Getting the Most Value from a Medical Billing and Coding Online Program
Finding a medical billing and coding online program that will be valuable to you depends on your needs, previous education, and what you want from a medical billing and coding career. Currently, there are two paths for learning medical billing and coding. One is to get an associate degree in applied science (AAS) in health management and technology, with a core study in medical billing and coding. The other is to take certificate courses for the codes you wish to study.
The Complexities of Finding the Right Medical Billing and Coding Program
Before you begin your search for a medical billing and coding online program, you may want to take some time to decide what kind of coder you would like to be. There are multiple codes that require individual certification from various organizations.
- The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) provides an overview of the medical coding profession. As you will see, there are many kinds of medical codes. This agency certifies individuals in the specific codes listed on its website.
- The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) is the official agency for certifying individuals in other kind of medical codes.
Both agencies list programs and schools they have accredited or approved to teach medical billing and coding on their websites. They also list schools with distance learning programs that teach their respective codes.
The Advantages of a Two-Year Medical Billing and Coding Online Program
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, most employers require that medical billing and coding technicians have some college education. Although it is possible to gain employment with only a certificate for a specific code, the pay scale is lower than it would be for someone with a college degree.
It takes about two years to get an AAS. Many community colleges around the country offer an AAS in health management and technology. Most offer their programs online, too. In terms of financial aid, a state community college generally offers better loan rates than you can expect to pay for a certificate program. If the certificate program seems more economically feasible than a two-year program, consider the long term and not the short term. With an AAS, you will be able to climb up the ladder in health management and technology. That is not always possible with only a certificate.
Choosing the Right School
The AHIMA and the AAPA provide listings of accredited or approved schools and programs. In other words, the curricula of these schools follow the guidelines and approved models for teaching medical coding. These programs and classes will cover everything you need to learn in order to pass the credentialing exams.
What Would Be Most Valuable to You?
Deciding if you should train in a program to learn a code or earn a higher degree in college may be daunting, but it is necessary. When you know what you want, you will be able to choose the medical billing and coding online program that is most valuable to you. It might be that a two-year program will prepare you better for your career. Or, you may be looking for a second income and just want to get certified. The important thing is to find the program that suits your goals and needs. No matter which program or school you choose, however, you will have to pass the AHIMA’s and AAPA’s coding exams in order to become a certified coder. Most employers will only hire certified coders.
Certificate programs do not transfer as college credits — an important point if you are considering getting a degree in the future. A certificate program can make sense if you already have a college education, but less so, if you only have a high school diploma. In the marketplace, employers are more likely to hire someone with a college degree. In smaller offices, say a physician’s office, it is possible to get a job with only a certificate. But the marketplace will only become more competitive.
Beyond Certification
Medical billing and coding is one of the few fields where education is a constant. Coders must take new courses every year to keep up to date with technology. They must also take annual exams to re-new their credentials.
About our expert. Jan Jacobs has worked in medical offices since the early 1980's. Ms. Jacobs has worked for M.D.'s and D.O.'s in primary care and specialty care. She is employed as a senior medical biller and has been at her current job for nearly 10 years, where she uses three different billing systems.
