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Tag Archives: Billing

Pain Doctor Pays to Settle Allegations of Deceptive Medicare Billing

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Pain doctor pays to settle allegations of deceptive Medicare billing.

A 52-year-old pain management physician from Houston has paid $ 530,000 to resolve allegations he falsely billed Medicare for the use of electro-acupuncture devices, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

From March 1, 2019, to Oct. 31, 2019, Dr. Syed Nasir billed Medicare for the implantation of neurostimulator electrodes–a surgical procedure that usually requires use of an operating room.

The post Pain Doctor Pays to Settle Allegations of Deceptive Medicare Billing appeared first on The Coding Network.

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OIG Tags Arizona Hospital for Erroneous Billing

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OIG Tags Arizona Hospital for Erroneous Billing

Flagstaff (Ariz.) Medical Center failed to comply with Medicare billing requirements for three of 100 inpatient and outpatient claims reviewed by HHS’ Office of Inspector General, according to an OIG report.

The three claims that did not comply with Medicare billing requirements resulted in Flagstaff Medical Center receiving $ 79,216 in overpayments during the two-year audit period of January 2016 through December 2017, according to the OIG.

The post OIG Tags Arizona Hospital for Erroneous Billing appeared first on The Coding Network.

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Billing therapy services in support of comprehensive APC services

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Billing therapy services in support of comprehensive APC services

by Valerie A. Rinkle, MPA

CMS’ Transmittal 3523, issued May 13, is the quarterly July 1 OPPS update. In this transmittal, CMS briefly mentions billing physical and occupational therapy and speech-language pathology services provided in support of or adjunctive to comprehensive APC (C-APC) services under revenue code 0940 (general therapeutic services) rather than the National Uniform Billing Committee?defined revenue codes for these services (i.e., 042x, 043x, and 044x, respectively).

CMS refers to these therapy services as "non-therapy outpatient department services." In addition, CMS says that these services should not be reported with therapy CPT® codes.

These therapy services have been packaged into C-APCs since the inception of these per-encounter/per-claim payments in 2015. Initially, CMS implemented 25 C-APCs in 2015 for device-intensive procedures. In 2016, the agency expanded the concept to 33 surgical and procedural C-APCs covering almost 700 CPT/HCPCS procedure codes in nine clinical families. It also added one C-APC to pay for ancillary services in the case of inpatient-only procedures performed on a patient who dies prior to being admitted as an inpatient (billed with modifier ?CA).

Another C-APC is for observation services when billed for eight or more hours, with either ED, clinic, or direct admit codes and no surgery service performed. These C-APCs are defined with status indicators J1 and J2. On these claims, there is one payment associated with one primary CPT/HCPCS regardless of the number of days for the encounter. All of the other charges and codes are billed on the claim. There are a few exceptions, such as non-OPPS services like ambulance and preventive services such as vaccines and mammography.

While the transmittal does not provide much explanation, it is assumed that this instruction follows CMS’ comment in the 2016 OPPS final rule, where CMS stated at 80 FR 70326 (emphasis added):

Payment for these non-therapy outpatient department services that are reported with therapy codes and provided with a comprehensive service is included in the payment for the packaged complete comprehensive service. We note that these services, even though they are reported with therapy codes, are outpatient department services and not therapy services. Therefore, the requirement for functional reporting under the regulations at 42 CFR 410.59(a)(4) and 42 CFR 410.60(a)(4) does not apply.

 

Therefore, according to this statement in the 2016 OPPS final rule, CMS intended to provide administrative relief to hospitals so that they would no longer have to report functional status HCPCS G codes and modifiers when these therapy services were provided in support of C-APC services and included on the same claim.

However, since January 1, the Integrated Outpatient Code Editor (I/OCE) claim edits continue to require reporting of functional status HCPCS G codes and modifiers if therapy CPT and revenue codes are reported. Changing the reporting of these therapy services from the usual revenue codes and CPT codes to revenue code 0940 and no CPT codes will no longer trigger the claim edits that require the reporting of functional status codes and modifiers. However, there seems to be even more behind this change.

 

Defining therapy services

CMS described these therapy services provided during the perioperative period or in support of observation as not the same therapy services discussed in section 1834(k) of the Social Security Act (SSA). This distinction is an important one, because therapy services that meet the definition of therapy services performed by therapists under a plan of care in accordance with sections 1835(a)(2)(C) and 1835(a)(2)(D) of the SSA are excluded from OPPS by statute and paid under the Medicare physician fee schedule.

CMS implies that therapy services performed during the same encounter as C-APC services, even when performed by licensed and credentialed therapists, do not meet that same statutory definition of therapy, namely due to not being under a plan of care. Therefore, CMS no longer wants these therapy services in support of C-APCs to be reported with the same revenue and CPT codes as that used for therapy provided under a plan of care, which are required to be billed as repetitive services on monthly claims. C-APC services are required to be on an outpatient hospital claim that includes all the other charges and codes for services performed during the same encounter that are supportive or adjunctive to the C-APC service.

The transmittal also refers to the status indicator for this revenue code (0940) being changed from B to N. Status indicator B means codes that are not recognized when submitted on an OPPS claim. One way to remember this is that B stands for "better code." Status indicator N means items unconditionally or always packaged, or stated another way, services never separately paid. Heretofore, status indicators were preserved for CPT/HCPCS codes and APC groupings and not assigned to revenue codes.

However, CMS maintains a list of packaged revenue codes. Previously, revenue code 0940 was not included in the list of packaged revenue codes (Table 4 in the 2016 OPPS final rule at 80 FR 70320). CMS appears to be changing revenue code 0940 to be included in the list of packaged revenue codes.

If the services are no longer to be reported with CPT codes, then this revenue code will become packaged. As is the case with all packaged revenue codes, if the service is defined by a CPT/HCPCS code, and all other CPT/HCPCS coding and NCCI policies are followed, the CPT/HCPCS codes should be reported in addition to the revenue code irrespective of the fact that the revenue code is packaged.

 

Setting a precedent

This transmittal is the first time that CMS appears to suggest that services that meet the definition of CPT/HCPCS codes should not be reported at all, even when all other CPT/HCPCS coding conventions and NCCI policies are followed; it appears to be a precedent for CMS.

Once this change occurs, CMS will not use hospital therapy cost center cost-to-charge ratios from hospital cost reports to reduce the billed charges for therapy under revenue code 0940, but rather hospitals’ "other" cost center cost-to-charge ratios. It will likely result in a mismatch of revenue and expense that could adversely impact future rate setting.

It is interesting to note that rehabilitation services are optional hospital services under CMS’ Conditions of Participation (CoP) at 42 CFR 482.56, which states:

Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology or audiology services, if provided, must be provided by qualified physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, speech-language pathologists, or audiologists as defined in part 484 of this chapter.

 

There are a few services that CMS defines as "sometimes therapy services" which can either be performed by therapists or nurses, namely wound care services. The CoPs, which are different than conditions of payment, do not require a plan of care, but do require orders. Therefore, it appears that hospital therapy services can be provided without a plan of care, and presumably, these services are now packaged under OPPS and do not qualify for physician fee schedule payment. Requirements for therapy plan of care for coverage can be found at 42 CFR 410.61 and 42 CFR 424.24.

To implement this change, hospitals will likely have to duplicate therapy charges in the chargemaster under the different revenue code that would only be used for Medicare outpatients and not for Medicare inpatients, and commercial or Medicaid accounts that are not likely to follow this billing instruction. This implementation step will likely complicate charge capture and increase the likelihood of errors.

Providers should evaluate this CMS instruction and provide feedback to the agency. Consider the following:

  • Is this proposal more or less burdensome than continuing to report therapy under the current revenue codes and also reporting the functional status codes and modifiers?
  • Do hospitals currently develop plans of care for therapy, whether or not it is in support of a C-APC service?
  • Will it alleviate a different type of burden on therapists if plans of care are not required?

 

Providers should comment to CMS if this solution is more burdensome or creates more confusion. CMS may be able to find other ways to change the I/OCE edits for functional status codes and modifiers and allow therapy services to continue to be reported with the usual revenue codes and CPT codes.

One of the most significant impacts may be to the accuracy of future payment rates. If this instruction continues without change, then a fundamental principle of cost reporting and rate setting seems to have been changed. This new policy may create a critical precedent for future rate setting. If CMS does not hear from many providers, then it is not likely to change the requirement and providers will need to work toward implementation as of July 1.

 

Editor’s note: Rinkle is a lead regulatory specialist and instructor for HCPro’s Medicare Boot Camp®?Hospital Version, Medicare Boot Camp®?Utilization Review Version, and Medicare Boot Camp®?Critical Access Hospital Version. Rinkle is a former hospital revenue cycle director and has over 30 years in the healthcare industry, including over 12 years of consulting experience in which she has spoken and advised on effective operational solutions for compliance with Medicare coverage, payment, and coding regulations.

HCPro.com – Briefings on APCs

Healthcare billing fraud: Five Latest Settlements – Revenue Cycle E-Newsletter

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Here are five healthcare organizations that entered into settlements to resolve billing fraud allegations in the past two months. You can . read the full story from Revenue Cycle E-Newsletter / Becker’s Hospital Review here.

1. Wisconsin health system will pay $ 10M to settle whistleblower case

2. Physician group will refund Medicare $ 829K to resolve improper billing case

3. Massachusetts hospital settles false billing case

4. Vibra Healthcare to pay $ 6M to settle 2016 whistleblower suit

5. Sutter Health to settle kickback lawsuit for $ 30M

The post Healthcare billing fraud: Five Latest Settlements – Revenue Cycle E-Newsletter appeared first on The Coding Network.

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What Training Do I Need For The Best Work From Home Medical Billing And Coding Jobs?

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Work from home medical billing and coding jobs can be the biggest draw to healthcare IT training for adults seeking great work-life balance. Global Workplace Analytics reports that the number of telecommuters has risen by 115 percent to 3.7 million since 2005. Nearly 50 percent of U.S. labor is now suitable for working at home at least half time! That’s especially apparent in healthcare where secured patient records can be sent digitally to medical coders and billers’ own homes. Working remotely can be beneficial for setting one’s own schedules, saving money on childcare, avoiding office politics, wearing comfortable wardrobe, and reducing stress along with pollution. Therefore, we’ve surveyed the work from home openings at top employers like Maxim Health, Aviacode, SourceMed, and Robert Half to outline the four most important qualifications for coders and billers.

Medical Coding and Billing Education

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Typing up applications for healthcare work from home jobs won’t be very successful with only a high school diploma or GED. Attending a community college or private school for medical coding and billing training is virtually required today. Employers will expect new hires to have spent six to 18 months in a certificate program or two to three years for an associate degree. Some may even require that one’s education be accredited by the CAHIIM for high-quality informatics expertise. Studying medical billing and coding will generally involve six to 20 courses, such as Pathology, Electronic Medical Records, Body Systems, and Insurance Reimbursement. Picking schools with real-world practicum and/or virtual labs is suggested to jumpstart experience. Approved coding programs are usually sufficient to start telecommuting, but some outliers might request a B.S. in Health Information Technology.

Advanced Knowledge of HIT Procedures

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In 2017, Medical Billing Advocates of America reported a high error rate of 80 percent that costs 7 million U.S. citizens $ 1,300 more on average! To fix inaccuracy problems, healthcare companies are seeking coding and billing staff with advanced knowledge of HIT operations. Work from home jobs will require being fluent in the classification codes used to file confidential records. Considering the Becker’s Hospital Review counted 71,924 procedural and 69,823 diagnosis codes in the ICD-10 system, this necessitates plenty of training. Medical billers and coders telecommuting will need basic clinical proficiency to know terminology like dysphasia from dysphagia. Proficiency of high-tech HIT software, including NueMD and Encoder Pro, is expected. Employers also seek work from home candidates with communication skills, ambition, moral integrity, focus, and good critical judgment.

AHIMA or AAPC Professional Certification

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Seeing a medical coding and billing worker’s certification can help convince employers that they’re trained to function without in-office supervision. The majority of work from home opportunities will rely on candidates’ completion of one of two hallmark credentials. First, the American Health Information Management Association has the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) designation. Eligibility requires a postsecondary certificate or two years of coding-related experience. Hopeful coders submit a $ 75 application fee to take the 97-question, four-hour exam at Pearson VUE testing centers. Second, the American Association of Professional Coders offers the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and Certified Professional Biller (CPB) titles. Applicants with college training need to score at least 70 percent on the 150-question, five-hour exam that currently costs members $ 300.

Two or More Years of Coding/Billing Experience

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Healthcare facilities and staffing agencies generally won’t feel comfortable handing out independent, work from home positions to newbies. Most telecommuting jobs for medical billers and coders will stipulate having at least 24 months of relevant résumé experience first. The U.S. Department of Labor shows that HIT operations will stimulate 27,800 new jobs by 2026 for swift 13 percent growth, so one’s job search won’t be long. The AAPC Jobs Board makes finding experience-building healthcare employment simple by keyword or zip code. Updating LinkedIn profiles, job shadowing, joining associations like the Healthcare Business Management Association, and networking at the AMBA National Conference or other events can get feet in doors. Also don’t underestimate the power of medical coding and billing internship programs, such as Project Extern with 200+ approved sites.

Now’s an excellent time to begin training for work from home jobs to make certain patient charts are factually coded for smooth insurance claim processes. Some great schools offering certificates on-site or online include Cape Cod Community College, Joliet Junior College, Phoenix College, Jackson College, St. Catherine University, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, and Delaware County Community College. With more advanced training, work from home medical billing and coding jobs could even lead to health IT careers like cancer registrar, revenue cycle specialist, nurse informaticist, health data analyst, and records technician.

Related Links

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Are Remote Medical Coding and Billing Training Programs As Good As Traditional?

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Many allied health professionals are bucking the “traditional” trend by attending remote medical coding and billing training programs that use Web-based classrooms to practice. According to Babson’s 2017 Digital Education State Almanac, 29.7 percent of the 20.92 million U.S. college students are taking at least one course online. Instead of flooding big lecture halls, adults increasingly choose to harness 21st-century technologies for mastering HIT procedural systems at home. EdTech Magazine reported that 60 percent of remote learners work full-time, 70 percent are female, and 80 percent live within their school’s 100-mile radius. Online training is an attractive offer for good work-life balance, but some question whether it’s really effective. Let’s evaluate whether remote medical coding and billing programs are as good as traditional face-to-face programs for achieving CPC or CCS certification.

Quality of Remote Medical Coding and Billing Training

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Online colleges with physical campuses will typically have the same faculty deliver an identical medical coding and billing training curriculum to remote students. The U.S. Department of Education made the monumental move to declare online learning as effectual as traditional instruction in 2010. One Inside Higher Ed survey found that 95 percent of survey takers believed online classes are equivalent or superior. Though three-fourths of employers respect distance education, many university transcripts won’t even distinguish between online and traditional programs. However, please note that asynchronous remote learning isn’t right for everyone. The Brookings Institution discovered that online course grades drop an average 0.33 points relative to face-to-face ones.

Unique Benefits of Medical Coding and Billing Online Programs

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Remote medical coding and billing training can be “better” than traditional degrees in numerous ways because they’re extremely flexible. Online courses have 24/7/365 access to fit health care preparation into work and childrearing schedules anytime as long as deadlines are met. The Huffington Post stated that revolutionizing remote study builds computer-savvy tech skills, which HIT workers need, using everything from databases to blogs and discussion boards. Students can apply to online medical coding and billing certificates not available in their geographic location to increase admission chances. Studying remotely can also make financial sense to cut campus fees, room and board, and transportation off the College Board‘s mean community college cost of $ 3,440 per year.

Potential Cons to Studying Medical Coding and Billing Remotely

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Skipping campus commutes for online medical coding and billing training can create some troubles though. For example, eLearn Magazine warned that many virtual classrooms lack the ability to foster face-to-face communication skills unless apps like Skype are used live. Online learners need discipline to avoid falling behind coursework in self-paced modules without faculty supervision. Making one’s home a classroom can add unlikely distractions, such as barking pets and crying children. Web technology is generally a friend, but it can become foe when a Wi-Fi connection is lost and assignments can’t be uploaded. Remote medical coding and billing training programs also often still require hand-on practicum, which can be tough to arrange when living out of state.

Several steps can be made to ensure remote medical coding and billing training is as equivalent to traditional on-campus classes as possible. Accreditation is a key value indicator that ensures schools’ compliance with third-party review standards. Many of the best coding degrees are delivered by the 160 online colleges with CAHIIM accreditation or AHIMA recognition. The U.S. News & World Report suggests asking academic officials if the curriculum’s credits are transferrable to judge eminence. Check with the Online Learning Consortium to determine whether the college is endorsed by its Quality Scorecard Report. Invest some time questioning the institution’s course policies, resources, and student testimonials too. Some great remote medical coding and billing training places include Charter Oak State College, Dakota State University, Great Basin College, Weber State University, Moraine Park Technical College, Fisher College Boston, and Collin County Community College.

Related Links

The 20 Best From Home Top Medical Coding Schools and Programs

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25 Most Affordable Medical Coding And Billing School Programs

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For this article, we’ve set out to find the 25 Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing School Programs on U.S. campuses that provide training and maximize career investments. We accessed the NCES College Navigator to locate the cheapest MCB majors based on average in-state tuition data for 2017-18. Our advanced search filtered out certificate and associate degrees at public institutions for medical billers or coders. When the tuition max was marked to $ 5,000, the database returned 67 inexpensive results! Our next task was checking these low-cost options for quality regional accreditation. Preference was also given for accredited colleges on the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM) website. After arranging suitable schools from low to high, we kept only the 25 Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training School Programs costing under $ 3,200 yearly below.

1. San Juan College

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Granted the 2000 Zia Award for Quality New Mexico, San Juan College is a public open-access, HLC-accredited junior institution with an 87,442-square-foot Farmington facility to serve nearly 13,000. The School of Health Sciences has July 1st, November 1st, and April 1st deadlines for individuals with minimum 2.5 GPAs to enter the Medical Insurance Coder/Biller Certificate. Chaired by Prof. Deborah Honstad, this 40-credit, online program blends Canvas courses with 40-hour internships for CCA exam prep.

Annual Tuition: $ 1,474

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training School Programs at San Juan College here.

2. Meridian Technology Center

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Directed by Dr. Douglas Major, Meridian Technology Center is a public, two-year Oklahoma CareerTech institute and 2018 HOSA Silver Star Chapter Award winner in Stillwater that’s linked to 82,500 in 400 districts. The Health Insurance Coder Certificate is a full-time, adult-only option that aligns to the latest ICD-10 practices and physician notes. Finishing the 1,260-hour curriculum takes 11.5 months of real-world projects in Anatomy, Reimbursement Methodology, Patient Privacy, and more.

Annual Tuition: $ 1,800

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training School Programs at Meridian Technology Center here.

3. School District of Indian River County

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Ranked Florida’s 12th best district with the #1 top teachers by Niche, the School District of Indian River County led by Dr. Mark Rendell expands beyond its 27 K-12 buildings in Vero Beach with cheap adult education. The Medical Coder/Biller Certificate lets TABE exam passers study electronic health records Mondays through Thursdays at Treasure Coast Technical College. Boasting 90 percent completion, the 1,110-hour program can lead to National Healthcareer Association certifications.

Annual Tuition: $ 1,920

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing School Programs at the School District of Indian River County here.

4. Tooele Technical College

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Located in Forbes’ 10th friendliest town below Oquirrh Mountain, Tooele Technical College is a public, two-year Utah System of Higher Education member opened in 2009 with 27 programs. For instance, the Allied Health & Nursing Division headed by Prof. Sheila Sferas awards the Medical Billing and Coding Certificate of Proficiency in just six months. This 630-hour, Pell Grant-eligible option admits students age 16+ into modules like Claim Processing for median starting pay of $ 16.74/hour.

Annual Tuition: $ 2,293

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing School Programs at Tooele Technical College here.

5. Oakland Community College

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Worth $ 25 billion total, Oakland Community College is Michigan’s 12th best public, lower-division school on BestColleges.com that’s grown since June 1964 to teach 82,000 Raiders at six locations. In Highland Lakes, the CAAHEP-accredited Medical Assisting Program grants a Medical Insurance Coding Certificate with 100 percent CPC success. The 16-credit track coordinated by Prof. Judy Hayes partners with Henry Ford Health for courses like Medical Ethics and a no-cost apprenticeship.

Annual Tuition: $ 2,360

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing School Programs at Oakland Community College here.

6. Lee College

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Chosen a 2018 Bellwether Award Finalist, Lee College is a public, Hispanic-serving Texas Aspen Prize winner ranked 76th nationally by Niche for training over 9,000 Runnin’ Rebels from a 40-acre Baytown campus. In the McNulty-Haddick Complex, the CAHIIM-accredited Allied Health Department grants the Certificate of Completion in Medical Coding in three terms. The 33-credit plan organized by Prof. Howard Bushart involves affordable courses like Health Data Content and AHIMA exam review.

Annual Tuition: $ 2,488

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing School Programs at Lee College here.

7. Collin County Community College

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Given a $ 3.99 million NSF Advancing Technology Education Grant, Collin County Community College is a public, SACS-accredited junior institution founded in 1985 that’s ranked fifth in Texas by BestColleges.com with 53,000 Cougars. The School of Health Sciences led by Prof. Gary Hodge prepares for the CPC exam with the Medical Coding Certificate Series. On Blackboard or in McKinney, the 352-hour, eight-month track integrates courses like HIPAA Compliance and Pathophysiology.

Annual Tuition: $ 2,538

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing School Programs at Collin County Community College here.

8. San Jacinto College

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Placed 28th nationally by Community College Week, San Jacinto College is a public, Hispanic-serving “Achieving the Dream Leader” institution opened in 1961 that’s enrolling 30,000 Gators in Greater Houston. The CAHIIM-accredited Health Occupations Division started the Certificate of Technology in Medical Bill and Coding for median salary of $ 37,685. Directed by Prof. Carla Ruffins, RHIA, the 30-credit curriculum applies North Campus courses like Classification Systems with 26 field experience hours.

Annual Tuition: $ 2,580

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training Schools at San Jacinto College here.

9. Mountainland Technical College

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Serving Provo-Orem Metro, Mountainland Technical College is a public, STEM-centric vocational institute established in 1989 and led by Clay Christensen, the 2016 UACTE Administrator of the Year, with 87 percent job placement. In Lehi or Spanish Fork, the Health Sciences Department provides the Medical Billing and Coding Certificate for $ 2,585. The 1,100-hour, open-entry program includes the CPC exam, CPR/First Aid certification, and possible credit transfer to Utah Valley University.

Annual Tuition: $ 2,585

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training Schools at Mountainland Technical College here.

10. South Arkansas Community College

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First chartered by Governor Bill Clinton, South Arkansas Community College is a public, two-year El Dorado school and 2015 ABPG Workforce Development Award winner that’s budgeting $ 14.7 million to instruct 13,707 students. The Division of Health Sciences managed by Prof. Caroline Hammond starts a Technical Certificate in Medical Coding thrice yearly. Reporting a 75 percent AHIMA pass rate, the 36-credit program requires one clinical practicum after affordable courses like Information Processing.

Annual Tuition: $ 2,628

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training Schools at South Arkansas Community College here.

11. Columbus Technical College

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Named 10th nationally by The Knowledge Review, Columbus Technical College is a public, SACS-accredited junior institution that’s serving 5,231 students and hosting the 2018 FBLA Chapter of the Year in western Georgia. The Division of Health Sciences & Nursing in Wright Center confers the Medical Coding Specialist Certificate in 10-12 months. Headed by Prof. Nicole Jackson, the 24-credit option unlocks initial AHIMA certification after courses like Document Production are graded at least “C.”

Annual Tuition: $ 2,704

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training Schools at Columbus Techniccal College here.

12. Southern Regional Technical College

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Gifting $ 17.9 million yearly, including the Non-Traditional Scholarship, Southern Regional Technical College is a public, two-unit TCSG constituent merged in 2015 under Dr. Craig Wentworth that’s ranked #1 in Georgia by BestColleges.com. The Medical Billing Clerk Technical Certificate utilizes the School of Health Sciences’ resources for 100 percent career placement in 28 weeks. At Thomasville, Moultrie, Tifton, and Cairo campuses, this 22-credit sequence accelerates toward CPB credentials.

Annual Tuition: $ 2,704

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training Schools at Southern Regional Technical College here.

13. North Georgia Technical College

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Celebrating its 110th year, North Georgia Technical College is the oldest public, open-access TCSG member and 2015 GDEC Grant recipient that’s teaching 3,661 students with 70 percent retention. In Clarkesville or Blairsville, the Health Care Division guided by Prof. Farilyn Rearden has a Medical Coding Certificate worth around $ 2,734 total. The 24-credit, one-year program engages courses from Human Pathological Conditions to Medical Office Management with clinical partners like Habersham Center.

Annual Tuition: $ 2,734

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training Schools at North Georgia Technical College here.

14. Savannah Technical College

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Crowned America’s #1 best for vets school in Military Times, Savannah Technical College is a public, diverse market-driven TCSG member opened in 1929 that’s serving 4,500 in 150+ coastal programs. The Health Sciences Department has a 20:1 student-faculty ratio under Prof. Kathleen Bombery for its Medical Coding/Insurance Data Entry Certificate. Requiring Compass reading scores above 70, the 29-credit, three-term track covers ICD-10 methods in Savannah, Liberty, or Effingham.

Annual Tuition: $ 2,744

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training Schools at Savannah Technical College here.

15. Georgia Northwestern Technical College

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Rated A+ by the BBB, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a public, two-year Coosa Valley school and 2018 People’s Choice Award winner dedicated to giving 13,734 Bobcats “Education for Work.” The Health Technologies Department led by Prof. Frank Pharr offers the Medical Coding Technical Certificate at six campuses and 100 percent online via Blackboard. For 30 weeks, the 24-credit program prepares for healthcare documentation jobs with mid-career pay of $ 52,300 on PayScale.

Annual Tuition: $ 2,774

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training Schools at Georgia Northwestern Technical College here.

16. Chattahoochee Technical College

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Home to the 2018 Rick Perkins Award for Excellence recipient, Chattahoochee Technical College is a public, eight-campus TCSG member in Marietta that’s ranked 10th by Atlanta Business Chronicle for serving 13,003 Eagles. Administered by Prof. Ron Webb, the Health Sciences Division starts a Medical Coding Specialization to the Health Care Assistant Certificate each August. The 33-credit, hybrid North Metro option adheres to AAPC guidelines with practice partners like Grady Hospital.

Annual Tuition: $ 2,782

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training Schools at Chattahoochee Technical College here.

17. South Georgia Technical College

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Bestowed the 2018 Sumter County Partner of the Year Award, South Georgia Technical College is a public, Hope Grant-eligible junior institution marking its 70th year by training 2,100 Jets with 80 faculty. The Medical Assisting Division confers the Medical Coding Technical Certificate of Credit for $ 2,794 in-state in Americus or at Crisp County Center. Advised by Prof. Diana Skipper, the 24-credit, 30-week curriculum melds courses like Fundamentals of English and Procedural Coding.

Annual Tuition: $ 2,794

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training Schools at South Georgia Technical College here.

18. Augusta Technical College

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Ranked 19th nationally for education outcomes by WalletHub, Augusta Technical College is a public, SACS-accredited vocational school opened in 1961 that’s led by Dr. Terry Elam with nearly debt-free education for 4,379 Cougars. The Allied Health Sciences & Nursing Division maintains a 16:1 student-professor ratio for the Medical Coding Technical Certificate in Augusta and Thomson. Starting every Fall, the 24-credit, guided evening pathway has 99.8 percent job placement after courses like Human Disease.

Annual Tuition: $ 2,794

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training Schools at August Technical College here.

19. West Georgia Technical College

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Runner-up for the 2016 Sonny Perdue College of the Year Award, West Georgia Technical College is the third-largest public, seven-county TCSG constituent generating $ 70.6 million with 9,525 Golden Knights enrolled. Chaired by Prof. Daphney Bryan in Waco, the School of Health Sciences powers the Medical Coding Technical Certificate with Blackboard for high school or GED graduates typing 30+ wpm. The 24-credit, one-year online journey includes courses like Human Body Structure and Insurance Billing.

Annual Tuition: $ 2,838

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training Schools at West Georgia Technical College here.

20. College of the Mainland

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Operating a Five-Star Phi Beta Kappa Chapter, College of the Mainland is a public, two-year Galveston County school founded in 1966 that’s ranked fifth for STEM in Community College Week with 4,328 Fighting Ducks. The CAHIIM-accredited Health Information Management Program led by Prof. Kay Frieze offers a standalone Medical Coding Certificate in 1.5 years. Reporting 28.6 percent attrition, the 34-credit diploma includes hands-on CPC prep in courses like Patient Data and clinical internships.

Annual Tuition: $ 2,973

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training Schools at the College of the Mainland here.

21. Coahoma Community College

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Declared America’s #2 cheapest HBCU by Best Value Schools, Coahoma Community College is a public, historically Black career institute opened in 1924 that’s training 2,999 Tigers at its 99-acre Mississippi Delta campus. The Allied Health Training Center in Clarksdale launched an A.A.S. in Medical Billing and Coding Technology for initial RHIT certification. Overseen by Prof. Beverly Overton, the 61-credit, applied program integrates 270 work hours into courses like Mechanics of Communication.

Annual Tuition: $ 2,803

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training Schools at Coahoma Community College here.

22. Atlanta Technical College

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Established as Smith-Hughes Vocational School in 1967, Atlanta Technical College is now America’s third fastest-growing campus according to Community College Week with 4,859 students in Forbes’ ninth best city. The Division of Health & Public Safety hosts a CAHIIM-accredited Health Information Management Coding Diploma for 64-week completion. Headed by Prof. Aletta Spence, the 52-credit plan requires 3.0 GPAs throughout cheap courses from Basic Psychology to Revenue Cycle Management.

Annual Tuition: $ 2,816

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training Schools at Atlanta Technical College here.

23. Arkansas State University-Mountain Home

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Adjacent to Baxter Regional Medical Center, Arkansas State University-Mountain Home is a public, open-admission school opened in 1995 that’s budgeting $ 10.7 million to instruct 1,500 Trailblazers in America’s 80th best associate degrees on Niche. The Health Sciences Division delivers a Technical Certificate in Professional Medical Coding with ICD-10 books included. Coordinated by Prof. Sarah Smith, the 32-credit program strengthens medical document interpretation with optional Fran Coulter Honors.

Annual Tuition: $ 2,832

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training Schools at Arkansas State University – Mountain Home here.

24. Highland Community College

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Ranked 177th nationally for value by WalletHub, Highland Community College is a public, two-year Kansas institution and 2017 PTK International Hallmark Award winner that’s teaching 3,300 Scotties at 33 HLC-accredited locations. The Health Sciences Center utilizes Moodle for its Online A.A.S. in Medical Coding that only costs $ 3,057 twice. Directed by Prof. Elizabeth Wingo, the 64-credit, two-year program meets CCA competencies in courses like Pharmacology and virtual practica.

Annual Tuition: $ 3,057

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training Schools at Highland Community College here.

25. Panola College

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Occupying a 135-acre East Texas campus in Carthage, Panola College has placed in the Center for Digital Education’s top 10 five times as a public, two-year Ed2Go member serving 2,584 Ponies with 100 percent admission. The Health Sciences Department headed by Prof. Kelly Reed-Hirsch reports average income of $ 35,000 for Medical Coding Technician Certificate graduates. Taking 32 weeks, this 36-credit, TSI-waived program has blended Canvas courses like Ambulatory Coding with CCA review.

Annual Tuition: $ 3,120

Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training Schools at Panola College here.

Top Medical Coding Schools

Incident-to Billing May Be Eliminated

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Incident-to billing for advanced practice providers (nurse practitioners, physician assistants, clinical nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, etc.) has been available to limited license practitioners since 1998. And the rules for what is required to bill incident-to are clearly defined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Yet, this privilege, which enables a limited license […]

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2 Tips for Billing a Physician Assistant as Assistant Surgeon

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A physician assistant (PA) serves as an assistant surgeon only to suture and close an incision. There is no documentation that the PA performed any other function to assist the primary surgeon during the surgery performed on the Medicare patient, such as providing extra hands needed for tasks which required more than the surgeon’s two […]

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