If I used any sales tactics it was to persuade the typical billing & coding student to enroll in the degreed program. Credentialing is a big deal. The student was also prepped to take the American Health Information Management Associations (AHIMA) Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) exam. I think there are a couple of reasons why most curriculums focuses the bulk of their coursework on coding rather than billing: :: Students are more employable with combined coding and billing skills :: The health care industry is placing more value on coding skills :: Medical billing can be learned on the job and requires little to no technical knowledge I may repeat this in other posts but if you really are thinking about making the financial and personal commitment to a medical billing or a billing & coding program, I cant stress enough the importance of performing your due diligence so you can make the quality decisions that will put you in the best possible position to be successful. By typical I mean a person with a high school diploma/GED and little to no practical work experience.
Bottom line - no prior experience, no job. For them, an administrative position like billing & coding was just what the doctor ordered (pun intended). For example, if you struggled in high school or have a learning disability you may not be able to pass the coursework and should consider other employment options.org for more information about a health information management program). In the world of medical coding there are two organizations offering credentialing sanctioned by the AMA: AHIMA and the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). You may have visited the websites of some allied health colleges and noticed that their medical billing & coding programs are really a bunch of medical coding classes with a couple of billing courses thrown in for good measure.htm Medical Records and Health Information Technicians Occupational Outlook Handbook 12 December 2007 http://ww. You also need to be completely honest with yourself, know your strengths and weaknesses and apply that knowledge to your decision making process.
Finally - and Im probably get some hate mail - but please be very wary about any company offering medical billing correspondence courses and certificates. As I mentioned earlier, upon graduation the student would receive a certificate stating that they completed the coursework and be prepped to take the CCS exam. I stick by this hiring policy after learning the hard way. Why? Having those letters after you name (e. A common theme with many of the students I enrolled in the medical billing & coding program was an interest in a health care career without the blood and guts (a term I remember using to relax and get a smile from the student); or in other words the close contact with patients that would be experienced by a medical or dental assistant. If you are considering a program not approved by either organization then be sure to at least check out the school on the Better Business Bureau website and Google to see what previous students have to say. To me, I was a professional responsible for providing a high school senior, a drop out with a GED or a person re-careering with objective information to help them make a decision that could effect their life for quite some time. I would not hire anyone with no prior experience.htm .
There are several credentials that can be earned by a medical billing and coding professional. On the other hand if you were an outstanding student you might consider pursuing an undergraduate degree in health information management (see AHIMA. I wanted to do my part to help that person get the most out of the time and money they were willing to invest in themselves. You will find out the certificates arent worth the paper theyre printed on when it comes time to find a job. I do know the AAPC also offers Internet-based or distance learning courses.org) American Association of Professional Coders (ww. The reason? Not because the school made more money (they did), but because I firmly believed - and still do - in education as the best way for someone to better themselves personally and professionally.gov/oco/ocos277.gov/oco/ocos103. To the college I was just a salesman with a quota to fill. The certificate is simply documentation showing that you took and passed some billing training program. The difference? At the conclusion of the nine month program, the student received a certificate (not to be confused with a diploma) documenting their completion of the coursework. To me the certificate program was a strong second choice and usually selected by those students that, among other things, wanted to get in to the workforce faster or couldnt afford TPE Yoga mat the degreed program.com) Also see: Billing and Posting Clerks and Machine Operators Occupational Outlook Handbook 12 December 2007 http://ww.
When you check out the AHIMA and AAPC websites - and I really hope that you do - you will notice that their credentialing programs are all about medical coding.When I worked in the admissions office of an allied health college, my primary responsibility was enrolling prospective students in the schools medical assistant, dental assistant, massage therapy, health information management and billing & coding programs. Sources: American Health Information Association (ww. By due diligence I mean partnering with a parent, mentor or someone else you trust to be honest and objective to help guide you in your decision making process. Why? I dont want to train a newbie and cant afford the liability exposure - someone not knowing what theyre doing can run off clients. At the conclusion of the eighteen month degreed program, the student would have earned an associates degree and, like the certificate program, would be prepped to take the CCS exam.bls.AHIMA.
I cant tell you how many times someone sent me a resume just because they had completed a medical billing correspondence course. You should consult with the AHIMA and AAPC websites to see of there are schools near you on their approved list. Upon passing the exam, the student was awarded the CCS credential. Jane Doe, CCS) proves that you have demonstrated the knowledge, skills and ability required to pass an exam issued by a nationally recognized American Medical Association (AMA) sanctioned organization. Why? There is no AMA sanctioned body that issues medical billing certifications.bls. In this school, like many others, the medical billing & coding program was combined and came in two flavors: a nine month certificate program and an eighteen month degreed program.g.AAPC. To me the real value was taking and hopefully earning the CCS credential.