In the medical billing and coding sector, trustworthy and competent professionals are needed to handle the interpretation and submission of claims to insurance companies.
This article will focus on low cost medical coding and billing online programs for individuals who want to make a career in this field.
Medical coding can be defined as some sort of translation. Medical coders are expected to take the documentation of patient encounters and translate them correctly into numeric codes.
On the flip side, medical billing happens when that translation is taken from the medical coder and changed into a claim for insurance companies.
The medical biller translates codes into financial reports. He acts as a waypoint between patients, healthcare providers, and insurance companies.
Students who graduate from a medical billing and coding program have a high chance of getting great jobs. There is a projection by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of an 8% job growth rate for professionals in this career.
The growth rate is because of the aging population who are in need of healthcare services all over.
If you have your eyes on this career path, then you are in luck because there are medical billing and coding programs that are offered online.
These online medical billing and coding courses cover the areas that are important and teach all the necessary job skills you would need in the field.
Areas such as anatomy and physiology, classification and coding systems, healthcare reimbursement methods, medical terminology, and statistics.
All in all, the programs prepare students who graduate to sit for certification examinations.
It does not matter where you are because most of the classes and practicum experiences are done online and they fit into your schedule.
Low Cost Medical Coding and Billing Online Programs
Below are the low cost medical coding and billing online programs you should look out for:
Oconee Fall Line Technical College (OFTC):
Oconee Fall Line Technical College was founded in 2010 through a merger of Sandersville Technical College and Heart of Georgia Technical College.
OFTC offers more than 100 associate degree, diploma, and certificate programs to students yearly both at their onsite locations and online.
The online medical billing clerk certificate program offered by OFTC requires students to have 20 semester credits to complete the program.
The program can be completed in two semesters and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
The estimated tuition cost is $2,662.00.
Ogeechee Technical College:
Ogeechee Technical College was founded in 1986. It is a public, two-year technical college that serves almost 3,000 students both offline and online.
The online medical coding certificate program offered by the school requires a minimum of 24 semester hours.
The program is designed to prepare its students for the certification examinations in only two semesters. The students must get a grade of C or more on their coursework.
The program is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the estimated tuition cost is $2,770.
Students must be at least 17 to apply to this program.
Central Texas College (CTC):
Central Texas College was founded in 1965. Currently, the school operates with various campuses and also offers over 30 degrees and more than 45 certificates completely online.
CTC has an online certified medical billing and coding specialist program that would require students to go through 340-course hours to complete the program.
The certificate program can be completed in under 12 months and over two semesters. The program has some admission requirements such as a completed online application, signed oath of residency, official transcripts, and Texas Success Initiative Assessment scores.
The program is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and has an estimated tuition cost of $3,090.
West Georgia Technical College (WGTC):
West Georgia Technical College was founded in 1988. The school was founded through the enactment of the nonprofit West Georgia Technical College Foundation.
WGTC offers online degrees and certificates from 8 academic sectors. It also has 9 physical campuses. The schools offer education to high school students, graduates, and adult learners.
WGTC offers one of the low-cost medical codings and billing online programs you can find. The program requires 24 credits for completion.
The program is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and has an estimated tuition cost of $100 per credit (in-state) and $200 per credit (out-of-state).
Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC):
Central Georgia Technical College was founded in 2012 and it offers 39 associate degrees, 50 diplomas, and 124 technical certificates of credit.
CGTC offers an online medical coding technical certificate that provides students with the basic training in both anatomy and physiology they can use in the medical coding field.
After students obtain this certificate, they can enter directly into the workforce or decide to pursue an associate’s or bachelor’s degree through the transfer of credits.
This program is also accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and has an estimated tuition cost of $100 per credit.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (WITC):
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College was founded in 1912. It was established as an industrial, commercial, continuing even school.
The school offers over 100 programs and it is in the top 150 U.S. community colleges. The school offers an online medical billing specialist technical diploma.
The medical billing program requires students to have 26 credits so they can complete it. Also, students can complete the program in two semesters for full-time students and three to four semesters for part-time students.
The program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the estimated tuition cost is $3,904.
Collin County Community College:
Collin County Community College was founded in 1885. The school now serves nearly 59,000 students yearly. It also offers more than 100 degree and certificate programs.
The college offers an online medical coding certificate series that would require 8 classes that consist of 352 total hours of study. The coursework required by students can be completed in two semesters.
This coursework would prepare the students to sit for the Certified Professional Coder Exam through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).
The program is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The estimated tuition cost is $2,538.
Columbus State Community College (CSCC):
Columbus State Community College is another school on our list of low-cost medical coding and billing online programs. At the moment, the school serves 45,000 students yearly.
CSCC offers several associate degrees and certificate programs. It also offers an online hybrid medical coding certificate that would need 22 credits to be completed.
Students can complete the program in three semesters. The program has accreditation from Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
The estimated tuition cost of this program is $163 per credit for in-state students and $333 per credit for out-of-state students.
Lamar Institute Of Technology (LIT):
Lamar Institute of Technology is located in Beaumont, Texas. The school serves over 8,000 students every year. Currently, it offers 28 associate of applied science degrees, 4 academic transfer associate degrees, and 28 certificates.
LIT has an online medical coding specialist certificate program. This program requires that students obtain 40 semester credits for the program to be completed.
The program can also be completed over three semesters. It offers hands-on learning that prepares students for job placement when they obtain their certificates.
The program serves high-school graduates, dual enrollees, re-admission students, and even transfer students.
The program has accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Finally, the estimated tuition cost is $95 per credit for in-state students and $459 per credit for out-of-state students.
Barton Community College (BCC):
Barton Community College is the last school on our list for low-cost medical coding and billing online programs. It was founded in 1965.
The college now serves more than 15,000 students yearly both on campus and online.
The medical coding certificate program offered by the school would require students to gain 44 credits for completion.
The program can be completed in two semesters. The coursework prepares students to review patient encounters and translate them into numeric codes.
It provides hands-on instruction so students can immediately apply the knowledge and training they gain in the workforce.
The program is accredited by Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the estimated tuition cost is $111 per credit for in-district students, $118 per credit for in-state students, and $142 per credit for out-of-state students.
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Is A Medical Coding Certificate Worth It?
The answer to this question is a loud yes. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for medical coders and billers for the next several years is looking great and very promising.
So, if you want to get a degree in this field, you should.
How Much Does Medical Coding And Billing Pay?
According to the reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for a medical coder and biller is $19.40 per hour. That translates to $40,350 per year.
Also, top-ranking professional medical coders and billers can earn more than $62,000 per year.
Do I Need To Memorize All These Medical Codes?
There are indeed many different universal codes in the different classification systems. Thankfully, there are also codebooks and coding software programs that medical coders and billers use in making references so they can make the correct assessments.
So, no, you do not need to memorize all the medical codes.