Top Medical Billing Courses 2022 – Improve your skillset with one of these courses
What Does a Career in Medical Billing Entail?
A medical billing expert is a healthcare worker who manages patient data such as insurance and treatment records.
Medical billing is the process of a coding associate submitting and following up on health insurance benefits claims to get payments and reimbursement for medical provider services. Billers must be able to read codes in medical documents (reports created by medical coders) to ensure that medical providers are compensated for their services.
Charge input, payment posting, insurance follow-up, patient follow-up, and claims transmission are typical responsibilities for medical billers. To appropriately code medical records and health information and guarantee that the hospital or medical office is paid, they must comprehend current procedural language, general medical vocabulary, fundamental anatomy and physiology, and medical billing and coding training.
If you’re looking for a high-paying job with an educational component, medical billing programs have a lot to offer. Medical billing schools teach you how to “identify diagnoses, medical tests, treatments, and procedures documented in clinical documentation” and turn that information into codes that you may use to charge government and commercial payers for physician payment.
What’s the best part? First, pay is above average, and you don’t need to go to college, which is costly and time-consuming. Furthermore, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated that job growth in the business will climb by 8% between 2019 and 2029, more than double the national average of 4%.
Medical billing and coding classes are available online at many state universities, and there are benefits to attending college courses. Financial aid is provided in grants, scholarships, and federal loans, depending on the school and other factors. In addition, earned credits are transferrable and go toward a degree when taking classes at a recognized college. We’ve compiled a list of the finest solutions for you.
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
Specifications
The exam application is $299.
Provides a self-paced option: Yes
Why Did We Pick It?
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) offers eight health information certification programs with good industry reputations.
PROS
The certificate is well-known in the field, and it provides an academic environment through a recognized school.
CONS
Provides a self-paced, study-at-home option.
The exam is not included in the price.
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is an accreditation organization that develops medical recordkeeping standards. It was founded in 1928. There are 52 state associations and around 103,000 members in the organization.
Medical records management, professional and facility coding, documentation improvement, and privacy and security are among the eight certifications offered by AHIMA.
The certification programs are geared at inpatient and outpatient coding, which is more appropriate for hospitals and inpatient facilities.
Higher-level AHIMA certificates pay significantly more than lower-level qualifications, such as the Registered Health Information Administrator Exam (RHIA) and the Registered Health Information Technician Exam (RHIT). Therefore, before enrolling in higher-level certification courses, which cost roughly $299 each, you must have substantial expertise.
Hutchinson Community College
Specifications
The certification costs $6,615.
Provides a self-paced option: No
Why Did We Pick It?
A Healthcare Coding Specialist Certificate from Hutchinson Community College is an affordable option.
PROS
Affordably priced on-campus and online courses
CONS
There isn’t a self-paced option available.
Hutchinson Community College, founded in 1928 and based in Hutchinson, Kansas, offers a Healthcare Coding Specialist Certificate to students interested in a career in medical coding and billing. The online curriculum is 45 credit hours long and takes three semesters to finish.
For students who want to continue their education, most of the credits gained in this program apply to the Health Information Management Associate in Applied Science degree.
Only previous academic performance as a high school graduate with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale for the final six semesters is required to participate in the program. Minimum 2.0 on a 4.0 scale cumulative grade point average for a minimum of 12 semester hours of college, or a minimum GED average standard score of 58.
Even out-of-state students can afford Hutchinson Community College’s tuition. In-state students pay around $116 per credit hour, while out-of-state students pay around $147 per credit hour, resulting in a total tuition cost of $5,220 or $6,615 for the state certification.
American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)
Specifications
Cost: The Certified Professional Coder (CPC) course costs around $2,295.
Provides a self-paced option: Yes, this is why we chose it: The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) offers several certification programs and additional courses and practice examinations.
PROS
Pass rates are 80% greater than third-party medical coding courses.
It provides both online and in-person training.
CONS
Although some financial aid is available for courses and certifications, it can be costly.
The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) has had a solid reputation among graduate students online since 1990. It provides a wide selection of classes at low fees, and its website contains a vast knowledge base with a variety of materials to assist students in their academic endeavors. With 200,000 members, AAPC is the world’s most extensive healthcare training and certifying association.
The American Association for the Advancement of Certification (AAPC) offers various certification courses at different price points. Students can participate in any degree of learning, from taking a certification exam to enrolling in a full course load in various specialties.
One word of caution: job seekers who pursue the lowest qualification paths say that finding work without experience is challenging. Certification at a low cost is appealing, but it is significantly less valuable in the job market.
Networking, guidance, and an online apprenticeship to provide practical experience are advantages of learning through AAPC. In addition, physician and outpatient coding emphasize AAPC certification programs, which are better suited to doctor’s offices, clinics, and other outpatient settings.
Florida A&M University
Specifications
The registration price starts at around $2,000 and goes up from there.
Provides a self-paced option: Yes, this is why we chose it: The self-paced medical coding curriculum at Florida A&M allows students to learn at their own pace.
Why We Picked It:
The self-paced medical coding curriculum at Florida A&M allows students to learn at their speed.
PROS
This program is self-paced.
reputable institution
CONS
There aren’t always courses available every semester.
Prerequisite courses must be completed.
Florida A&M Institution, sometimes known as Florida A&M or FAMU, is a public university in Florida. The university’s Office of Continuing Education offers a medical coding curriculum solely available online and gives accreditation. In addition, students can take coursework on their schedule thanks to the asynchronous structure.
The school recommends working through three modules simultaneously, each with three courses. Each one should last a total of no more than 15 weeks. Students will get a Medical Coding Certificate of Completion after finishing the program.
They can take the national certification tests offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the Certified Coding Associate (CCA), the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), or the Certified Professional Coder (CPC).
The enrollment fee for all three programs is around $2,000 total. Individual modules can also be registered, albeit this increases the overall cost.
University of Cincinnati
Specifications
Tuition is around $3,189 per semester.
Provides a self-paced option: No
Why Did We Pick It? The Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and Certified Coding Associate (CCA) tests are included in the UC Online curriculum. In just one year, students can acquire an Associate’s degree.
PROS
Completely online
There are full-time and part-time positions available.
Students who successfully finish the program are eligible to transfer to an Associate’s degree program.
CONS
There isn’t a self-paced path available.
The University of Cincinnati, or UC, is a member of the Ohio University System. It’s a fully remote asynchronous program, just like FAMU’s, although UC’s isn’t self-paced.
Students can get the credential in as short as 12 months if they enroll full-time. Students can take the CCA or CPC national certification exams after completing the program or go on to the Associate Degree Program in Health Information Systems.
Unlike some other college programs, UC’s medical billing and coding program require a high school diploma or equivalent. As a result, graduates of UC courses are 29 percent more likely than the norm to pass the RHIA exam.
With full-time enrollment, Ohio residents may expect to pay a total tuition cost of around $3,189 per semester. Full-time non-resident students will pay roughly $3,369. Furthermore, part-time resident students will pay approximately $266 per credit hour, while part-time non-resident students will pay approximately $281.
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Specifications
Cost: Tuition is around $295 per credit hour and includes a self-paced path: No
Why Did We Pick It? Indiana University’s School of Information and Computing’s medical coding certification program combines classroom training with practical practice in a hospital setting.
PROS
One-on-one coaching is available.
Career services are available.
The certificate program’s prerequisites are as follows:
CONS
There isn’t a self-paced path available.
Pricey
This university is affiliated with both Purdue University and Indiana University. Indiana University’s School of Information and Computing offers a remote medical coding certification program. It’s a 28-credit-hour curriculum that’s completely online and asynchronous. Students who complete the certificate program will be qualified to take the CCA exam.
There are various prerequisites for the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Undergraduate Certificate in Medical Coding program. Before enrolling in the course, you must have completed Physiology for Health Care Management, Anatomy for Health Care Management, Computer Concepts for Health Information, and Medical Terminology.
Credits obtained in this program can be used for a bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management, which is also available at IUPUI.
Tuition will cost roughly $295 per credit hour, though it can vary depending on residency and other variables. Education for out-of-state students is significantly greater.
Earning a certificate through in-class training may be impossible if you have a hectic schedule. Fortunately, several organizations and educational institutions provide online courses that allow you to study for and earn a certification from the comfort of your own home. Some programs are self-paced, allowing you to work at your own pace, while others, like the University of Cincinnati’s, enable graduates to move to an associate degree program smoothly. Of course, your specific requirements will determine the program you select.
