Introductory MRA
Understanding the Medicare Risk Adjustment Model
Course Overview
The managed-care Medicare Risk Adjustment (MRA) model is vastly different from the Fee for Service (FFS) model. This course is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the MRA funding model, including its key differences from the FFS reimbursement model. You will learn about the intricacies of documentation and coding, how they are used to predict patient morbidity and mortality, and ultimately, the cost of care. Additionally, you will gain insight into how the office staff works together to support providers and ensure compliance with internal and external controls.
Understanding Medicare Risk Adjustment (MRA) is essential for today's value-based healthcare environment. This self-paced course offers a practical, team-based introduction to the MRA model, showing how documentation, coding, and office workflows affect both reimbursement and patient care.
What You'll Learn
- How MRA differs from Fee-for-Service (FFS) reimbursement
- The role of MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, Treat) in accurate chronic condition coding
- How HCCs are captured to predict patient risk and drive funding
- Best practices in documentation, office operations, and compliance
- How to identify frequently missed diagnoses and close care gaps
Who Should Take This Course
Ideal for primary care providers, CDI specialists, coders, office managers, medical assistants, and anyone involved in clinical documentation, billing, or practice operations.
Why It Matters
Accurate documentation improves patient care, ensures compliance, and protects revenue. This course builds shared understanding across the care team—helping your practice thrive in a risk-adjusted world.
Course Details
- Total Time25-30 hours
- Video Content13 hours
- Assessments7 Comprehension Checks
- Format100% online and self-paced
- ApplicationPractical approach for immediate application
Start anytime
Self-paced learning
Course Developer
Lynda Dilts-Benson
Ms. Benson, a Registered Nurse licensed in New York since 1982, has worked across nearly every sector of the healthcare continuum and currently holds certifications in Case Management and Risk Coding. For the past 18 years at Access Health Care, she has served as Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Quality Officer, and as Education Director/Chief Learning Officer. She was instrumental in launching Optimum Healthcare Medicare Advantage and Integral Healthcare ACO, creating policy manuals, leading quality initiatives, and authoring numerous staff and patient education modules. She also co-authored two books on Compliance and Medicare Risk Adjustment and, over the past few years, has served as Program Director for the MSc in Healthcare Management program at Vedere University.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Master Medicare Risk Adjustment?
Start your self-paced learning journey today