Having looked at all the options, my opinion is that you should go with the $2,000 option, if you are new and looking for a way into the medical billing and coding career field. Let me explain my thinking.
The $2,000 option is with AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association). If you don't know about AHIMA yet, you soon will if you enter the medical billing and coding profession.
AHIMA is the biggest and best professional organization for medical billing and coding professionals. They are the people who offer the professional certifications you will need to advance in your medical billing and coding jobs.
The first AHIMA certification you will need is the CCA (certified coding associate). The CCA is the starter certificate. With a CCA you should be able to get an entry level medical billing and coding job.
Okay, back to medical billing and coding courses. AHIMA offers an online distance learning program called Coding Basics. Here is information about the program from AHIMA:
AHIMA offers on online program called Coding Basics. Coding Basics is a self-paced, 12-course program that provides comprehensive training in inpatient and outpatient coding, along with the necessary background courses in health record content, medical terminology, and disease processes. The courses are entirely Web-based. When you successfully complete the Coding Basics Program (four clusters of three courses per cluster) you may wish to take the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) national certification exam. The CCA should be viewed as the starting point for an individual entering a new career as a coder. For more information on the Coding Basics program, including program length and registration fees, you should visit:
http://campus.ahima.org/campus/course_info/cb/index.html
The prerequisite for our Coding Basics program is Anatomy & Physiology. This can be fulfilled by having an official college transcript submitted, or by taking the course online through AHIMA. Details about our Anatomy & Physiology course are at: http://campus.ahima.org/campus/course_info/Anatomy/anat_info.htm
So, here is the beauty of going this route instead of an expensive career college physical attendance type of program:
- It costs way less ($2,000 vs $15,000 estimated).
- It gives you time flexibility (you can work, and do internships in medical offices).
- It's AHIMA (you get to put AHIMA on your resume - this is a huge plus when you are new.
- The information is likely to be better, since AHIMA is the authority in the field.
- They aren't "all salesy." They don't give you the hard sell.
Before you make a final decision about where and how to take a medical billing and coding course, be sure and check out the AHIMA distance learning program.
