How to Choose the Right Medical Billing and Coding College near Seattle Washington

Once you have made a decision to enter the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Seattle WA, it's essential that you select the appropriate school so that you receive the proper education to ensure your success. As you no doubt know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing sectors in the Country, and a growing number of options are available both on campus and online to receive the training that you need. But just where do you start? A number of future students start by looking for schools that are within driving distance of their homes and then comparing tuition. Or they might search the internet looking for online courses and go with the least expensive one. But while cost and location are relevant factors when making your determination, they should not be the only ones when comparing medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as reputation and accreditation should be taken into account also. We will review a list of questions that you need to ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are evaluating in order to find out what you must know before making your decision. But first, let's take a look at what medical coders and billers do and the training and certification options offered.

Medical Coding Job Description

Medical coders work on the forefront of the billing systems for Seattle WA private practices and hospitals. They have the responsibility to examine the treatment records of patients and convert all services provided into universal codes. These services can 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 depend on information from sources including nursing and physician notes, patient charts, and lab and radiology reports. Medical Coders must not only know what services were provided in total for accuracy, but must have a working knowledge of all private payer and government rules that affect coding as well. Inaccurately coded claims may lead to services not being paid for, services being paid at a reduced rate, or the physician or facility 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 a vital asset to the healthcare organization. They can work in any type 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 offsite employee or an independent contractor.

Medical Billing Job Functions

As vital as the medical coder's job is, it would be for nothing without the contribution of the medical biller whose labors produce revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to Seattle WA healthcare facilities and are practically responsible for keeping their doors open. In many cases the biller and coder can be the same individual within a medical facility, but they can also be 2 independent professionals. When the coder has carried out his or her duty, the biller utilizes the codes supplied to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicare or Medicaid. After being paid by the applicable organization, patients can then be charged for deductibles or other out of pocket expenses. On a routine basis, a medical billing professional might also do any of the following:

• Confirm health insurance benefits for patients and help them with billing questions or concerns
• Follow up on submitted patient claims and appeal any that have been denied
• Work as a mediator between the medical provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for correct claim settlement
• Create and manage Accounts Receivables reports
• Create and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

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

Medical Biller and Coder Online Programs and Certification

It's essential that you receive your instruction from a reputable school, whether it's a community college, technical or trade school. Although it is not required in many cases to obtain a professional certification, the school you choose should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). Most Washington colleges simply require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to apply. The fastest way to becoming either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to obtain a certificate, which normally takes about one year to finish. An Associate Degree is also an option for a more extensive education, which for almost all programs calls for two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical billing and coding are not abundantly available. After your training has been completed, although not mandated in the majority of states, you may wish to earn a professional certification. Certification is an effective method for those new to the profession to show potential 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).

Graduating from an accredited medical coding and billing course, along with obtaining a professional certification, are the best ways to advance your new profession and succeed in the fast growing medical care field.

Medical Biller and Coder Online Programs

If you are interested in convenience and the flexibility of attending classes from home, then choosing a medical billing and coding online program may be an excellent option. They can be especially appealing to those living in Seattle WA who anticipate going to school while continuing to work or have additional obligations that make going to classes on campus difficult. And as an additional benefit, online programs are often less expensive than the standard classroom alternatives. Costs for such items as tuition, course materials and commuting may be decreased or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online schools are reputable. That's why it's imperative to establish that the online program you choose is accredited to ensure a premium education. We will address the benefits of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to check that any online classes you are looking at is accredited by one of the national accrediting organizations, for instance the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to devote yourself to this type of learning, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Medical Biller and Coder Schools

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

Is the Training Accredited? It's important that the program and school you choose are accredited by a highly regarded accrediting organization, for instance the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online college, it can 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. Many Seattle WA healthcare facilities will only employ entry level applicants that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding training course. And financial aid and student loans are often only obtainable for programs that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Prior to picking a medical coding and billing school, check out what its ranking and reputation are compared to other programs. This is particularly imperative if you have no experience in the profession, since potential employers will primarily be relying on the quality of your education. As we have discussed, confirming that the program is accredited is a first step. Checking with school rating organizations, for instance U.S. News and World Report, can confirm the quality of the school as well. An alternative is to contact some Seattle WA medical organizations that you may be interested in working for and find out which schools they recommend. Remember that even when the school itself does not have an outstanding reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be well regarded.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Obtaining employment in Seattle WA after graduating in your new profession may be challenging without the help of a job assistance program. Check if the schools you are considering have job placement programs and what their job placement rates are. A high and rapid placement rate is a good indication that the coding and billing 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 School Located? If you are intending on driving to class from your Seattle WA home, then the location of the school will be of significant importance. Naturally if you enroll in an online medical billing and coding program, then the location of the college will not be important. One thing to bear in mind is that if you go to classes at a community or junior college, most charge a higher tuition for enrollees that live outside of their districts. So you may prefer to first look at those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Overall Expense? Medical coding and billing training programs can vary in cost depending on the type of credential acquired and the length of training furnished. Just keep in mind, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Expenditures also consist of such things as the cost of books, supplies and commuting. Financial assistance may be accessible to help offset some of the cost, so make sure to check with the school's financial assistance department to see what is available in Seattle WA. Of course if you decide to attend an online college, some of these additional costs, particularly for commuting may be minimized or even eliminated.

Are Classes Available that Match your Schedule? A number of students continue working while attending school and require a flexible class schedule. If you can only go to classes during the evenings or on weekends near Seattle WA, confirm that they are offered at those times. If you can only enroll on a part time schedule, make certain that the school you enroll in provides that alternative. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of sickness, work or family emergencies.

Find Out More on How to Select a Medical Coding Program

Choose the Best Seattle WA Medical Billing and Coding School 

Picking the right medical billing and coding degree or certificate program is a crucial initial step to help assure your success in this rewarding specialty of medical care. Medical billing and medical coding are two of the fastest expanding careers in the medical industry. As a result, there are many vocational schools, junior colleges and companies that furnish training and instruction in medical coding and billing. As we have reviewed, you can opt to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also important that the school you select has an accredited program with an excellent reputation within the medical care industry. But however you elect to receive your training, by following the previous guidelines and asking the right questions, you will be better prepared to assess your options and choose the ideal medical billing and coding college. And with the appropriate training, you can accomplish your career goal to become a medical coding and billing clerk in Seattle Washington.