The training and treatment demands of residency typically far overshadow learning about the mechanics of health insurance coverage. That changes very quickly as training ends and practice decisions are made, but there’s help from the AMA to learn the basics of how care is paid for.
A 19-minute training module, “Introduction to Health Insurance,” is designed to familiarize residents with the terminology of insurance and how to envision effectively dealing with health plans once in practice. It is just one of the AMA GME Competency Education Program offerings, which include more than 50 courses that residents can access online on their own schedules through their residency program’s subscription. The program also features six faculty development courses.
The AMA GME Competency Education Program delivers education to help institutions more easily meet Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education common program requirements. Modules cover five of the six topics—patient care, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and system-based practice—within the core competency requirements. The sixth requirement, medical knowledge, is one that is typically addressed during clinical education.
Among the program’s experts are several who contributed to the AMA’s Health Systems Science textbook, which draws insights from faculty at medical schools that are part of the Association’s ChangeMedEd initiative.
Current program subscribers have access to award-winning online education designed for residents on the go. It’s easy to use and saves time with simple tracking and reporting tools for administrators. Learn more.
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The module offers frank advice as well as the fundamental terms a physician should know.
It acknowledges that health insurance is a very complicated industry that physicians have to navigate in order to be paid for their services. “It's a job you can't do alone, so you should partner with others to help you stay informed,” says the module. Health plans’ rules can be subject to sudden and substantial changes. The module goes on to provide guidance on where physicians can seek support.
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Residents who go through the module will learn to:
- Explain the history and function of health insurance.
- Define the common terms associated with health insurance.
- Identify the key players in the health insurance business.
- List the ways health care can be paid for including different types of health insurance.
- Differentiate between Medicare and Medicaid.
- Describe how the physician fits into the health insurance industry in practice.
They also will be armed with information on deductibles, coinsurance and copays.
Even though many Americans are uninsured, the majority of patients will have at least some form of coverage. Those who take the module will learn about coverage, exceptions and other nuances in Medicare, Medicaid, employer-sponsored plans and catastrophic and supplemental insurance.
Dive deeper:
- New AMA resource helps overstretched GME program directors
- Giving resident physicians the tools to live well, ID burnout
- 95% of U.S. health insurance markets are “highly concentrated”
Easy to track progress
Residency program directors have access to dashboards and reports that provide a view of progress at the program and institution levels. In addition, customizable reports make it easy to track learner performance and demonstrate compliance for accreditation.
The AMA GME Competency Education Program covers topics including well-being, quality improvement and patient safety, residents as teachers, navigating health systems, health equity, professionalism and faculty development. Schedule a meeting to discuss your organization’s needs.
