In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about medical billing and coding online degree programs. We’ll define key concepts, compare program options, discuss career prospects, and answer frequently asked questions.
What is Medical Billing and Coding?
Before diving into online degree programs, it helps to understand exactly what medical billing and coding entails as a career field. In short, medical billers and coders work behind the scenes to facilitate insurance reimbursement for healthcare providers. Their main responsibilities include:
- Coding medical records: Reviewing patients’ charts, lab results, consultation notes, and more to assign standardized codes for medical diagnoses, procedures, and services.
- Billing insurance companies: Reviewing patients’ insurance policies and coverage to determine which procedures and services will be covered. Then submitting claims to insurance companies for reimbursement.
- Following up on claims: Checking on denied claims, providing additional information to insurance companies as needed, and assisting with payment processing.
- Maintaining compliance: Ensuring all documentation, coding, and billing adhere to HIPAA regulations as well as guidelines from agencies like CMS and AMA.
- Analyzing reimbursement trends: Keeping up with changes to billing policies, reimbursement rates, and coverage criteria across different insurance plans.
So in summary, medical billers and coders are the intermediaries between healthcare providers and insurance companies. Accurate coding and billing is essential for ensuring practices get paid for the services they deliver.
Medical Billing and Coding Degree Options
With an understanding of the core job duties, let’s examine the different educational paths available to prepare for a career in this field. The main options for obtaining a medical billing and coding degree include:
Certificate Programs
Certificate programs are the fastest route, typically taking 6-12 months of full-time study to complete. Certificate programs provide entry-level training in medical terminology, anatomy, coding and billing concepts. While a certificate allows graduates to enter the workforce right away as a medical biller or coder, advancement opportunities may be limited without further education.
Associate’s Degrees
Associate’s degree programs in medical billing and coding take about two years to finish if attended full-time. In addition to core billing and coding coursework, associates’ curriculums also include general education requirements in subjects like math, English, and computer applications. Graduates of associate’s degree programs are eligible for mid-level positions with greater responsibilities and leadership potential compared to certificate holders.
Bachelor’s Degrees
For those seeking the most versatile credentials, a bachelor’s in health information management or medical coding can be pursued. Bachelor’s programs equip students with advanced computer and management skills on top of coding mastery. Popular bachelor’s specializations include health information technology, healthcare administration, and biomedical informatics. Bachelor’s degree holders have access to director and manager-level roles within medical billing, coding, and larger healthcare IT departments.
Certification Exams
Regardless of educational background, nearly all medical billing and coding jobs require passing a national certification exam. The two main exams are:
- Certified Coding Associate (CCA): Entry-level certification exam focused on coding physician services and inpatient procedures.
- Certified Professional Coder (CPC): Broader certification covering coding of both physician and hospital services across all specialties.
Maintaining certification requires ongoing continuing education credits to stay current with industry changes. Certification helps validate an individual’s coding competency for employers.
Online vs On-Campus Medical Billing and Coding Degrees
With the career options established, let’s compare the online and on-campus routes for obtaining a medical billing and coding degree.
Online Programs
The flexibility and convenience of online learning has made it an attractive choice for many working adult learners pursuing healthcare careers. Features of online programs include:
- Asynchronous course delivery: Lessons and materials are accessible 24/7 through an online classroom platform. Students can log in and study on their own schedule.
- Self-paced progression: While deadlines exist, online programs allow customizing a pace that fits individual needs and availability.
- Affordable tuition: On average, online courses have lower costs than campus-based alternatives due to reduced infrastructure expenses.
- Work anywhere: As long as reliable internet access is available, online students can do schoolwork from home, work, or anywhere else suits them best.
- Portable credentials: An online degree carries the same value as an on-campus degree and can be earned regardless of geographic location.
The downside is that online formats lack in-person networking and may require even more self-motivation without fixed class meeting times. Labs and hands-on clinical experiences are delivered through simulation rather than direct patient interaction.
On-Campus Programs
Attending medical billing and coding classes on a traditional college campus offers benefits like:
- Face-to-face instruction: Live interaction with teachers and peers supports active engagement, group projects, and instant feedback.
- Structured schedules: Fixed class meeting times help build consistency and time management habits necessary for healthcare jobs.
- Hands-on labs: Campus labs provide practical coding experience working with real medical records, rather than simulated cases online.
- Campus resources: Libraries, advisors, career services, and other on-site student supports foster well-rounded development.
However, campus programs generally involve relocating to the school, higher tuition costs, and less flexibility balancing coursework with other responsibilities like existing employment. Commuting also takes time and money that may not be feasible depending on one’s situation.
Ultimately, either online or on-campus can work depending on individual preferences and circumstances. Most critically, the chosen program should be regionally accredited to ensure transferability and credibility.
Considering Individual Programs
With so many online options available, narrowing choices requires researching specific program details. Here are some key factors to evaluate for any medical billing and coding program under consideration:
- Accreditation status: Regional accreditation through an agency like the Higher Learning Commission signifies credits will transfer elsewhere. Programmatic accreditation also exists for some allied health fields.
- Tuition and costs: Request a tuition breakdown to understand full costs of attendance including any lab or clinical fees. Find out if federal aid or employer tuition reimbursement applies.
- Course format: Synchronous courses meet via video at set times weekly, while asynchronous is self-paced. Hybrid blends online with some campus attendance.
- Class sizes: Smaller classes facilitate more individualized teaching, but larger formats indicate broader program resources.
- Faculty credentials: Instructors should have subject matter expertise as well as teaching experience.
- Required externship: Hands-on externship placing students in billing/coding roles tests classroom knowledge in a real medical setting.
- Employment outcomes: Request graduation statistics, typical career paths, average salaries, and placement assistance available.
- Student reviews: Read independent reviews on websites like GradReports.com that highlight student satisfaction.
Weighing these factors aids choosing a program well-equipped for helping achieve career goals as a medical biller or coder. Reach out to the school directly with any other specific questions.
Career Prospects and Advancement
With the right training and certifications, medical billing and coding opens doors to many employment opportunities across healthcare settings:
- Physician practices: Solo and small group practices hire in-house billers and coders to maximize reimbursement.
- Hospitals: Large hospital systems employ coding staff across multiple inpatient and outpatient departments from radiology to surgery.
- Insurance companies: Commercial payers and government programs like Medicare employ clinical coders to process claims.
- Telehealth companies: Growing telemedicine firms need remote coders and billing specialists.
- Consulting firms: National consulting agencies contract coding experts short-term to large client facilities.
- Government agencies: Federal and state healthcare administration roles exist monitoring compliance.
While entry-level positions focus heavily on coding basics, those advancing may move into management, auditing, privacy compliance, and other specialized roles:
- Coding supervisor: Oversees staff coders, provides coding education, and ensures coding quality standards.
- Compliance auditor: Reviews charts for accurate documentation and coding using clinical data analytics tools.
- Reimbursement specialist: Analyzes reimbursement methodologies for specific payers like Medicaid or HMOs.
- Privacy officer: Ensures compliance with HIPAA privacy and security policies organization-wide.
- Revenue cycle director: Helps optimize overall revenue cycle processes across clinical and business departments.
Graduate education enhances competitiveness at the management levels. Overall, medical billing and coding offers a versatile career path with ample opportunities for advancement as the healthcare industry continues expanding.
Financing Your Online Degree
The cost of an online medical billing and coding program varies based on degree level, specific school, and residency status. However, a few financial strategies can help make an online degree affordable:
- Federal Financial Aid: If enrolled at least half-time, you may qualify for grants, student loans, and work-study through the FAFSA application. Loans accrue interest only during enrollment while in school.
- Employer Tuition Assistance: Many large companies offer tuition reimbursement for approved degree programs to encourage employee development.
- Scholarships: Research foundations and private organizations that provide medical billing and coding scholarships. Apply for as many as possible to lessen out-of-pocket costs.
- Community College Transfer: Begin in a low-cost community college to complete general education requisites, then transfer credits to a 4-year university program.
- Income-Based Repayment: If student loans are unavoidable, enroll in an income-driven repayment plan capping monthly payments at a percentage of discretionary income.
- Part-Time Enrollment: Stretch the program over additional semesters by taking one or two classes at a time while still working. Part-time is eligible for many federal aid benefits.
With a little research and planning, affordable options exist for those motivated to earn an online medical billing and coding degree. Financial aid advisors at prospective schools provide expert guidance customizing the best funding strategy in each unique situation.