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Page 1 The Texas Tumbleweed
teammates and new talent on the way! The Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X (Me!) and Generation Y all have something to offer in their own way. Laura took us back in time and to the present again to remember the influences that have helped shape us. We have all grown up in an ever-changing world that views things differ-ently. Some aspects that have helped to shape us include events such as world catastro-phes, wars, tragedy, and technol-ogy including computers, the cell phone (who doesn’t have one?), even people portrayed in the media. These ideals affect things such as etiquette, dress, work ethics, and our needs and wants.
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reception in honor of all ‘first timers’ and new members of AAHAM. This provided a fo-rum of networking and idea sharing with colleagues from across the country. Mollie from California and Debbie from Louisiana were two first timers who I was fortunate to meet. We shared ideas, challenges and possible solutions for some of our similar frustrations. Thurs-day’s and Friday’s activities of-fered 5 various presentation tracks to choose from including: Management/Revenue cycle; Compliance; Access/Quality Management; Physician/Clinic and Leadership/Professional Development. With so many interesting tracks, it was hard to choose one and feel that I could
experience everything that would be of interest to my job as well as to others in my facil-ity. ‘National’ did provide a CD disk upon registration to help attendees review the other presentations at a later time; but I suggest bringing a col-league or two with you to ab-sorb the information in person. Day two, keynote speaker Laura Maxwell started the day with such energy and charisma while speaking on age related diversity and how to understand it in our workplace. Change, as we all know, is a constant in health-care and adapting to genera-tional uniqueness can put us a step above...or at least give us a better understanding of our
“First Timer” at ANI 2007
Save the Date
AAHAM Texas Bluebonnet Chapter’s
4th Annual State Institute
June 18-20, 2008 Sheraton Austin Hotel
701 East 11th Street Austin, Texas
see page 8 for details
An award-winning publication of the AAHAM Texas Bluebonnet Chapter Vol. 1, Issue 7 December, 2007
Inside this Issue President’s Message…………....Page 2 Online Membership Renewal….Page 2 Legislative Liaison…………..…..Page 3 Membership Form………….…..Page 4 Go Paperless & Improve Cash Flow with a Digital Lockbox…………………….….Page 5 Membership Memoranda……....Page 6 Corporate Partners…………....Page 6 Welcome 2008-2009 Officers....Page 7 Chapter Leaders…………….....Page 8 November 16 Meeting Recap….Page 9 Upcoming Events…………...…..Page 9
From registration to ‘farewell till next year’ the AAHAM ANI conference proved to be an excellent event! This year’s 3-day conference was held in Fort Lauderdale Florida, next to the beautiful coastline. The beginning of the event was kicked off Wednesday with an inspirational keynote speaker, Thomas D. Jones, Ph.D. Dr. Jones spoke about his 11-year career with NASA through photos and vocal imagery. The importance of Teamwork and the passion he displayed made me sit back and think about my own role in our challenging world of healthcare today. On the opening evening the National Board held a warm
By Chris Freeman
Page 2 The Texas Tumbleweed
A large part of our Chapter’s suc-cess over the past two years is due to our Corporate Partners and the Corporate Sponsors of our Re-gional Meetings and the Annual State Institute. To each of our Corporate Partners and Corpo-rate Sponsors we greatly appreci-ate your commitment and dedica-tion to make the AAHAM Texas Bluebonnet Chapter “the” source
of our members’ educational needs and requirements. An-other large part of our Chapter’s success is due to you….our member. Through your participation at our educational ses-sions and/or volunteering to serve on a committee, we as a Chapter have accomplished so many things over the past two years. Let’s keep the momentum going. Our Education Chair, Ms. Terry Sanchez Allison, and her Edu-cation Committee are at it again. Our fall meeting is scheduled for November 16, 2007 at the U.T. Southwestern-St. Paul Hospital in Dallas. The committee has put together an excel-lent agenda as usual. Please plan on attending for your contin-ued educational rewards. This year was an election year for both the Chapter and Na-tional AAHAM. Please congratulate the newly elected officers
of the Texas Bluebonnet Chapter and contact them to volun-teer your time, energy and expertise. You can serve on a committee of your choice--Really. As Nike has advertised: Just Do It! And you’ll be glad you did. The AAHAM Annual National Institute which was held in Ft. Lauderdale this year was excellent. You should read the arti-cle from our Chapter’s “First Timer”. The results of the Na-tional election were announced and to check out the newly elected officers go the website: www.aaham.org. As for our chapter we took Third Place for the National Journal Award for our “Texas Tumbleweed” and we took Fourth Place in the Alan Tabas Division for the Chapter Excellence Award. Our sincere appreciation goes out to Angie Box as the Editor of the Texas Tumbleweed and Leah Jane Taglienti as the Chair-man for the Chapter Excellence Committee. Again their hard work paid off for the Chapter. The continued growth of our chapter can only be accom-plished through the strength and participation of our member-ship, chapter leadership and Corporate Partners/Corporate Sponsors. Remember, “So much can be accomplished, when it doesn’t matter who gets the credit”.
Bill Spare, M.B.A., CPAM, FHFMA President
AAHAM Texas Bluebonnet Chapter
President’s Message
Denise Munoz (925) 685-9300
www.ciriusgroup.com
Donor
The Texas Tumbleweed
Editor-in-Chief Angie Box Review Editors Leah Jane
Taglienti Terry Sánchez Allison,
M.H.A., CPAM, FHFMA
Reporters Julie Shaw
Shelley Carney Patt Lowe
Becky Turner
Renew Your AAHAM Membership Today!
In an effort to better serve our members, the Texas Bluebonnet Chapter now offers online renewals for local members. If you are a local member, please visit our website at www.txaaham.org. You must login with your username and password to access the online renewal form. Your username is your e-mail address. Please contact Katie Pedersen at [email protected] for your login details. Please note that the online renewal form is for Local members ONLY. Dual (National & Local) Members must renew on the National AAHAM website at www.aaham.org. Be sure to renew your membership today to avoid a lapse in membership benefits.
Texas Bluebonnet Chapter Introduces Online Membership Renewal
Page 3 The Texas Tumbleweed
An example Laura gave is the interviewees that might have a differ-ent way of dress (piercings, tattoo, blue hair). They may have the knowledge and education to do the job but you overlook them be-cause of their ‘expression’. Interview them and if offering the job on skills, discuss the dress code of the environment as a requirement of employment. Another example of a changing world from the time of Traditionalists to a Generation Y is the very successful clothing store that is advertising for employees with the following ad, Great place to work and you can wear ‘Flip-flops’! This is Healthcare’s em-ployment competition! Many well-represented sponsors/vendors were also on hand to help provide insight and solutions to many of our daily needs. The social events, Presidents Reception and Awards Banquet put me in great company with many new friends, professional colleagues, and sound resources. Bill Spare and Leah Jane Taglienti both made me feel very welcome at this banquet and throughout the conference. The ending presentation at the ANI this year was a panel discussion on RAC, Recovery Audit Contractors. The purpose of RAC is to uncover overpayments made by the Medicare program. Currently CMS has rolled this out to 3 states only and will be adding three more in the coming months. Texas is not in the listing yet but RAC is expected to become a nation wide initiative. Many hospitals in the California, New York, and Florida area are experiencing problems, including the need for additional FTE’s to manage the audit and re-coupment of funds in the millions. This is something that has me concerned and has heightened my level of awareness. I am taking with me from the AAHAM ANI conference of 2007 many new colleagues, resources, perspectives and knowledge. This was my first ANI conference and I would like to thank the Texas Blue-bonnet Chapter for the privilege to have attended. Mark your calen-dars for next year 2008 in Chicago! See you there!
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First-Timer at ANI
Benefactor
Did you know you our Chapter re-ceives Chapter Excellence points for every member; however, we receive
more for dual members. If you are not a dual member, upgrade your member-
ship today!
For more info on how to earn points for our Chapter, please contact Leah Jane
Taglienti at [email protected]
(Chapter Excellence is an award given at the AAHAM ANI based on chapter per-
formance.)
?
Ed Selleck (205) 807-2848
Donor
Legislative Day 2008 Legislative Day 2008 is right around the corner, March 5th and 6th. With all of the issues and obstacles facing us in healthcare today, it is impera-tive that you take this opportu-nity to let your voice be heard by the decision-makers in Washington. AAHAM is giving you the opportunity to person-ally make this happen. How can you afford to let this op-portunity pass you by? Time is running out. In order to have the time needed to
schedule an appointment with your Senator, the deadline for registration is February 20th. Hotel reservations at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill (www.hyatt.com) must be made on or before February 4th to guarantee a room. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the AAHAM National Office. You may download a registration form from the AAHAM Website at www.aaham.org.
Page 4 The Texas Tumbleweed
Page 5 The Texas Tumbleweed
Go Paperless & Improve Cash Flow with a Digital Lockbox
The US healthcare payment system processes $1.9 trillion a year, but despite the industry momentum toward completely paperless claims and payments, 80-90% of medical reimburse-ments are still paid by check.1 For now, most practices, clinics and hospitals still have to deal with getting paper – and a lot of it – as part of their revenue cycle. Some banks offer an alternative to the inefficient, costly and manual processing of paper-based receivables: a digital lock-box. This service combines traditional lockbox mail processing with the latest digital document imaging to help providers deal with incoming paper and accelerate their cash flow. Here’s how a digital lockbox works:
Healthcare providers who use a digital lockbox essentially outsource the handling of their mail and depositing of remit-tances to the lockbox service provider. As a result, they re-port a range of benefits: • Improved cash flow. The most significant benefit of the
service is the elimination of “desktop” float. A digital lock-box vendor usually deposits your money faster than you can, often the same day checks are received. No staff time is spent preparing deposits and no one has to find time to run the deposit to the bank.
• Back-office productivity. Paper handling is virtually elimi-nated because of the tools available to work with the electronic document images:
• Search: powerful search tools let staff easily lo-cate documents online by searching for data on the documents such as date, amount, name, payer or potentially any available field of informa-tion on the original documents.
• Annotations: a set of tools for working with the electronic document images. Annotation tools can dramatically streamline the process of work-ing secondary or denied claim issues. Without
changing the stored document, you have the abil-ity to make notes, apply “stamps” and conceal other patient data for HIPAA compliancy, as is often required with multi-patient EOBs. Com-pare this to the process of searching files, manu-ally copying EOBs then using a black magic marker to blackout data before you can share the document with a third party. Annotation tools enable tremendous efficiency gains in this process.
• Business continuity. Payments are deposited in your ac-count even in the event of a disaster. Critical collections
By Justin Thompson, Treasury Management Services, SNB Bank of San Antonio
1. Collections mail is received, opened & sorted by the digital lockbox vendor.
2. Checks are totaled & de-posited.
3. Documents – checks, EOBs & other – are scanned, in-dexed & stored online.
4. Electronic copies of docu-ments accessed online by staff.
documents are also backed up and available via the inter-net. A change of address should not threaten your cash flow while you wait for payers to find you at your new location.
• Risk of fraud minimized. Using a digital lockbox creates a beneficial separation of duties. Office staff no longer han-dle insurance payments, and a digital lockbox provides an audit trail.
• • Reduced paper storage. With collections documents stored online, there is no need to store the paper copies. Use the free space to generate more revenue.
• • Improved patient service. Patient inquiries may be an-swered during initial contact because staff can quickly find the needed reference documents online. No more call backs, telephone tag and spending time in the storage room looking for a copy of a filed, paper EOB.
Most digital lockbox vendors provide this solution as a ser-vice, which means you don’t have to install new scanners or special software to use it. This also means that you can acti-
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Page 6
Student Member 1 Local Members 128 Dual Members 127 Total Members 256
Corporate Partners Benefactors
Accurro Healthcare Solutions CBAS/CDR Associates
Cardon Healthcare Network, Inc. SNB Bank
West Asset Management
Donors Awarix, Inc.
The Cirius Group, Inc. NCO Financial Systems, Inc.
NEBO Systems, Inc. ParrishShaw + Co.
Passport Health Communications The SSI Group, Inc.
Xactimed, Inc.
Contributors Corpra Care, Inc.
Cymetrix Doctors Reporting Service of Texas
Ingram & Associates Medical Data Systems, Inc.
NRS Nationwide Recovery Systems Resource Corporation of America
VisionShare
Event Sponsors Craneware, Inc.
Financial Corporation of America MAX Revenue Solutions, Ltd.
Medical Data Systems, Inc. SNB Bank
If you are interested in being a Chapter Corporate Partner, please contact Becky Turner at [email protected]
New Members as of April 30, 2007 Dual Members Shannon Arroyo, New Braunfels Surgical Center Lea Ayres-Auld, Integra Hospital Dwayne Chambless, Collins Financial Services, Inc. Chris Cribbs, GBI Services, LLC Teresa Eoff, BA, CitiCapital Louise Garcia, GBI Services, LLC John O’Hara , Certi-Med Laura Peterman, HCFS Inc. Mia Smith, Parkland Health & Hospital System Brett Walker, MediGain, Inc.
Local Members Diana Agorastos, University of Texas Medical Branch Marie R. Baltzell, Austin Diagnostic Clinic Greg Blankenship, Ameripath, Inc. R. Lanette Boyett, Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital Brenda Calderon, Wilbarger General Hospital Mario Chavez, Methodist Medical Center Leo Conway, Texas Childrens Hospital F. Ruben Escamilla, The University of Texas Medical Branch Shawn Franzeo, North Texas Medical Center Christine Gray, Texas Childrens Hospital Melissa Haddox, Triumph Healthcare, LLC Valerie A. Hayes, Methodist Dallas Medical Center Nancy Hutchins, North Texas Medical Center Sheila Jones, Texas Childrens Hospital Jerie D Kelly, Austin Diagnostic Clinic Jennifer Mora, Hopkins County Memorial Hospital Sherry Navarrett, North Texas Medical Center Charlotte Piontek, Craneware Silvia V Rios, Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center Shannon Roshan, U.T. Health Center at Tyler Kade Rutherford, Children's Medical Center of Dallas Felicia Shade, CCA Healthcare Receivables Rose Shorey, Lubbock Heart Hospital Doug Spainhower, The Cirius Group, Inc. Lisa Swackhamer, University of Texas Medical Branch Monique Marie Trujillo-Gary, Fresenius Medical Care Roy E. Wagner, TpHR Suzanne M. White, The University of Texas Medical Branch Richard Williams, Protiviti
Page 7 The Texas Tumbleweed
Benefactor
Donor
Aaron Mulroy (615) 261-2798 aaron.mulroy@
passporthealth.com
Thank you to each member who voted to elect our new 2008-2009 Officers.
Donor
Ann Diamond (214) 382-2301
Robert Hughes (972) 792-4374
Donor
Welcome 2008-2009 Officers
President Marji Henry, CCAM Assistant Executive Director Clinic Operations Scott & White [email protected] First Vice President Angie Hawkins, CPAM Director of Support Services HCA Patient Account Services [email protected] Second Vice President Shelly Carney Corporate Development Cardon Healthcare Network, Inc. [email protected]
Treasurer Angie Box Director of Operations Healthcare Recovery Alliance [email protected] Secretary Carolyn A. Nottingham Regional Account Managers NEBO Systems, Inc. [email protected] Chairman of the Board Bill Spare, MBA, CPAM, FHFMA Director – Central Business Office Methodist Health System [email protected]
Page 8 The Texas Tumbleweed
Texas Bluebonnet Chapter Board of Directors PRESIDENT CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD Bill Spare, MBA, CPAM, FHFMA Terry Sánchez Allison, MHA, CPAM, FHFMA 1st VICE PRESIDENT 2nd VICE PRESIDENT Marji Henry, CCAM Angie Hawkins, CPAM SECRETARY TREASURER Mary Jo Clendenen, CPAM Brian Craft
Committees Certification….Patt Lowe
Chapter Excellence….Leah Jane Taglienti Communications…..Angie Box
Constitution & Bylaws…..Mitch Taylor Corporate Partners….Lynn Noldt
Education….Terry Sánchez Allison, MHA, CPAM, FHFMA Membership………..Julie Shaw
Legislative…………..Shelly Carney Scholarship & Awards…..Dana Mojica
Chapter Administrators….Becky Turner & Katie Pedersen
Need a job? Got a job opening? www.txaaham.org www.txaaham.org
Members may submit job openings to place on our website. You may also search any posted job openings. If you are a member and did not receive
your username and password, please contact Katie Pederson at [email protected]
Ken Krieger Revenue Cycle Consultant (800) 648-1744, ext. 2109
Benefactor
vate this service and start getting the benefits in a very short period of time without having to be a computer systems guru. Some thoughts and characteristics you should look for in an ideal digital lockbox vendor: • Experience. In addition to the ability to process high volumes of work, a vendor that has a deep understanding of the medical
practice industry will have a product that caters to your specific set of needs. • Processing:
• Ask about the processing error rate and resolution process. • The indexing of appropriate data fields on your documents is what makes them searchable. The ability to customize
the fields that are indexed will increase the significance of this tool for you. • Having access to your documents online is a big part of the digital lockbox value proposition. Understand how long
the vendor will keep your documents online before archiving them. • Since your documents will be stored on the vendor’s servers, make sure they have adequate backup procedures for
their digital lockbox service and that they test them regularly. • Access to cash. Understand how long it takes for your checks to be retrieved and deposited. The best vendors do it same-day
– one of the core benefits of a digital lockbox service. A digital lockbox works for any healthcare provider, regardless of size. If you are looking for ways to save time and money in processing payments, consider the addition of a digital lockbox.
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Digital Lockbox (Continued)
Brent Parrish + Julie Shaw 800-872-1818
Donor
Page 9 The Texas Tumbleweed
Whitey Whitehurst (866) 715-2208
Donor Donor
Fred Faller (630) 916-8818x261
Meeting Recap: November 16 Regional Professional Development Seminar The Regional Professional Development Seminar held on Fri-day, November 16 at the U.T. Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas was a huge success. Over 65 members and non-members were in attendance. The seminar started off with a discussion of POA & MS-DRGs by Stace Covington, RHIA, CCS, HCA, HIM Service Center Coding Director Healthcare Corporation of America (HCA). Attendees rated Ms. Coving-ton’s presentation a 4.5 out of 5 with comments such as “[it was a] very good explanation of background around DRGs and their associated impact.” The second presentation focused on Medicare Bad Debt and was delivered by Shannon Roshan, Director PFS, UT Health Center - Tyler and Chris Morgan, Director, NRS Healthcare Services. Attendee comments included “Great presenters”, “very good presentation”, and “Shannon brought a real-life example to our members/participants which results in an meaningful presentation.” The presentation received an evalua-tion of 4.7 out of 5.
After a networking break, the seminar resumed with a discus-sion of Digital Lockbox Solutions by Jerry Rackley, Execu-tive Director, Corporate Marketing, SNB Bank and Mitchell Berenson, MPH, Director, North Texas Infectious Diseases Consultants. Receiving a rating of 4.2 our of 5 by attendees, the presentation garnered comments such as “interesting” and “ good real-world healthcare example with the CFO addition to the presentation.” Finally, the seminar closed with a Texas Legislative Update by Jennifer Claymon of Davis & Wilkerson, P.C., who re-ceived an evaluation of 4.6 out of 5. Attendee commented that Ms. Claymon was “excellent” and that her presentation was “informative” and “timely”. Overall, the meeting received a rating of 4.4 out of 5 with many positive comments by attendees.
Upcoming AAHAM Events:Upcoming AAHAM Events:
4th Annual State Institute
June 18-20, 2008 Sheraton Austin Hotel
701 East 11th Street, Austin, Texas (walking distance to 6th Street!)
$139/night single or double ~ Group rate available until May 27, 2008 Check the website early next year for more details: www.txaaham.org
Don’t Miss Out!
