HIM 222 Healthcare Reimbursement

In this course, students explore reimbursement and payment methodologies applicable to healthcare in the United States in various settings. Forms, processes, practices, and the roles of the health information professional are examined. Concepts related to insurance products, third-party and prospective payment, and managed care organizations are explored. Issues of data exchange among the patient, provider, and insurer are analyzed in terms of organizational policy, regulatory issues and information management operating systems. The importance of coding integrity is emphasized.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

Prerequisite: HIM 100

See Course Syllabus

Course Number and Title:

HIM 222 Healthcare Reimbursement

Campus Location

  • Wilmington

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: HIM 100

Course Credits and Hours

3 credit(s)

2 lecture hours/week

2 lab hours/week

Course Description

In this course, students explore reimbursement and payment methodologies applicable to healthcare in the United States in various settings. Forms, processes, practices, and the roles of the health information professional are examined. Concepts related to insurance products, third-party and prospective payment, and managed care organizations are explored. Issues of data exchange among the patient, provider, and insurer are analyzed in terms of organizational policy, regulatory issues and information management operating systems. The importance of coding integrity is emphasized.

Additional Materials

Allied Health/Science Department Program Student Policy Manual

Health Information Management Program Policy Manual

Instructor Handouts

Required Text(s)

Obtain current textbook information by viewing the campus bookstore - https://www.dtcc.edu/bookstores online or visit a campus bookstore. Check your course schedule for the course number and section.

Disclaimer

AHIMA Virtual Lab is used for this course. Neehr Perfect is used for this course.

Core Course Performance Objectives (CCPOs)

  1. Summarize regulatory requirements and reimbursement methodologies. (CCC 2, 5; HIM PGC 1, 5, 6)
  2. Describe components of revenue cycle management and clinical documentation improvement. (CCC 1, 2, 3, 5; HIM PGC 1, 4, 5, 6)
  3. Evaluate revenue cycle processes. (CCC 1, 2, 5; HIM PGC 1, 3, 4, 5, 6)
  4. Evaluate compliance with regulatory requirements and reimbursement methodologies. (CCC 1, 5; HIM PGC 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
  5. Examine accounting methodologies. (CCC 1, 6; HIM PGC 1, 2, 5)

See Core Curriculum Competencies and Program Graduate Competencies at the end of the syllabus. CCPOs are linked to every competency they develop.

Measurable Performance Objectives (MPOs)

Upon completion of this course, the student will:

  1. Summarize regulatory requirements and reimbursement methodologies.
    1. Identify authoritative sources of regulations related to payment systems for healthcare services.
    2. Identify ways to obtain regulatory agency and apply payer-specific guidelines for use in the coding and reimbursement process, including:
      1. National Coverage Determinations (NCDs)
      2. Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs)
      3. Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs)
    3. Distinguish insurance plans, entitlement programs, and reimbursement methodologies.
    4. Distinguish the Medicare and Medicaid payment systems for the following settings:
      1. Inpatient (acute hospital)
      2. Hospital outpatient
      3. Inpatient psychiatric hospital
      4. Long-term care hospital
      5. Skilled nursing facility
      6. Inpatient rehabilitation hospital
      7. Home health
      8. Ambulatory surgery center
      9. Non-hospital outpatient services
    5. Distinguish health industry guidelines, rules, and regulations for commercial, managed care, and government payment systems.
    6. Compare and contrast health industry guidelines, rules, and regulations for commercial, managed care, and government payment systems.
    7. Recognize policies and procedures related to reimbursement and prospective payment systems to ensure compliance with health industry guidelines, rules, and regulations.
  2. Describe components of revenue cycle management and clinical documentation improvement.
    1. Define revenue cycle management.
    2. List and describe the components of the revenue cycle.
      1. Pre-encounter data collection and verification
      2. Patient access activities
      3. Order entry
      4. Charge description master
      5. Charge description master maintenance
      6. Coding
      7. Claim scrubbing and validation
      8. Claim processing activities
      9. Claim submission
      10. Accounts receivable
      11. Insurance processing
      12. Benefits statements
      13. Remittance advice
      14. Claim reconciliation
      15. Collection
    3. Describe and explain the rationale for the composition of the revenue cycle management team.
    4. Explain the role of utilization review/management, case management, and clinical documentation improvement in revenue cycle management.
    5. Estimate the expected reimbursement of a claim based on the appropriate payment methodology for the underlying setting.
    6. Review a claim's compliance with reporting requirements relevant to the underlying setting.
    7. Review a denied claim scenario for the validity of the denial in the context of reporting requirements relevant to the underlying setting and make any necessary corrections.
    8. Describe the role of data analytics tools in revenue cycle management.
  3. Evaluate revenue cycle processes.
    1. Explain the interrelationships among providers, payers, and government entities across the healthcare delivery system as they relate to reimbursement.
    2. Describe the impact of change in a given revenue cycle related regulation or standard on policies and procedures, processes, systems, and people.
    3. Explain the role of federal agencies and contractors in identifying waste, fraud, and abuse in healthcare reimbursement.
  4. Evaluate compliance with regulatory requirements and reimbursement methodologies.
    1. Compare organizational results with secondary data sources for benchmarking reimbursement outcomes.
    2. Describe the impact of revenue cycle processes and staffing on department budgets in patient access, health information management, and patient financial services.
    3. Evaluate compliance with ethical standards of practice, given a case scenario.
  5. Examine accounting methodologies.
    1. Differentiate financial and management accounting.
    2. Describe cost accounting.
    3. Differentiate cost allocation methods.
    4. Given a set of financial statements, calculate basic financial ratios

Evaluation Criteria/Policies

The grade will be determined using the Delaware Tech grading system:

90-100 = A
80-89 = B
70-79 = C
0-69 = F
Students should refer to the Catalog/Student Handbook for information on the Academic Standing Policy, the Academic Integrity Policy, Student Rights and Responsibilities, and other policies relevant to their academic progress.

Final Course Grade

Calculated using the following weighted average

Evaluation Measure

Percentage of final grade

Class Participation (formative)

    5%

Quizzes (formative)

  20%

Lab assignments (summative)

  35%

Research Paper (summative)

  20%

Exams (Total 20%)

 

Mid-Term (summative)

  10%

Final (summative)

  10%

TOTAL

100%

Program Graduate Competencies (PGCs are the competencies every graduate will develop specific to his or her major)

HIM Program Graduate Competencies:

  1. Synthesize knowledge of medical sciences, clinical classification systems, vocabularies, and terminologies to effectively use, apply, and interpret health data.
  2. Analyze data to identify trends through the use of health information technologies.
  3. Apply legal, regulatory, privacy, and security standards to employ policies and procedures for health information collection, access, and disclosure.
  4. Synthesize knowledge of health data and payment methodologies to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of revenue cycle processes.
  5. Interpret regulatory, coding, legal, and clinical documentation standards to develop, implement, and evaluate compliance.
  6. Consistently demonstrate leadership through the appropriate interpretation and evaluation of professional behaviors and ethical standards.

Core Curriculum Competencies (CCCs are the competencies every graduate will develop)

  1. Apply clear and effective communication skills.
  2. Use critical thinking to solve problems.
  3. Collaborate to achieve a common goal.
  4. Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct.
  5. Use information literacy for effective vocational and/or academic research.
  6. Apply quantitative reasoning and/or scientific inquiry to solve practical problems.

Students in Need of Accommodations Due to a Disability

We value all individuals and provide an inclusive environment that fosters equity and student success. The College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with the campus Disabilities Support Counselor to request an accommodation needed due to a disability. The College's policy on accommodations for persons with disabilities can be found in the College's Guide to Requesting Academic Accommodations and/or Auxiliary Aids Students may also access the Guide and contact information for Disabilities Support Counselors through the Student Resources web page under Disabilities Support Services, or visit the campus Advising Center.

Minimum Technology Requirements

Minimum technology requirements for online, hybrid, video conferencing and web conferencing courses.