Medical Billing and Coding Online Courses - Athens GA 30601 - Medical Billing and Coding Online Schools

How to Find the Right Medical Billing and Coding Online Training Program in Athens 30601

Athens GA woman attending medical billing and coding school online Now that you have made a decision to become part of the healthcare field by training to be a medical billing and coding specialist in Athens GA, it’s important that you find the appropriate program so that you receive the proper education to ensure your success. As you probably know, healthcare is among the fastest growing industries in the Country, and a growing number of options are available both online and on campus to obtain the training that you need. But just where do you begin? A number of potential students start by looking for schools that are within travelling distance of their residences and then comparing tuition. Or they might search the internet looking for online schools and go with the least expensive one. But while location and cost are significant issues when making your selection, they should not be the only ones when researching medical billing and coding schools. Such qualifications as accreditation and reputation need to be taken into account as well. We will cover a checklist of questions that you should ask the schools you are evaluating in order to learn what you must know before making your selection. But first, let’s take a look at what medical coders and billers do and the academic and certification options offered.

Medical Coding Job Summary

Medical coders work on the front line of the billing systems for Athens GA medical practices and hospitals. They have the responsibility to review 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 equipment or medical supplies used. There are several codes that are utilized 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 including physician and nursing notes, patient charts, and lab and radiology reports. Medical Coders must know not only what total services were provided for accurate reporting, but must have a working knowledge of all government and private payer regulations that impact coding also. Inaccurately coded claims can lead to 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 actually cost Athens GA physicians and medical facilities multiple thousands of dollars in revenue each year, a proficient medical coder is a necessary asset for any healthcare organization. They can operate in any type of healthcare facility, including family practices, clinics, hospitals and emergency care centers. It is not uncommon for experienced medical coders to working from home as an independent contractor or offsite employee.

Medical Billing Job Duties

Athens GA medical billers collect revenue As essential as the medical coder’s role is, it would be for naught without the contribution of the medical biller whose efforts produce revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to Athens GA medical facilities and are practically responsible for keeping their doors open. Frequently the biller and coder may be the same individual within a medical facility, but they can also be 2 independent specialists. When the coder has carried out her or his job, the biller utilizes the codes supplied to complete and submit claim forms to insurance companies, Medicaid or Medicare. After they have been adjusted by the appropriate organization, patients can then be invoiced for deductibles and other out of pocket costs. On a regular basis, a medical biller may also do any of the following:

Verify health insurance benefits for patients and assist them with billing questions or concerns
Follow up on patient claims submitted and appeal any that have been denied
Work as an intermediate between the medical provider, the insurance carriers and the patients for proper claim resolution
Produce and control Accounts Receivables reports
Create and handle unpaid patient collections accounts

Medical billing clerks not only are employed by private practices, but also Athens GA hospitals, urgent care facilities, medical groups or nursing homes. They may work in any type of medical facility that depends on the revenues generated by billing third party payers and patients.

Medical Coding and Billing Online Training and Certification

Athens GA patients are billed for medical treatment It’s important that you get your training from a reputable school, whether it’s a technical school, vocational school or community college. Even though it is not a requirement in many cases to attain a professional certification, the school you choose should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). The majority of schools just require that you have either a high school diploma or a GED to be eligible. The quickest way to becoming either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to obtain a certificate, which normally takes about a year to complete. An Associate Degree is also an option for a more extensive education, which for the majority of colleges calls for two years of studies. Bachelor’s Degrees in medical coding and billing are not widely offered. After your education has been completed, although not mandated in the majority of states, you might wish to attain a professional certification. Certification is a great means 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 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 billing and coding course, combined with obtaining a professional certification, are the best ways to accelerate your new profession and succeed in the rapid growing healthcare field.

Online Medical Biller and Coder Schools

medical coder working online in Athens GA If you are searching for flexibility and the convenience of attending classes from home, then selecting an online medical billing and coding program may be an excellent option. They can be particularly attractive to those in Athens GA who anticipate going to school while still working or have other commitments that make going to classes on campus difficult. And as an added benefit, online schools are in many cases less expensive than the traditional classroom options. Costs for such things as tuition, study materials and commuting may be decreased or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online schools are reputable. That’s why it’s essential to verify that any online college you choose is accredited to guarantee a superior education. We will review the benefits of accreditation in the next segment. Just be sure to check that any online classes you are considering is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, for instance the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are disciplined enough to apply yourself to this mode of learning, then acquiring your degree or certificate online might be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Online Medical Billing and Coding Schools

Now that you have a general idea just what a medical coder and biller does, in addition to what training options are offered, you need to start the process of evaluating schools. But since there a large number of training options offered at community colleges and vocational, technical and trade schools online and within the Athens GA area, you should have a prepared list of questions to evaluate 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 covered, cost and location are going to be significant issues, particularly if you have a modest budget and will be driving to classes from your Athens home. And confirming that the program and school are accredited should be part of your vetting process as well. So let’s review several of the additional questions that you should ask the colleges 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 school you select are accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, such as the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools. If it’s an online college, it may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Not only will accreditation help confirm that the education you receive will be of the highest quality, it may help with your future employment in Athens GA also. A number of Athens healthcare facilities will only hire entry level prospects that have completed an accredited medical billing and coding educational course. And financial aid and student loans are in many cases only available for schools that have earned an accreditation.

What is the Online College’s Reputation? Prior to picking a medical billing and coding college, check out what its reputation and ranking are compared to other programs. This is especially important if you have no experience in the industry, since potential employers will mostly be relying on the quality of your education. As we have covered, verifying that the college is accredited is a first step. Checking with college rating organizations, such as U.S. News and World Report, can confirm the quality of the school as well. An alternative is to contact several Athens GA healthcare organizations that you may be interested in working for and ask which colleges they recommend. Keep in mind that even when the college itself does not have an outstanding reputation, its medical billing and coding program may still be well regarded.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating in your new profession can be difficult without the help of a job assistance program. Ask if the schools you are considering have job placement programs in the Athens GA area 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 substantial network of healthcare employers where they can place their graduates. It also suggests that the school’s graduates are sought after in the marketplace.

Where is the College’s Location ? If you are intending on driving to class from your Athens GA home, then the location of the program will be of prime importance. Of course if you enroll in an online medical coding and billing program, then the location of the college will not be a consideration. One thing to keep in mind is that if you go to classes at a community or junior college, most require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might want to first consider those schools that are within your local area.

What is the Overall Cost? Medical coding and billing training courses can fluctuate 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. Expenses also include such things as the cost of supplies, books and commuting. Financial aid might be obtainable to help reduce some of the expense, so don’t forget to contact the school’s financial assistance department to find out what is offered in 30601. Of course if you decide to attend an online school, a portion of these added costs, particularly for commuting may be reduced or even eliminated.

Are Classes Offered that Accommodate your Schedule? Many students keep working while going to college and require a convenient class schedule. If you can only attend classes during the evenings or on weekends near Athens GA, confirm that they are available at those times. If you can only enroll on a part time basis, make certain that the college you enroll in offers that option. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up classes missed due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Attending Online Billing and Coding Classes in Athens Georgia?

If you live in the greater Athens GA area and will be attending Online Medical Billing and Coding Classes from home, the following information may be both interesting and informative about your local stomping grounds.

Athens, Georgia

Athens, officially Athens–Clarke County, is a consolidated city–county and college town in the U.S. state of Georgia. Athens lies about 70 mi (113 km) northeast of downtown Atlanta. The University of Georgia, the state's flagship public university and a Tier I research institution, is in the city and contributed to its initial growth. In 1991, after a vote the preceding year, the original City of Athens abandoned its charter to form a unified government with Clarke County, referred to jointly as Athens–Clarke County.[4] As of 2017, the U.S. Census Bureau's estimated population of the consolidated city-county (all of Clarke County except Winterville and a portion of Bogart) was 125,691; the entire county including Winterville and Bogart had a population of 127,064.[5] Athens is the sixth-largest city in Georgia, and the principal city of the Athens metropolitan area,[6] which had a 2017 estimated population of 209,271, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.[7] It is a component of the larger Atlanta–Athens–Clarke County–Sandy Springs Combined Statistical Area, a trading area.[8] The city is dominated by a pervasive student culture and music scene centered on downtown Athens, next to the University of Georgia's North Campus.[9] Major music acts associated with Athens include numerous alternative rock bands such as R.E.M., the B-52's, Widespread Panic, and the Indigo Girls.

In the late 18th century, a trading settlement on the banks of the Oconee River called Cedar Shoals stood where Athens is today. On January 27, 1785, the Georgia General Assembly granted a charter by Abraham Baldwin for the University of Georgia as the first state-supported university. Sixteen years later, in 1801, a committee from the university's board of trustees selected a site for the university on a hill above Cedar Shoals, in what was then Jackson County. On July 25, John Milledge, one of the trustees and later governor of Georgia, bought 633 acres (256 ha) from Daniel Easley and donated it to the university. Milledge named the surrounding area Athens after the city that was home to the Platonic Academy of Plato and Aristotle in Greece.[10]

The first buildings on the University of Georgia campus were made from logs. The town grew as lots adjacent to the college were sold to raise money for the additional construction of the school. By the time the first class graduated from the university in 1804, Athens consisted of three homes, three stores, and a few other buildings facing Front Street, now known as Broad Street. Completed in 1806 and named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, Franklin College was the first permanent structure of the University of Georgia and of the city of Athens. This brick building is now known as Old College.

Select the Ideal Online Medical Billing and Coding Training Athens GA

Enrolling in the right medical coding and billing online degree or certificate program is a very important first step to help assure your success in this exciting sector of medical care. Medical billing and medical coding are two of the most rapidly growing occupations in the health industry. Because of this, there are numerous trade schools, junior colleges and companies that furnish education and training in medical coding and billing. As we have discussed, you can elect to attend classes either on campus or online. It’s also imperative that the school you select has an accredited program with an exceptional reputation within the healthcare field. But however you elect to receive your education, by adhering to the previous guidelines and asking the right questions, you will be better able to evaluate your options and select the right online medical billing and coding college. And with the appropriate education, you can realize your career goal to become a medical billing and coding clerk in Athens GA.