Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Positive Changes to Certified Peer Specialist Training and Certification



In order to expand and strengthen peer support in Kansas, CCSR is partnering with the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services to advance peer specialist training and certification. The details are still being worked out, but here is what we know for sure:

  • Multiple levels of certification will be offered to provide a career path for peer specialists (those currently certified will keep their certification)
  • Entry level peer support training will be open to all those interested who self-identify as having direct, lived experience with a mental health recovery
  • Those hired to provide peer support under Medicaid will now have one year to complete billing-level certification via an “in training” status
  • Peer support training will be offered regionally, details to follow

The CPS training team is excited to be able to support a stronger career path for peer specialists and welcomes your input. Please contact Lael Ewy, MFA, CPS, at lael.ewy@wichita.edu with suggestions or questions as the process moves forward.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Hands-On Expereince: Public Health Intern Contributes To Billing Initiatives Project | by Elizabeth Toney

Elizabeth Toney
In the beginning…all I knew about the Center for Community Support and Research (CCSR) was what I could assume from the name of the organization and its association with Wichita State University. Community suggested one’s local neighborhood, support spoke of helping, lending a hand, and its association with WSU spoke of education. When I found that CCSR had a current public health initiatives project that involved medical billing and coding I was excited to get the chance to learn how public assistance programs functioned. Through their billing project I hoped to gain a better understanding of the public health reimbursement process. This was going to be an opportunity to put into action the skills I learned from my bachelor’s degree in Health Services Management and associate’s degree in billing and coding.

Working with the Public Health Initiatives team of Sonja, Aaron, Vanessa, and Kristina along with Executive Director Scott Wituk I have had an opportunity to become exposed to a public health program that helps those who struggle with access to health care. CCSR is currently involved with a Local Health Department Billing initiative project for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and Kansas Association of Local Health Departments (KALHD) towards maximizing sustainability of the local health departments. The Billing initiative provided opportunity for me to utilize my skills in determining types of valuable training programs that would help improve the billing practices and processes of health departments and minimize claim denials.

After research, the necessary information was utilized to create a two page training and professional certification guide that can be used when deciding to invest in training for billing staff to become certified. The guide provides sources for online training programs and a choice of medical biller certifications available. Though certification is not required it can benefit staff at the facilities obtaining reimbursement. This hands-on project gave me an opportunity to improve my research, decision making, planning, and communication skills.

This practicum opportunity allowed me to improve upon my own leadership skills. I had the opportunity to attend meetings of local coalition groups like Interfaith Ministries and Visioneering Wichita and participate in the discussion of past and upcoming public programs to assist those in need. All of my core competency skills have been improved through observing the leadership style of the Public Health Initiative team and the CCSR staff. It has been a real pleasure to have the opportunity to work with a group of dedicated people.