Billing and Coding

Rebecca in Melbourne, Florida said: Penn Foster is really a good school. They have the best service if you ever needed help. I just finished Medical Billing and Coding online through Penn Foster Three days ago. I'm just waiting for my last project to be graded by the teacher.

Good Luck

Rebecca, Please post when you start job hunting and let us know how much Penn Foster assists you with this! I went to a 4yr university and had NO luck finding work in my field. I am thinking about singing up at Penn Foster in the near future.

What makes Penn Foster so good? AHIMA doesn't approve of them. I really need a good coding school.

I would contact a staffing agency and see what they suggest. I would not go to a private school or something online. Occupational centers have classes. Some have paid internships. A staffing agency said you don't do billing after you graduate. You start out as a medical records or file clerk. Do your research. Dont let recruiters or anyone sway you into a decision. They get payed for bringing in people and will bash other schools and make theirs look good. You won't use your certification after graduation until you work as a biller so get it later. From my experience private schools suck and are in it for the money. What they charge is highway robbery. I would ask office managers and others what they suggest.

I agree..I have been out since 2007 with no luck..They want experince when you try and get an office job like that...

Welcome to the club. I will try volunteering also. Jacksonville does offer a lot of options either.

Does anyone know anything about Penn foster? Is it legitimate or bogus?

Jrysmom in Dayton, Ohio said: Does anyone know anything about Penn foster? Is it legitimate or bogus?

Depends on what you mean by legitimate. Are they are real program? Yes. Are they worth the money? No.

Penn Foster is an overpriced private for profit "career college" They charge WAY too much for what you get in return.

A good rule of thumb is to NEVER attend a school that does not list their tuition up front on their website. The ones that don't list it, hope to sell you on their program before they tell you how much it is.

I would suggest looking at your local community college, as they are pretty inexpensive, their credits are transferable (should you decide to further your education) and most offer online classes.

If you are interested in an online only program, I would suggest CareerStep. They have a great program with an indepth curriculum for around $2500.

Which ever program you decide to pursue, make sure you research it thoroughly, most of the career colleges tend to pressure you into signing without research, stay away from those places as they are only interested in your money.

Hi Valentine! I'm new to this forum, but just finished reading your post! You are very helpful, I contacted career step, they want their money up front! I also contacted allied school and they seem pretty good. Career step tried to sell me on their Medical Transcription program, Lol! I was thinking of Penn foster BC program to get the basics and also going to Allied school for there ICD 10 programm. It would be about the sme price for the two schools as it would be going to career step or AHIMA'S program. So glad to meet you and I think that your input is much needed on here! I love learning new things from those with experience! You are never to old to learn something new! Thanks

valentine in Sandy, Utah said: Depends on what you mean by legitimate. Are they are real program? Yes. Are they worth the money? No.

Penn Foster is an overpriced private for profit "career college" They charge WAY too much for what you get in return.

A good rule of thumb is to NEVER attend a school that does not list their tuition up front on their website. The ones that don't list it, hope to sell you on their program before they tell you how much it is.

I would suggest looking at your local community college, as they are pretty inexpensive, their credits are transferable (should you decide to further your education) and most offer online classes.

If you are interested in an online only program, I would suggest CareerStep. They have a great program with an indepth curriculum for around $2500.

Which ever program you decide to pursue, make sure you research it thoroughly, most of the career colleges tend to pressure you into signing without research, stay away from those places as they are only interested in your money.

Have you heard much about Allied Schools?
I am interested in their Med. Transcription program online.

Chox in Kansas City, Missouri said: Have you heard much about Allied Schools?
I am interested in their Med. Transcription program online.

I personally do not know anything about Allied, but going to their website, they do not list their tuition prices upfront and on their website. This is generally a bad sign as most schools that do this are usually overpriced and want to sell you on their program before they tell you how much it is. There are SO many programs out there, I would definitely research as much as you can before handing over hard earned money.

I recently read an article that the private schools are in hot water for their false advertising and low placement rates. I graduated from a community college and found you start in medical records or something. Not medical billing. I have been volunteering at a local hospital and have had interviews here and there. Youth policy institute, a state program, offers, unemployed, low income, youth and older adults, free, stipend job training in healthcare fields, with paid internships. Everything is paid for. Books, etc. You don't have to pay anything. I might take their medical front office class to add to my skills and refresh them. They said they offer job placement and have connections with local hospitals etc, I was told the 90% placement rate is an advertising lie by the private schools. Youth policy institute is non profit, which is good.

californiawatch.org/dailyreport/low-job-placement-rates-put-profits-risk-13649

Budgiemom in North Hollywood, California said: I recently read an article that the private schools are in hot water for their false advertising and low placement rates. I graduated from a community college and found you start in medical records or something. Not medical billing. I have been volunteering at a local hospital and have had interviews here and there. Youth policy institute, a state program, offers, unemployed, low income, youth and older adults, free, stipend job training in healthcare fields, with paid internships. Everything is paid for. Books, etc. You don't have to pay anything. I might take their medical front office class to add to my skills and refresh them. They said they offer job placement and have connections with local hospitals etc, I was told the 90% placement rate is an advertising lie by the private schools. Youth policy institute is non profit, which is good.

It is very sad how these "schools" prey on desperate people. People who have been layed off or downsized and are desperate for a job. They charge them tens of thousands of dollars and promise them high paying jobs.

Most of these schools will end up "rebranding" themselves, so that people will not know they are the same schools, just under a different name.

Do not go off what the "advisors" (really sales reps) tell you, do your own research any school for handing over your money.

Amen to that! I have experienced that first hand and glad I dropped out! Those people and students were********! I see them attracting the wring kind of people. Even people who have gotten out of prison!

Michael Career Training in Los Angeles, California said: Voc Rehab will pay for your schooling. They pay for whatever the government does not. GCC's program does not teach you coding as it pertains to the demands of the work-place. Everything is general and quite generic. We are in Eagle Rock and help certify people in the coding profession (CCS CPC). Their grads get lost in our cert review program.

They dont have an Externship/Volunteer component of their program so you will have to arrange this yourself. They also dont help place you into a job.

This sounds great! Please send more info on this.

I am looking for online training courses for Medical Billing and Coding to be able to work from home in the field in future.
I am totally lost in the numerous online programs available on web.

Did anyone attend medical billing online classes? Please share your feedback and recommendations.

Thanks a lot!

Julia Stepanova in San Antonio, Texas said: I am looking for online training courses for Medical Billing and Coding to be able to work from home in the field in future.
I am totally lost in the numerous online programs available on web.

Did anyone attend medical billing online classes? Please share your feedback and recommendations.

Thanks a lot!

Hi Julia, I have been reading through these post for a while, and I see a lot of negativity. I am At the end of my medical billing and coding certificate program I will graduate in April 2012. I chose the Allen School. I did a lot of research first. It was nine months, and I have a few job offers already. I love the Allen School. It is like being in a real class room. They send you headsets, so everyone com. with each other. I learned Health Information, Anatomy, billing, coding, and law ethics. They also have a class on career development, which is fantastic. I am getting ready to take my certification soon. Oh and the teacher's are awesome, and have been in the field for years, with all kinds of degrees.

I currently attend College Online they have a Associate of Applied Science Medical Billing and Coding Degree program. I started January 9, 2012 my graduation date is August 16,2013 and absolutely love it so far. The cost of the program is twenty six thousand. My school sends you a laptop with the Crystal Eye cam which is cool. We take two five weeks classes at a time. In order to transfer credits in you have to make a B- or better. They are accredited by Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. You need to take the Certified Professional Coder exam (takes 5 hours to complete) because a certification will not help you get a job. The association that administers this exam they recommend having an associate degree and not the diploma. They also offer a complete training program for $1934.00 which I am guessing this will help some. The next certification you want is Certified Coding Specialist--Physician-based is what you want for the doctors office job! It also says you must have a diploma or GED and they recommend on the job experience Coding for physician services in multiple settings (for example, hospital, emergency room, operating room, and physician office or clinic) utilizing codes in the E/M, surgery, medicine and/or anesthesia, radiology and laboratory chapters of C P T and H C P C S II and Completed coursework in anatomy and physiology, and pharmacology, or demonstrated proficiency in these areas. Schools for profit school is not worth it. Good Luck.

Nicole said: I currently attend College Online they have a Associate of Applied Science Medical Billing and Coding Degree program. I started January 9, 2012 my graduation date is August 16,2013 and absolutely love it so far. The cost of the program is twenty six thousand. My school sends you a laptop with the Crystal Eye cam which is cool. We take two five weeks classes at a time. In order to transfer credits in you have to make a B- or better. They are accredited by Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. You need to take the Certified Professional Coder exam (takes 5 hours to complete) because a certification will not help you get a job. The association that administers this exam they recommend having an associate degree and not the diploma. They also offer a complete training program for $1934.00 which I am guessing this will help some. The next certification you want is Certified Coding Specialist--Physician-based is what you want for the doctors office job! It also says you must have a diploma or GED and they recommend on the job experience Coding for physician services in multiple settings (for example, hospital, emergency room, operating room, and physician office or clinic) utilizing codes in the E/M, surgery, medicine and/or anesthesia, radiology and laboratory chapters of C P T and H C P C S II and Completed coursework in anatomy and physiology, and pharmacology, or demonstrated proficiency in these areas. Schools for profit school is not worth it. Good Luck.

Sorry I have to disagree with you. You do not need a AAS to get a job, even though it is great to have. If you want to get to work ASAP then a diploma is fine. This is from my own personal experience. I will graduate in April, and I already have gotten a job at my local hospital. I have not taken my CPC yet that takes 5 hours and cost around 3-400 dollars. I have 3 monthes of training and I am good to go. Wow 26,000 is a lot.

dmp2508 in Dansville, New York said: Sorry I have to disagree with you. You do not need a AAS to get a job, even though it is great to have. If you want to get to work ASAP then a diploma is fine. This is from my own personal experience. I will graduate in April, and I already have gotten a job at my local hospital. I have not taken my CPC yet that takes 5 hours and cost around 3-400 dollars. I have 3 monthes of training and I am good to go. Wow 26,000 is a lot.

Its fine to disagree with the statement that was made it came from someone that is already in the medical field. She told me that in certain areas in Georgia a diploma is not good enough. New York has a lot more opportunities. I am happy you found work so quickly. Good luck with your CPC Exam. Well the $26,000 is the cost I am only paying $15,000 for the program because of the financial aid.

dmp2508 in Dansville, New York said: Sorry I have to disagree with you. You do not need a AAS to get a job, even though it is great to have. If you want to get to work ASAP then a diploma is fine. This is from my own personal experience. I will graduate in April, and I already have gotten a job at my local hospital. I have not taken my CPC yet that takes 5 hours and cost around 3-400 dollars. I have 3 monthes of training and I am good to go. Wow 26,000 is a lot.

Its fine to disagree with the statement that was made it came from someone that is already in the medical field. She told me that in certain areas in Georgia a diploma is not good enough. New York has a lot more opportunities. I am happy you found work so quickly. Good luck with your CPC Exam. Well the $26,000 is the cost I am only paying $15,000 for the program because of the financial aid.

and said: im studying billing coding and everyone in class keeps questioning if its worth it really im regreting ever studying this course

Keep your head up and do what is it is that you need to do to
get the job. some people will tell you anything but i say don't
let yourself down. pray it helps and let other people know what
you are going to school for, do so volunteers work that helps to.

thanks so much for the info...I am still looking..I need to get my certification in med. billing and coding. Best of luck.

I am too much frestated to apply for medical billing and coding job I have completed the course from Everst college with the dean list they are not helping for any type of job in the field but I never giveup though I have a Goog experience in the Treatment division in two big hospitals in USA Hope one day I will full fill my desire