How to Learn Medical Billing and Coding

Medical billing and coding schools advertise that you can learn how to code medical bills and earn $30,000 or more from home, but the FTC has warned about medical billing scams that target people who want to work at home. So how can you learn medical billing and coding at a good school, and hopefully go on to a profitable job, without falling for a scam?

Instructions

1. Ask about medical billing and coding employment first, before signing up for training. Talk to local doctors or hospitals and see what jobs might be available, what training is expected, and what certification is required, if any. While some medical billing and coding is done outside of offices, most hospitals and doctors expect employees to come to the office to work. Medical coders who work at home typically have established their own medical billing and coding business, which they then must market to doctors and hospitals. You can also inquire if there would be an interest in such a service, or if local doctors and hospitals prefer to use their own employees.

2. Look online for schools that teach medical billing and coding, based on the information you gained, and narrow your selection of schools. Search first for schools that local medical professionals have recommended. Eliminate any that don't train you for certification that you need, or that promise results that seem too good to be true.

3. Ask the remaining schools for the names of graduates you can contact, and inquire about their experience with the school. Take the opportunity to ask them what employment in medical billing and coding is like, what training they've found necessary, and whether the school met those needs. If they've purchased software from the school, ask if it's working well.

4. Check with the Better Business Bureau and your state's attorney general, and search online to see if there have been complaints about the medical billing and coding school you've chosen. See if local medical personnel have heard of it or if the courses being offered sound like what they'd want for an employee.

5. If you have any doubts about the terms of a school's contract, ask an attorney or someone familiar with contracts before signing.

Resources

• Certification information from AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders)
• Career advice from AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association)
• Homepage of the American Medical Billing Association (AMBA)
• FTC warning about medical billing scams