Category: Business

ORLANDO, FL, UNITED STATES, March 9, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Northbridge University, the institution formerly known as Florida Technical College (FTC-NUC), today reaffirms its commitment to delivering workforce-driven education that directly aligns with high-demand industries, ensuring graduates from its campuses and online programs are prepared to enter the labor market with the skills and degrees aligned with employers’ needs.

Built on decades of career-focused educational excellence, Northbridge University continues to evolve its curriculum across key sectors such as construction, business, health care, and emerging technology.

Northbridge currently has 8 campuses in Florida, 3 in Oregon, 19 in Puerto Rico, and a national online presence serving students in more than 40 states. A significant investment is fueling the expansion of programs and new campuses.

$100 Million Investment to Transform Learning and Campus Experience

To lay a strong foundation for its long-term strategic growth, Northbridge University is advancing a $100 million expansion investment, over the next three years, that reinforces its mission to serve students and communities nationwide. This major capital initiative encompasses expanded facilities, enhanced learning environments, and campus expansion in Florida and select markets nationwide. A new Florida campus will be opening this year in Hialeah, a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida. In addition, officials are exploring expansion into other states, including Texas.

As part of this expansion, Northbridge University will launch more than 30 new academic programs, including bachelor’s and doctoral degrees, 10 of which will begin in 2026. The new offerings will be aligned with high-demand fields and emerging areas such as artificial intelligence. In addition, the university is developing 20 short-term credential programs focused on key workforce growth sectors such as construction, healthcare, technology, and business, with the goal of strengthening the workforce and creating accelerated pathways to employment.

Career-Aligned Programs Fuel Workforce Opportunities

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing, skilled trades, and technology are expected to grow the fastest from 2024-2034. Meeting these workforce demands with rapid credentialing options benefits both employers and students, and Northbridge’s offerings allow for that to happen.

Healthcare & Nursing:

Northbridge University’s nursing programs are designed to prepare students for a profession that is essential, growing, and in persistent demand across the U.S. healthcare system. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurses (RNs) is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, with an average of about 189,100 annual openings driven by both growth and the need to replace retiring nurses. The median annual wage for RNs — approximately $93,600 — also significantly exceeds the median for all occupations, reflecting strong demand and economic opportunity.

Northbridge’s training facilities include advanced high-, medium-, and low-fidelity equipment, giving students reliable, hands-on experience beyond clinical sites. Students also work with virtual simulations designed to help them master each procedure and concept in detail. Nursing graduates benefit from Northbridge’s 70 collaborating hospitals, nursing homes, and healthcare institutions.

Other popular healthcare offerings include the Bachelor’s of Allied Health Management and the 12-month Medical Assistant Technician with Emphasis in Basic X-Ray program.

Skilled Trades:

Northbridge University’s construction and skilled trades programs are aligned with one of the most vital and fastest-expanding segments of the U.S. economy. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction and extraction occupations — which include carpenters, electricians, plumbers, equipment operators, and other trades — are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2034, with an estimated 649,300 job openings per year due to growth and the need to replace workers who retire or leave the field. Northbridge curricula in these areas integrate hands-on training and industry certification preparation that mirrors real job tasks and standards that employers demand. Training is also heavily practical, with the HVAC program comprising 520 hours of lecture and 440 hours of lab.

Many graduates from the university’s trades programs decide to continue their education, with 40% having gone on to pursue a Bachelor’s in Construction Management.

Innovation Through AI and Technology Pathways

Northbridge University’s expanding program portfolio in artificial intelligence (AI) and information technology reflects one of the fastest-growing areas of the U.S. labor market. Computer and mathematical occupations — which encompass many AI, data science, cybersecurity, and software development roles — are projected to grow by about 10.1% from 2024 to 2034, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

On Feb. 4, Northbridge (formerly Florida Technical College-NUC) announced its new name (formerly Florida Technical College-NUC). “Northbridge” signifies the university’s role as a “bridge” that leads students toward career preparation. Dr. James Michael Burkett is president of the institution’s U.S. Operations.

About Northbridge University

Northbridge University, formerly Florida Technical College, the DAVE School, NUC, is a leading institution committed to workforce academic innovation and career-focused education. With roots dating back to 1982 in both Puerto Rico and the continental United States, Northbridge University serves a diverse population of working adults, first-generation students, and multicultural learners through campuses across Puerto Rico, Florida, and Oregon, as well as a robust online division spanning the U.S. Offering flexible pathways from certificates to graduate and emerging doctoral programs in both English and Spanish, the university’s academic portfolio spans high-growth, workforce-aligned disciplines including healthcare, technology, business, skilled trades, and public service. Guided by experienced faculty and strengthened through community and industry partnerships, Northbridge University prepares students to succeed in today’s evolving economy.

Northbridge University is authorized by the Puerto Rico Board of Postsecondary Institutions (JIP) under certifications 2019-161, 2017-384, and 2017-390. NUC University and its technical division are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The institution operates campuses and educational centers in Puerto Rico and the United States and offers on-campus, hybrid, and online programs through its academic, online education, and continuing education divisions. Academic offerings range from diplomas and associate degrees to bachelor’s and master’s programs.

Melissa Ezarik
RW Jones Agency
mezarik@rwjonesagency.com

Message from Michael Bannett, CEO and President of Northbridge University

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NEW YORK CITY, NY, UNITED STATES, March 9, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Author Yvette T. Mihaly debuts an electrifying science fiction, time-travel adventure with Passage, the first installment in the Slide Series. Earning a 4.8 out of 5-star rating from readers, the novel blends time travel, suspense, and supernatural intrigue into a gripping narrative that challenges the very concept of destiny.

When Melanie is forced down the slide, she has no idea that her life, and the lives of those she loves, are about to shift irrevocably. The portal does more than transport; it alters destiny. It reshapes fate and engulfs the reader into the surreal with unexpected plot twists while challenging the what-if questions about the cosmic unknown.

As the boundaries between past, present, and possibility collide, Melanie becomes part of the enigma itself. Each novel in the series deepens and cultivates consequences and revelations about the slide and its need for self-preservation.

Passage delivers pulse-pounding action while exploring the philosophical tension between predetermined fate and personal agency. Mihaly crafts a layered narrative filled with unexplained phenomena, escalating suspense, and an unexpected love story. Fans of Outlander, Stranger Things, Dark Matter, and Hail Mary will find themselves immersed in the novel where Mihaly touts—fiction is the new reality.

The first novel establishes the Slide Series as a compelling new entry in speculative fiction, combining atmospheric world-building with cinematic intensity. With its blend of spellbinding action and emotional stakes, Passage spurs the question of whether certain fates align across time, or whether time constructs defy destiny altogether.

Yvette T. Mihaly introduces a dynamic heroine and haunting premise that sets the stage for the fast-paced, expansive seven-book series. Mihaly invites you to climb aboard. Read Passage and Escape before the third book, Time Continuum, releases in late March.

The first two books are available on Amazon. Passage is also available at: https://a.co/d/07PAfclK

Find out more at: https://celestialkeyholepublishing.com

For review copies, interview requests, or additional information, please contact:

Yvette T. Mihaly
BrightKey PR
Celestialkeyholepub1@gmail.com

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EIN Presswire provides this news content “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability
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Medicare’s 2025 APCM billing update pays primary care physicians a monthly per-patient fee for care management; no time-tracking required.

BETHESDA, MD, UNITED STATES, March 9, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Medicare Introduces APCM in 2025, Creating New Monthly Revenue Stream for Primary Care Physicians
Advanced Primary Care Management (APCM) is Medicare’s most significant primary care billing update since the introduction of Chronic Care Management in 2015. Primary care physicians, family medicine providers, and internists with Medicare patients now have access to a new monthly billing program that could generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual revenue currently going uncollected.

WHAT IS APCM BILLING?
Advanced Primary Care Management is a monthly billing program introduced by CMS effective January 1, 2025. It pays primary care providers a recurring per-patient fee for comprehensive, ongoing care management — the coordination work that happens between office visits.
APCM bundles elements of three existing programs into one simplified payment model. Chronic Care Management (CCM) covers patients with multiple chronic conditions. Principal Care Management (PCM) addresses disease-specific complex condition management. Transitional Care Management (TCM) handles coordination after hospital discharge.
Unlike its predecessors, APCM is status-based, not time-based. There is no 20-minute minimum requirement. When a patient meets criteria and the required service elements are provided, the appropriate monthly code is billed.

KEY DISTINCTION
APCM eliminates time-tracking requirements. Billing is based on patient complexity and status — not on documenting every minute of care time. This represents the biggest operational improvement over CCM.
THE THREE APCM BILLING CODES: G0556, G0557, G0558

G0556 covers patients with zero or one chronic condition, reimbursing approximately $16.70 per month at the 2026 national average. This code covers foundational APCM service elements including 24/7 access and an electronic care plan, and remains billable for lower-complexity Medicare patients.
G0557 is the most commonly billed APCM code, reimbursing $53.91 per month at the 2026 national average. It applies to patients with two or more chronic conditions expected to last at least 12 months that place the patient at significant risk of hospitalization, functional decline, or death. This covers the vast majority of complex primary care Medicare patients — including those with diabetes, hypertension, COPD, heart failure, CKD, and depression.
G0558 reimburses $117.53 per month at the 2026 national average. It applies to patients who qualify for Level 2 and are also Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMB) — meaning they are dual eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. These are typically the highest-complexity patients with the most significant social and medical needs. QMB patients cannot be billed directly for cost-sharing.

WHO CAN BILL APCM?
APCM may be billed by physicians (MDs and DOs), Nurse Practitioners (NPs), Physician Assistants (PAs), Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs).
The billing provider must be the continuing focal point for all of the patient’s primary care services. Only one practice can bill APCM for a given patient in any calendar month.

APCM REQUIREMENTS
CMS requires providers to have the capability to furnish 13 service elements, though not all must be delivered to every patient every month. Key requirements include patient consent obtained once and documented in the medical record, an initiating visit for new patients (an Annual Wellness Visit qualifies), 24/7 access for urgent needs, an individualized electronic patient-centered care plan, medication reconciliation and management, care coordination with specialists, transitional care management following hospitalizations, population-level management capabilities, and performance measurement reporting for MIPS-eligible clinicians.

APCM VS. CCM
APCM and CCM cannot be billed concurrently for the same patient in the same month. For practices with robust care management capabilities, APCM offers several advantages: no time-tracking is required, patient eligibility is broader, documentation requirements are simplified, and APCM Level 3 (G0558) pays significantly more than CCM for dual-eligible patients.
If a provider manages only a single condition for a patient rather than serving as the primary care focal point, PCM codes may still be appropriate.

THE DOCUMENTATION CHALLENGE
The single biggest barrier to APCM adoption is creating and maintaining individualized electronic care plans for every enrolled patient. CMS requires these plans to address medical, functional, and psychosocial needs and be updated continuously.
For a practice with 500 enrolled patients, manual care plan creation and maintenance represents a significant ongoing administrative burden. Tile Health (https://www.tilehealthcare.com) was built to address this challenge. Tile Health’s AI generates fully CMS-compliant, individualized care plans from patient records and ongoing triage interactions — automatically and at scale — meeting all 13 APCM service element requirements.

HOW TILE HEALTH MAKES APCM BILLING OPERATIONAL
Tile Health is an end-to-end AI platform that automates every step of the APCM workflow. The platform’s AI identifies eligible patients and conducts enrollment outreach calls. Automated clinical triage handles patient contacts between visits on a 24/7 basis. Care plans are generated and updated automatically in a CMS-compliant, individualized format. Monthly billing artifacts are generated and ready for the practice to submit directly to Medicare.
Practices retain full control of the Medicare billing relationship. Tile Health charges a flat fee — not a revenue share — allowing practices to retain 60 to 70 percent of billed revenue, compared to 30 to 50 percent with traditional vendors.

Ali Elmarsafawy
Tile Health
+1 281-404-5981
email us here
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EIN Presswire provides this news content “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability
for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this
article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.