Dietetic interns from Montana State University spent a day with leaders from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana, learning the ins and outs of health insurance.
The students are beginning a year-long internship before becoming registered dietitians.
The workshop was organized by BCBSMT Senior Wellness Analyst Ashlyn Jones, who is a registered dietitian and a graduate of the MSU program. The day introduces future providers to the insurance side of the health care industry.
“We get to talk to them at a really good time because they are just getting ready to go out and actually practice in the field,” Jones said. “They will be in clinical settings, and they will have a more comprehensive understanding of insurance after this session.”
This was the second consecutive year that BCBSMT welcomed students from MSU. A total of 26 dietetic interns and two internship directors traveled from the Bozeman campus to BCBSMT headquarters in Helena.
The day started with a tour of the building, followed by an overview of BCBSMT's community outreach. Then the students learned about insurance basics, medical management, the network credentialing process and Blue Value, a wellness program available to members of some BCBSMT group plans.
In a span of five hours, the students took in a lot of information and left with a better understanding of BCBSMT's role in health care.
“I had some thoughts about co-pays and all of that just having been a patient and having it solidified and defined has been helpful,” said intern Kellan Morgan. “I didn’t know about all of the outreach that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana does.”
