Managing as well as keeping track of finances are essential parts of everything, may it be as small as a household or businesses, government bodies, and hospitals. Within the healthcare space, revenue cycle management is even more important, and tedious as well, with its intricate web of transactions as well as data flows.
What is the difference between a medical biller and a medical coder? The former would involve submitting claims to health insurance companies and even obtaining payment for services provided. This biller is utilized by private insurers as well as government programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid. In contrast, medical coding converts healthcare procedures, equipment, diagnoses, and all services encompassing it into standardized alphanumeric codes based on medical records, including physician notes, lab results, and imaging reports.
Medical billing and medical coding are quite intricate when it comes to its technical implications. Even a minor mistake leads to a major loss in revenue. That is why an effective coder or medical biller needs extensive training in—billing methodologies, regulatory compliance, and insurance practices. Fellow Health Partners (FHP), which is a premier provider of medical business solutions, has tackled these issues head-on. They have come up with a program—Knowledge College™, which is a center accredited by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). It specializes in training programs and gives certifications to its participants.
Knowledge College™ is led by FHP’s in-house specialists who train staff with certifications in coding and billing, which eventually leads to greater job satisfaction and enhanced client outcomes. These experts include certified coders, healthcare attorneys, and orthopedic surgeons. The curriculum validates and attests to the recent boost in Adult Learning Theory.
This distinctive program by FHP empowers coders and medical billers with the skills and reliability necessary to engage effectively with both insurance companies and patients. Founder and CEO of FHP, Michael N. Brown, further states, “As healthcare costs continue to escalate, having well-trained teams to achieve optimal results for our clients has never been more crucial. Our clients should have a trusted partner committed to delivering outstanding outcomes.”
The training program offers several courses, such as The Fundamentals of Medicine (FOM), a 12-week program designed for individuals pursuing non-clinical healthcare careers. The course provides remote/live clinical instructions on subjects like Pathophysiology, Anatomy, and Physiology, laying the groundwork for those entering the field.
The program even offers a 16-week Certified Professional Biller (CPB) course and a Certified Professional Coder (CPC) course. Both of these courses help students prepare for AAPC-sponsored CPB and CPC exams, respectively. The CPB course covers healthcare regulations, the skills necessary to manage medical collections, and payer-specific policies, as well as the full spectrum of RCM to attain Certified Professional Biller status.
FHP initially started this program only for their internal training department. As the CEO noticed the need for it outside the department as well, with administrative and clinical clients interested in receiving guidance on best practices, he and FHP decided to expand its program to external divisions. For example, its Evaluation and Management (E&M) coding module is for clinicians, and it naturally followed the AMA’s 2021 policy shift. However, the program is not only made for clinicians; it could be helpful for as basic as front desk workflows to as complex as coding education.
Brown credits this transformational program as a key driver of FHP’s growth, helping the company scale and build trust with healthcare providers. Well-known as a specialty billing provider, the company has grown by multiples year after year since its establishment, thanks to its program.
