Problem: Billing for pimary care sevices is a skill needed for successful independent practice. When primary care services are provided, clinicians are frequently called upon to assign a numerical code based on the complexity of the care provided. Third party payers recognize these codes, and base their reimbursement to providers upon them. Studies have affirmed the lack of knowledge of primary care providers regarding accurate coding. Carefully crafted educational interventions can produce changes in healthcare provider knowledge and clinical practice. Refinement and improvement of written patient documentation, improved accuracy of billing and coding, as well as improved, appropriate reimbursement for primary care NPs and physicians could improve the quality of the healthcare services provided, strengthen the financial health of a primary care practice, and lead to increased availability of primary care services to patients. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the need for and provide an educational intervention to improve the billing and coding knowledge, confidence, and performance of primary care providers in a seleceted state. The rationale for the project was that by crafting an educational intervention based on best practices that met the needs of the targeted group, primary care providers might improve the quality of healthcare services provided. Goal and Objectives: The goal of this project was to design and implement a billing and coding educational intervention leading to changes in the clinical practice of primary care NPs and physicians. Objectives were to conduct a needs assessment regarding the billing and coding needs of primary care healthcare providers in North Central Florida, develop and implement a 2 hour, cost-effective, billing and coding educational symposium, assess demographic information of the population of interest, and evaluate symposium attendee responses regarding changes in billing and coding knowledge, confidence, and performance before and after the symposium. Plan: Phase One: Conduct formal and informal needs assessment; analyze responses. Phase Two: Plan, develop, and implement a billing and coding educational symposium. Phase Three: Collect and analyze data before and after the educational symposium, and evaluate outcome measurements. Outcomes and Results: Key findings revealed significant changes in the billing and coding knowledge and confidence of primary care APNs and MDs after the educational symposium. Respondents also reported significant changes in clinical practice as a result of having attended the symposium. Ninety percent of respondents reported changes in their billing and coding practices and improvements in their written patient documentation. Sixty eight percent of respondents reported that as a results of their attending the billing and coding symposium, their practice colleagues had also changed their billing and coding practices.
