A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Medical Billing/Coding - angel

Posted: Feb 13, 2015

Does any one know of any good medical billing and coding schools online?

I went to Andrews. - CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CPC-H

[ In Reply To ..]
I went to Andrews and can recommend them. For what you get, the cost is very reasonable. Everything is included, they have instructors, and they teach the material required for you to qualify for the AHIMA exams like the CCS. Their students are getting remote jobs, too.

AAPC and AHIMA also offer programs - CMT, CPC, ABC-D WYZY-C

[ In Reply To ..]
But you know Andrews is the one and only choice because they are the absolute best and Linda Andrews and the instructors walk on water.

I agree, this is correct - thank you for sharing nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Thank you - angel

[ In Reply To ..]
really appreciate your suggestions and will give these places a call.

Why must you express such bitterness every time - someone asks for suggestions?

[ In Reply To ..]
The problem seems to be that you have nothing constructive to suggest. You either attended no coding program, or you attended one but were never able to find a job because you've in a rural area, or there were too many employment hoops to jump through, or you couldn't pass a certification exam, or you thought the exams were too expensive, or it was too much work, or whatever it was, so now you have decided that you must hate Andrews and Linda personally because Andrews students are doing well?

I did Andrews and also the AAPC CPC course, so I know the difference. There is no comparison. AAPC doesn't even cost less; if you add up all their courses to come up with the equivalent of Andrews, they cost more and still don't include the content that will enable you to sit for the CCS or CCS-P.

I also took AHIMA-accredited college coding courses. The content of some colleges does compare to Andrews, because they are basically the same in that respect, but the cost is often far higher, they take longer, and often have little personalised instruction. And might not qualify for the CCS.

The online AHIMA course is outpatient only and does not qualify for the CCS. It also has no instructors and has been plagued with a shockingly high dropout rate ever since it began.

That is why I recommend Andrews. Not because they are perfect, but because they do a good job and get good results.

Why - This is why

[ In Reply To ..]
Because it's obvious that this board is packed with people shilling for Andrews, whether that is your intent it is certainly how it appears. Any topic mentioned, and the Andrews name gets worked into the discussion. Every new topic that gets introduced contains the name Andrews, they are also apaid advertiser in this forum. If you do a search, there are over 500 threads on the coding board alone with the topic Andrews. I get it, you love your school but give it a rest, it's very tiresome, especially when you badmouth AAPC and AHIMA for not being good enough, stop blowing your own horn.

Whenever I see posts like this I wonder (SM) - A different poster

[ In Reply To ..]
I wonder, well, what other courses are offered that claim to teach enough to prepare a person for the CPC and CCS, use coders as instructors and are offered as remote courses rather than on-site? I keep waiting for someone to suggest a course that does all that and is not Andrews. But no one has yet. I have followed probably all of the 500 threads over the years as they have come up. I have not decided to take a coding course yet, as MT is still working for me. But when I do, it will probably be Andrews unless I see evidence that other courses do just as good or better job at training coders.

Anyone else have a good experience about getting enough training for both outpatient and inpatient certification? I think we would all like to hear about it.

So, you want us to be silent while others shill? - Hardly seems fair.

[ In Reply To ..]
I think people deserve to know about the options for coding training. If they did, there would be fewer people wasting time and money on training only to find that they can't get a job.

I am sure you wish someone had given you better advice.

Advice - Out of here

[ In Reply To ..]
I made my own decision, actually based on what I read on this board and didn't choose Andrews. Two acquaintances enrolled in Andrews and both of them tabled coding and chose a different path because they had issues with the instructors, it is not necessarily a good fit for everyone and I think you need to stop presenting it as if it is coding Nirvana. Not that it is any of your business, but while I was in the middle of my coding program I had a nasty fall and shattered my ankle. I went through surgery and several months of rehab and PT. Coding fell by the wayside and when I was back on my feet I was offered a non-coding HIM job. I was almost 60 years old at the time, and yes when I found out what just the minimum requirements were to even be considered for a coding position I decided not to pursue it. It is not a character flaw because I chose not to code, I did what I thought was best for me and thankfully it turned out to be the right choice. I doubt if things would have been any different for me if I had gone to Andrews.

ok, you are entitled to your - opinion.

[ In Reply To ..]
My opinion is that we didn't present it as coding nirvana. We said it was tough and you had to be prepared to work very hard. Coding is definitely not for everyone. Those who are trying to find out if it is for them have asked about Andrews. When they ask, we tell our story. It is just plain true that Andrews offers a complete coding program that meets the requirements needed to be able to sit for the CCS and also teaches outpatient coding and people can pass both the CPC and the CCS on completion. Just facts.

People are asking, so - we give our experience.

[ In Reply To ..]
That is what this board is for. It is not tiresome for someone looking to get good information on how to get into coding. We aren't blowing any horns, simply relating what happened to us when we went to Andrews which is what the posters are asking for. You can simply skip it if it does not pertain to you.

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