Are you searching for the best classes online for medical billing and coding? If yes, then this post discusses the best online courses in medical billing and coding.
We live in a world where almost everything is learned on the internet. This has created the opportunity for many to take online courses instead of attending classes on campus.
These online courses offer value within a shorter period. Many people have taken advantage of this opportunity to acquire a skill and secure a good job position.
Medical billing and coding is a skill that one should acquire for the future as there has been a predicted 8% job increase between 2019 and 2029 according to the United States Bureau of Labour Statistics.
What are Classes Online for Medical Billing and Coding?
Medical billing and coding are some of the most classified fields of data entry. After a patient has been diagnosed with a specific illness, a report will be given to the patient which is always typed or written.
The primary duty of a medical biller and coder is to take this medical report of the patient and translate it into alphanumeric codes numeric codes
After these specific codes have been generated, they would be entered into a medical facility billing software and insurance companies will receive them which will help them generate the patient bills and payment records.
Online classes educate learners to get familiar with all the necessary processes such as medical procedures, codes, language skills, HIPAA compliance and other necessary skills they may need to make accurate records.
Who Should Take a Medical Billing and Coding Class?
Many medical billing coders work from home. They are the experts working to ensure there is a balance between the care provider and the monetary reimbursement for the care.
The type of education and experience requirements for jobs in medical billing and coding vary. Some companies prefer one or two years of relevant experience, while others require only education and/or certification obtained.
How Much Do Medical Billing and Coding Classes Cost?
The cost for an online class varies widely, depending on the type of education you choose. With a technical school, you can prepare for certification in less than a year at a lower cost.
For a two-year program, the average cost of obtaining an online medical bill and an associate degree in coding from an accredited university or college is approximately $15,000. Cheaper options are as low as US$5,000, and high-end schools cost approximately $25,000.5
The pricing structure differs between schools, some charge per credit, while others charge a fixed fee for the entire course. However, some schools may charge based on local residency.
Which Professions Can Medical Billing and Coding Classes Be Useful For?
Any type of medical institution that deals with human beings needs medical billing and coding specialists; this includes, offices, hospitals, diagnostic testing laboratories, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Best Classes Online for Medical Billing and Coding
Here are the options for the best online classes to become a medical biller or coder.
1. American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) (The Best Classes Online for Medical Billing and Boding)
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) was established in 1928 as an organization that provides accreditations and sets standards for medical records. The organization has 52 state associations and more than 103,000 members.
AHIMA provides eight certifications in medical records management, privacy and security, document improvement and professional and facility coding. These certification programs focus on coding inpatient and outpatient.
Health professionals with higher AHIMA certifications, the Registered Health Information Technician Examination (RHIT), and the Registered Health Information Administrator Exam (RHIA) earn significantly more money than those with lower certifications. Higher levels of certification need learners to have extensive experience before registering for courses, and each course costs approximately $299.
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2. Hutchinson Community College
Hutchinson Community College was established in 1928 and is located in Hutchinson, Kansas. Students who are interested in working in medical coding and billing can obtain a healthcare coding specialist certificate. The online course includes 45 credits and can be completed in only three semesters.
For students who want to further improve their studies, most of the credits earned in the program apply to the Associate of Health Information Management for the degree of Applied Science.
The only prerequisite for enrolling in the program is the previous academic performance as a high school graduate. The minimum cumulative grade point average for the last six semesters of high school is 2.0, 4.0 points, and the minimum cumulative grade point average is 2.0, 4.0 points for at least 12 semester hours of college, or at least a GED standard score of 58 on average.
Tuition at Hutchinson Community College is relatively cheap, even for students coming from outside the state. In-state students pay approximately US$116 per credit hour, and out-of-state students pay approximately US$147 per credit hour, so the total tuition for in-state or out-of-state certification is approximately US$5,220 or US$6,615, respectively.
3. American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)
Since its establishment in 1990, the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC) has won a good reputation for graduate students online.
The school provides classes online for medical billing and coding and a wide range of courses at very reasonable prices, and its website provides a knowledge base platform and a variety of resources to help students achieve success. AAPC is considered the largest healthcare training and certification organization in the world as the platform boasts a whopping 200,000 members.
AAPC offers a wide variety of certification courses at different prices. Students can participate in any level of learning, from simply taking certification exams to registering for complete courses in different majors.
Note: Candidates who take the minimum certification route report that it is difficult to find a job without experience. Cheap certification is attractive, but its value in the job market is much lower.
Other benefits of taking the classes online through AAPC include mentoring, networking, and online apprenticeships to provide hands-on experience. The AAPC certification program focuses on the coding of physicians and outpatients and is more suitable for doctors’ offices, outpatient settings and other clinics.
Also Read: Medical Schools Admissions Requirements: All you need to get Admitted
4. Florida A&M University Classes Online for Medical Billing and Boding
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical is better known as Florida A&M or FAMU; a public university in Tallahassee, the capital of the state. The classes online for medical billing and coding are provided through the university’s continuing education office which only provides online certification.
The asynchronous format adopted by the school allows students to complete coursework on their schedule.
The school suggested that learners follow the steps of three modules, each of which contains three courses. The total duration of each one should not exceed 15 weeks. After completing the course, students will receive a certificate of completion of medical coding.
They can choose to take the Certified Coding Assistant (CCA), American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), Certified Professional Coder (CPC) national certification exams or American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC),.
The three modules are $2,000 in registration fees. It is also possible to register a single module, but this method will increase the total cost.
4. University of Cincinnati Classes Online for Medical Billing and Boding
The University of Cincinnati, also known as UC is one of the best schools offering classes online for medical billing and coding. The school is part of the Ohio University System and like FAMU, it is a completely remote asynchronous program, but the UC program is not self-paced.
Full-time registered students can obtain a certificate in just 12 months. After completing the course, students can participate in the CCA or CPC national certification, or they can choose to transition to an associate degree program in health information systems.
Unlike some college courses, the only necessary prerequisite for the University of California classes online is a high school diploma or equivalent. Graduates of UC courses are 29% more likely to pass the RHIA exam than the average.
Ohio residents are required to pay approximately $3,189 in total tuition per semester if they are registered full-time. Non-resident full-time students will pay approximately US$3,369. On-campus students enrolled in part-time jobs need to pay approximately US$266 per credit hour, while non-full-time students cost approximately $281 per credit hour.
5. Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
The institution is part of the Purdue University system and the Indiana University system. It provides classes online for medical billing and coding.
The medical coding certification program is offered through the School of Information and Computing at Indiana University. This is a fully online program in an asynchronous format that provides 28 credits. After completing the certificate course, students will be eligible to take the CCA exam.
The Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Undergraduate Certificate in Medical Coding has several prerequisites. Before you sign up for the course, you must have completed Anatomy for Health Care Management, Physiology for Health Care Management, Medical Terminology and Computer Concepts for Health Information.
The credits earned through this program are eligible to apply for the Bachelor of Health Information Management also offered by IUPUI.
Although the cost will vary concerning where you live and other factors, it is estimated that you will need to pay approximately $295 for tuition per credit hour. Out-of-state tuition is much higher.
