RBMA Fall Educational Conference — Sessions
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Imagine Software Legal Track |
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CodeRyte Coding/Billing Track |
Sunday, October 11, 2009
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
For Exhibitors Only
The Show Before the Show: Getting the Most out of Your RBMA Exhibiting Experience
Kip McMillan
Join fellow RBMA Fall Educational Conference exhibitors before the Exhibit Hall Grand Opening and listen and laugh as Kip McMillan presents a light-hearted session on how to get the most out of exhibiting at the RBMA. It’s Happy Hour, so – two drink tickets for one company representative attending. RBMA is buying. Drink tickets can be redeemed at the Networking Reception in the Exhibit Hall on Monday evening.
Monday, October 12, 2009
8:30 am - 9:30 am
GENERAL SESSION
Healthcare in a Sick Economy: Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatments
sponsored by 
Jeffrey C. Bauer, PhD
Today's economic crisis raises serious questions and fears because providers, purchasers, payors, and patients have never experienced anything like this before. One of the country’s most respected health futurists and medical economists, Dr. Bauer presents an informative and practical analysis on the current and future state of the economy, healthcare reform, weathering the storm, and more!
How bad will the economy get, and when will the turnaround begin?
How can consumers deal with high costs on declining incomes?
Can the health industry stay viable in difficult, uncertain times?
Is the economic recovery program helping or hurting healthcare?
Will reform solve the problems of cost, quality, and access…or make matters worse?
How will changes affect providers’ delivery of medical services?
What should providers do to weather this perfect economic storm?
9:30 am - 10:15 am
Break in the Exhibit Hall
10:15 am - 11:15 am
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Practice Corporate Documents Tune-up: Employment and Buy-Sell Agreements and Bylaws
Jeremy Miller, JD
Every radiology group needs to insure that its key corporate documents are well written and up-to-date. This session will explain the key provisions that need to be addressed in every group's employment and buy-sell agreements and corporate bylaws- and the risks of not doing so.
ICD-10 It's Coming - When, Why, and How to Get Ready
Kathleen G. Bailey, CPA, MBA, CPC, CPC-I
Practices need to begin the process of preparing for implementation of ICD-10 now in order to be ready by the 2013 deadline. How? By educating key employees on ICD-10 so they will be able to educate others, contacting their practice management, EHR and/or coding software vendor(s) about their plans to implement ICD-10, and working with coders to assure they are ready for recertification such as the testing planned by the AAPC.
EMRs and Radiology: Gaining Control and Leverage in Your Interface Environment
Sonal N. Patel, MBA, BS, MT(ASCP) and Lauren Paulsen
Learn current trends and best practices associated with EMR connectivity for radiology practices. This session will showcase steps necessary to create an optimized workflow that can support EMR connectivity to multiple referring physicians or hospitals and the impact electronic patient data exchanges can have on a radiology practice.
Expected Behaviors for Team Performance: Road Rules, Not Road Rage
Lisa DiTullio
A project can not succeed without a high-functioning team consisting of dedicated employees, and if necessary, consultants or vendors. In recognition of the value of cross-functional teamwork, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care reinforced a set of expected behaviors to guide “how” they operate and achieve results through their team-based orientation. Hear how Harvard Pilgrim launched a project to support good teamwork to create an infrastructure for both the awareness and accountability for expected behaviors that has been adopted and practiced throughout the organization resulting in improved decisions, efficiency, and business results.
11:15 am - 11:30 am
Passing Break
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Roundtable Sessions
- Corporate Documents Q&A with Jeremy Miller, JD
- Billing Services
- RBMs
- Marketing
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Networking Luncheon
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Poster Presentation in the Foyer
Attendees will have the opportunity to view the Poster Display and speak directly with the authors in a casual setting. While the posters will be displayed the duration of the conference, this is the only time the authors will be nearby to answer questions personally.
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Legislative and Regulatory “Hot Topics”
Thomas W. Greeson, JD
Healthcare reform is a front burner issue in this first year of the Obama presidency. This session will explore how diagnostic imaging fares in the reform debate in Congress and what changes may be imminent from CMS and other regulatory bodies. Attendees will explore the legislative package as it relates to imaging and the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule and what impact any final rule changes will have on the delivery of both the technical and professional components of diagnostic radiology services.
Process Improvement and Productivity Benchmarks in Billing
Cindy Pittmon, RCC, CHBME and Michael Pittmon
Learn how one billing company improved billing office productivity with the use of automation, effective job assignments and realistic productivity measurements. Attendees will learn how to identify, analyze and improve billing processes, develop and implement automated processes, and assess current office productivity levels in order to develop measurements and goals.
HIPAA Compliance Refresher and the FTC Red Flag Rules
Patricia Kroken, FACMPE, CRA
CMS has been directed to step up its review of HIPAA security compliance programs, whether or not there has been a complaint filed. This represents a new direction for HIPAA enforcement and healthcare entities are advised by the HHS Office of Inspector General to be "audit ready." This session will also provide an update regarding the required implementation of a compliance plan for the Federal Trade Commission "Red Flag" rules.
Paradox and Imperatives in Health Care: Efficiency, Effectiveness and E-Transformation
Jeffrey C. Bauer, PhD
This presentation summarizes the key points of Dr. Bauer's challenging book by the same title. He shows why unprecedented financial circumstances threaten failure for healthcare providers that pursue "business as usual." Dr. Bauer clearly explains how sound economic principles and proven management tools can prevent inevitable failures if significant changes are not made. The presentation reveals how providers can draw upon internal resources to increase net revenue and to provide the quality of care that payors and consumers are demanding at prices they are willing to pay. It shows why waste must be eliminated and how future-focused leaders can put their organizations on a positive path while redirection is still possible. It is an inspiring speech about how providers not only can—but must—do it right all the time, as inexpensively as possible.
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Break in the Exhibit Hall
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Recent Developments and Key Legal Issues Impacting Radiology Practices
Adrienne Dresevic, Esq.
With the ever changing legal atmosphere of healthcare law, it can be difficult to maintain compliance. This session will provide an overview of the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, the Federal Stark Law, IDTF regulations, HIPAA, and other healthcare regulations that impact the field of healthcare in general, and radiology specifically.
Coding for Radiology Practice Administrators
Brigette LaBar
This session will provide radiology coding principles and tools to monitor and manage the coding program in your practice. You will learn how to identify opportunities to improve coding procedures in your practice, tools to share with your radiologists to improve their documentation, and the manager’s coding checklist.
ACR Economic Update/RADPAC Update
Maurine S. Dennis, MPH, MBA and Ted Burnes, MPA
This session will cover current economic issues and look ahead to identify future trends as well as focus on practical guidance for everyday economic issues in radiology practices. Topics will include payor interactions, coding, and a legislative update.
Days in A/R: Putting a Key Indicator to Work
Patricia Kroken, FACMPE, CRA
The RBMA surveys have long included days in A/R as a key indicator but what do you do with the information once you have it? How do you know if your variations are normal for your practice patterns and community—or if your group has process problems that need to be addressed? If your days in A/R drop in at an unsatisfactory percentile, what do you do next? This session discusses what days in A/R can tell you about potential process problems and how the measure is influenced by your billing policies and procedures.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
8:00 am - 8:30 am
RBMA Morning Cafe
8:30 am - 9:30 am
GENERAL SESSION
Strategies for Success in a Challenging Healthcare Economy
David F. Jakielo, CHBME
The healthcare environment is changing in a dramatic fashion. What made you a successful radiology manager in years gone by will not work in the future. We'll examine the key factors that are needed to continue on the pathway to running a successful practice.
9:30 am - 10:15 am
Break in the Exhibit Hall
10:15 am - 11:15 am
Roundtable Sessions
- Academic
- Imaging Center
- Managed Care/CAC/Federal Affairs
- Hospital Based Practices
11:15 am - 11:30 am
Passing Break
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Keeping Your Practice Out of the Courtroom – an Employment Law Overview for Radiology Practices
John M. Remy, JD
This session will provide attendees with an overview of various employment laws so they will be able to effectively address concerns regarding compliance. Discussion will include federal and state anti-discrimination laws, whistleblower and wrongful termination claims, and wage and hours laws, among other subjects.
Billing for Mid-Level Provider Services: Understanding The Rules for NP & PA Services
Kathleen G. Bailey, CPA, MBA, CPC, CPC-I
The challenges facing coding and billing for physicians are numerous. So are financial and patient care workload considerations. For many practices, part of the solution may be to employ mid-level or non-physician providers. This session will provide an overview of billing and compliance issues for mid-level providers.
Advocacy and Outreach Efforts for Imaging: Grassroots Lobbying 101
Ted Burnes, MPA and Robert T. Still
With the potential for sweeping reforms to healthcare on the horizon, there has never been a time more critical than this to take up your own lobbying and advocacy efforts to educate local legislators about how these proposed changes will impact the field of imaging. Ted Burnes, Director of ACR's RadPAC, and Robert Still, Chair of RBMA’s Federal Affairs Committee, will lead the discussion, providing valuable direction regarding RBMA's advocacy goals as well as a toolkit to assist you in reaching out to your local legislators and other key stakeholders in your community to educate them about the power of diagnostic imaging and the benefit to patients.
Performance Measurement – The Other Stimulus Plan
Fred Downs, RN, PhDc
Monitoring physician productivity is a hotly debated topic. This session presents a model of physician performance management that integrates productivity, peer evaluation, and RADPEER. Correlation of findings provides a platform for data driven improvement in multiple dimensions of practice. Examples of documents and tools will be discussed along with undergirding policies and governance documents.
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Lunch with Exhibitors
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
To Merge or Not to Merge: The Business and Legal Issues When Radiology Groups Combine with Other Groups
W. Kenneth Davis, Jr., JD
Under pressure from all directions, radiology groups are increasingly evaluating whether to combine in some fashion with another radiology group or with non-radiology groups such as cardiac or vascular groups to better serve cardiac heart and vascular patients, or whether to become part of large multi-specialty groups. This session will examine threshold questions a radiology group should answer before it even considers a combination with any other physician group. The session will look at the numerous business and legal issues that should be evaluated before going too far down the path, some of the structural models that have been used, and the process that will likely need to be followed.
Radiology Business Manager's Boot Camp: Denial Management vs. Task Management
John R. Thomas, MBA
Declining reimbursements and high claims denial rates lessen the opportunity for cash flow for a radiology practice. What’s the secret? Why is it such a challenge to manage the key cost driver of the revenue cycle? This workshop, which includes a didactic presentation, discussions, case studies and hands-on exercises, guides participants through a step-by-step process to reduce denials and improve the bottom line significantly.
Point-Counterpoint: Payor Relations and Practice Profitability: An Oxymoron?
Ron Howrigon and Robert E. Gontarek
Do you ever wonder about the payor's perspective regarding radiology business? Do the priorities of the health plan ever extend beyond managing unit costs, protecting and growing market share, and ensuring profitability for shareholders? Do customer service and patient satisfaction ever rank high on their priority list? And how do these priorities impact radiology providers? Practices must rely on payors for reasonable reimbursements and are dependent on the payor relationship as a vital component of success and practice profitability. Find out how practices can achieve a better alignment in their partnership and connectivity with payors and more during this session.
ACR Economic Update/RADPAC Update (repeat of Monday session)
Maurine S. Dennis, MPH, MBA and Ted Burnes, MPA
This session will cover current economic issues and look ahead to identify future trends as well as focus on practical guidance for everyday economic issues in radiology practices. Topics will include payor interactions, coding, and a legislative update.
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm
Break in the Exhibit Hall
3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Accreditation Requirements Under the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA)
Leonard Lucey, JD, LLM
Congress passed and the President signed the MIPPA 2008 legislation that requires accreditation of CT, MRI, and Nuclear Medicine, including PET, by January 1, 2012 for all outpatient imaging facilities receiving Medicare reimbursement. This presentation will detail the specific accreditation requirements under the new legislation and provide attendees with ACR's perspective on how these requirements will affect current ACR accredited facilities.
Chart Your Course Through A/R: Where are You on the A/R Staffing Curve?
Frank Marshall, MBA
This session reviews appropriate staffing levels for any given accounts receivable (A/R) volume and productivity level specific to the radiology practice, and provides insights into where to focus management resources in affecting process or staffing changes. It includes an overview of the “Economies of Scale calculator” which demonstrates the relationship between productivity and staff, given a targeted number of CPTs per month. Case studies detailing examples of various types of billing entities (for example radiology practices, central billing offices) and their corresponding movements along the A/R staffing curve are discussed.
The Frustrating Dilemma of Erosion of IR Exclusivity – The Call Nightmare
Thomas W. Greeson, JD
This program will review and discuss trends in loss of IR exclusivity and consequence on radiology groups call responsibilities. Discussion will include an overview of the general trend in loss of exclusivity for interventional radiology services to vascular surgeons and other specialties, a review of traditional medical staff requirements for call coverage, and forms of compensation for radiologists exclusively covering call when privileges are non-exclusive.
