We’re actively encouraging members of our staff to complete the Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR) program created by the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) as a standard bearer for performance for revenue cycle professionals. All of the Emdeon Enterprise Representatives are among the 5,000 who’ve earned certification through this highly regarded program.
According to Emdeon Manager of Sales Support & Training Chrissie Brady, this certification is a vital way our employees can substantiate and exemplify their expertise in this challenging, ever-changing profession.
“Earning this designation equals credibility. We need to be subject matter experts in the eyes of customers, as in the eyes of vendors and colleagues,” she explains. “We even set an incentive deadline for our team to complete the program; we value it that much.”
Our team is not alone in earning certification. Since CRCR launched four years ago, approximately 5,000 revenue cycle professionals, 3,000 in the last year, from a range of job types have become certified. Participants must retest every two years to maintain CRCR certification.
Chris Burke, a director with HFMA, states that CRCR is fitting for “anybody who touches the revenue cycle.” Professionals in the following areas of focus are recommended for the program.
• Patient access
• Financial representation
• Patient accounts
• Compliance
• Managed care operations
• Decision support
• Health information management
• Case management
• Finance
“Testers should have a working knowledge of revenue cycle,” Burke emphasizes.
The program consists of an online course divided into seven chapters of study, as well as the final exam. Content for the course and exam was developed based on input from a “whole host of folks,” as Burke describes. An internal HFMA team created the core study guide and exam, then a technical team and outside consultants (including many hospital members of HFMA who are also Emdeon clients) provided invaluable input. The result is an up-to-date, highly relevant and challenging program that covers a gamut of revenue cycle knowledge.
Most participants typically finish the self-paced, online study course in 12 to 15 hours and are then ready to take the certification exam.
“The exam is comprised of 150 multiple choice questions,” Burke explains. “A participant must make a minimum of 75% to pass and earn certification.”
Stats from HFMA show that around 50% of testers pass the first exam. 70% of those who retake the exam pass on the second attempt. Most professionals who pass have three or more years of experience, but as Burke points out “work history doesn’t always equal knowledge.”
“People with over 20 years of experiences have not passed the exam,” he reports.
Brady concurs that the program is truly challenging.
“Our seasoned employees, even those who’ve been in the business before, have said they’ve learned or been refreshed in their knowledge by participating in this program. No matter experience or tenure, this program really matters.”
Burke reports that the program will be consistently updated to address the latest aspects of revenue cycle management.
“The program is expanding to deal with new regulations. We’ll be adding ICD-10 in the near future, as well as content on ACOs.”
Are you ready to pursue certification? Thanks to the flexibility of the web-based study course, you can get started anytime. For details on program parameters and fees, visit http://www.hfma.org/crcr/, and join your Emdeon representatives in participation in this growing, respected program!
The New Standard for Revenue Cycle Pros: HFMA’s Certified Revenue Cycle Representative Program
