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How to Find the Right Medical Billing and Coding Online School Athens Alabama

Athens Alabama Medical Billing and Coding specialist working at her deskNow that you have decided to enter the healthcare field by training to be a medical billing and coding specialist in Athens AL, it's crucial that you find the appropriate school so that you receive the proper education to guarantee your success. As you may already know, healthcare is among the fastest growing industries in the Country, and a growing number of options are offered both on campus and online to obtain the training that you need. But just where do you begin? A number of aspiring students begin by searching for schools that are within driving distance of their residences and then comparing cost. Or they might search the internet looking for online courses and choose the least expensive one. But while location and cost are relevant factors when making your determination, they should not be the sole ones when evaluating medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifications as accreditation and reputation must be taken into consideration also. We will go over a checklist of questions that you should ask the schools you are researching so that you can learn what you need to know prior to making your decision. But first, let's take a look at what medical coders and billers do and the training and certification options offered.

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Medical Coding Job Description

Athens Alabama health records

Medical coders work on the front line of the billing systems for Athens AL private practices and healthcare organizations. They have the responsibility to review 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 medical supplies or equipment used. There are several codes that are used in the conversion, including:

  • 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. Medical Coders must not only know what services were provided in total for accuracy, but must have a working knowledge of all government and private payer rules that affect coding as well. Inaccurately coded claims can result in services not being covered, services being paid at a decreased rate, or the provider being penalized for improper or fraudulent billing. Since improper coding can in fact cost Athens AL hospitals and doctors multiple thousands of dollars in income annually, a good medical coder is a vital asset for any healthcare team. They can operate in every type of healthcare facility, including private practices, hospitals, clinics and urgent care centers. It is not unusual for seasoned medical coders to work at home as an offsite employee or an independent contractor.

Medical Biller Job Description

Athens Alabama patient medical insurance claim forms

As vital as the medical coder's function is, it would be for nothing without the contribution of the medical biller whose labors generate revenue. Medical billing clerks are very important to Athens AL healthcare organizations and are practically responsible for keeping their doors open. Often the biller and coder can be the same person within a medical organization, but they can also be 2 independent specialists. When the coder has completed her or his job, the biller uses the codes supplied to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicaid or Medicare. After they have been adjusted by the applicable entity, patients can then be billed for deductibles and additional out of pocket expenses. On a routine basis, a medical billing professional may also do any of the following:

  • Check health insurance benefits for patients and help them with billing questions or concerns
  • Follow up on patient claims submitted and appeal those that have been declined
  • Work as an intermediate between the healthcare provider, the insurance companies and the patients for accurate claim resolution
  • Produce and oversee Accounts Receivables reports
  • Create and manage unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billing clerks not only are employed by family practices, but also Athens AL hospitals, urgent care facilities, nursing homes or medical groups. They may work in every kind of healthcare facility that relies on the incomes generated by billing third party payers and patients.

Medical Billing and Coding Training and Certification

It's imperative that you receive your training from a reputable school, whether it's a trade school, vocational school or community college. Even though it is not a requirement in many cases to attain a professional certification, the program you enroll in should be accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). The majority of programs just require that you earn either a high school diploma or a GED to qualify. The fastest way to become either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to attain a certificate, which usually takes about one year to complete. An Associate Degree is an alternative for a more expansive education, which for almost all colleges requires 2 years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical billing and coding are not abundantly available. After your education has been concluded, although not mandated in most states, you may wish to acquire a professional certification. Certification is an excellent means for those new to the profession to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but committed to their occupation. 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 course, along with earning a professional certification, are the most effective ways to advance your new career and succeed in the rapid growing Alabama medical care field.

Medical Billing and Coding Online Programs

Athens Alabama Female Taking Online Medical Billing and Coding coursesIf you are looking for flexibility and the convenience of attending classes at home, then enrolling in an online medical billing and coding college may be a great alternative. They can be particularly attractive to individuals in Athens AL who anticipate going to school while continuing to work or have additional obligations that make attending classes on campus difficult. And as an additional benefit, online colleges are often cheaper than the standard classroom alternatives. Costs for such items as tuition, commuting and study materials may be decreased or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online programs are reputable. For that reason it's essential to confirm that any online course you choose is accredited to guarantee a superior education. We will address the benefits of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to check that any online college you are considering 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 type of learning, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Online Medical Billing and Coding Colleges

Now that you have a general idea just what a medical biller and coder does, along with what training options are offered, you must begin the process of evaluating colleges. But since there a large number of training options available at community colleges as well as trade, vocational and technical schools online and within the Athens AL area, you must have a prepared list of questions in order to assess each one. And when you add all of the online schools that offer medical coding and billing classes, the task can become somewhat formidable. As we have already discussed, cost and location are going to be important issues, especially if you have a limited budget and will be commuting to classes from your Athens residence. And verifying that the school and program are accredited must be part of your vetting process 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 evaluate each one and make the ideal choice.

Is the Online College Accredited? It's important that the program and college you pick are accredited by a respected accrediting organization, for example the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it's an online school, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. Not only will accreditation help guarantee that the education you get will be of the highest quality, it might help with your future employment in Athens AL also. A number of Athens medical facilities will only employ entry level applicants that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding educational program. And financial aid and student loans are in many cases only available for colleges that have received an accreditation.

What is the Online College's Reputation? Prior to choosing a medical billing and coding program, check out what its reputation and ranking are compared to other colleges. This is particularly imperative if you have no experience in the industry, since potential employers will basically be relying on the quality of your education. As we have discussed, making sure that the school is accredited is a first step. Checking with college rating organizations can help verify the quality of the school as well. An alternative is to contact some Athens AL medical organizations that you might be interested in working for and find out which schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even when the college itself does not have an excellent reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be well regarded.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding employment after graduation in your new profession might be challenging without the help of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are considering have job placement programs in the Athens AL area and what their job placement rates are. A rapid and high placement rate is a good indication that the coding and billing college has a sizable network of medical care employers where they can refer their graduates. It also implies that the school's graduates are in high demand in the marketplace.

What is the Overall Cost? Medical billing and coding certification courses can fluctuate in cost depending on the type of credential acquired and the length of training provided. But remember, tuition is not the only expense for your education. Expenses also consist of such items as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial aid might be accessible to help offset a portion of the expense, so be sure to contact the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered. Of course if you decide to enroll in an online school, some of these additional costs, such as for commuting may be minimized or even eliminated.

More on How to Become a Medical Coding Clerk in Athens

Pick the Best Athens Online Medical Billing and Coding Program

Selecting the ideal medical coding and billing online degree or certificate program is a very important initial step to help assure your success in this exciting specialty of healthcare. Medical coding and medical billing are two of the most rapidly expanding careers in the medical sector. As a result, there are numerous trade schools, junior colleges and companies that offer education and training in medical billing and coding. As we have covered, you can opt to attend classes either on campus or online. It's also essential that the school you select offers an accredited program with an outstanding reputation within the healthcare industry. But however you decide to receive your education, by adhering to the previous guidelines and posing the right questions, you will be better prepared to assess your options and pick the right online medical billing and coding training. And with the appropriate education, you can realize your career goal to become a medical coding and billing clerk in Athens Alabama.


Athens Online Medical Billing And Coding Schools | Athens Online Medical Billing And Coding Training