ORGANIZATION
MS State Board for Community and Junior College
YEARS
2003 – 2007
IMPROVING HEALTH POLICY AND EDUCATION
Medical Billing Curriculum Development
Medical Billing Curriculum Development
Collecting payments from public and private payers has become more complicated over the years – often resulting in unclaimed reimbursements. Medical practices and hospitals in Mississippi lose an estimated $30 million annually in payments due to incorrect billing for healthcare services. In an effort to improve providers’ ability to collect reimbursement, the MS State Board of Community and Junior Colleges joined forces with local community colleges, the MS Hospital Association and the MS Primary Healthcare Association to develop a multi-faceted approach to train rural residents as medical office assistants in the effective use of billing and collection systems.
The Bower Foundation partnered with the Enterprise Corporation of the Delta and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to support the medical practice billing training project. The overall purpose of the Medical Billing Curriculum Development Project is to develop well-trained medical billing clerks prepared to work in hospitals, community health centers, physician offices and other provider locations that deliver care in rural underserved areas.
The project focused on the development of two training programs – 1) a non-credit program focused on continuing education for currently employed medical billing coders at hospitals, clinics and private practices and 2) a degree option in the Community College Associates in Applied Science (AAS) Degree Program. The tier training is unique because an individual can enroll in a non-credit medical billing class resulting in certification, or choose a credit track leading to an associate’s degree.
The project originally planned to offer the training courses at two community colleges. In just over a year the project exceeded its goal and now offers courses at five community colleges: Copiah-Lincoln, Hinds, MS Gulf Coast, Pearl River and Southwest.
The Medical Billing Curriculum Project has made in difference in MS’s healthcare system by:
The medical billing and coding training has served as a workforce development tool for those preparing for the workforce or switching careers. More stability among health care providers ensures the availability of health services for the people of MS.
The Bower Foundation partnered with the Enterprise Corporation of the Delta and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to support the medical practice billing training project. The overall purpose of the Medical Billing Curriculum Development Project is to develop well-trained medical billing clerks prepared to work in hospitals, community health centers, physician offices and other provider locations that deliver care in rural underserved areas.
The project focused on the development of two training programs – 1) a non-credit program focused on continuing education for currently employed medical billing coders at hospitals, clinics and private practices and 2) a degree option in the Community College Associates in Applied Science (AAS) Degree Program. The tier training is unique because an individual can enroll in a non-credit medical billing class resulting in certification, or choose a credit track leading to an associate’s degree.
The project originally planned to offer the training courses at two community colleges. In just over a year the project exceeded its goal and now offers courses at five community colleges: Copiah-Lincoln, Hinds, MS Gulf Coast, Pearl River and Southwest.
The Medical Billing Curriculum Project has made in difference in MS’s healthcare system by:
- preparing current employees with responsibility for medical billing in hospitals and physician offices to file accurate, timely claims,
- increasing the number of qualified applicants for medical billing positions in hospitals and physician offices, and
- increasing reimbursements for rural health care providers
The medical billing and coding training has served as a workforce development tool for those preparing for the workforce or switching careers. More stability among health care providers ensures the availability of health services for the people of MS.