KPAMA JournalKeystone Chapter of AAHAMJanuary 2017

A Word from Our President, Bill Major

Wow, 2017 is already here. Do you remember back in grade school, how exciting the future was going to be? We were either going to be flying around in cars like the Jetsons or lost in space with the Robinson family. Well, it looks like we’re still here on terra firma. We may not be flying through space but we still are members of a select group with AAHAM certification. And it looks like we are continuing to welcome new members into our ever growing group. This year so far we have 446 CRCE certified members with 28 sitting for the test in March 2017. CRCP continues to rapidly expand with 306 certified members and 63 scheduled for the spring exam. Our newest professional certification, CRIP, has 48 individuals certified with 13 lined up for the March exam. And the bread and butter of our membership has 4,603 CRCS specialists certified with 1,044 carrying national membership. The March exam has 696 examinees scheduled for the test. The other specialist group, CCT, now has 104 members with 11 scheduled for the March testing dates. To help potential new members take the exam, all AAHAM certification webinars will be free during 2017. Not only is this great news for individuals seeking certification but it is also a great opportunity for AAHAM members to get needed CEUs to keep up their certification. So even if you’re a member under one certification (example CRCE), you can earn CEUs by listening to another certification webinar (example CRCP). Now you have no excuse to earn CEUs. Good luck with your CEUs during 2017!

Bill Major

Keystone Chapter President

Friendly ReminderOur meeting dates/locations for 2017 are as follows:

March 16, 2017 Penn National Grantville, PA.May 18, 2017 Penn National Grantville, PA.September 19, 2017 Desmond Hotel, Malvern, PA.December 13, 2017 Holiday Inn, Grantville, PA.

Mark Your Calendars!!!!!!!!!This newsletter is an extension of the Pennsylvania Keystone Chapter. If you have articles you think would be interesting to your colleagues, send them in. Any significant milestones occurring in the Chapter, send them in. Chad and I welcome any and all feedback.

The Chapter is always looking for volunteers. It takes a lot of preparation and work to organize and run the quarterly meetings. Extra hands on desk helps everyone make the process better. Contact one of your board members if you are interested in volunteering. The Board thanks you in advance for your consideration.

The Keystone AAHAM Certification Corner Winter 2017

Raise the Level in 2017!As you recall, this is the challenge posed to us by our AAHAM National President, John Currier. The Keystone Chapter currently has 25 CRCEs, 16 CRCPs, 1 CRIP, 93 CRCSs, and 0 CCTs.If you are not currently certified, make 2017 “your year”. This is a great way to prove your knowledge and enhance your career. As we each aim to raise the level on certification, you may decide to “Certify Up a level”. Or, if you are certified at any level, you may decide to pursue the distinction of “Dual certification”.

What’s New? …DiscountsFor those of you who are already AAHAM-certified, AAHAM now offers discounts to move up the certification ladder to earn the CRCP and CRCE certifications.

If you have earned a certification within the past year, you are eligible for a $50 discount off the CRCE exam fee, and $50 off the CRCE study guide.

The CRCP exam is now $25 off for anyone who earned a certification within the past year along with $25 off the CRCP study guide. We encourage you to take advantage of these incentives.

Congratulations to Keystone AAHAM Members who recently earned their certifications! Job well done!!!

November 2016 Nov 2016 (continued)

Nancy Esterly, CRIP

Danna Houseknecht, CRCP-PJoni Long, CRCP-P

April Arnold, CRCS-IKathy Fidler, CRCS-I

Rebekah Francis, CRCS-ICynthia Graham, CRCS-IHolly Hartman, CRCS-I

Shawnna Landis, CRCS-IAmy Loss, CRCS-I

Jennifer Markley, CRCS-IMichele McCloskey, CRCS-I

Beth Meshey, CRCS-IJudy Myers, CRCS-I

Monica Schwartz, CRCS-IPaula Spatz, CRCS-ITina Strine, CRCS-I

Karen Wood, CRCS-I

2016-2017 Certification CalendarMarch 13-24, 2017 March 2017 exam periodApril 17, 2017 Registration deadline for July 2017 certification examsJuly 10-21, 2017 July 2017 exam periodAugust 15, 2017 Registration deadline for November 2017 certification examsNovember 6-17, 2017 November 2017 exam periodDecember 15, 2017 Registration deadline for March 2018 certification exams

Study SessionsIndividual and Group Study Sessions are available upon request. Call or email me if interested (info below). Allow plenty of time to prepare; i.e. – four to six months prep time is recommended for the higher level certification exams (CRCE, CRCP, and CRIP).

Reporting CEUsCEUs can now be reported directly on the AAHAM website using the online CEU reporting form. Online reporting can be used for CEU activity with the exception of Chapter Educational meetings. Those CEUs will continue being reported by the Chapter Certification Chairperson.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)CRCE CEUs - The new two-year reporting cycle began on January 1, 2016, and will run through December 31, 2017. We have reached the halfway point of the reporting period, so take a moment to see if you are on track to earn the CEUs you need to meet the requirements to maintain your certification. All CRCEs who earned their certification prior to January 1, 2016 will need a total of 40 CEUs (by 12/31/17), with 20 of those CEUs coming from AAHAM sponsored events. Starting with the March 2016 exam cycle, all new CRCEs will be on a two-year reporting cycle from their certification earned date, i.e. those certified in March 2016 will have a reporting period of 03/31/16 - 03/31/18.

CRCP and CRIP CEUs – CRCP and CRIP members are required to earn 30 CEUs during their two year certification period, with 15 of those CEUs coming from AAHAM sponsored events. National AAHAM membership must be maintained as well in order to keep your certification.

Recertification CEU timeframes for CRCE-certified individuals

CRCS and CCT CEUs –CRCS examinees can maintain their certification with CEUs by joining as a national member of AAHAM; otherwise, the exam will need to be taken every three years to maintain certification. Please note that your CEUs count starting the date you join as a national member, therefore, any CEUs earned before joining AAHAM as a national member aren’t eligible. All CRCS & CCT certified individuals are encouraged to join as national members as soon as possible so you have adequate time to earn your CEUs. National members are required to earn 30 CEUs in the three year period, with 15 of those CEUs coming from AAHAM sponsored events. National AAHAM membership must be maintained as well in order to keep your certification. CCT examinees are required to earn 20 CEUs, with 10 of those CEUs coming from AAHAM sponsored events. National AAHAM membership must be maintained as well in order to keep your certification.

Verify all of your eligible education time has been submitted to the National office and check your online activity to make certain you have received credit for all qualified education hours.

Please contact me if you have any questions on your path to certification, or if you have questions as a certified member.Verify all of your eligible education time has been submitted to the National office and check your online activity to make certain you have received credit for all qualified education hours.

Please contact me if you have any questions on your path to certification, or if you have questions as a certified member.

Warm Regards,Carolyn Brown, BBA, CRCE-Keystone AAHAM Certification Chairperson717-270-2460 (Direct Line) 717-926-3570 (Cell)Email: cbrown31@wellspan.org

A word from your Ways and Means Chairperson!!!!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 21st Annual Silent Auction. With all the combined efforts of those who generously donated and purchased items, we made a total profit of $2,425.00.

Our Chapter Treasurer Mary Wallace has been diligently working on improvements for upcoming chapter events. I am pleased to announce that for the 22nd Annual Silent Auction, we will be processing credit cards on site. We will also be listing the donated items on the website prior to the day-of auction for viewing.

Thank you again,

Kristy Pipher Richmond

Chapter Ways and Means Chairperson

_____________________________________________________________________________________

A Reminder from Marybeth McMenamin on Legislative Day!

The 2017 Legislative Day is May 1-2, 2017 at the

Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.

Represent your facility, your state and your industry at the one political event that directly impacts you, your facility and your bottom-line; AAHAM Legislative Day.  Our strong grassroots program creates new opportunities for our industry but we need your continued support! We need you to make the trip to Washington to make a difference in our industry, attendance is limited, so register to attend today. It is all about strength in numbers. The more AAHAM members participate in this effort, the stronger the voice AAHAM will have. Remember, if you don’t speak up someone else will. “AAHAM has really understood the legislative and regulatory process and this is why they have had so much success in the past. AAHAM’s leadership has gone the extra mile to ensure AAHAM has a strong voice in Washington” said AAHAM’s lobbyist, Paul Miller.

Lobby at the grassroots level Receive insider briefings from experts on issues critical to the industry Meet face-to-face with your members of the Senate & House Network with decision-makers and your colleagues Make your voices heard Make a difference at the only industry event of its kind Earn 8 AAHAM CEUs

AAHAM’s annual Legislative Day, brings you face-to-face with the decision-makers in Washington who determine the outcome of our industry’s top legislative priorities. 

Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill

400 New Jersey Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20001

Please join the Keystone Chapter along with many other AAHAM colleagues for Legislative Day.

Keystone AAHAM offers two paid scholarships. The scholarship includes; 1-2 night stay, registration for Legislative Day, meals and transportation.

If you are interested in a the Keystone Scholarship- Please email Marybeth.mcmenamin@lvhn.org

For more information visit: http://www.aaham.org/Events/LegislativeDay.aspx

__________________________________________________________________

Transforming Patient Access from a Cost Center to a Revenue Center

Christian Borchert

For far too long the front-end revenue cycle has been treated as a cost center. Trends are bucking that axiom as improvements in technology, trade industry support and interdepartmental collaboration are allowing Patient Access leaders to stake their rightful claim in Revenue Cycle Management (RCM). A major driving force for change is a focus on the patient’s experience- an organizational motivation to treat the patient’s clinical and financial need. In fact, sixteen presentations at the 2015 HFMA ANI had some element of the patient experience included.

In April of last year, the HIMSS Revenue Cycle Improvement Task Force published a white paper stating that “RCM, as it exists today, is ill-equipped to handle the market forces impacting healthcare.” The paper cites that “Rapid growth in consumer payments, reduced payer reimbursement rates, an ever changing regulatory environment, and shifting consumer expectations have all contributed to the challenges facing RCM.” The Task Force, comprised of over 60 individuals from providers, payers, consultants, vendors and healthcare associations has envisioned a future of unprecedented

interoperability by which a central healthcare data hub will help facilitate a consumer-friendly experience.

While this future business model is being worked out, healthcare is adopting internal changes through a wide variety of disparate technology options (see sidebar) which has forced many Access and Revenue Cycle leaders into the role of project manager and QA analyst. These leaders are subjected to having to manage implementation and maintenance, mentor staff who toggle through multiple applications collecting as much data and money as possible from the patients all while “focused” on ensuring the patient has a positive experience.

Industry groups such as HFMA and NAHAM (National Association of Healthcare Access Management) have published metrics with the MAP Keys SM

and AccessKeys ® 2.0 designed to help organizations track performance using objective, consistent calculations. There are 5 Map Keys SM dedicated to Access measuring Pre-Registration Rate, Insurance Verification Rate, Service Authorization Rate, POS Cash Collection Rate and Conversion Rate of Uninsured Patient to Payer Source. NAHAM’s AccessKeys® measure the effectiveness of front-end revenue cycle across 6 Patient Access domains: Collections, Conversions, Patient Experience, Process Failures, Productivity and Quality.

These same organizations, along with AAHAM (American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management) additionally offer a variety of certifications aimed at ensuring staff at the supervisor through executive levels are exceptionally knowledgeable in areas of Revenue Cycle Management.

The utilization of proper procedures, the application of appropriate technologies in a well-educated organization that measures their successes appears to be the recipe for success in the current RCM environment. From this cauldron of change management Access leaders are able to reposition their departments into revenue centers.

Christian BorchertNew York State AAHAM Chapter President

Access-focused TechnologiesTechnolog

y Benefit Challenge

Automated Eligibility

Swift confirmation of benefits and Real-

Time OOP amounts

Payer participation and quality data varies widely

still requires manual

Address Verification

Confirmation address is the right one for

the guarantorROI difficult to determine

Charity Scoring

Predicts guarantor qualifies for a

financial discount

More cost for little financial gain

Automated Appointment

Reminders

Automation of a labor-intensive

practice

TCPA liabilities without proper consent

Recording Encounters

Revenue protection & compliance Adoption push-back

Payment Options

Faster access to cash through collections

and loan guarantees

Public relations liability with adoption of loan

programs

Quality Assurance

Increased accountability and

reduced claim edits

On-going internal maintenance

Estimating Charges

Informs a guarantor of monies owed prior

to services

Consistency lacks due to a myriad of factors

Propensity to Pay

Allows a focus on those who are likely

to pay bill

Not yet healthcare specific

Kiosks Self-servicing saves time Cost and integration

Intranet Standardized educational tool

On-going internal maintenance

The Keystone AAHAM Board would like to thank our gracious sponsors for their support. Without their benevolence many of our programs would not be fiscally possible. Support your sponsors!

Platinum Plus 2016

 

Healthcare Receivable Specialists, Inc.

 

Bureau of Account Management

 

KeyMed Partners

 

National Recovery Agency

 

Platinum 2016

 

Financial Recoveries

 

Penn Credit

 

Arcadia Recovery Bureau

 

Credit Management Company

 

ProCo

 

Commercial Acceptance Company

 

Capio Partners, LLC

 

Gold 2016

 

The ROI Companies

 

Credit Bureau of Lancaster

 

Silver 2016

 

Med Claims International, LLC

EMC Soft

 

PATHS

 

SunStone Consulting