PACS® program information
The Prior Authorization Certified Specialist (PACS) program is the first and only accredited certification for prior authorizations, access, and reimbursement in the world.
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Recommended
95% rate PACS good to excellent
Accredited
PACS is accredited by IACET/ANSI
100% online
Learn at your own pace fully online
10-12 hours
Time needed to complete the PACS program
Credential
Earn a prestigious PACS credential
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Get a full 360 degree overview of the PACS program
PACS® program curriculum
Prior authorization understanding
Covers what prior authorization is and how it came to be utilized across the industry
Insurance policies and payment
Provides a comprehensive understanding of health insurance for federal, state, and commercial plans as well as pricing, drug tiering and copay assistance
Compliance
Focuses on the compliance standards relevant to any professional working in reimbursement and access
Process
Centers on the functional steps of processing prior authorizations from requirement discovery to claim submission
Barriers to access
Provides the essential resources and education to develop the skills needed to handle denials and work towards claim resolution
The PACS® program provides IACET CEUs
IACET statement of accreditation
The Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
IACET CEU credit statement
As an IACET Accredited Provider, the Accreditation Council for Affairs offers CEUs for its programs that qualify under the ANSI/IACET Standard. The Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs is authorized by IACET to offer 1.2 CEUs for the PACS program. Note: All target audience members are eligible for continuing education credit upon successful completion of this program. This program does not issue certificates of attendance and does not award partial Joint Accreditation (JA) or IACET CEU continuing education credit certificates for partial completion.
What will I learn in the PACS® program?
The prior authorization process
Insurance policies and pricing
Compliance - HIPAA, security, fraud and abuse
Medical records and the prescription
Fundamentals before the authorization process
Communication methods
Service line and medication process and submission
Special considerations for service orders
Out of network waivers
Coverage determination types in medication
Denials and appeals
The future of prior authorizations
Program structure
Once you enroll in the PACS program, you have up to 6 months to complete the program.
Each of the 12 PACS modules includes:
Pre-quiz (optional)
Establishes your existing knowledge of the specific module's content
Module content
Consists of multiple sections that vary from module to module
Post-quiz
Determines how well you've absorbed and retained the module content
PACS is a self-paced program, and you have six months to complete the certification. On average, most learners complete the program within 2 months (approximately 10-12 hours)
Program learning outcomes
Align the goals of authorizers with the expectations of patients and payers
Understand the prior authorization landscape to improve patient access
Reinforce knowledge of federal, state, and commercial health plans
Learn how to process prior authorizations by navigating the communication expectations of payers
Broaden your knowledge of special considerations for disease states, services, and product types that can influence the patient's journey to better health
Improve confidence when handling denials and submitting appeals
95% of industry professionals rated the PACS® program as good to excellent.
What does the PACS® Program include?
12 premier learning modules (updated quarterly)
Practical case studies
Downloadable resources
PACS toolkit
Knowledge checks
Final examination
24/7 dedicated live support
Documentation & policies
