How to Find the Best Medical Coding School near Seattle Washington

Now that 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 choose the appropriate school so that you receive the necessary education to guarantee your success. As you may already know, healthcare is one of the fastest growing fields in the USA, and more and more options are available both on campus and online to get the training that you need. But just where does one begin? A number of aspiring students start by looking for programs that are within travelling distance of their residences and then comparing tuition. Or they may search the internet looking for online schools and go with the cheapest one. But while location and cost are significant issues when making your selection, they should not be the sole ones when researching medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as reputation and accreditation should be taken into account as well. We will review a checklist of topics that you need to ask the medical billing and coding schools you are assessing in order to learn what you need to know before making your selection. But first, let's take a look at what medical billers and coders do and the academic and certification options offered.

Medical Coding and Billing Online Instruction and Certification

It's important that you receive your instruction from a reputable school, whether it's a trade school, vocational school or community college. Although it is not a requirement in most cases to attain a professional certification, the school you select should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). Most Washington colleges simply require that you earn either a high school diploma or a GED to apply. The most expedient way to becoming either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to attain a certificate, which normally takes about 1 year to complete. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more comprehensive education, which for almost all programs calls for two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees in medical billing and coding are not abundantly offered. After your training has been completed, although not mandated in most states, you may desire to acquire a professional certification. Certification is an effective method for those new to the field to show potential employers that they are not only qualified but committed 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).

Completing an accredited medical coding and billing program, combined with attaining a professional certification, are the most effective ways to accelerate your new career and succeed in the rapid growing healthcare industry.

Medical Coder Job Summary

Medical coders are on the front line of the billing systems for Seattle WA medical practices and hospitals. Coders have the responsibility to analyze the medical records of patients and assign universal codes to all services provided. These services may be for diagnosis, medical or dental procedures, or any equipment or medical supplies used. 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 such as physician and nursing notes, patient charts, and radiology and lab reports. 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. Incorrectly coded claims may lead to services not being paid for, services being paid for at a decreased rate, or the provider being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can in fact cost Seattle WA physicians and medical facilities multiple thousands of dollars in revenue each year, a good medical coder is an important asset for any healthcare organization. They can operate in any kind of healthcare facility, including family practices, hospitals, clinics and emergency care centers. It is not unusual for seasoned medical coders to working from home as an offsite employee or an independent contractor.

Medical Biller Job Functions

As essential as the medical coder's job is, it would be for nothing without the collaboration of the medical biller whose labors produce revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to Seattle WA medical organizations and are literally responsible for keeping them in business. In many cases the coder and biller may be the same man or woman within a medical organization, but they can also be two individual professionals. After the coder has performed her or his task, the biller utilizes the codes provided to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicaid or Medicare. After being paid by the applicable organization, patients can then be invoiced for deductibles or additional out of pocket expenses. On a regular basis, a medical billing professional may also do any of the following:

• Verify health insurance coverages 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 medical provider, the insurance companies and the patients for proper claim settlement
• Generate and control Accounts Receivables reports
• Produce and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

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

Online Medical Biller and Coder Classes

If you are searching for flexibility and the convenience of attending classes in your home, then enrolling in a medical billing and coding online college might be a good option. They can be particularly attractive to those living in Seattle WA who anticipate going to school while continuing to work or have additional commitments that make going to classes on campus challenging. And as an added advantage, online schools are often cheaper than the standard classroom alternatives. Costs for such things as tuition, study materials and commuting may be minimized or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online schools are reputable. For that reason it's imperative to confirm that the online program you select is accredited to guarantee a quality education. We will review the advantages of accreditation in the next segment. Just be sure to verify that any online instruction 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 style of learning, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Medical Billing and Coding Schools

Once you have a general idea what a medical biller and coder does, in addition to what education options are available, you need to start the process of evaluating schools. But since there are numerous training options offered at community colleges as well as vocational, technical and trade schools within the Seattle WA area, you should have a ready list of questions in order to assess each one. And when you include all of the online schools that offer medical coding and billing classes, the project can become somewhat daunting. As we have already addressed, cost and location are going to be relevant factors, particularly if you have a limited budget and will be commuting to classes from your Seattle residence. And verifying that the school and program are accredited should be part of your vetting process as well. So let's review some of the additional questions that you should ask the colleges you are looking at so that you can compare each one and make the appropriate choice.

Is the School Accredited? It's crucial that the program and college you select are accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online program, it may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance education. Not only will accreditation help ensure that the training you get will be of superior quality, it could help secure future employment also. A number of Seattle WA healthcare facilities will only employ entry level applicants that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding training course. And financial assistance and student loans are in many cases only obtainable for schools that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Before picking a medical billing and coding program, find out what its ranking and reputation are among other programs. This is especially relevant if you have no experience in the profession, since potential employers will mainly be evaluating you based on the quality of your training. As we have covered, confirming that the program is accredited is a first step. Checking with school rating organizations, for example U.S. News and World Report, can confirm the quality of the school as well. Another option is to contact several Seattle WA medical organizations that you might be interested in working for and ask which schools they recommend. Remember that even if the college itself does not have an exceptional reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be well regarded.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding employment in Seattle WA after graduation in your new field might 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 rapid and high placement rate is an excellent indication that the coding and billing college has a considerable network of medical care employers where they can place their graduates. It also suggests that the college's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

Where is the College's Location? If you are anticipating commuting to class from your Seattle WA residence, then the location of the campus will be of prime importance. Naturally if you choose 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 attend classes at a junior or community college, many charge a higher tuition for pupils that live outside of their districts. So you might want to first consider those colleges that are within your local area.

What is the Complete Expense? Medical billing and coding certification courses can differ in cost depending on the type of credential earned and the length of training provided. Just keep in mind, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Expenses also include such things as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial aid may be accessible to help reduce a portion of the expense, so don't forget to get in touch with the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Seattle WA. Of course if you decide to attend an online school, some of these additional costs, particularly for commuting may be reduced or even eliminated.

Are Classes Available that Match your Schedule? A number of students keep working while going to college and need a convenient class schedule. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Seattle WA, verify that they are offered at those times. If you can only enroll on a part time schedule, confirm that the college you select provides that option. Also, find out what the process is for making up classes missed due to illness, work or family responsibilities.

Learn How to Enroll in a Medical Coding Program

Select the Right Seattle WA Medical Billing and Coding Program 

Enrolling in the ideal medical coding and billing certificate or degree course is a critical first step to help assure your success in this exciting specialty of medical care. Medical billing and medical coding are 2 of the fastest expanding careers in the health sector. As a result, there are many trade schools, junior colleges and other institutions that offer instruction and training in medical billing and coding. As we have discussed, you can opt to attend classes either online or on campus. It's also essential that the college you choose offers an accredited program with an excellent reputation within the healthcare field. But however you elect to receive your training, by adhering to the previous guidelines and asking the appropriate questions, you will be better prepared to assess your options and pick the right medical billing and coding college. And with the proper training, you can realize your career objective to become a medical coding and billing specialist in Seattle Washington.