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The University of Phoenix Online

The University of Phoenix was founded in 1976 with the idea of making college education more accessible to working individuals. Students today expect flexible schedules, evening classes, and online libraries, but many of these conveniences were innovations either created or made acceptable by this flagship, Phoenix University. Today it is the largest private university in North America and serves students worldwide. learn more »

Medical Billing and Coding
Medical Billing and Coding are two separate activities, and in large hospitals the duties are separated. In smaller facilities, however, one or two people handle it all. Most online programs include both billing and coding.

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Medical Coding
Coding is the process of actually assigning an alpha-numeric code to a disease, illness, condition, or injury. Anything that can happen to the human body is assigned a code. Specialization leads to the identification of more specific conditions requiring a continual updating of the codes. A new code book is published every year. The codes are recognized world wide. If a procedure is coded incorrectly, the health care facility will have their payment delayed or refused by the insurance companies.

Medical Billing
Medical billing is the process of sending the coded bills to the insurance companies, the patients, or anywhere else they need to go for payment. Since the claim forms are not standardized, the professional has to be able to interpret the forms from each company along with their procedures for claim disputes on underpayment or denial. Usually, the person who does the Medical Coding and Billing in a doctor’s office is also responsible for keeping track of accounts receivable. A hospital or large clinic will have a separate accountant.

Get Certified
You can become certified as a Medical Biller and Coder without a college degree, but the rapid and complicated changes in health care have made the field increasingly complex. Errors are costly, and if you work independently, health care facilities will expect you to absorb the cost of your own errors. Furthermore, if you are not certified, your services are less likely to be utilized as the rapid growth of the field has led to numerous certification programs. If you want become a Medical Biller and Coder, it will be worth the expense and the time to get the education. Starting salaries for Medical Billers and Coders are around $39,000.

Herzing College
If you are considering a career as a Medical Biller and Coder, you should also consider the diploma or associate degree program in the field offered by Herzing College. Either program will give you a comprehensive understanding of medical record keeping as well as knowledge of medical terminology, including anatomy, physiology, and disease processes. You will learn how to analyze the physicians’ notes and assign the appropriate codes to the procedures. Either the diploma or the associate degree will prepare you for an entry level position in a health care facility. You will also have the necessary knowledge and skills to start your own business.

Kaplan University
Kaplan University is another college that offers online degrees in numerous health related fields as well as degrees in Business, Law, Technology, Legal Studies, Nursing, Education, and Arts and Sciences. They are one of the first to offer a degree in Forensic Nursing and in Forensic Psychology. Forensic Psychology combines Psychology and Criminal Justice. In this program, you learn how to communicate with mentally ill individuals, the relationship between psychology and crime, and the impact of crime on a community.

Kaplan, through their Concord Law Division, also boasts the nation’s first wholly online law school which allows you to complete a law degree without having to leave your job or spend hours sitting in a traditional classroom. Yet, you have access to the same research materials and quality faculty that a traditional classroom student would have.

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University of Phoenix

The University of Phoenix  has more than 200 locations all across the United States and over 100 degree programs. If you want to sit in a classroom and earn your degree in the traditional way, there is most likely a center for University of Phoenix somewhere within driving distance. Of course, you can also combine the classroom and the online experiences for a truly unique educational experience. learn more »