Unfortunately, it is possible to get a fake medical coding and billing certification. While the Internet is a valuable resource for medical coding and billing information, classes, and networking, it can also be a place to do business with unscrupulous sites that offer fake certificates and diplomas usually without the student taking any classes or training. The ease of studying at home or simply clicking on a link to obtain a certificate may lure some people into getting scammed.
Life Experience As a Basis for Certification?
Shady websites that offer a quick medical coding and billing certification or diploma may erroneously inform readers that they can earn the medical coding and billing certification based simply on life experience. These sites claim that studying, attending classes and taking exams are unnecessary. These sites seek to assure unwary visitors that prior experience in the medical field, any medical-related job, military, medical workshop or training program or even a personal hobby is enough experience to earn a medical billing or coding diploma. It is difficult to imagine any scenario in which someone in any educational realm could earn a diploma or certification merely by claiming to have “life experience,” in a chosen field. Medical coding and billing are highly technical, specialized jobs and require rigorous study.
Just Pay and Go
Sketchy websites that offer fake certificates usually require people to only pay a fee, after which they will send a “diploma package.” This package might contain up to ten documents that may include the diploma, transcripts, education verification letters, certificate of distinction and even an “award of excellence.” These sites may also assert that their diplomas or certificates will be accepted anywhere and lead to a successful job in medical coding.
Accreditation – Shady sites like to claim that their diplomas or certificates are from an accredited institutions. They are most likely not, and any diploma or certificate you receive from one of these fraudulent sites will often be completely worthless. A prospective coding and billing employer will want to see your credentials before hiring you. You will be embarrassed and seem unprofessional if you do not have proper certification.
Expenses – One site that claims its diplomas are affordable says it can expedite your diploma and send it to you in a mere five days for “only” $599. As a real education and training in medical coding and billing could cost anywhere from $300 to $15,000, this $600 might be considered a bargain. But as they say, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Find the Fakes
In addition to accreditation claims and “bargain” prices, sites that offer fake degrees or certificates could also be recognized by their use of:
- incomplete or pidgin English
- URLs that use a strange combination of letters, end in unusual country codes or do not end in the familiar .com, .edu and .gov
- flashy graphics that flicker across the screen
- pop-ups that ask you to click to get started right away
Some websites have the audacity to say they can provide completely fake degrees, certificates or transcripts. They offer to make these fake credentials using high quality parchment paper and authentic looking graphics. One such site even carried a fake logo proclaiming it one of the top ten websites on the Internet.
Legitimate Online Medical Billing and Coding Training
Do not confuse a sketchy website that offers a quick diploma with a legitimate site that offers online classes and training toward reputable medical coding and billing certification.
Legitimate sources of medical billing and coding certification training will be from:
- well-known colleges and universities
- medical billing and coding associations
- online training and educational organizations.
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.
