Medical billing and coding specialists perform critical roles in the healthcare system. Although medical billers and coders are typically unseen by patients, or by some individuals that work at the same facility, they perform a variety of complex duties. They are important specialists to the healthcare community, whether working at a physician’s practice, a clinic, hospital or other setting. Accredited medical billing and coding schools online with financial aid helps to start many students on a pathway to becoming a medical biller or coder.
What are Medical Billers and Coders?
Some people have heard of medical billers and coders, yet have no idea where they work or what they do in the healthcare industry. People that are not familiar with medical billing and coding may think that it is a single occupation or career. Medical billing and coding are two very important roles that requires trained workers with expertise to perform the essential duties of their respective position.
Individuals that work in medical billing and coding have the task of performing a variety of specialized duties. Normandale Community College offers an explanation of the primary duties of these specialists. Medical Coders, explains the school, takes the records of each patient’s treatment, and then searches for the codes that best fits the diagnosis and provided treatment. Once the medical coder performs their duties, the medical biller then receives the information. The medical biller uses those codes to prepare invoices or bills for payment by the patient’s insurance provider.
There are many steps to performing the duties of a medical biller or coder. When the medical coder receives the patient’s information and determines the appropriate codes, the coder transcribes the information into each patient’s electronic health record using a special coding system. Medical assistants work closely with other staff members to ensure the accuracy of the coded information. Coders may need to clarify insurance information or details, or make changes or adjustments.
Medical billers, on the other hand, translate the information into a claim using medical billing software. In addition to sending the claim, or bill, to the insurance provider, the medical biller has the responsibility of making sure that the adequate payment for services rendered is submitted by the insurance company.
Why Choose Accredited Medical Billing and Coding Schools Online with Financial Aid?
Medical billers and coders perform important duties that are essential to optimizing healthcare. They can work in any setting, from a small private practice, to a large hospital or healthcare system.
Medical billers and coders are in high demand, with Bryan University and the Bureau of Labor Statistics both confirming this fact. Employers typically want to hire the best qualified medical billers and coders, which means that a person that is interested in working in the field needs to stand out above other applicants and meet the requirements for working in the profession.
The salary of medical billers and coders continues to rise along with the demand and job outlook. Applicants that want to work in the industry need to have the education that will help them get the job that they want and start their career. Attending accredited medical billing and coding schools online with financial aid is one way to reduce the tuition, fees, or other costs. The online format allows students flexibility with completing individual course or program requirements.
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Highland Community College | Highland, Kansas |
| 2 | Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, Georgia |
| 3 | Cowley College | Arkansas City, Kansas |
| 4 | Gaston College | Dallas, North Carolina |
| 5 | Central Maine Community College | Auburn, Maine |
Consider these accredited medical billing and coding schools online with financial aid to gain the skills and knowledge needed to have a successful career in this profession. The tuition cost does not include the cost of supplies or fees unless stated in the description of a particular school.
Highland Community College
The Highland Community College Online Associate in Applied Science – Medical Coding degree is designed for students that want to work as a medical coder across a variety of healthcare settings. Gain the skills and knowledge to recognize, analyze and assign the proper codes to specific medical procedures and diagnoses as they apply to billing and insurance.
Students complete 65 credit hours of study and can apply for financial aid to help pay for tuition for courses that include Insurance and Health Information Compliance, International Classification of Disease (ICD) Coding, and Reimbursement Methodologies.
School Overview
Kennesaw State University
The Medical Billing and Coding Certificate Online program at Kennesaw State University gives students the skills and ability to succeed in the rapidly growing field of medical billing and coding. Learn skills such as abstracting medical records, and assigning appropriate codes to diagnoses and procedures using designated code books. Learn to develop and submit insurance claims for rendered services. Students gain the skills to understand medical procedures and disorders and to safeguard protected health information.
The university offers students the opportunity to start the program at any time. There are multiple options for students that wish to apply for financial aid.
School Overview
Cowley College
Cowley College offers both an online certificate program and an Associate of Applied Science degree in Medical Coding. Students that want to complete the certificate program first have the opportunity to continue their education and earn the degree. Some students simply start their education with the associate’s degree in medical coding.
Students take courses such as Current Procedural Terminology, Reimbursement Methodologies, and Healthcare Coding Practicum.
School Overview
Gaston College
The Gaston College Medical Office Administration-Billing and Coding Associate in Applied Science (AAS) program curriculum prepares graduates for a career as a specialist in medical coding or billing with expertise in preparing, processing, and submitting insurance claims for medical facilities or other types of healthcare settings. Gain the knowledge to analyze medical reports in order to properly identify all medical procedures and diagnoses. Students also learn word processing skills, and gain extensive knowledge in areas such as medical terminology, human diseases, pharmacology, laboratory and surgical procedures.
School Overview
Central Maine Community College
The Medical Coding and Electronic Health Records program at Central Maine Community College is offered in a 100 percent online format. The curriculum prepares students to apply coding guidelines to the diagnoses, medical procedures, and medical records. Students learn to calculate reimbursements using industry formulas, and to perform specialized record keeping procedures. Students also have the option of continuing their education by earning an associate in applied science degree if they prefer to do so, which is also offered completely online.
Graduates of this program are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination.
Assistance is available if students need help applying for financial aid.
School Overview
Central Oregon Community College
The Central Oregon Community College Medical Billing Specialist certificate program is a two-year program that prepares students for a variety of advanced duties. Some students complete the one-year program, while others enroll directly into the two-year program at the college.
Students learn to perform billing functions as they relate to patient accounts, including charges, payments, and adjustment posting. Students also learn to apply and analyze intermediate knowledge of coding systems and compliance requirements, and a variety of other duties.
School Overview
Tacoma Community College
Complete the online Medical Billing Specialist Certificate at Tacoma Community College and have the skills to work in positions such as a medical biller, patient account representative, medical claims reviewer or in another healthcare support position. All students complete core courses and advance to additional courses, earning a minimum grade of ‘C’ in each course. Course examples include Healthcare Delivery and Alternative Care, Business Math, Outpatient procedure Coding and Professional Development and Ethics.
Students also complete an internship. The school explains that the internship consists of, ‘computer-based simulations mirroring the professional environment.’
School Overview
Hutchinson Community College
Hutchinson Community College offers the Healthcare Coding Specialist – CERT C program, which prepares students to work in medical coding positions in clinics, hospitals, surgery centers, insurance companies and other settings. The school indicates that students in this online program learn the knowledge and skills of medical coding to use wherever ‘diagnostic and procedural data are coded in ICD-10-CM/PCS and CPT for reimbursement purposes.’
Most of the credits in the program are applicable to the Health Information Technology Associate in Applied Science degree program offered by the school.
School Overview
Sinclair College
Sinclair College offers a 24-credit Medical Coding and Billing Specialist certificate program that can be completed online. Students develop the skills to accurately determine diagnostic and procedural code number assignments, and to interpret coding guidelines and federal regulations that are crucial for accurate code number assignment on billing forms. Gain effective communications skills, information literacy, problem-solving skills and critical thinking skills. Students also gain the knowledge for processing insurance claims and reimbursement practices.
Students that complete the program can sit for credentialing exams.
The school offers students a variety of financial aid options, including grants, scholarships, and other options.
School Overview
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
The Medical Coding Specialist Technical Diploma at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College prepares students for careers as entry-level coding specialists in a variety of healthcare facilities. Students learn to review medical documentation provided by physicians, or from other healthcare providers, and to then translate it into proper codes.
Students gain the skills to collect health data, apply coding and reimbursement systems, and to utilize electronic applications to support data collection and coding.
School Overview
Northwest Iowa Community College
Students that enroll in the Medical Coding Diploma program at Northwest Iowa Community College gain the skills that are required to assign codes for each diagnosis or procedure using appropriate classification systems, and to submit claims to insurance providers. The curriculum consists of 34 credit hours of study and can be completed online on a part-time or full-time basis.
Students that complete the program gain eligibility to sit for the Certified Coding Associate certification exam through the American Health Information Management Association.
School Overview
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College offers an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Medical Coding and Billing in an online format that prepares students to work in the expanding profession of electronic billing and reimbursement. Students learn to create and use medical records, to gather information from a patient’s medical records and apply the proper coding for reimbursement.
The college points out that employers are finding it more beneficial and profitable to hire individuals that have expertise in both medical billing and coding. The availability of several financial aid options helps students start on the path to working as a medical billing and coding specialist.
School Overview
Normandale Community College
The Normandale Community College Medical Coding and Billing program is delivered online, but provides students with support when they need it. The program prepares graduates of the program to become professional medical billers or coders.
Students learn the knowledge to help them succeed in the profession. Graduates have the opportunity to further their education at the school after completing the medical coding and billing program if they want to expand their career opportunities.
School Overview
Central Carolina Technical College
The Medical Record Coding (MRCO) Certificate program at the Central Carolina Technical College is an online 38-credit hour program that prepares graduates for a career as a health information specialist with a focus on medical record management. The emphasis is on procedural and diagnostic coding for reimbursement for rendered services.
Examples of some courses include Anatomy and Physiology for Medical Record Coding, Pharmacology for Coders, Coding and Classification, and Current Procedural Terminology.
There is a variety of financial aid options for students enrolled at the college.
School Overview
Dakota State University
Dakota State University offers the online Health Care Coding Certificate for students that want to become a recognized professional in the field. The curriculum focuses on the industry standards of medical coding and billing, using the International Classifications of Diseases (ICD) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code sets.
School Overview
Weber State University
Enroll in the Healthcare Coding Certificate program at Weber State University and learn to code both inpatient and outpatient healthcare services, using the ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, and CPT coding systems. The online program consists of just 10 courses and does not require any previous college education. Complete courses such as Integrated Human Anatomy and Physiology, ICD-10-PS Coding, and Professional Practice Experience in Coding.
School Overview
Grantham University
The Medical Coding and Billing Certificate program at Grantham University guides students through the process of learning medical coding and billing, essential insurance procedures and financial practices. Students in the program also gain the knowledge to understand local, state, and federal regulations, including the applicable OSHA standards, and the HIPAA rules for protected health information and ethical practices.
The program requires just 18 credit hours of study and provides students with access to the National Health career Association (NHA) portal to prepare for the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist certification exam.
School Overview
The College of Health Care Professions
The online Medical Billing and Coding Certificate program at The College of Health Care Professions provides a 48-credit hour program for students that want to learn the skills and knowledge to become an entry-level health information technician employee at any number of healthcare settings. Students learn record-keeping for hospitals and physician offices, how to use a variety of both alphabetical and numeric filing systems, and additional training related to medical billing and coding careers.
The school provides assistance with determining if the student qualifies for financial aid and details about specific types of available financial aid.
School Overview
Sullivan University
Students that pursue the online Medical Coding Diploma at Sullivan University gain the specialized skillset in medical coding to become indispensable in the physician’s office, clinics, hospitals, insurance agencies or medical billing agencies. Students learn to translate medical documentation into diagnostic and procedural codes, and to apply those codes using specific reimbursement methodologies.
Students also prepare for the official medical coding certification.
School Overview
Bryan University
Gain the skills necessary to work in the in-demand field of medical billing and coding when you attend Bryan University. Students in the fast-track online program learn medical terminology, pathology, anatomy and physiology, and pharmacology. Learn details of the U.S. healthcare system organization and delivery, translation of medical diagnosis, conditions, and procedures into medical codes using standard format, such as the ICD or CPT. The school provides students with certification preparation for the Certified Coding Associate exam. Another benefit is the fact that the cost for one exam attempt is included in the cost of tuition.
Financial advisors help students understand available financial aid.
School Overview
San Joaquin Valley College
Start your new career or change careers when you enroll in the Online Medical Billing and Coding program at San Joaquin Valley College. Experience hands-on training in medical records and health information technology, as you progress through the program.
Students benefit from the accelerated format, earning the certificate in as little as seven months. Many students likely consider the opportunity to continue their education and expand their career even more and choose to earn the associate’s degree in as little as 15 months.
School Overview
Pierce College
The Pierce College Certificate in Medical Coding online program trains students to have the skills and knowledge to perform the essential work that medical coders and billers do behind-the-scenes. Students learn the modern ICD-10 coding system, health information and delivery systems, and medical terminology and anatomy and physiology. Some students continue their studies into the Associate in Science degree in Health Information Technology at the school.
Program graduates are eligible to sit for the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) Exam.
School Overview
Methodology
We searched for schools that offer online medical billing and coding programs, and included online schools that offer diplomas, certificates, or college degrees in medical billing and coding. We ranked each school by the cost of tuition and the fact that these top programs are accredited medical billing and coding schools online.
Do you need help finding the ideal college or university? We can help you find the best school based on the program that you select.
