How to Pick the Right Medical Billing and Coding Course near Seattle Washington

Now that you have decided to become part of the healthcare field by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Seattle WA, it's important that you choose the right school to ensure that you receive the proper education to guarantee your success. As you no doubt know, healthcare is among the fastest growing sectors in the United States, and increasingly more options are offered both on campus and online to obtain the training that you need. But just where does one start? A number of future students start by searching for colleges that are within driving distance of their residences and then comparing tuition. Or they might search the internet looking for online schools and choose the least expensive one. But while cost and location are relevant issues when making your choice, they should not be the sole ones when researching medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifications as accreditation and reputation need to be considered as well. We will cover a checklist of topics that you should ask the medical billing and coding schools you are researching so that you can learn 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 and the academic and certification options available.

Medical Coding Job Duties

Medical coders work on the front line of the billing systems for Seattle WA medical practices and hospitals. They have the responsibility to examine the medical records of patients and assign universal codes to all services provided. These services may be for medical, diagnosis or dental procedures, or any equipment or medical supplies utilized. There are multiple 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 rely on information from sources including nursing and physician notes, patient charts, and radiology and lab reports. Medical Coders must know not only what total services were provided for accuracy, but must have a functioning knowledge of all private payer and government rules that affect coding as well. Improperly coded claims may result in services not being covered, services being paid for at a decreased rate, or the physician or facility being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can in fact cost Seattle WA hospitals and doctors multiple thousands of dollars in revenue annually, a reliable medical coder is a necessary asset to the healthcare organization. They can work in any type of healthcare facility, including private practices, clinics, hospitals and urgent care centers. It is not unusual for experienced medical coders to working from home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Billing Job Summary

As crucial as the medical coder's function 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 them in business. Frequently the biller and coder are the same man or woman within a medical organization, but they can also be two individual specialists. After the coder has performed his or her duty, the biller uses the codes supplied to fill out 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 other out of pocket expenses. On a regular basis, a medical billing professional might also do any of the following:

• Confirm health insurance benefits for patients and assist them with billing questions or concerns
• Check on submitted patient claims and appeal those that have been denied
• Act as a mediator between the healthcare provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for proper claim resolution
• Produce and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Generate 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 can practice in every type of medical facility that relies on the revenues generated by billing third party payers and patients.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Instruction and Certification

It's essential that you receive your instruction from a reputable school, whether it's a trade school, vocational school or community college. Even though it is not required in most cases to obtain a professional certification, the program you select should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). Most Washington schools just require that you earn either a high school diploma or a GED to apply. The fastest way to becoming either a medical coder or biller (or both) is to obtain a certificate, which normally takes about 1 year to finish. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more expansive education, which for most schools calls for 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical coding and billing are not widely available. Once your training has been concluded, although not required in the majority of states, you may wish to attain a professional certification. Certification is an excellent method for those new to the field to show potential employers that they are not only qualified but committed to their career. Just 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 coding and billing program, combined with obtaining a professional certification, are the most effective ways to accelerate your new career and succeed in the rapid growing healthcare industry.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Schools

If you are searching for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes in your home, then choosing a medical billing and coding online course might be a great alternative. They can be particularly appealing to individuals living in Seattle WA who plan on attending school while still working or have additional obligations that make attending classes on campus difficult. And as an additional advantage, online programs are often less expensive than the conventional classroom alternatives. Costs for such items as tuition, course materials and commuting may be reduced or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online schools are reputable. That's why it's essential to verify that the online school you enroll in is accredited to ensure a premium education. We will address the advantages of accreditation in the next segment. Just be sure to confirm that any online training you are researching is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, for instance the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to commit yourself to this mode of learning, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Medical Billing and Coding Programs

Once you have a general idea just what a medical biller and coder does, in addition to what education options are offered, you need to begin the process of researching schools. But since there a large number of 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 include all of the online programs that offer medical coding and billing classes, the task can become rather daunting. As we have already covered, location and cost are going to be relevant issues, especially if you have a modest budget and will be driving to classes from your Seattle home. And verifying that the program and school are accredited should be part of your vetting procedure as well. So let's review several of the other questions that you should ask the schools you are considering so that you can analyze each one and make the ideal choice.

Is the Program Accredited? It's vital that the school and program you pick are accredited by a respected accrediting agency, for instance the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online school, it may also receive 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 may help secure future employment also. Many Seattle WA healthcare facilities will only employ entry level candidates that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding educational program. And financial assistance and student loans are in many cases only offered for programs that have earned an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Prior to selecting a medical coding and billing school, check out what its reputation and ranking are compared to other colleges. This is particularly relevant if you have no experience in the profession, since potential employers will basically be evaluating you based on the quality of your education. As we have covered, making sure that the program 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 check with a few Seattle WA healthcare organizations that you may have an interest in working for and find out which schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even if the college itself does not have an excellent reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be highly regarded.

Is there a Job Referral Program? Finding a job in Seattle WA after graduation in your new field can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. Check if the schools you are looking at have job assistance programs and what their job placement rates are. A high and rapid placement rate is a good indication that the billing and coding school has a significant network of healthcare employers where they can refer their graduates. It also implies that the college'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 residence, then the location of the campus will be of prime importance. Of course if you enroll in an medical billing and coding online program, then the location of the college will not be a consideration. One thing to remember is that if you go to classes at a junior or community college, most require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might want to first consider those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Overall Expense? Medical billing and coding training courses can differ in cost based on the type of credential acquired and the amount of training furnished. But remember, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Costs also include such things as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial aid may be available to help reduce a portion of the cost, so be 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 school, a portion of these additional costs, particularly for commuting may be reduced or even eliminated.

Are Classes Offered that Accommodate your Schedule? Many students continue working while going to college and require a flexible class schedule. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Seattle WA, verify that they are offered at those times. If you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the college you decide on 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 Biller and Coder Course

Enroll in the Best Seattle WA Medical Billing and Coding School 

Picking the ideal medical coding and billing certificate or degree course is a very important initial step to help assure your success in this rewarding field of medical care. Medical coding and medical billing are 2 of the most rapidly expanding occupations in the medical industry. As a result, there are numerous vocational schools, junior colleges and companies that furnish training and education in medical billing and coding. As we have covered, you can choose to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also imperative that the school you pick offers an accredited program with an excellent reputation within the healthcare field. But however you choose to receive your training, by adhering to the previous guidelines and asking the right questions, you will be better prepared to evaluate your options and choose the right medical billing and coding program. And with the proper training, you can achieve your career goal to become a medical billing and coding clerk in Seattle Washington.