colleges and other institutions that provide training and education in medical coding and billing. As we have reviewed, you can choose to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also essential that the college you select has an accredited program with an outstanding reputation within the medical care field. But however you choose to receive your education, by following the previous guidelines and posing the right questions, you will be better prepared to analyze your options and choose the ideal medical billing and coding school. And with the proper training, you can realize your career goal to become a medical coding and billing clerk in Seattle Washington.