You’ve seen the ads. We all have. “Get rich quick! Become a medical coder and a bazillionaire overnight! Just send us a check for thousands of dollars and we’ll send you a completely worthless certificate and no way to actually pass a certification exam. Meanwhile, we’ll be in the Bahamas! Act now!”
Ok, maybe the ads aren’t that blatant, but they’re close. And in today’s economy, it’s difficult not to be temped by medical coding schools that promise easy financing and quick and easy results. School accreditation is an important consideration because it signifies there are established standards in place, and at the same time, there is an educational committee that is monitoring both the school’s curriculum and teaching standards.
Why School Matters
What’s the big deal if the school you pay for isn’t accredited or for that matter, worth very much? After all, you still get a degree. Who will know the school isn’t exactly legitimate? Unfortunately, most employers will. With Google by their side, it doesn’t take long. Plus, to move beyond the $10/hour salary range, you’ll need to pass a certification, and an unaccredited school isn’t going to help you prepare.
Why spend thousands on a program that offers you no benefit? You’re better off spending a few thousand more and getting started on a program that will help you prepare when test time comes. Don’t accept a school’s word that it is accredited. Go to the accreditation agency and confirm the information yourself.
Warning Signs
You can’t become a professional coder in 30 days. You can’t. Expect a program of 6-12 months, depending on any specialties. Any school that promises otherwise is lying to you. Check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and see if any complaints have been registered with them.
Do your research online and see what others have said about their experiences. Can you interview some teachers? Why not? Are internships are part of the program? How can you verify the information?
“I almost lost $5,000 on a medical billing school that wasn’t legitimate,” said Pam Huber of Friendswood, Texas. “I was all signed up, was getting ready to give over my credit card information, and something in my gut made me decide to do a little digging. I don’t know if that school was a total scam, but I do know that it wasn’t the best place for me or my money. When I finish school, I want to pass the tests and get working!”
The Real Deal
Finding a legitimate school is easy. The American Health Information Management Association to approve medical coding schools that are based on the AAMT Model Curriculum. They have a list of approved schools on their AAMT website.
Schools should offer courses in a variety of topics, including:
• Insurance abuse and fraud
• Pathology coding
• ICD-9 coding
• CPT surgical coding
• CPT non-surgical coding
• Medical terminology
• Anatomy and physiology
• Healthcare laws and ethics
• Insurance compliance
Resources
American Health Information Management Association,
233 N. Michigan Ave., 21st Floor,
Chicago, IL 60601-5809.
http://www.ahima.org or http://himcareers.ahima.org
Angie Boss is an award-winning health industry writer and author or co-author of several books, including Before Your Time: Living Well with Premature Menopause (Simon and Schuster, 2010). She received a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Sociology and Journalism from Virginia Wesleyan College and a Masters of Pastoral Counseling from Union Theological Seminary.
