How to Find the Right Medical Coding College near Seattle Washington

Now that you have made a decision to become part of the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Seattle WA, it's important that you select the appropriate program to ensure that you receive the proper education to ensure your success. As you probably know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing fields in the Country, and a growing number of options are offered both on campus and online to get the training that you need. But just where do you begin? Many aspiring students start by looking for schools that are within driving distance of their residences and then comparing cost. Or they might search the internet looking for online schools and go with the cheapest one. But while cost and location are relevant issues when making your choice, they should not be the only ones when comparing medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as reputation and accreditation need to be considered as well. We will review a checklist of topics that you should ask the medical billing and coding schools you are evaluating so that you can find out what you need to know prior to making your decision. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical coders and billers do.

Medical Coder Job Summary

Medical coders work on the front line of the billing systems for Seattle WA medical practices and healthcare organizations. Coders 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 equipment or medical supplies utilized. 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 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 decreased rate, or the physician or facility being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can literally cost Seattle WA physicians and medical facilities many thousands of dollars in income each year, a good medical coder is an important asset for any healthcare organization. They can work in any type of healthcare facility, including private practices, hospitals, clinics and emergency care centers. It is not uncommon for experienced medical coders to working from home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Biller Job Description

As important as the medical coder's job is, it would be for naught without the contribution of the medical biller whose labors produce revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Seattle WA medical organizations and are essentially responsible for keeping their doors open. Frequently the coder and biller are the same individual within a medical organization, but they can also be two independent professionals. Once the coder has completed his or her duty, the biller uses the codes furnished to complete and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicare or Medicaid. After they have been paid by the appropriate entity, patients can then be invoiced for deductibles and additional out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical billing clerk might also do any of the following:

• Check health insurance coverages for patients and assist them with billing questions or concerns
• Check on submitted patient claims and appeal any that have been denied
• Act as a mediator between the healthcare provider, the insurance companies and the patients for accurate claim resolution
• Produce and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

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

Online Medical Billing and Coding Schools

If you are looking for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes at home, then selecting a medical billing and coding online program may be an excellent alternative. They can be particularly appealing to students living in Seattle WA who plan on attending school while still working or have additional commitments that make going to classes on campus difficult. And as an additional benefit, online colleges are frequently less expensive than the standard classroom options. Costs for such items as tuition, commuting and study materials may be reduced or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online schools are reputable. That's why it's important to verify that any online course you choose is accredited to guarantee a superior education. We will cover the advantages of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to check that any online training 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 mode of learning, then acquiring your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Medical Billing and Coding Training Programs

Now that you have a better idea just what a medical coder and biller does, as well as what training options are available, you must start the process of researching schools. But since there a large number of training options offered at community colleges as well as trade, vocational and technical schools within the Seattle WA area, you must have a ready list of questions to analyze each one. And when you include all of the online schools that offer medical coding and billing classes, the task can become somewhat daunting. As we have already addressed, location and cost are going to be relevant issues, particularly if you have a modest budget and will be driving to classes from your Seattle residence. And confirming that the program and school are accredited must be part of your vetting procedure as well. So let's take a look at some of the additional questions that you should ask the schools you are considering so that you can analyze each one and make the best choice.

Is the School Accredited? It's vital that the school and program you decide on are accredited by a highly regarded accrediting organization, for instance the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online college, it might also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. Not only will accreditation help confirm that the education you receive will be of the highest quality, it could help with your future employment also. Many Seattle WA medical facilities will only hire entry level prospects that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding educational course. And financial aid and student loans are in many cases only obtainable for programs that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Before picking a medical coding and billing school, find out what its reputation and ranking are among other schools. This is particularly important if you have no experience in the industry, since potential employers will mostly be evaluating you based on the quality of your education. As we have addressed, confirming that the college 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. Another option is to get in touch with several Seattle WA medical organizations that you might be interested in working for and ask which programs they suggest. Keep in mind that even when the college itself does not have an exceptional reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be well regarded.

Is there an Employment Placement Program? Finding employment in Seattle WA after graduation in your new profession may be challenging without the support of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have job placement programs and what their job placement rates are. A high and rapid placement rate is an excellent indication that the billing and coding school has a substantial network of healthcare employers where they can refer their graduates. It also suggests that the college's graduates are sought after 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 significant importance. Obviously if you select an medical coding and billing online program, then the location of the school will not be a factor. One thing to keep in mind is that if you attend classes at a community or junior college, many charge a higher tuition for enrollees that live outside of their districts. So you might prefer to first research those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Overall Cost? Medical coding and billing certification courses can differ in cost depending on the type of credential earned and the amount 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 supplies, books and commuting. Financial assistance might be obtainable to help reduce some of the cost, so make sure to contact the college's financial aid department to see what is available in Seattle WA. Naturally if you decide to enroll in an online school, a portion of these additional costs, particularly for commuting may be minimized or even eliminated.

Are Classes Accessible that Match your Schedule? Many students continue working while going to school and require a flexible class schedule. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Seattle WA, make sure that they are offered at those times. If you can only attend on a part time schedule, make sure that the program you choose offers that option. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up classes missed because of sickness, work or family responsibilities.

Find Out More on How to Select a Billing and Coding Course

Enroll in the Right Seattle WA Medical Billing and Coding Program 

Enrolling in the ideal medical coding and billing degree or certificate course is a very important initial step to help assure your success in this exciting field of medical care. Medical coding and medical billing are two of the fastest expanding careers in the medical sector. Because of this, there are many vocational schools, community colleges and other institutions 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 offers an accredited program with an exceptional reputation within the medical care community. But however you decide to receive your training, by following the previous guidelines and asking the appropriate questions, you will be better qualified to assess your options and select the right medical billing and coding school. And with the appropriate education, you can accomplish your career objective to become a medical coding and billing specialist in Seattle Washington.