San Antonio, TX -- (SBWire) -- 06/05/2009 -- Practice Management Institute (PMI), today announced that its three certification programs have received approval for Individual Training Account (ITA) eligibility through a local Michigan Works! Agency, a division of the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth.
Tuition assistance for these medical office certification programs may be available through the state agency for those who meet predetermined criteria.
The Certified Medical Coder (CMC), Certified Medical Insurance Specialist (CMIS), and the Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM) certification courses are now listed on the statewide eligible training provider list, located on the Career Education Consumer Report System (CECRS) Web site (www.mycareereducation.org). Classes will be offered at various locations in Michigan this summer and fall.
“Highly trained medical practice personnel are better equipped to communicate with physicians, third-party payers, patients and business associates,” said Douglas O’Dell, President and CEO of Practice Management Institute. “Certified coding, billing and management staff help guard the practice against risks, contribute to a more efficient and productive work environment and improve overall practice profitability.”
Health care spending today represents one-seventh of the overall U.S. economy with spending totaling more than $2 trillion annually. In just eight years, that figure is expected to double, rising to 21 percent of gross domestic product, according to a news release issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office of Media Affairs, in January.
“The recent General Motors bankruptcy filing further underscores the rapid need to retrain Michigan workers in high demand occupations and emerging industries,” said O’Dell. “Each of PMI’s three certification programs offers a rigorous curriculum designed to help job candidates master the skills necessary for employment in a medical office.”
Those who wish to take part in the certification training this summer and fall should contact their regional Michigan Works! Agency for details on how to request federal funds to help cover the cost of tuition.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) named PMI’s Certified Medical Coder program as an example of coder certification programs that could be utilized to fulfill its coding certification requirement of Medicare Contractors. The requirement stems from implementation guidelines for the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA). This recognition reinforces PMI’s position as a top provider of certification for medical office staff.
Michigan’s CECRS is an integrated, electronic gateway to the labor market for job seekers and employers. The system is a database of more than 3,600 training programs. The CECRS allows the user to compare program tuition rates, job placement rate, and graduates’ average hourly wage. This will help prospective students select the educational and training opportunities that best meet their needs. The general public has access to the CECRS directly through the Internet. Individual Training Account (ITA) eligible participants, employers, and other interested individuals will have access to the CECRS through the Michigan Works! Agencies.
PMI has certified more than 14,000 medical office professionals. Programs are currently presented in 400 of the nation’s leading hospitals, health care systems, colleges and medical societies. For more information, visit http://www.pmiMD.com or call 800-259-5562.
Practice Management Institute Expands Training and Certification Offerings in Michigan in Support of the State’s Aggressive Occupational Retraining Efforts