Education Schedule
By submitting your e-mail address, you are allowing WPS Medicare to send this e-mail address information on Medicare rules, regulations, and current seminars. WPS Medicare is the only entity that will use this address. If you do not want to receive this information, please follow the dis-enrollment directions within your first e-mail or let us know within your submission.
Seminars
Basic Principles of Medicare
Save Dollars, Avoid Denials
Beyond the Basics
Teleconferences
Definition: The live exchange of information among persons remote from one another but linked via phone.
Ask-the-Contractor Teleconference
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Ask-the-Contractor Teleconferences (ACTS)
Webinars
Using C-SNAP
Using iLinc for the First Time
Using Mediasite
General Seminar Information
Reminder: The intention of our seminars and teleconferences is to educate all attending providers on the topics outlined in the course descriptions, in the handouts, and in the handbooks. Please note that your specific coding questions are best handled by coding professionals. WPS Medicare Policy, Medical Review, and Provider Outreach & Education staff are not professional coders.
WPS Medicare offers Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for some of our courses. Click here for more information on which courses qualify for CEUs and how to obtain CEUs.
**To register online for a course, please select the link under the course number column in the course table. This will take you to an Online Registration Form that you will need to complete and submit in order to be registered.**
Basic Principles of Medicare
Do you need help with Medicare? Would you like to learn the basics of Medicare or refresh your knowledge about Medicare?
Attend this all-day seminar designed to provide a high level overview of the Medicare program. New and experienced Medicare providers and billers are welcome. The program provides information about the fundamentals of the Medicare program and includes understanding claim submissions, reading the remittance advice, Medicare reimbursement, medical documentation, exploring the WPS Medicare and CMS Websites, and much more. Other topics touched on in this seminar include:
- The Parts of the Medicare Program
- Advance Beneficiary Notice
- Determining Eligibility
- Medicare Policy
- Medical Review
- Provider Enrollment
- PQRI
- Limiting Charge
- Appeals Process
- Financial
- Physician Fee Schedule
- National Correct Coding Initiative
- Fraud and Abuse
- CERT
The seminar is not designed to answer claim specific questions as the presenters will not have the claims processing system available.
Registration for each session begins 30 minutes before the event start time.
The American Academy of Professional Coders has approved this program for 6.0 Continuing Education Units (CEU).
| Date/Time | Address |
| 07/21/09 9am - 4pm | Orthopaedic Learning Center 6300 North River Road Rosemont, IL 60018 847-384-4210 |
| Registration Information | |
| Registration is Closed - 05/07/09 Registration Time 8:30am - 9:00am Free Seminar (Beverage Service Only) Seating is limited to the first 50 participants | |
| Date/Time | Address |
| 07/28/09 9am - 4pm | WPS - Nordby Building 1707 W. Broadway Madison, WI 53713 (608) 301-2601 |
| Registration Information | |
| Click here to register for the 07/28/09 Seminar Registration Time 8:30am - 9:00am Free Seminar (Beverage Service Only) Seating is limited to the first 50 participants | |
| Date/Time | Address |
| 08/19/09 9am - 4pm | Holiday Inn West Bay 615 E Front St. Traverse City, MI 49686 (231) 947-3700 |
| Registration Information | |
| Click here to register for the 08/19/09 Seminar (Registration will close 08/17/09) Registration Time 8:30am - 9:00am Cost: FREE of charge (beverage service only) Seating is limited to the first 50 registrants | |
Save Dollars, Avoid Denials
Do Medicare denials confuse you? Would you like us to help you through the process?
This free program is designed based on data analysis to assist providers and staff members to understand the common Medicare denials and resources used to help avoid denials. The ultimate goal is to teach you how to use the resources to avoid the denials or research the denials after receipt.
The workshop is designed is an interactive learning session containing exercise, questions and answers. The program allows for hands-on learning as well as lecture-style learning.
Together let's explore:
- Modifiers
- National Correct Coding Initiative
- Duplicate denials
- Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database
- Unprocessable Denials
- Tips for getting claims paid on the first submission
This program offers 6 Continuing Education Unit from the American Academy of Professional Coders.
| Date/Time | Address |
| 07/15/09 9:00 am - 4:00 pm | Stoney Creek Inn 101 Mariners Way East Peoria, IL 61611 (309) 694-1300 |
| Registration Information | |
| Registration for this event is closed. Registration Time 8:30am - 9:00am Cost: Free Seminar (Beverage Service Only) Seating is limited to the first 50 participants | |
| Date/Time | Address |
| 07/22/09 9:00 am - 4:00 pm | Stoney Creek Inn 3060 South Kinney Coulee Road Onalaska, WI 54650 (608) 781-3060 |
| Registration Information | |
| Click here to Register for the 07/22/09 Seminar (Registration will close 07/20/09) Registration Time 8:30am - 9:00am Cost: Free Seminar (Beverage Service Only) Seating is limited to the first 50 participants | |
| Date/Time | Address |
| 08/05/09 9:00 am - 4:00 pm | Holiday Inn 1951 US 41 W. Marquette, MI 49855 (906) 315-4211 |
| Registration Information | |
| Click here to Register for the 08/05/09 Seminar (Registration will close 08/03/09) Registration Time 8:30am - 9:00am CT Cost: FREE of charge (beverage service only) Seating is limited to the first 50 registrants | |
Beyond the Basics
Would you like to expand your basic knowledge of Medicare? WPS Medicare is pleased to offer an all-day session for those who wish to increase their knowledge of the Medicare Program. Our Beyond the Basics workshop offers "hands-on" learning and encourages participants to engage in learning that is both enjoyable and satisfying.
This full-day program, designed for coders, billers, and health care providers, will extend the participant's knowledge beyond a basic understanding of the Medicare Program. Participants will learn how to better utilize the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database, and the National Correct Coding Initiative Edits.
Other topics we will cover in this seminar:
- Top Unprocessable Claim Denials
- Medically Unlikely Edits (MUEs)
- Medicare Policy
- Provider Responsibilities
- 2009 Office of Inspector General (OIG) Work Plan
- Medical Review
- Coding Resources
- Non-Covered vs. Not Medically Necessary
- Beneficiary Notice Initiative
- Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) Program
- Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI)
- CMS Secure Net Access Portal (C-SNAP)
- Internet-Based Provider Enrollment Chain and Ownership System (PECOS)
- E-Prescribing Incentives
- WPS Medicare Educational Opportunities
Due to time limitations, the "Beyond the Basics" program does not include detailed information about specialty claims (i.e. Chiropractic, Ambulance, Physical Therapy, etc.).
Registration for each session begins 30 minutes before the event start time.
The American Academy of Professional Coders has approved this program for 5 Continuing Education Units (CEU).
| Date/Time | Address |
| 07/23/09 9am - 3pm | Clocktower Resort and Conference Center 7801 E State St. Rockford, IL 61108 (815) 398-6000 |
| Registration Information | |
| Registration for the 07/23/09 event is closed. Registration Time 8:30am - 9:00am Free Seminar | |
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Ask-the-Contractor Teleconferences (ACTS)
WPS Medicare is pleased to announce the 2009 schedule for our Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Ask-the-Contractor Teleconferences (ACT).
We have scheduled our EDI ACTs for 2009. These teleconferences will last one and one-half hours. We encourage providers, billing staff, vendors, and clearinghouses to call with any Medicare EDI questions they deem appropriate.
We will approach the call much in the same way CMS approaches their valuable Open Door Forums, promoting a forum that is less structured, and encourages participants to ask whatever they choose, as long as it pertains to Medicare EDI. We look forward to your participation in these calls!
What are Ask-the-Contractor Teleconferences (ACTs)?
The Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) requires Medicare contractors to hold Ask-the-Contractor Teleconferences (ACTs). This requirement is based on CMS' goal of giving those who provide service to beneficiaries, the information they need to: understand the Medicare program; be informed often and early about changes; and, in the end bill correctly.
The ACT promotes valuable interaction between the Medicare Contractor (WPS) and EDI customers. As stated previously, we modeled our ACTs after CMS Open Door Forums. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and raise concerns. EDI staff is available during the call to provide education, program updates, answer questions, and take feedback. In addition, we will provide necessary follow-up to any issues that cannot be resolved during the call time.
WPS Medicare encourages providers to participate in this important educational activity. You can access a recording of the EDI ACT teleconference on this Website approximately one week following the event.
Please Note: No Registration is Necessary
| Date | Time | Dial-In Number | Conference ID |
| July 9, 2009 | 1 pm CT | 800-305-2862 | 70745908 |
| September 10, 2009 | 1 pm CT | 800-305-2862 | 70746156 |
| November 12, 2009 | 1 pm CT | 800-305-2862 | 70746399 |
* Remember you can access a recording of this session on our Website approximately one week following the teleconference.
Webinars
Discover the ease of checking claim status and patient eligibility on-line using the CMS Secure Net Access Portal (C-SNAP).
Are you aware that WPS Medicare offers a FREE Web-based application that allows Medicare providers to check claim status and patient eligibility securely over the Internet?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and WPS Medicare are committed to offering self-service tools to assist providers. C-SNAP offers registered users with a FREE Web portal to conveniently access claim status and patient eligibility information 24 hours a day.
If you are interested in learning more about the advantages of using C-SNAP, then please join us for a one hour Webinar (Web-based seminar) profiling this powerful application. Discover how easy it is to register and navigate C-SNAP as we show you online in real-time. Ask questions and interact live with C-SNAP subject matter experts. Watch how to conveniently access claim status and patient eligibility securely over the Internet at no cost to you or your office.
The FREE Webinar will be presented using Mediasite, WPS Medicare's Web broadcasting tool. In order to participate, you will need a computer with Internet access that allows you to watch streaming video and listen to audio files. Mediasite allows you to watch and listen live, as well as to submit questions using the text feature.
Once you have registered, we will send you a confirmation including the Web address you will need to access the session.
We strongly encourage you to take the "Mediasite Helpful Hints" Computer-Based training at the link listed below. This will help you to make the most of your Mediasite experience. It will also confirm that your computer settings allow you to watch streaming video and listen to audio, both of which are required to participate.
http://wps.mediasite.com/wps/Viewer/?peid=3f2489b4-8971-4fe6-825d-0b3224ab8826 
Please note that more than one person can observe the FREE session from the same computer.
| Date/Time | Registration |
| 06/30/09 11:00am to 12:00pm CT | Registration for this event is closed. |
Registration Information
Registration for ALL IN-PERSON SEMINARS begins 30 minutes before the ACTUAL start time. Full day courses run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; lunch is on your own. Times may vary for teleconferences and half-day courses (see schedule above for exact times). Handouts for the teleconferences will be available on the Internet two weeks prior to the teleconference date. If you will not be able to download handouts from the Internet, please inform us at the time you register. Please note course availability may vary from state to state. All courses are free of charge. Additional courses will be scheduled at a later time. Watch for future postings to the WPS Website.
Registration Steps*
- Review the following schedule
- Select a course near you
- Register online:
- Click on the appropriate course number (this can be found in the second column of the appropriate table(s) above).
- Fill out the form accordingly.
- You will receive a message back from our Website stating we have received your request. This is NOT a confirmation of your registration. You will however receive a confirmation via telephone or e-mail.
PLEASE NOTE: When a confirmation e-mail for this seminar is sent from WPS it will come from a mailbox named medsem.b.enroll@wpsic.com.
*If you are unable to register online for a seminar, please verify that registration is not already closed. We are unable to register participants for closed seminars.
If you are experiencing technical difficulty registering online, or are unable to use online registration, please e-mail medsem.b.enroll@wpsic.com or contact us at 618-998-5240.
If you have registered for a course but are now unable to attend, please e-mail medsem.b.enroll@wpsic.com or contact us at 618-998-5240 as soon as possible so we may accommodate others.
Page Last Updated: Thursday, 02-Jul-2009 09:12:12 CDT
