| When I worked in the admissions office of an | | | | When you check out the AHIMA and AAPC |
| allied health college, my primary responsibility was | | | | websites - and I really hope that you do - you will |
| enrolling prospective students in the school’s | | | | notice that their credentialing programs are all |
| medical assistant, dental assistant, massage | | | | about medical coding. You may have visited the |
| therapy, health information management and billing | | | | websites of some allied health colleges and noticed |
| & coding programs. | | | | that their medical billing & coding programs |
| To the college I was just a salesman with a quota | | | | are really a bunch of medical coding classes with a |
| to fill. To me, I was a professional responsible for | | | | couple of billing courses thrown in for good |
| providing a high school senior, a drop out with a | | | | measure. |
| GED or a person “re-careering” with | | | | I think there are a couple of reasons why most |
| objective information to help them make a | | | | curriculums focuses the bulk of their coursework |
| decision that could effect their life for quite some | | | | on coding rather than billing: |
| time. I wanted to do my part to help that person | | | | :: Students are more “employable” with |
| get the most out of the time and money they | | | | combined coding and billing skills |
| were willing to invest in themselves. | | | | :: The health care industry is placing more value on |
| A common theme with many of the students I | | | | coding skills |
| enrolled in the medical billing & coding | | | | :: Medical billing can be learned on the job and |
| program was an interest in a health care career | | | | requires little to no technical knowledge |
| without the “blood and guts” (a term I | | | | I may repeat this in other posts but if you really |
| remember using to relax and get a smile from | | | | are thinking about making the financial and |
| the student); or in other words the close contact | | | | personal commitment to a medical billing or a billing |
| with patients that would be experienced by a | | | | & coding program, I can’t stress enough |
| medical or dental assistant. For them, an | | | | the importance of performing your due diligence |
| administrative position like billing & coding was | | | | so you can make the quality decisions that will put |
| just what the doctor ordered (pun intended). | | | | you in the best possible position to be successful. |
| In this school, like many others, the medical billing | | | | By due diligence I mean partnering with a parent, |
| & coding program was combined and came | | | | mentor or someone else you trust to be honest |
| in two flavors: a nine month certificate program | | | | and objective to help guide you in your decision |
| and an eighteen month degreed program. The | | | | making process. You also need to be completely |
| difference? At the conclusion of the nine month | | | | honest with yourself, know your strengths and |
| program, the student received a certificate (not | | | | weaknesses and apply that knowledge to your |
| to be confused with a diploma) documenting their | | | | decision making process. For example, if you |
| completion of the coursework. | | | | struggled in high school or have a learning disability |
| The student was also prepped to take the | | | | you may not be able to pass the coursework and |
| American Health Information Management | | | | should consider other employment options. On the |
| Association’s (AHIMA) Certified Coding | | | | other hand if you were an outstanding student |
| Specialist (CCS) exam. Upon passing the exam, | | | | you might consider pursuing an undergraduate |
| the student was awarded the CCS credential. At | | | | degree in health information management (see |
| the conclusion of the eighteen month degreed | | | | AHIMA.org for more information about a health |
| program, the student would have earned an | | | | information management program). |
| associate’s degree and, like the certificate | | | | You should consult with the AHIMA and AAPC |
| program, would be prepped to take the CCS | | | | websites to see of there are schools near you on |
| exam. | | | | their approved list. I do know the AAPC also |
| If I used any sales tactics it was to persuade the | | | | offers Internet-based or distance learning courses. |
| typical billing & coding student to enroll in the | | | | If you are considering a program not approved |
| degreed program. By typical I mean a person | | | | by either organization then be sure to at least |
| with a high school diploma/GED and little to no | | | | check out the school on the Better Business |
| practical work experience. The reason? Not | | | | Bureau website and Google to see what previous |
| because the school made more money (they did), | | | | students have to say. |
| but because I firmly believed - and still do - in | | | | Finally - and I’m probably get some hate mail |
| education as the best way for someone to | | | | - but please be very wary about any company |
| better themselves personally and professionally. | | | | offering medical billing correspondence courses and |
| To me the certificate program was a strong | | | | certificates. You will find out the certificates |
| second choice and usually selected by those | | | | aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on |
| students that, among other things, wanted to get | | | | when it comes time to find a job. Why? There is |
| in to the workforce faster or couldn’t afford | | | | no AMA sanctioned body that issues medical billing |
| the degreed program. As I mentioned earlier, | | | | certifications. The certificate is simply |
| upon graduation the student would receive a | | | | documentation showing that you took and passed |
| certificate stating that they completed the | | | | some billing training program. |
| coursework and be prepped to take the CCS | | | | I can’t tell you how many times someone |
| exam. To me the real value was taking and | | | | sent me a resume just because they had |
| hopefully earning the CCS credential. | | | | completed a medical billing correspondence course. |
| There are several credentials that can be earned | | | | I would not hire anyone with no prior experience. |
| by a medical billing and coding professional. | | | | Why? I don’t want to train a newbie and |
| Credentialing is a big deal. Why? Having those | | | | can’t afford the liability exposure - someone |
| letters after you name (e.g. Jane Doe, CCS) | | | | not knowing what they’re doing can run off |
| proves that you have demonstrated the | | | | clients. I stick by this hiring policy after learning the |
| knowledge, skills and ability required to pass an | | | | hard way. Bottom line - no prior experience, no |
| exam issued by a nationally recognized American | | | | job. |
| Medical Association (AMA) sanctioned organization. | | | | Sources: |
| In the world of medical coding there are two | | | | American Health Information Association |
| organizations offering credentialing sanctioned by | | | | (ww.AHIMA.org) |
| the AMA: AHIMA and the American Academy of | | | | American Association of Professional Coders |
| Professional Coders (AAPC). | | | | (ww.AAPC. |