Avisena Employees Earn Advanced Certification

Online, August 1, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Avisena, one of the nation's leading providers of revenue cycle management software and services for physician practices, today announced that one hundred percent of their Practice Consultant staff have earned formal certification through the National Healthcareer Association as Certified Billing and Coding Specialists (CBCS).

Earning this certification requires extensive training and testing. A CBCS's main focus is converting a medical procedure, diagnosis, or symptom into specific codes for submitting a claim for reimbursement. CBCSs acquire comprehensive knowledge in healthcare reimbursement, coding, compliance regulations, and medical provider's policies and procedures.

"We are very proud of our account services team for their important accomplishments," remarked Joe Radigan, Avisena CEO. "Our continued investment in the professional development of our Practice Consultants will only further enhance the value we provide to our partner clients - ensuring ongoing continuous improve-ment and revenue maximization."

In addition, Wendy Owens-Frierson, Director of Billing, Compliance and Education for Avisena, successfully completed the AHIMA Academy for ICD-10: Building Expert Trainers in Diagnosis and Procedure Coding Certification Course. This dynamic training program uses various teaching methods to help coding profes-sionals become proficient with ICD-10-CM/PCS coding systems, while preparing them to train other coders and healthcare professionals in these systems.

Further, the Avisena Institute (AI), led by Wendy Owens-Frierson, completed its first Certified Professional Coders (CPC) course in June. Ninety percent of the AI students received their certification through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). Avisena employees, Marta Morales, Director of Activation, and Kimberly Gonzalez, Auditor of Process Improvement, were part of the AI students that received CPC status.

The CPC's abilities include the following:
• Expertise in reviewing and assigning accurate medical coding for diagnoses, procedures,
and services in a physician office setting;
• Proficiency across a wide range of services, including evaluation and management,
anesthesia, surgical services, radiology, pathology, and medicine;
• A sound knowledge of medical coding rules and regulations, including compliance and
reimbursement - allowing a CPC to better handle issues such as medical necessity,
claims denials, bundling issues, and charge capture;
• Knowing how to integrate medical coding and reimbursement rule changes into a
practice's reimbursement processes;
• Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology necessary to correctly
code provider diagnosis and services.