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Advantages of Medical billing classes online

Are you still confused about whether to take medical billing classes online or to take time off from work to pursue your studies and enroll in an on-campus medical billing training program? Thinking of giving your dream of getting certified a backseat because your current busy work schedule isn’t allowing you to work and study at the same time? Wish you could get certified so that you can enjoy career growth and advance professionally?

Well, then we’d say it is best to enroll in medical billing classes online and get certified in just 6 months.

That’s right; e-learning is on the rise pretty much because of the plethora of advantages it offers to students. We don’t say it statistics do. Here’s a look at the growing popularity in online education. Statistics show that:

Approximately 3 million students are enrolled in full e-learning degree programs
Nearly 6 million students are taking at least one course online as part of their e-learning degree program
Online learning has revolutionized the education industry massively and it is clearly evident from the fact that it has now become a billion dollar industry as more students choose to study online instead of taking classes on-campus.

Now that you know the statistics, here is a quick overview of the top advantages of taking medical billing classes online:

Convenience

One of the biggest advantages of acquiring medical billing certification online is that your instructor and classroom are accessible and available to you round the clock—24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. This is the convenience that you need to pursue your certification course while you earn. So, whether you have a day time 9 to 5 job or you have a night shift, you can study anytime you want at your own convenience if you enroll in a medical billing certification online course.

Sheer Flexibility—Study at Your Own Pace and Place

The sheer flexibility factor of medical billing classes online is another plus point. As you take classes online you have the flexibility to study from anywhere at self-pace. You can take classes on the go while you’re travelling from one place to another location or you can study while you’re at work during lunch hours or in the comfort of your home—whatever suits you best and fits your schedule. The flexibility factor also gives you the power to make your own schedule for course completion requirements.

Individual Attention

In a traditional classroom setting of 30 to 40 students, it is often difficult for 1 instructor to cater to all of them with same attention, and zeal. Sometimes due to shortage of time and so many questions to address from several students, there is a big probability that the instructor may forget to answer your question or may not be able to address it because of time constraint. However, when you enroll in medical billing classes online, you don’t have to worry about whether or not your question will be addressed by the instructor and answered. This is because when you study online, you get individual attention. You can shoot an email to the instructor with your query and get it answered directly. This enhances your opportunity to learn better and get all your questions and queries in your mind resolved and cleared. And when your questions are answered, it further helps in retaining the knowledge acquired during the session in a better way and for a longer period of time.

Amazing Financial Benefits

The high cost of on-campus education often makes students give their educational goals and dreams a backseat. Even though they want to study and acquire advance degrees, they just can’t because of the financial constraints. It includes cost like high tuition fee, enrollment fee, textbooks, hostel fee, and commuting cost. Some students seek student loans and later find themselves struggling with debt payments while others use their credit cards to pay for education but eventually they end up in debt too. This is where studying online really helps. You can cut back on the tuition fee, textbook cost, commuting cost and hostel fee significantly. In fact, you can acquire your certification by taking medical billing classes online at fraction of the cost that you’ll otherwise incur if you take classes on-campus.

Comfortable Learning Environment

Another great advantage of studying online is that you get a comfortable learning environment. By comfortable we don’t just mean that you get to study in your pajamas’ which by the way you do, but other than that it spares you from the stress of struggling through heavy traffic every day, then leave work early to reach the campus on time, find a parking space if you are traveling by your own ride and then rush to the classroom and find a proper place where you can clearly hear the instructor when the session begins. If you choose to study online, you can easily spare yourself from all the hassle. Online classes provide you with a comfortable learning environment, all you need to do is find a quiet place and start studying.

Career Advancement

Medical billing certification online program gives you the advantage of advancing your career without any gap. You don’t have to resign from your current job to pursue studies or watch other people take lead and climb up the career ladder while you work at the same position for years just because you don’t have any latest certification on your resume. Online courses provide you the advantage of studying online while you continue with your office commitments.

So, if you want to advance your career in medical billing and tap lucrative job opportunities, then enroll in our medical billing certification online program now.

Job Duties of a Medical Coder

The increasing demand for medical coders in the healthcare industry has truly opened tons of lucrative opportunities for individuals looking for a fast-paced career in medical coding. According to the Bureau of Labor & Statistics, a medical coder has a median pay of $38,040; and the employment rate for this profession is likely to increase by 13% until 2020 which is much faster than most other professions.
Though the career outlook and prospects for medical coders look extremely attractive, let’s not forget that the job is equally demanding. What employers such as practitioners, doctors, and hospitals expect from medical coders is accurate and quick coding that helps them speed up and improve their revenue cycle and reimbursements from the insurance companies.
Let take a closer look at the job duties of technicians performing medical coding in New Orleans:
• Extracting Patient Data from Medical Charts
One of the most important responsibilities of a medical coder is to extract patient data on a day-to-day basis from medical charts created by doctors. These charts provide information about the procedures as well as diagnoses performed by doctors. In a complex case, a medical coder must collect this data from multiple physicians and translate each procedure and diagnosis into a relevant code.
• Code Research
Another task of a medical coder is to research for and interpret unusual medical procedures & unique kind of diagnoses. For such procedures and diagnoses, a medical coding specialist must search through medical dictionaries, anatomical charts, and other resources to translate them into accurate codes.
• Entering Data with Accuracy
Once medical codes are identified, the coding specialist must enter these in the hospital’s proprietary software program to compile and arrange information for every patient. The coder is also required to update and maintain other medical information in the system like surgery dates, doctors’ names, discharge codes, and types of anesthesia used.
Medical reports, diagnoses and procedures are transformed into universal codes to grow the physician’s practice and speed up the reimbursement process. Not only does it help doctors keep a track of the disease spread and effectiveness of a procedure, it also assists them in the medical billing process. These codes help bill and file insurance claims accurately and efficiently as they are passed on to medical billers to create claims.
Procedure codes like CPT (Current Procedure Terminology) and HCPCS (Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System) tell the insurer about the services performed by the doctor. On the other hand, diagnosis codes that are documented with the help of ICD codes show medical necessity or tell the insurer the reason for the medical procedure. All this helps in running a smooth billing process and minimizing the denial rate.
Medical Coding Certification Online Program
To perform the job duties of a medical coder, you must possess up-to-date industry knowledge, have sound technical prowess and the right set of skills to execute all tasks efficiently and accurately. For this, we recommend you to enroll in and complete medical coding certification online course.
Not only will it equip you with the right skills but also improve your chances of getting hired because employers prefer certified medical coding specialists over non-certified candidates. For more information about the program, call on 504.304.8826 and get in touch with us today.

Advantages of Acquiring Certified Professional Medical Auditor Training in a Classroom

Top 3 Advantages of Acquiring Certified Professional Medical Auditor Training in a Classroom Setting
The new trend of e-learning is now shifting the focus of students from studying in a classroom environment to acquiring education online. Though e-learning has its own advantages, acquiring education such as Certified Professional Medical Auditor Training in a classroom setting is equally or even more beneficial than completing this course (in particular) over the web. Continue reading to find out why?

Advantage #1— You Get Hands-on Learning Experience
Once you enroll in a medical technical institute in New Orleans and attend CPMA classes’ on-campus, you’ll get the opportunity to meet, communicate and interact with other students and experienced instructors.This is a great opportunity for gaining a hands-on learning experience.

To acquire CPMA certification, you must have at least 2 to 3 years professional experience as a medical biller or coder. This means that all other students enrolled in your classroom would be professionally trained medical coders and billers with field experience. Now imagine how much you can learn from them and their experiences as you interact with them over the course of the training program. Furthermore, these training programs are led by industry professionals and certified experts, giving you even more opportunities to learn and gain knowledge.

Advantage #2— Immediate Help and Support
Another big advantage of studying in a classroom setting is that you can resolve your problems and get answers to any question that might come in your mind during the session, immediately. Instant help and support from the instructor and other students is beneficial as you can understand the lecture in a better way. This further helps as you are able to grasp the lecture and retain all the key points with clarity and for much longer.

Advantage #3— Extra Assistance from the Classroom Instructors
The good thing about acquiring Certified Professional Medical Auditor Training in a classroom setting is that you can get extra assistance from classroom instructors after the session is over. This is not possible online. Extra assistance from instructors comes in handy if you have any queries about lectures or if you need guidance pertaining to the course, lecture or even the auditing profession. Instructors are willing to spend more time with students and provide them quality guidance in and outside the classroom.

When it comes to CPMA classroom training, we take pride in being the top choice of medical technical institute in New Orleans among medical coders and billers seeking to take their career to the next level and becoming auditors. Our institute is providing quality education and training for more than 20 years. For more information about the program, call on 504.304.8826 and get in touch with us today.

3 Tips to Stay Focused as a Medical Billing and Coding Student

Staying focused on your studies is never easy. The struggle only gets harder if you have a day job, have a family to look after, or have other demands on your time. Whether you’re learning medical coding or medical billing in a classroom or online, here are three simple tips that can help you stay focused on your studies.
1. Eliminate distractions
If you are attending medical billing school online, the hardest part may be finding a time that you can focus on lectures. When you sit down to your coursework, help yourself focus by going into a room where you can be by yourself. If you have kids, arrange for someone else to watch them, or try to do your work while they are at school, if you can. Once by yourself, silence your phone and put it away. The last thing you need is text messages and Facebook notifications distracting you from your work.
If you’re doing your coursework in a class setting, it’s still important to minimize distractions when you study at home, and when you’re listening to lectures in class. You should put that phone away, too, and block distracting websites while you’re in class so you’re not tempted to let your attention wander.
2. Take notes
One simple way to stay focused while studying is to take notes. If you’re listening to a lecture, write down key points. If you’re reading a text book, make notes in the margins or highlight key passages. This simple task will help you retain the information much better than simply listening or reading.
3. Schedule time for studying
If you’re attending medical coding school in person, it’s easy to let yourself believe that you will study when you have a free moment. But free moments don’t just magically appear. You need to set aside time for yourself to study, the same way you set aside time for class.
If you’re taking the course online, setting aside time is even more important. Plan a schedule for when you will listen to lectures and do coursework. Try to stick to the schedule as best you can. Treat your schedule like a solid commitment, not something you can move around whenever you feel like it. This attitude will help you stay on track.

Know the AAPC and AHIMA’s Tips for Medical Billing and Coding Certification

AHIMA and the AAPC talked to a number of recently certified medical coding professionals about their strategies for passing their certification exams. The organizations gained a lot of great insights from these individuals. Here are some of their top tips for getting your medical coding or medical billing certification:
1. Take your exam as soon as you can.
Many students make the mistake of postponing their certification exam for a few months or more after finishing their medical billing course. This is a big mistake. The closer you can schedule your exam to the end of your course, the more likely you will be to pass. It makes perfect sense — you’ll do best when all of the information is fresh in your mind. Delaying will only cause you to lose confidence and forget some of the finer points of the course.
2. Don’t try to cram.
Some people blow off most of their coursework in favor of a last-minute cram session before the medical coding certification exam. This strategy rarely (if ever) works. The skills needed to become a successful medical coder can’t be learned overnight. Your best strategy is to give your coursework the time and attention that it requires. Stay up-to-date on your assignments, and get help as soon as you come across an area that you find confusing. Take advantage of all the resources available to you through your course.
3. Check your problem areas with practice exams.
Practice exams are an incredibly helpful tool while preparing for the actual test. You won’t see the exact same questions on the actual exam, but practice exams can help you get a feel for the format of the test and the types of questions that you’ll see. Practice tests can also help you identify areas where you need more work and give you a sense of whether or not you’re ready for the actual exam.
4. Create a support system.
It’s much easier to learn when you have other people on your side. Whether you’re interested in medical billing or coding, the programs at Allied Prep can provide you with all of the training and support that you will need to succeed. You can study at home through our online program or in class with other students who share your goals. In either case, you’ll have access to knowledgeable instructors who can help answer your questions and guide your studies.

Benefits of Online Learning for 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

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

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

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.

Medical Billing and Coding: In Demand, Easy Entry

If you’ve thought about joining the health information industry as a medical biller or coder, now is truly the time to take action! Job growth has never been higher and salaries continue to rise. Still not convinced? Consider these facts below:
Between 2014 and 2024, the health information field is expected to grow by at least 15% according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

There is a huge gap in employment. AHIMA reports that each year, 6,000 new positions are available in the health information industry. However, only 2,000 new people enter into jobs in this field each year. Why is there such a gap? Baby boomers are retiring, leaving once filled positions vacant. On average, health information job postings remain open 35 days before they are filled. That’s 2 days longer than the national average positing time of 33 days.

The salaries of employed medical billers and coders vary state-to-state. However, in 2012, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that health information professionals had an average salary of $34,160. Even better, the AAPC conducted a survey of 12,000 Certified Professional Coders (CDC) and found that the average salary among those surveyed was $46,800.

People within the medical coding and medical billing professions also benefit from steady employment. The AAPC reported that people who are Certified Professional Coders (CPC) had a very low unemployment rate of 1.7%. For some perspective, the national unemployment rate is over 7%.
As you can see, professionals in medical billing and coding have lots of advantages including many job opportunities, job growth, excellent salaries, and low unemployment. The other major advantage is that you do not need an advanced degree or years of training to become a Certified Professional Coder (CDC). All you have to do to become a CPC is pass the AAPC exam and then you can start looking for an entry level position at any hospital, health facility, or private practice near you.
At Allied Prep, we make the certification process extremely easy for our students by offering both in-person and online class options. During our 16 week program, our students learn anatomy, terminology, and medical codes from a teacher that has extensive health information industry experience. Our goal is to make sure that each of our students receives the knowledge and skills they need to pass their AAPC exam with ease.
To learn more about our medical billing and coding programs, contact our school today! Whether you have additional questions or would like to get started immediately, we’re happy to help you along the way.

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Author: Alliedprep