How to Choose the Right Medical Biller and Coder School near Seattle Washington

Once you have decided to enter the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Seattle WA, it's crucial that you select the appropriate school so that you receive the proper education to ensure your success. As you may already know, healthcare is among the fastest growing industries in the Country, and increasingly more options are offered both on campus and online to obtain the training that you need. But just where do you start? A number of potential students start by searching for schools that are within travelling distance of their residences and then comparing cost. Or they may search the internet looking for online classes and pick the cheapest one. But while location and cost are relevant factors when making your selection, they should not be the sole ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as reputation and accreditation should be taken into account as well. We will go over a checklist of questions that you should ask the medical billing and coding training programs you are assessing in order to learn what you need to know before making your decision. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical coders and billers do and the training and certification options offered.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Instruction and Certification

It's important that you receive your instruction from a reputable school, whether it's a technical school, vocational school or community college. While it is not a requirement in many cases to earn a professional certification, the program you enroll in should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). Most Washington colleges only require that you earn either a high school diploma or a GED to qualify. The most expedient way to become either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to attain a certificate, which generally takes about a year to complete. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more comprehensive education, which for the majority of schools calls for 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical coding and billing are not abundantly offered. Once your training has been concluded, although not mandated in the majority of states, you might wish to acquire a professional certification. Certification is an excellent way for those new to the field to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but dedicated to their career. A few 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).

Graduating from an accredited medical billing and coding program, together with attaining a professional certification, are the most effective ways to accelerate your new profession and succeed in the fast growing medical care field.

Medical Coder Job Summary

Medical coders are on the front line of the billing systems for Seattle WA medical practices and healthcare organizations. They have the responsibility to analyze the treatment records of patients and assign universal codes to all services provided. These services may be for medical, diagnosis or dental procedures, or any medical supplies or equipment used. 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 use information from sources such as nursing and physician notes, patient charts, and radiology and lab reports. Coders must know not only what total services were provided for accurate reporting, but must have a functioning knowledge of all private payer and government regulations that impact coding also. Inaccurately coded claims may result in services not being paid for, services being paid for at a lower rate, or the physician or facility being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can literally cost Seattle WA hospitals and doctors multiple thousands of dollars in income each year, a reliable medical coder is a necessary asset for any healthcare team. They can operate in any type of healthcare facility, including private practices, clinics, hospitals and urgent 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 Functions

As crucial as the medical coder's function 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 medical organizations and are practically responsible for keeping their doors open. Often the biller and coder are the same individual within a healthcare facility, but they can also be two separate specialists. After the coder has carried out his or her task, the biller uses the codes provided to complete and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid. After being paid by the applicable entity, patients can then be billed for deductibles or additional out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical billing professional may also do any of the following:

• Confirm medical insurance benefits for patients and help them with billing questions or concerns
• Follow up on submitted patient claims and appeal those that have been declined
• Act as an intermediary between the medical provider, the insurance companies and the patients for correct claim settlement
• Generate and oversee Accounts Receivables reports
• Produce and take care of unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billing clerks not only work for private practices, but also Seattle WA emergency care facilities, hospitals, medical groups or nursing homes. They can practice in every kind of medical facility that relies on the revenues generated by billing patients and third party payers.

Medical Biller and Coder Online Training

If you are looking for convenience and the flexibility of attending classes in your home, then choosing an online medical billing and coding school may be a great alternative. They can be especially attractive to students living in Seattle WA who anticipate attending school while continuing to work or have other obligations that make going to classes on campus difficult. And as an added advantage, online colleges are in many cases cheaper than the conventional classroom options. Costs for such things as tuition, course materials and commuting may be decreased or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online programs are reputable. That's why it's imperative to confirm that any online college you select is accredited to ensure a superior education. We will address the benefits of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to establish that any online school 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 dedicated enough to commit yourself to this type of learning, then acquiring your certificate or degree online may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Medical Billing and Coding Courses

Once you have a better idea just what a medical coder and biller does, as well as what education options are available, you need to begin the process of comparing schools. But since there a large number of training options offered at community colleges and technical, trade and vocational schools within the Seattle WA area, you should have a ready list of questions in order to evaluate each one. And when you include all of the online colleges that offer medical coding and billing classes, the task can become somewhat formidable. As we have already addressed, expense and location are going to be important issues, especially if you have a limited budget and will be commuting to classes from your Seattle home. And confirming that the program and school are accredited must be part of your vetting process as well. So let's review a few of the additional questions that you should ask the colleges you are considering so that you can compare each one and make the ideal choice.

Is the School Accredited? It's vital that the program and college you pick are accredited by a respected accrediting agency, for example the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online school, it can also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online education. Not only will accreditation help guarantee that the training you receive will be of the highest quality, it might help secure future employment also. A number of Seattle WA healthcare facilities will only employ entry level prospects that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing training course. And financial assistance and student loans are in many cases only available for programs that have earned an accreditation.

What is the Program's Reputation? Before picking a medical billing and coding program, check out what its reputation and ranking are among other programs. This is particularly relevant if you have no experience in the field, since potential employers will basically be relying on the quality of your education. As we have addressed, verifying that the program is accredited is an initial step. Checking with school rating organizations, for instance U.S. News and World Report, can validate the quality of the school as well. Another option is to contact several Seattle WA healthcare organizations that you might be interested in working for and find out which colleges they suggest. Bear in mind that even if the college itself does not have an outstanding reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be highly regarded.

Is there an Employment Placement Program? Obtaining a job in Seattle WA after graduating in your new field can be difficult without the help of a job assistance program. Ask 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 college has a sizable 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 intending on commuting to class from your Seattle WA residence, then the location of the school will be of prime importance. Naturally if you select an medical coding and billing online program, then the location of the college will not be a factor. One thing to bear in mind is that if you attend classes at a community or junior college, most charge a higher tuition for pupils that live outside of their districts. So you may prefer to first look at those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Overall Expense? Medical billing and coding 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. Costs also consist of such things as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial assistance may be accessible to help offset a portion of the expense, so don't forget to check with the college's financial aid department to find out what is available in Seattle WA. Naturally if you decide to attend an online school, some of these added costs, such as for commuting may be reduced or even eliminated.

Are Classes Accessible that Accommodate your Schedule? Many students continue working while going to college and need a flexible class schedule. If you can only go to classes during the evenings or on weekends near Seattle WA, confirm that they are available at those times. If you can only attend on a part time basis, verify that the school you select provides that alternative. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

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

Choose the Best Seattle WA Medical Billing and Coding Training 

Choosing the right medical coding and billing degree or certificate program is a critical initial step to help ensure your success in this exciting sector of healthcare. Medical coding and medical billing are two of the fastest expanding careers in the medical industry. As a result, there are a lot of trade schools, community colleges and companies that offer training and instruction in medical billing and coding. As we have covered, you can opt to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also important that the school you choose has an accredited program with an exceptional reputation within the medical care industry. But however you choose to receive your education, by following the previous guidelines and posing the appropriate questions, you will be better able to analyze your options and pick the right medical billing and coding college. And with the proper education, you can accomplish your career goal to become a medical coding and billing clerk in Seattle Washington.