Social networks and best practices in public health: the example of regional billing groups.
OBJECTIVE
Rising health care costs, increased demand for clinical services, and reimbursement difficulties created a funding shortage among local health departments in the state of Kansas. This intervention established regional billing groups to provide professional support and increase third-party reimbursement.


METHODS
Through feedback sessions, billing clerks provided qualitative responses about training needs. These informed the process of establishing billing groups in each state health district.


METHODS
All billing clerks in the state's 6 regional health districts were invited to participate, as were insurance and billing software representatives.


METHODS
Between April 2002 and September 2004, 6 collaborative groups were established. Billing clerks received professional support and training from peers, insurance representatives, and software providers. An interagency billing advisory team was established to coordinate training activities between groups.


RESULTS
These groups have allowed local health departments to increase reimbursement revenue by 50%-75%, allowing for the provision of expanded health services to client populations.


CONCLUSIONS
These methods can serve as a model for other states, particularly those with considerable rural populations or decentralized health care systems. Still, funding shortages persist, and public health billing clerks will continue to need ongoing training in the most current and effective billing methods.
Whitmer
Deborah A
DA
Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Topeka, Kansas, USA.
Hawley
Suzanne R
SR
Orr
Shirley A
SA
St Romain
Theresa
T
Molgaard
Craig A
CA
D000066:Accounting / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019985:Benchmarking / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007615:Kansas; D008502:Medical Secretaries / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011637:Public Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012041:Regional Medical Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support