AHIMA PARTNERS WITH 3M HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE WEB-BASED APC COURSES
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) has teamed up with 3M Health Information Systems to offer Web-based continuing education (CE) training for understanding and successfully navigating the Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) environment and Ambulatory Payment Classifications (APCs).
APC web-based training provides detailed courses from 3M Learning on the OPPS, APCs, the Outpatient Code Editor (OCE), and documentation and coding issues. This curriculum includes:
* APC Basics (8 CE credits)-This course provides the information needed to understand the impact of the OPPS on health care organizations. It includes an overview of APCs and addresses the topics of data required for APC assignment, chargemaster maintenance and billing, and charging accuracy.
* APC Coding and Documentation Issues (12 CE credits)-This course reviews how the accuracy of outpatient coding affects APC reimbursement and discusses ways to improve critical outpatient coding. It also includes lessons on HIM operations related to APC implementation, HCPCS coding, evaluation and management coding, and the use of modifiers.
* Outpatient Code Editor (OCE) Essentials (5 CE credits)-This course outlines information on important billing and reimbursement issues related to the APCs, so that health care organizations can maintain cash flow and minimize claims rejections and denials. Topics covered include OCE edit categories including National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits, denial management, and operational issues.
Health information management (HIM) professionals can access APC courses through AHIMA's Continuing Education Interactive Learning Campus. Courses can be bought separately for $250 each or all three for $650. To register for APC courses, or to find out about other AHIMA online courses, visit http://www.ahimacampus.org. For a free demonstration of the program, visit http://www.ahimacampus.org/demos. For more information, call Theresa Reynolds at 312/233-1159.
3M Health Information Systems is an international leader in clinical information management, with products ranging from medical records coding systems to a comprehensive computer-based patient record system. Home Health Systems, consulting, implementation, training, and process improvement services are also provided. 3M Health Information Systems is a business of 3M, a diversified international company with a health care business consisting of over 10,000 medical, surgical, consumer, home health care, dental, and pharmaceutical products. More information about 3M Learning courses and 3M Health Information Systems is available on the Internet at http://www.3Mlearning.com, http://www.3Mhis.com, or by calling 800/367-2447.
AHIMA is the leading professional association representing more than 40,000 specially educated and certified HIM professionals who work throughout the healthcare industry. HIM professionals serve the healthcare industry and the public by managing, analyzing, and utilizing data vital for health system management.