Anyone work in medical billing and coding feild have any adivse on choosing an online program?
I just recently found out that Virginia college online has an associate degree program in Healthcare Reimbursment that teaches medical billing and coding and they are nationally accredited.Then there is the Gatlin education certificate that is offer through accredited colleges in medical billing and coding. Any suggestions from any online college students or someone who works in the medical feild? Any experience from those who work in the Health Information feild about what its like or any thing related to the feild?
Health Care - 3 Answers
People's Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
Please be very wary of those 'online schools' as employers don't generally find them to be reputable places of learning. That includes stratford career institute and penn foster. I'd gone to www.ripoffreport.com where consumers can post about services that there were less than pleased with, and I actually think that I recall reading about va college online. There really aren't supposed to be too many jobs in medical billing though not sure about coding only that one must be a certified coder (by passing certification exam) and may even need at least one year of working to get coding job. Here is a website for general information on careers from the US Occupational Outlook Handbook: www.bls.gov/oco and can type into search 'medical coder' or such.
Answer 2 :
Do not go to waste a lot of money on medical billing and coding degrees before to know if you could have a job out there with your degree and how much you could earn.. do your research. My advise will be to contact the medical association of billers and ask. I know they certify medical billers. For coding, American Academy of Professional Coders or American Health Information Management Association are the best place to ask. Also, visit the medical billing coding magazine BC Advantage and ask your question in their forum..I myself already took a great medical billing course online( medicalbillingcourse.com) but it's most likely a comprehensive program for those interested in a career in Medical Billing Business Ownership. Hope this will help. Wivine www.wivinemedclaimsbilling.com
Answer 3 :
Check the accreditation and employment placement rates. These are often over looked facts that people overlook. Regional accreditation is better then national accreditation. Herzing College Online has various programs available in medical billing and coding. http://www.herzingonline.edu/programs/
