HSC 620: Health Care Finance and Reimbursement

Transcription

1 Catalog Description: HSC 620: Health Care Finance and Reimbursement HSC 620: Health Care Finance and Reimbursement (3, 0, 3) Study of financial administration processes and payment systems within the various health care delivery systems. Topics to include, but are not limited to: Tools to analyze and understand financial operations, various tools to review and manage comparative data, construct and evaluate budgets, tools to plan, monitor, and manage financial status, allocation of resources and acquire funds. Course Description: This course has been designed to provide an in-depth overview of healthcare finance and reimbursement practices and methods. Students will study various methods and analyze reallife situations found in healthcare administration positions. Topics will include, but are not limited to: electronic spreadsheets, accounting, financial statements, assets and equities, depreciation, inventory costing, ratio analysis, capital management. Student Learning Outcomes: Following completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Understand healthcare finance and reimbursement practices and methods. 2. Evaluate, analyze, and create financial reports and budgets 3. Manage financial status, allocation of resources and acquire funds Required Resources: Finkler, S., Ward, D., Calabrese, T. (2013) Accounting Fundamentals for Health Care for Management (2 nd ed.). Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett. Students must have Internet access for this course, with both video and audio capabilities. For problems with Blackboard, contact IT at NKU Support staff are available 24/7 for any computer issues and can remote into your computer to assist. The specific technology needs are listed at the end of the syllabus. Method of Instruction: This course will be taught as a full-semester, web-based course using the course management system Blackboard; Blackboard provides a tutorial at if needed. Students will take major responsibility for research and discussion. Instruction and learning will occur via Discussion Board, online presentations, and assignments. Presentations using PowerPoint and/ortegrity voice over will be used. Students will be required to use various components of MS Office 2010 to complete assignments; consequently, students must be able to use those components. Method of Evaluation:

2 Students will be evaluated on the quality, using attached rubrics, of their participation in the Discussion board, completed assignments, and final group project. Assignments (40%) Students will be required to complete assignments that require them to apply concepts learned relative to the topics covered in this course. All assignments are due on specified dates and will only be accepted after those dates if there are extenuating circumstances discussed with the Professor before the specified due date. Assignments submitted after the due date, but within one week of the due date, will receive a reduction in points equivalent to one full letter grade for that assignment. Barring documentation of extreme, extenuating circumstances, assignments will not be accepted more than one week after the due date. Discussion Board (20%) It is expected that students will check into the course site numerous times throughout the week to participate in discussions and complete assignments. Checking into the course once or twice to make all postings for the week is not acceptable as it prohibits meaningful class dialogue and the learning community environment necessary for this course. Based on the instructor s discretion, the DB will be graded sporadically throughout the course without notice to the students. Blackboard Discussion Specifics: In response to a question posted by the instructor, students are to post responses to the instructor and other students in a thoughtful and professional manner. The initial response must be posted no later than 11 PM Wednesday with all postings to be complete by 11pm on Sunday. When responding to a posting, be sure to address the person with their first name (ex. Jane, have you considered.) Except for week 1 or if told otherwise, you are minimally required to post once with a reference to reflect your research and at least 2 other postings on different days to reflect discussion based on your peers postings. By posting the minimum, you can expect your grades to reflect the minimum effort. A rubric will guide your postings and will be available under course documents. You WILL NOT receive credit for your initial posting if made after 11pm on Wednesdays. Some of the characteristics of effective Discussion Board participation are: Discuss items that will increase everyone's understanding. Discussion postings should show evidence of review of earlier postings; comments should not be isolated and disjointed. Communication skills, such as attentive and purposeful listening, interpretative and integrative skills are evident in well thought out postings. Be sure to reference your peer s name in your response. Postings must show evidence of research into the topic under discussion. There is a willingness to test new ideas rather than offer only cautious or "safe" comments. Students interact with other class members by asking questions or challenging conclusions Any material that is taken from another source must be properly credited Group Project (40%)

3 Each student will be assigned to a team. Each team will be given an in depth, realistic, financial situation that presents in a healthcare setting. Working together, the group will provide the following: evaluation of the financial status, a comprehensive budget and a professional financial report. The final project will be developed to demonstrate the ability to apply concepts learned in this course. In addition to using the APA format, it is expected that the writing will be grammatically correct, well organized, and comprehensive; resources must be sited using APA format. Students should not underestimate the magnitude of this project; do NOT wait until the end of the semester to initiate the project. The project must be posted to Blackboard no later than 10:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday during final exam week. The procedures and penalties for late submission are the same as for other assignments (described previously). Grading: Course requirements will be weighted as follows when calculating the final grade: Assignments 40% Discussion Board 20% Group Project _ 40% 100% A percentage grade will be calculated by totaling the number of points you earned in each category. A grade of B- or better is required for successful completion of this course. This percentage score will determine the letter grade as follows: Letter Grade Percentage Grade Grade Point A A B B B C C F Less than 77 0 Online Grade Book Students will have access to the online grade book via Blackboard. This grade book is confidential and only available to the individual student. It is anticipated that grades for Bb discussions and assignments will be posted within two weeks of receipt. Discussion Board postings that are made any time after the due date will not be accepted. A grade of C or higher is required in this course. If you earn less than a B-, you will be put on academic probation. ****For students to remain in Good Standing with the University, they must maintain a minimum 3.00 grade point average and/or earn no more than two grades of C or below (A C+ is considered above a C grade.) If students should fall below a 3.00 GPA, they will be placed on academic probation. Please note that no student will be allowed to graduate with more than two C grades or below in course work that contributes to the degree program. Students who have

4 more than two C grades or below will need to repeat some course work to be in compliance with University s policy.****

5 Schedule of Topics: Week 1 Course overview; introductions; Financial environment of healthcare organizations Assignments Individual, quiz-like assignment consisting of multiple choice and short answer questions over the text. Assignment of groups and health care scenario given. Weeks 2 & 3 Healthcare accounting and financial management Scenario analysis for Week 4 Valuation of assets and equities Inventory costing Scenario analysis for Weeks 5, 6,& 7 Recording financial information Scenario analysis for Week 8 Long term debt and equity financing Scenario analysis for Weeks 9 & 10 Ratio analysis; working capital management Scenario analysis for Week 11, 12, 13 Billing methods, coding, and reimbursement Choose one reimbursement method and present the pros and cons for patient, provider, and insurer Week 14 Revenue determination Scenario analysis for Week 15 Budget decision making and financial problem solving Week 16 Group project presentation to class