Interqual and/or Milliman training for individuals

Excuse my font if it turns out bad....

You can go directly to McKessons's website and check out the certification criteria and courses that are offered. You can take the training even if you choose not to become certified. I think the course work and testing is pricey, but all of the training I have received through that organization was offered through my employers. Good luck to you!

I work both Full-Time CM and PT UR/UM. UR as a part-time job is great.

http://www.mckesson.com/payers/decision-management/services-and-education/services-and-education/

Ooops...for some reason the website link is not working... Try going to the main site: Health Care Information Technology Medical-Surgical Supplies and Pharmaceutical Distributor | McKesson then go to the search box in the upper right hand corner and type training and education. You can also call them directly and ask them for more information on their course offerings. Good luck.

Couldn't find any info about InterQual training using that link. I have searched high and low for a class on InterQual but have been unable to find one so far. I did find a 4 hour introduction to Utilization Review: MCG (Milliman Care Guideline) -- Utilization Review Criteria: Inpatient and Surgical Care-Milliman CareGuidelines

I'd love to find some training on InterQual. It is kind of a Catch-22. You can't get experience without working for a managed care company or a hospital that uses InterQual and you cant get a job without experience . . . it would be great if InterQual would offer training to individuals.

Part of being a case manager is the fact that you have to dig/investigate sometimes. Some resources are not very clear. This includes the McKesson website for some reason.

For instance, I used the link and followed the steps I placed in my second post. I typed in "education" in the search box. I found links that list education and training. The courses you will find calling them directly, which comes up on the first search page I clicked on. The website also has web pages with courses but they are not permanent and so it is better to just call them directly. Good luck.

I followed these links and never found an InterQual course that I could sign up for. I did see that they had a phone number listed, but no matter how many times I called, I only got a recording. I'm fairly sure that all the courses that are listed are only for employees who already work for a company that has purchased the InterQual software -- NOT individuals looking to learn about it who are not currently employed by a paying customer of McKesson / InterQual.

I would love to be wrong about this, but it is what I have experienced in my search to learn about InterQual Criteria.

Being the tenacious CM investigator that I am . . .

here is an FAQ page on the McKesson website: InterQual Education and Training FAQ's | McKesson that describes WHO InterQual offers training for and it is NOT to individuals --

What type of training is offered?

McKesson offers Web-based high-level software navigation, system access and security settings courses for our technology customers, training for criteria-only customers, and onsite training for criteria and technology customers.

P.S. McKesson's CPHM "certification" does not teach students how to use InterQual

CPHM Program Agenda -- see for yourself what is covered -- I don't see the word InterQual anywhere . . . or Case Management for that matter.

CPHM Program Agenda | McKesson

So this might be the wrong website all together. McKesson gives classes. Although I have taken courses through my employer I have co-workers who took additional classes at his/her own expense, which is why I know that they are very expensive. Also, the certification allows for individuals to take classes (the cert costs a lot and so do the prep courses through McKesson).

You may just want to wait until you get a job. The best way to get a job is to talk to former employers and their hiring managers of Case Management departments because, to be honest, taking training on Interqual does not make you a better candidate for a Case Management job. Work experience, as you know, and who you know will give you the upper hand.

McKesson gives classes and certificate examinations and CEUs for "certifications" that they invent all the time. I took one once (the CPUR exam, though I didn't pay for the "course"), just for fun, and it was nonsense. But they make a ton of money off 'em.

Different facilities uses different criteria (most commonly Interqual or Milliman). If you are applying for a job that will require knowledge of one of them, what you want to do is find out as much as you can about the particular flavor they use why, how it works, and so forth. You don't need expertise in it to start with, but you do need to have an appreciation for why it's used. There are reference handbooks for your use; get somebody to show you one, and then when you interview you can speak more knowledgeably. Say you have been reading up and you are interested in learning more about applying them in this setting. Worst that can happen is that they say they want someone who already has the book memorized, but if you look intelligent and easily trainable (because you already know the basics) they might take a chance on ya!

I have been in the same situation. Employers require Interqual experience, and the ones I have come in contact with won't even call you if it is not on your resume. What I have trouble understanding is, case managers are needed, but how do we get experience or training? It shouldn't be this difficult to get additional training to help us grow professionally, so we can find jobs that we are otherwise skilled to do.