Online Program

Oral

Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides many opportunities and challenges for health professionals to apply their knowledge and skills in completing the puzzle and realizing the vision of the legislation. Although health education specialists have many essential competencies needed in this rapidly changing health care environment, they must understand the terminology, informatics and metrics required demonstrate value and return on investment to health providers and payers. They must also demonstrate innovative approaches to working with public health and medical care service providers, and consider the new reimbursable disease-specific certifications that are rapidly emerging. This session will help build comprehension of the ACA lexicon and basic economics that can be useful in getting and retaining health education employment opportunities in ACA; showcase innovative examples and case studies of how health education professionals are working in public health and in health care settings being transformed by ACA; and highlight new specialty certifications that are being reimbursed under ACA (e.g. diabetes, tobacco, asthma, obesity) where health education professionals may apply their skills.

Session Objectives: Explain at least 5 new terms or acronyms being used in health care settings (e.g. PCMHs, ACOs, EHRs) and approaches to demonstrating how health educators contribute to ROI. Describe how health education professionals are applying their skills to the new models of service delivery and requirements of public health departments and health care settings. Identify at least two specialty certifications being covered in some states by third party payers that are relevant to the competencies of health education professionals.