How to Select the Right Medical Billing and Coding School near Seattle Washington

Now that you have decided to become part of the healthcare profession by enrolling in a medical billing and coding school near Seattle WA, it's important that you choose the right program so that you receive the proper education to guarantee your success. As you no doubt know, healthcare is among the fastest growing industries in the United States, and more and more options are available both online and on campus to receive the training that you need. But just where does one begin? Many potential students start by searching for colleges that are within commuting distance of their residences and then comparing cost. Or they may search the internet looking for online courses and pick the least expensive one. But while location and cost are significant issues when making your selection, they should not be the only ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifiers as accreditation and reputation need to be taken into account as well. We will cover a checklist of topics that you should ask the medical billing and coding courses you are assessing in order to learn what you must know prior to making your decision. Before we do that, let's take a look at what medical billers and coders do and the training and certification options offered.

Medical Biller and Coder Online Programs and Certification

It's important that you obtain your instruction from a reputable school, whether it's a community college, technical or trade school. Even though it is not a requirement in many cases to earn a professional certification, the school you select 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 qualify. The quickest way to become either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to attain a certificate, which usually takes about one year to finish. An Associate Degree is also an option for a more extensive education, which for the majority of colleges requires 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical billing and coding are not widely available. Once your education has been concluded, although not required in the majority of states, you might desire to acquire a professional certification. Certification is an excellent way 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 offer 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 best ways to advance your new vocation and succeed in the fast growing healthcare field.

Medical Coder Job Duties

Medical coders work on the front line of the billing systems for Seattle WA private practices and healthcare organizations. Coders have the responsibility to examine 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 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 use information from sources including physician and nursing notes, patient charts, and lab and radiology reports. Coders must know not only what total services were provided for accuracy, but must have a working knowledge of all private payer and government regulations that influence coding also. Incorrectly coded claims may lead to services not being covered, services being paid for at a reduced rate, or the provider being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can literally cost Seattle WA hospitals and doctors multiple thousands of dollars in revenue every year, a good medical coder is an important asset for any healthcare team. They can operate in every kind of healthcare facility, including private practices, hospitals, clinics and emergency care centers. It is not unusual for experienced medical coders to work at home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Biller Job Summary

As vital as the medical coder's function is, it would be for nothing without the collaboration of the medical biller whose efforts bring in revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Seattle WA healthcare facilities and are essentially responsible for keeping them in business. Frequently the biller and coder can be the same individual within a medical facility, but they can also be two individual professionals. When the coder has carried out his or her task, the biller utilizes the codes furnished to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicaid or Medicare. After being adjusted by the appropriate organization, patients can then be charged for deductibles and additional out of pocket expenses. On a regular basis, a medical billing professional can also do any of the following:

• Check medical insurance coverages for patients and help them with billing questions or concerns
• Follow up on submitted patient claims and appeal any that have been declined
• Act as an intermediary between the healthcare provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for correct claim resolution
• Produce and manage Accounts Receivables reports
• Produce and take care of unpaid patient collections accounts

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

Online Medical Biller and Coder Colleges

If you are interested in convenience and the flexibility of attending classes from home, then enrolling in a medical billing and coding online course may be an excellent alternative. They can be particularly appealing to those living in Seattle WA who plan on attending school while still working or have other obligations that make attending classes on campus challenging. And as an additional benefit, online programs are frequently cheaper than the traditional classroom alternatives. Expenses for such things as tuition, course materials and commuting may be minimized or eliminated. But be cautious, as not all online colleges are reputable. That's why it's important to verify that any online course you select is accredited to ensure a superior education. We will review the advantages of accreditation in the next segment. Just make sure to verify that any online instruction you are looking at 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 earning your certificate or degree online may be the right choice for you.

Points to Ask Medical Coding and Billing Colleges

Now that you have a general idea what a medical biller and coder does, along with what education options are available, you need to begin the process of evaluating schools. But since there are numerous 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 assess each one. And when you include all of the online colleges that offer medical billing and coding classes, the task can become somewhat daunting. As we have already covered, expense and location are going to be significant issues, especially if you have a limited budget and will be traveling to classes from your Seattle home. And whether or not the school and program are accredited must be part of your vetting procedure as well. So let's review a few of the additional questions that you should ask the programs you are considering so that you can analyze each one and make the right choice.

Is the Training Accredited? It's important that the school and program you decide on are accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online program, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Not only will accreditation help confirm that the training you get will be of superior quality, it could help with your future employment also. Many Seattle WA healthcare organizations will only employ entry level prospects that have completed an accredited medical coding and billing educational course. And financial assistance and student loans are often only obtainable for colleges that have obtained an accreditation.

What is the School's Reputation? Prior to selecting a medical billing and coding school, find out what its ranking and reputation are compared to other colleges. This is particularly relevant if you have no experience in the industry, since potential employers will mainly be evaluating you based on the quality of your training. As we have discussed, confirming that the school is accredited is a first step. Checking with college rating organizations, for instance U.S. News and World Report, can confirm the quality of the school as well. An alternative is to check with some Seattle WA healthcare organizations that you might have an interest in working for and ask which programs they recommend. Keep in mind that even if the college itself does not have an excellent reputation, its medical coding and billing program may still be well regarded.

Is there an Employment Assistance Program? Obtaining a job in Seattle WA after graduation in your new profession may be challenging without the support of a job assistance program. Check if the schools you are considering have job placement programs and what their job placement rates are. A rapid and high placement rate is an excellent indication that the billing and coding school has a substantial network of healthcare employers where they can place their graduates. It also implies that the school's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

Where is the College Located? If you are anticipating driving to class from your Seattle WA home, then the location of the program will be of significant importance. Of course if you select an medical billing and coding online program, then the location of the college will not be a consideration. 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 might prefer to first research those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Total Expense? Medical billing and coding certification programs can vary in cost depending on the type of credential obtained and the amount of training furnished. But remember, tuition is not the only cost of your education. Expenditures also consist of such items as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial assistance may be available to help offset some of the cost, so make sure to get in touch with the school's financial assistance department to find out what is offered in Seattle WA. Of course if you decide to enroll in an online school, some of these additional costs, particularly for commuting may be minimized or even eliminated.

Are Classes Available that Accommodate your Schedule? A number of students keep working while going to college and require a flexible class schedule. If you can only attend 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 basis, confirm that the program you pick provides that alternative. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up classes missed due to illness, work or family responsibilities.

Learn How to Select a Medical Biller and Coder Course

Enroll in the Right Seattle WA Medical Billing and Coding Program 

Enrolling in the ideal medical billing and coding degree or certificate course is a critical initial step to help assure your success in this exciting sector of medical care. Medical coding and medical billing are two of the fastest growing occupations in the health industry. As a result, there are a lot of trade schools, community colleges and other institutions that offer instruction and training in medical coding and billing. As we have reviewed, you can choose to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also important that the college you choose offers an accredited program with an outstanding reputation within the healthcare industry. But however you elect to receive your training, by adhering to the previous guidelines and posing the right questions, you will be better qualified to analyze your options and choose the ideal medical billing and coding college. And with the appropriate training, you can realize your career goal to become a medical coding and billing clerk in Seattle Washington.