Mini course · Foundation level
Revenue Cycle Management Basics
Follow one fictional outpatient encounter from scheduling to financial resolution. Map the revenue cycle, see how front-end data and verification errors travel downstream, connect documentation to the claim, interpret claim and payment results, calculate basic KPIs, and propose responsible process improvements.
What is Revenue Cycle Management Basics?
A foundation, internationally-oriented mini-course built around a single fictional case at Northbridge Medical Centre. Across five modules you will trace the revenue cycle map, strengthen front-end accuracy (scheduling, registration, eligibility and authorization), connect clinical documentation to coding and charge capture, work through claims, payment responses and collections, and measure performance with basic revenue cycle indicators. All patients, payers, plan rules, identifiers and amounts are fictional and for education only. The course does not teach coding to maximize reimbursement, does not present US-specific rules as universal, and never advises changing clinical documentation to justify a claim.
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Lessons
- 28
- Level
- Foundation
- Format
- Online, self-paced
What you'll be able to do
- Map the major stages of the healthcare revenue cycle from patient scheduling through final payment and account resolution.
- Explain how registration, demographic, eligibility and authorization errors can create downstream billing problems.
- Describe the relationship between clinical documentation, coding, charge capture and the submitted claim.
- Distinguish a claim rejection, a claim denial, a payment adjustment and an unresolved receivable at a foundational level.
- Interpret a remittance or payment result and identify an appropriate next administrative action.
- Calculate and interpret basic revenue cycle KPIs using fictional data.
- Recognize potential revenue leakage and propose process improvements without compromising compliance, care quality or patient trust.
Who this course is for
Course content
28 lessons · 1.5 hours total · free preview available
1Follow the Money, Follow the Encounter
5 minFree preview· The Revenue Cycle Map
Follow the Money, Follow the Encounter
An introduction to revenue cycle management as a connected process: the encounter moves through registration, verification, service delivery, documentation, coding, charge capture, claim submission, payment and follow-up. A small registration discrepancy in Ma…
2What Revenue Cycle Management Actually Covers
4 min· The Revenue Cycle Map
What Revenue Cycle Management Actually Covers
Available after you enroll.
3Put the Stages in Order
4 min· The Revenue Cycle Map
Put the Stages in Order
Available after you enroll.
4Where Did the Delay Begin?
4 min· The Revenue Cycle Map
Where Did the Delay Begin?
Available after you enroll.
5Front, Middle, or Back?
4 min· The Revenue Cycle Map
Front, Middle, or Back?
Available after you enroll.
6Get the Front End Right
5 min· Front End: Scheduling, Registration and Eligibility
Get the Front End Right
Available after you enroll.
7Registration, Eligibility, Benefits and Authorization
4 min· Front End: Scheduling, Registration and Eligibility
Registration, Eligibility, Benefits and Authorization
Available after you enroll.
8Find the Registration Error
4 min· Front End: Scheduling, Registration and Eligibility
Find the Registration Error
Available after you enroll.
9What Should Happen Before the Visit?
4 min· Front End: Scheduling, Registration and Eligibility
What Should Happen Before the Visit?
Available after you enroll.
10Preventable or Not Yet Known?
4 min· Front End: Scheduling, Registration and Eligibility
Preventable or Not Yet Known?
Available after you enroll.
11From Clinical Documentation to a Claim
5 min· Middle: Documentation, Coding and Charges
From Clinical Documentation to a Claim
Available after you enroll.
12Documentation Is the Foundation
4 min· Middle: Documentation, Coding and Charges
Documentation Is the Foundation
Available after you enroll.
13Who Owns Which Part of the Process?
4 min· Middle: Documentation, Coding and Charges
Who Owns Which Part of the Process?
Available after you enroll.
14Is the Claim Ready?
4 min· Middle: Documentation, Coding and Charges
Is the Claim Ready?
Available after you enroll.
15Repair the Handoff
4 min· Middle: Documentation, Coding and Charges
Repair the Handoff
Available after you enroll.
16Mini Case: The Missing Charge
4 min· Middle: Documentation, Coding and Charges
Mini Case: The Missing Charge
Available after you enroll.
17From Claim Submission to Payment
5 min· Back End: Claims, Payment and Collections
From Claim Submission to Payment
Available after you enroll.
18Rejection, Denial, Adjustment and Receivable
4 min· Back End: Claims, Payment and Collections
Rejection, Denial, Adjustment and Receivable
Available after you enroll.
19Choose the Next Action
4 min· Back End: Claims, Payment and Collections
Choose the Next Action
Available after you enroll.
20Read the Payment Outcome
4 min· Back End: Claims, Payment and Collections
Read the Payment Outcome
Available after you enroll.
21Find the Revenue Leakage Risk
4 min· Back End: Claims, Payment and Collections
Find the Revenue Leakage Risk
Available after you enroll.
22Patient-Centered Financial Communication
4 min· Back End: Claims, Payment and Collections
Patient-Centered Financial Communication
Available after you enroll.
23Turn Revenue Cycle Data into Action
5 min· Measuring Performance
Turn Revenue Cycle Data into Action
Available after you enroll.
24Four Useful Revenue Cycle Indicators
4 min· Measuring Performance
Four Useful Revenue Cycle Indicators
Available after you enroll.
25Match the Indicator to What It Measures
4 min· Measuring Performance
Match the Indicator to What It Measures
Available after you enroll.
26Read the Fictional Dashboard
5 min· Measuring Performance
Read the Fictional Dashboard
Available after you enroll.
27Revenue Cycle Management Basics — Final Assessment
10 min· Measuring Performance
Revenue Cycle Management Basics — Final Assessment
Available after you enroll.
28Your Revenue Cycle Action Plan
3 min· Measuring Performance
Your Revenue Cycle Action Plan
Available after you enroll.
Earn a credential employers can check
This certificate confirms completion of the AIHCM micro-course Revenue Cycle Management Basics.
Issued: on completion
How it works
- Finish all 28 lessons at your own pace.
- Get your digital credential with a unique ID.
- Share it — employers can verify it at aihcm.us.
Questions people ask
Does this course teach medical coding or how to maximize reimbursement?
No. It explains how documentation, coding and charge capture connect to the claim, and it never teaches choosing a code to obtain higher payment or billing for a service that was not delivered or supported by documentation.
Is the course US-specific?
No. It is internationally oriented. Code sets, coverage rules, authorization requirements, claim formats, deadlines, appeals and patient financial responsibility vary by jurisdiction, payer, contract and service — the course flags these as variable rather than universal.
Are the patients, payers and numbers real?
No — every patient, payer, plan rule, identifier and amount is fictional and for education only. Always follow your organization’s policies and applicable local requirements.