Month: January 2017

Benefits of Online Learning for CPMA Certification

Get CPMA Certification


If you’ve been working as a medical biller or a medical coder for the last few years, you may feel ready to take the next step in your career. For many medical coders, that step is becoming a certified professional medical auditor, or CPMA.
CPMAs are in demand in hospitals, at doctor’s offices, and in government agencies that regulate health care facilities. They can make substantially more money than billers or coders, because they must have more experience, more training, and a second certification in medical auditing.
If you’re already working full time as a medical biller or coder, how can you find the time to get the training you need to pass the CPMA exam? The answer is online CPMA school.
At Allied Prep, our online CPMA certification program lets you take your career to the next level without sacrificing your current job or your schedule. Online coursework lets you plan your studies around your schedule. You can go at your own pace. Maybe you’d like to cram through the course during a few weeks of vacation. Or maybe you’d like to set aside a few nights a week for regular lectures and study time. If your schedule is unpredictable, you could even fit in coursework here and there as you are able until you have time to finish.
Online learning also has a financial benefit. Allied Prep’s online course lets you get CPMA certification training for a set, low price that is much more affordable than an in-class alternative. All you need to succeed in an online course is an internet connection and a little determination. It’s by far the most flexible option for furthering your learning and moving your career forward.
In our online CPMA course, you’ll learn advanced medical coding, basics of statistical modeling, how to identify and report fraud, and many other skills. Once you pass your exam, you could be qualified for an in-house auditing position at your current workplace, or you could look for a job with an auditing agency. These positions let you travel around and work with new people all the time. There are lots of different ways to be successful as a CPMA, and the room for growth into more senior, even better paying positions is excellent.
Learn more about our online CPMA program by taking the time to contact our team! We’d be happy to address any questions you may have about our CPMA school.

5 Things You Will Learn in Our Medical Billing and Coding School

Medical Billing and Coding School



Hospitals, doctor’s offices, and other medical companies are having trouble finding enough medical coding and billing professionals to fill their job vacancies. Medical billers and coders are in high demand, but you need to be certified to qualify for these jobs. That’s where Allied Prep comes in.
Our 16-week courses can give you all the skills you need to obtain your certification and step into an entry level medical billing or coding job. Here are five things you’ll learn about in our in-class and online programs:
1. Basic anatomy and types of medical procedures
To be successful as a medical biller or coder, you need to understand what doctors and nurses are referring to when they talk about specific medical procedures. The first step to being a great coder is understanding what the most common medical procedures and terms mean.
2. Medical codes
The most important job of a medical coder is translating the procedures written down by doctors and nurses into the appropriate medical codes. This helps keep records straight, keeps patients safe, and simplifies the billing process. Whether you’re interested in medical billing school or medical coding school, you will learn the basic codes.
3. How to find information you need
No one can memorize every single medical code. Therefore, it’s important for medical coders to be able to look up the correct codes for more obscure procedures quickly and correctly. This research skill will make your job as a medical biller or coder much easier.
4. How medical offices run
You’ve probably been to the doctor many times in your life, but you may have never been in a medical billing office. Beyond coding, our program will help you understand how medical insurance works, the claims process, and how to communicate with doctors and insurance providers. In other words, we’ll set you up with the skills you need to do the full job, not just the coding part.
5. How to pass your AAPC exam
You can’t become a medical biller or a medical coder if you don’t pass your certification exam. That’s why we make the exam a big part of the course. You’ll have multiple opportunities to take practice exams, learn the question format, and get your questions answered by experienced instructors. With so much practice, you should be fully prepared to pass your exam the first time around.
Learn more about our medical billing and medical coding programs by contacting our helpful staff today!

Exploring the Advantages of CPMA Certification

CPMA Certification


If you’ve reached a plateau in your career as a medical biller or medical coder, it might be time to head back to school so that you can take the next step in your professional life.
Certified Professional Medical Auditors (CPMAs) are medical coders or billers with at least a few years of experience who have taken the time to get certified in medical auditing. This certification is harder to obtain than a basic medical coding or billing certification. It shows that you have the necessary expertise to identify errors or even fraud within the work of other billers and coders.
Because CPMAs have more experience and need to obtain a second certification, they are paid much more than other medical billers. They are in high demand, as medical offices and hospitals need to regularly submit to outside audits from federal and state agencies. Many medical offices also hire internal auditors to stay on top of their own records and avoid problems down the line.
In order to pass the CPMA exam, you will need advanced knowledge of medical coding as well as in depth knowledge of statistical sampling, quality assurance measures, medical fraud, and the accompanying documentation and reporting methods. Some people choose to study for the CPMA certification exam on their own, but it is much easier to prepare through a CPMA school.
At Allied Prep, our CPMA coursework gives you all the necessary tools to pass the exam the first time around. You’ll have access to knowledgeable instructors, the opportunity to take multiple practice exams, and support from fellow students. In a matter of weeks you’ll be ready to get CPMA certification off your checklist and move your career forward. Having your certification will make you a more valuable asset in your current job and open up possibilities of promotions and pay raises.
CPMA professionals are in demand around the country, and the opportunities are only expected to grow over the next ten years. Learn more about the responsibilities and benefits of being a Certified Professional Medical Auditor by visiting our campus or giving us a call today. We have online and in-class learning options, a flexible payment plan, and financial aid opportunities. Call 504-304-8826 now to learn more.

Leveraging Job Trends in 2017

Medical Billing and Coding Jobs


If current trends remain in place, 2017 looks to be a great year for job seekers. A number of factors are stacking up in favor of people looking for careers this year, especially skilled jobs like medical coding or medical billing jobs.
While many people fear that their job will be taken over by a machine, the vast majority of jobs simply can’t be done by current technology, according to most experts. The jobs that are getting automated are the ones that are repetitive and that require no creativity or judgement. Skilled jobs, therefore, are quite safe from automation.
In fact, the US added an average of 180,000 jobs per month in 2016, which is considered remarkably good. A large number of those jobs are in technology. People who are trained to work with specific machines or in specific computer programs have a significant leg up in the current marketplace. Certifications for technical jobs can also be incredibly helpful. So-called soft skills like creative thinking and marketing skills are valuable, but they need to be backed up by technical know-how in order to land the best jobs this year and in the years to come.
If you’ve been putting it off, 2017 just might be the ideal year to invest in your technical education. A certification in medical billing can open up all sorts of doors across the country. Medical coders and billers are in high demand in hospitals, doctor’s offices, and research facilities. These jobs can be found in every state, and there is room to grow, but you need to be certified in order to meet the basic job qualifications.
At Allied Prep, our 18-week medical billing and medical coding courses will give you all of the preparation you need to pass your certification exams. Once certified, you’ll be able to apply for a wide variety of medical coding jobs with regular business hours, great pay, and benefits.
Whether you’re looking to start a new career, fresh out of school, or trying to get back into the workforce, our medical billing and coding program might be the perfect choice for you. Give us a call at 504-304-8826 or stop by campus today to learn more.