Medical Billing and Coding Education is an essential part of the learning curve of this health care support profession. Accredited Medical Billing Certifications not only guarantees you a good job in the Medical Billing and Coding industry but they also ensure and employer that you have the knowledge and skills that will help get hold of payments from medical insurance firms.
Medical Billing and Coding Certification is highly important and a must have if one is to start the business related to medical billing and coding. Various institutions are known to offer this kind of programs that are usually meant at imparting one with the necessary skills related to this field.
Medical Billing Certifications are not usually given on a permanent basis but given only for one year followed with yearly renewals. For the renewal to go through one is usually expected to prove of continuation of education in this field, further training or re-certification exam.
The objectives of the certification program are to ensure that one has the necessary skills to fill the insurance forms appropriately and be able to solve various insurance problems. For the certification to be approved one must also be able to prove beyond doubt that he or she has perfect familiarity with the CPT,ICD-9 and basic claims for medical insurance, one must also be highly conversant with the third party reimbursement matters. Appropriate know-how on how to trace criminal claims and also be able to appeal denied claims is usually a requirement for one to have. Using generic forms to streamline billing procedures should also be perfectly mastered.
Sitting for the course work is usually required but the certification for medical billing and coding is usually offered by professional organizations accredited by the government after a pass of the organization certification exam. It is usually recommended for one to go to an accredited institution as many organizations usually look for people with accredited certificates. Before enrolling into any program always makes sure it is accredited by either the commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education (CAAHEP) or the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
Programs for the certifications of the medical billing and coding don’t come with fixed time frame in which one is supposed to go through but vary from one institution to another. The durations of the programs most of the time varies depending on the type of certifications available. Cracking the code is an essential part of the medical coding program that is usually aimed at imparting one with the necessary knowledge on the computer codes mostly used to relay insurance and medical information.
In the following we have brought to you few accredited Medical Billing and Coding Certifications Programs that you can check out if you are looking for a Medical Billing Certification. Please click on the program heading link to go to the official progrm page:
AHIMA Certification
The most entry level medical billing and coding certification option available from AHIMA is the Certified Coding Associate (CSA) certification. This does not require the coder to have a lot of experience. Once the coder has a bit more experience, they can then try for the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) or Certified Coding Specialist - Physician Based (CCS-P) certification through taking an exam. There is also a CHPS (Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security) credential for those who are more advanced coders.
Board of Medical Specialty Coding Certification
Medical billing and coding certification is are also available from the Board of Medical Specialty Coding. Those with at least two years of coding experience can qualify for the Specialty Coding Professional (SCP) certification, and those with three to five years experience can qualify for the Advanced Coding Specialist (ACS) certification. There is also a Home Care Coding Specialist - Diagnosis (HCS-D) certification available through this organization.
AAPC Certification
The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) offers four different options for medical billing and coding certification as well, depending on the area where you work. You are usually required to have two years work experience, but those without this can get Apprentice Certification status upon passing the required exams for the certifications. The certifications are Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Professional Coder-Hospital (CPC-H), Certified Professional Coder-Payer (CPC-P), and Certified Interventional Radiology Cardiovascular Coder (CIRCC).
PAHCC Certification
Finally, there is also a Professional Association of Healthcare Coding Specialists (PAHCC) that offers certifications for those who are involved in specialty coding. The options include Cardiology (CCCS), ENT (CENTCS), Family Practice (CFPCS), Gastroenterology (CGCS), General Surgery (CGSCS), Internal Medicine (CIMCS), Obstetrics & Gynecology (COBGCS), Orthopedics (COCS), Pain Management (CPMCS), Pediatrics (CPEDCS), Podiatry (CPODCS), Pulmonology (CPCS), and Urology (CUCS)
California University Medical Billing Certification Program
California University also does offer the Medical Billing Certifications Program of which if one finishes him or she would be eligible to sit for the AAPC, CPC or CCA exam to become a professional coder. Medical billing course .com also does offer quality medical billing certification program that is mainly aimed at imparting one with necessary skills while applying the knowledge learnt in the functional medical billing software. With medical billing.com you would be able to study at your own pace be it online or far away from a computer but exams are usually taken online.
Drexel Online University Medical Billing Certifications
Drexel online university is known to offer Medical Billing Certifications Programs and is usually designed for those people who intend to start the medical billing and coding training. Ones one finishes this program he or she would be able to qualify to sit for the American MEDICAL Billing Association exam and if he or she passes then the certificate for certificate medical reimbursement specialist is awarded. Sitting for the American Academy Professional Coders (AAPC) exam then one is usually assured of becoming a professional coder.