Online Medical Billing & Coding Schools in Washington, DC

Uncovering DC’s Online Medical Billing and Coding Programs

Although Washington, DC, is somewhat smaller in size, you still have options for online medical billing and coding training. Online programs can help you earn a medical billing and coding certification in as little as four weeks, while associate degree programs take around two years. The type of degree you pursue will depend on a few factors — namely, your budget, timeline, and desired industry certification.

To help you compare your choices, we’re spotlighting two institutions offering online medical billing and coding programs to DC residents. These spotlights will give you a good idea of what to expect regarding curriculum content, delivery formats, program costs and completion times, and access to academic and career student support services. You’ll also discover which national certifications each program will qualify you for. (More on the importance of national medical billing and coding certifications later in this guide.)

FAQs from Future Medical Billers and Coders

If you’ve read up to this point, you likely have several questions about medical billing and coding programs and careers that you’d like answered. To help you out, here are the answers to five of the most common questions prospective medical billing and coding students ask.

What does a medical billing and medical specialist do?

Medical billing and coding specialists work for or (as independent contractors) with healthcare providers and insurance companies to manage medical records, claims, billings, and payments. Although often performed by the same person, medical billing and coding are separate practices. Generally speaking:

• Medical billing concerns the processing and submittal of claims for reimbursement to patients and their health insurance providers for medical treatments and services given.
• Medical coding concerns translating patient records (using alphanumeric codes) into a form that healthcare and health insurance providers understand for use in medical and billing records.

It’s important to point out here that medical billing and coding programs in Washington, DC, may provide students with training in medical billing, medical coding, or both. So, be sure you clearly understand what type of training is required in a program before enrolling.

What are the skills needed to work in medical billing and coding?

As with any occupation, you’ll need specific skills to become a medical billing and coding professional. They include:

• A strong attention to detail,
• An affinity for working with numbers, codes, and figures,
• Effective oral and written communication and
• Competency in working with computers and billing/coding software.

Billers and coders working remotely will also need to be highly organized, self-disciplined, and able to work well independently (i.e., without immediate and direct supervision). If you lack any of these skills, remember that you’ll gain experience throughout your medical billing and coding training.

Can you do medical billing and coding from home?

You absolutely can. In fact, among the many occupations in the healthcare field that can be performed from home, none lend themselves better to the remote work environment than medical billing and coding. That’s due to the nature of the job, which is performed almost entirely on a computer and through a secure internet connection. The extent to which you can work remotely will depend on your particular employer(s) and job duties. It’s pretty standard, for example, for medical billers and coders to work part-time from home and part-time from their employer’s offices. On the other hand, medical billers and coders who work for multiple clients as independent contractors (including ones located outside the DC area) can often work from home full-time.

Does medical billing and coding offer room for career advancement?

Yes, and more than you probably think. There are, in fact, a wide variety of jobs available to those with medical billing and coding training at all points of their careers. Your initial medical billing and coding training will prepare you for entry-level positions with titles such as Certified Professional Biller, Certified Professional Coder, Certified Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, Medical Billing Clerk, and Medical Records Technician. Mid- and senior-level office management and supervisory positions are often available to medical billers and coders at hospitals, physician’s offices, and other healthcare facilities, as well as with insurance companies and public agencies. Filling those positions, however, may require additional training, certification, and work experience.

Are online medical billing and coding programs in Washington, DC, accredited?

Not in the traditional sense. Colleges and universities that offer for-credit medical billing and coding programs are institutionally accredited by any of several national and regional independent accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Currently, however, no for-credit medical billing and coding programs are available from Washington, DC schools. This should not discourage you from going with a noncredit program. What’s important here is that your chosen program qualifies you to obtain national certification as a medical biller and/or coder. That’s something that all of the online medical billing and coding programs in Washington, DC, mentioned in this guide do.

Grow Your Career: DC’s Medical Billing and Coding Certification

Washington, DC, does not issue state licensure, nor does it require any form of continuing education to work as a medical biller or coder within its borders. In practical terms, however, you must complete a formal medical billing/coding program and obtain national certification to find employment as a medical biller or coder in the District. That’s because virtually all employers require formal training and professional certification of their medical billing and coding job applicants.

All the online medical billing and coding programs in Washington, DC, discussed in this guide will qualify you to sit for the exam for one or more of these national certifications. Popular entry-level certifications include, among others, the Certified Billing & Coding Specialist (CBCS) from the National Healthcareer Association, the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), and the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and Certified Professional Biller (CPB) from the AACP. Certifications recognizing specialized and advanced practice are also available but may require additional education and training.

Medical Billing and Coding Salaries in Washington, DC