Saturday, April 15, marked the first graduation of 16 newly certified medical billers from USVI company M1 Enterprises’ remote workforce development program. The graduates are now fully ready to enter the healthcare and technology fields, which are growing exponentially and hiring rapidly for careers rich with potential, according to the UVI Research and Technology Park.
In fact, more than four employers are already awaiting graduates, park officials said in a press release announcing the achievement.
Experts trained in medical billing and coding greatly increase the reimbursement rate by insurance companies to healthcare providers, thus improving the overall level of care possible, the release stated. They have been taught the technology behind precisely submitting coded claims to eliminate time- and resource-consuming back and forth with government agencies and insurance companies, it said.
Graduate Ida Lee said that remote work fits her lifestyle perfectly as a mother of three. “I was displaced after Hurricane Maria, and since I’ve been back home to the territory, I’ve been interested in a career in something technical like medical billing, but I wasn’t finding opportunities here. This is a really positive path for my life right now,” Lee said. She said she also appreciated the flexibility of the training, that she could study on her phone wherever she was, and that there were many tools to help her learn.
UVI Research and Technology Park CEO Peter H. Chapman extended congratulations to the graduates who were able to complete their weekly courses in person using the organization’s headquarters and state-of-the-art conference space at the 64 West Center.
“As we continue to build a strong and innovative workforce in the Virgin Islands, it is essential that we invest in tech-based training programs like this one. The world is changing rapidly, and it is important that our workforce has the skills and flexibility to keep up. Programs like M1 help create a brighter future for our community and build a thriving, innovative economy,” Chapman said. “Congratulations once again to the graduates of the M1 Enterprises medical billing certification program. Your hard work and dedication have paid off, and we are proud to have played a role in your success.”
In an illustrative example of increased cooperation and collaboration on economic development across the territory, all recruitment, training implementation and funding for this graduating cohort, as well as the one currently participating in training, was through the CDBG-DR Skills for Today Grant awarded to the V.I. Labor Department, according to the release.
Skills for Today is an innovative workforce development program administered by VIDOL and designed to train 640 Virgin Islanders for employment in industries such as construction, hospitality, healthcare, information technology, marine services, and public service.
M1 Enterprises, an RTPark member company and veteran-owned small business launched in the USVI on Oct. 31, through the merger of two existing entities that brought more than 25 years of healthcare and training experience, the release stated. Their mission is to train and deploy remote workforces in medical billing, coding and auditing, and revenue cycle services, it said.
In the short time since its launch, M1 has fielded 190 website applicants, channeled more than 60 applicants into its training process and celebrated 16 graduates, according to the release. To remove barriers to entry, laptops are provided for trainees’ use.
“M1 is proud to contribute to the territory’s economic growth while empowering its residents with new career potentials. This is a result of many people working together toward the M1 vision. We encourage anyone interested in a healthcare and technology-related careers to contact M1,” said M1’s CEO Doug Rideout.
For more information:
M1 Enterprises USVI
Douglas Rideout
Doug@M1Enterprises.com
479-754-1503
RTPark
Sydney Paul
sydney.paul@uvirtpark.net
340-474-0922
