Tarheel News Summer 2015 - North Carolina Chapter of HFMA
Transcription
Tarheel News Summer 2015 - North Carolina Chapter of HFMA
Vol 49 No. 1 Summer 2015 The North Carolina Chapter’s News Magazine 2 Contents President’s Message President’s Message ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 5 Welcome New & Transfer Members …………………………………………………………………… 6—8 Feature article: 501 (r) Regulations and the Provider’s Responsibility ………………… 10 –11 Welcome 2015-2016 Regional Executive ………………………………………………………………… 12 Theme for HFMA ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 13 Scholarship Funds Available ………………………………………………………………………………… 14 Feature Article: Medicare’s Mandated Orthopedic Bundle …………………………………….. 16 NCHFMA 2015-2016 Matrix ……………………………………………………………………………….. 17 Matrix Meeting: Your Matrix at Work ………………………………………………………………….. 18 Founder Points and Awards …………………………………………………………………………………. 19 NCHA Update ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 20—21 Student Member Focus ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 23 2015-2016 Corporate Sponsors …………………………………………………………………………….. 24 Upcoming Education Events ……………………………………………………………………………….. 25 3 NCHFMA 2015-2016 Officers and Directors President Ken Vance President-Elect Bill Bedsole, FHFMA, SVP Healthcare Bank of America Merrill Lynch Phone: (704) 818-0542 Director of Programs Debbie Hoffman Immediate Past President Special Projects Controller Carolinas Healthcare Phone: (704) 512-6439 MBA, MHA CEO Southern Atlantic Healthcare Alliance Phone: (919) 350-2004 Corporate Director, Business Development and Sales Novant Health Phone: (336) 277-1133 Senior Director, Patient Finance Novant Health Phone: (336) 277-1355 [email protected] [email protected] Director of Membership Ariana Zibilich, CHFP Director of Chapter Services Elaine Peeler, MBA, BHCM, BBA, CHCA, CPC, CPC-H Compliance Officer EMS Management Phone: (336) 3967-3791 [email protected] Treasurer April York FACHE [email protected] [email protected] Secretary Carol Barron, FHFMA, Principal Triage Consulting Group Phone: (404) 574-6400 [email protected] Manager, Revenue Cycle Quality Assurance Novant Health Phone: (704) 616-0954 [email protected] Tim McElderry [email protected] Director of Management Practices Craig Wade, FHFMA Director of Education Lisa Morgan, CPA Director of Publications Kyle McMahan Director, Patient Account Services UNC Hospitals Phone: (919) 843-0512 [email protected] Reimbursement Project Manager Carolinas Healthcare Phone: (704) 512-6444 Lisa.i.Morgan@ carolinashealthcare.org Senior Analyst KPMG Phone: (704) 957-8267 [email protected] NCHFMA 2015-2016 Committee Roster Hospital Services Kimberly Gore (Chair) Patient Financial Services Director Columbus Regional Healthcare Phone: (910) 640-4060 [email protected] Physician Services Committee Sponsorship Committee Chair Lynn Lambert, CPA, FHFMA (Chair) Jody Fleming Managing Consultant Lambert Healthcare Consulting [email protected] Larry Trout (Co-Chair) Compliance Committee Kevin Leder, CPA (Chair) Manager CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP Phone: (704) 998-5248 [email protected] Information Management Tim Lea (Chair) Chairman & CEO Healthcare Systems Consulting, Inc. Phone: (919) 295-2965 [email protected] 4 Chief Solutions Officer Healthcare Business Analytics, LLC Phone: (828) 508-4644 [email protected] Payor/Managed Care Committee Vice President of Sales & Marketing NCHA Strategic Partners Phone: (919) 677-4130 [email protected] Eb Preuninger Managing Partner AP Associates Phone: (828) 296-1408 [email protected] Assistant Treasurer Manager DixonHughesGoodman, LLP Phone: (704) 644-4805 cassandra/[email protected] Phone: (843) 655-1499 [email protected] AVP Patient Financial Services Carolinas Healthcare System Phone: (704) 984-4398 [email protected] Chris Johnson, FHFMA (Chair) Vice President Revenue Cycle Mgmt Carolinas Healthcare System Phone: (704) 512-7083 [email protected] Technology Committee Chair Cassandra Fahey (Chair) Sherry Keck (Co-Chair) Certification Committee Yerger Committee Scholarship Committee Bunnie Overby (Chair) Director Revenue Integrity Cone Health Phone: (336) 663-4002) [email protected] Lynwood White, CPA, FHFMA Publications Council Lisa Griffin, FHFMA (Co-Chair) Manager, CON/Strategic Planning Novant Health Phone: (704) 384-3462 [email protected] Founder Committee Kim Coker (Chair) Sr. Financial Analyst Cone Health Phone: (336) 832-8038 [email protected] President’s MPresident’s essage Message By Ken Vance, 2015-2016 NCHFMA President I Ken Vance 2015-2016 NCHFMA President I recently saw a quote that said “No one has ever climbed Mount Everest alone; they always go as a Team”. That quote is so appropriate as I begin my quest as President of the NCHFMA for the 2015-16 Chapter year. It is with that as a backdrop that you will hear from your Executive Team in future issues of the Tarheel News – Bill Bedsole, President-Elect; Carol Barron, Secretary; and April York, Treasurer. It is noted that our Chapter is blessed with many dedicated volunteers that insure the operations of your chapter are handled timely and accurately. You will note in this edition of the Tarheel News messages from each of our Committee Chairs and Council Chairs. Chapter volunteers get pulled in many directions from their paying job, family responsibilities, and other daily responsibilities. Therefore, we need to say Thank You to those that allow us to be involved in HFMA: our employers, our families, and significant others. Healthcare is rapidly changing. My term comes when policy makers, payers, and health systems are instituting measures to improve outcomes while at the same time changing the reimbursement methodology. Our state is seeing the formation of numerous ACOs and CINs and yet we still have so much to learn with respect to their operation and integration with the market. This uncertainty creates great opportunity for HFMA to be a leader in education and bringing the various “players” to the table to find mutually acceptable solutions. Our Chapter had a successful 2014-15 calendar year under the leadership of Past President, Tim McElderry. Your NC chapter received nine national awards at the annual Chapter President’s Dinner held June 23, 2015 at the HFMA Annual National Institute (ANI) in Orlando. HFMA awards and recognizes chapter activities to achieve results defined by the Davis Chapter Management System (DCMS). It is intended to add value for members while encouraging innovation and improvement. NCHFMA was recognized for the following awards of excellence and achievements: Bronze Award for Excellence in Membership Growth and Retention, by exceeding the membership goal of 893 members. Bronze Award for Excellence in Certification, as 10% of our members are certified Silver Award for Excellence in Education, by achieving 18.6 education hours per member Helen M. Yerger Special Recognition Awards 2 Chapter awards for the member service and member communication: NASBA Certification and the Value of CPE for NCHFMA; and Getting Social with NCHFMA 4 Multi-Chapter awards for collaboration Charm City Region IV Mid-Atlantic Conference Region IV Building a Better and Stronger Region Region IV Initiative on the Potential Tax Implications of Sponsorship Certification Practicum Webinar Bill Bedsole, Ken Vance, Kim NCHFMA 2014-2015 President Coker, Tim McElderry at the ANI President’s Dinner Tim McElderry at ANI in Florida with Melinda Hancock and Kari Cornicelli Thank you for your support of HFMA and more importantly, NCHFMA. I started this message with recognizing our volunteers and will end on a similar note. Our Chapter is only as strong as our volunteers. Volunteering is the ultimate expression of human relationships – people acting on behalf of their organizations, because of a desire to contribute and help. As a result, volunteers tend to be highly engaged and committed to the outcomes of their work. Your commitment and active volunteerism with NCHFMA will be what makes this Chapter one of the best chapters in America. 5 Welcome New Members NCHFMA proudly welcomes the following new members: 6 Welcome New Members 7 Welcome Transfer Members NCHFMA proudly welcomes the following members who transferred to the chapter: 8 Feature Article 501(r) Regulations and the Provider’s Responsibility by Kimberly Gore, Patient Financial Services Director, Columbus Regional Healthcare System Craig R. Brondyke, Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Amy Bibby, Partner, DHG Healthcare Bill Howard, Senior VP, FirstPoint Collection Resources, Inc. T The Affordable Care Act has had a tremendous impact on healthcare as we know it, and continues to do so. It is re-shaping healthcare not only for the patient, but also for hospitals and how business is directed. The 501(r) Regulations are a result of what the Affordable Care Act has prompted for tax exempt hospitals, and with it comes many responsibilities to the provider including: a community health needs assessments, financial assistance policies, billing and collections, and limits on charges. These key components have potential implications to provider reimbursement. Community Health Needs Assessment In order to fulfill the requirements regarding the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), hospitals are now required to conduct an assessment every three years in an effort to identify and address the needs of the community. These needs are defined by the region and population served by the hospital. Once all is determined, the CHNA then should be documented and reported to the community and be available if requested. The hospital must also complete and publish an Implementation Strategy outlining the plan and approach that the hospital is taking to address the needs identified. Financial Assistance Policies and Procedures The standards of a hospital’s financial assistance policy (FAP) are greatly impacted by the 501(r) Regulations. There must be an established written policy in place, and that policy must include certain stipulations, such as clearly stated eligibility requirements, a description of how a patient applies for financial assistance, etc. Communication regarding the policy should also be posted and publicized in areas within the hospital, as well announced in the community. Just as with the CHNA, a hard copy of the financial assistance policy must be available if requested by anyone. 10 Limits on Charges A key concept of the 501(r) Regulations relates to how much a hospital facility can charge a financial assistance eligible individual for emergency and other medically necessary care. If an individual has applied for and met the qualifications of financial assistance, per the policy, the hospital cannot charge that patient more than the amounts generally billed (AGB) to individuals who have insurance covering such care. Hospitals should carefully consider the qualifications for charity care per the financial assistance policy as they will have a direct impact on the hospital’s overall charity care percentage, collection efforts, and financial results. Billing and Collections The Billing and Collections Policy should describe the hospital’s policy of obtaining payment from a patient before any extraordinary collection actions (ECAs) are taken. Examples of an ECA would be reporting the debt to a credit agency or initiating legal actions such as a court judgment of lien or garnishment. The process must also ensure the hospital has made reasonable efforts to determine if a patient is eligible for financial assistance, before engaging ECAs, and include timeframes in which the hospital will begin any ECA engagement. As it relates to the hospital’s use of collection agency vendors, while the referral of an account to an agency is not considered an ECA the hospital needs to make a legally binding written agreement with their agencies that the agency will follow 501(r) regulations including that the agency will refrain from initiating an ECA for at least 120-days from the first post-discharge billing statement. If at the end of the 120-day period no application has been submitted the hospital may initiate an ECA after they give the patient a 30-day written notice and during this time make a reasonable effort to orally notify patients about the hospital’s FAP. Therefore, hospitals and their agencies must be sensitive to the account activity between Day-1 and 240: Days 1-120 No ECA can be taken. Days 121-240 Assuming the patient has been given proper notice that ECA can occur the agency can take ECA but may have to stop or reverse them, including a refund of money collected from the patient, if it is dis covered that the patient is FAP eligible or that an application is received for financial assistance or that a previously submitted application was incomplete. Provider Reimbursement The policies and processes established in the financial assistance policy and billing and collection policies can have an impact on a provider’s reimbursement. The provider is not only responsible for creating policies and procedures to comply with 501(r) Regulations, but also understanding the reimbursement implications. These implications could include foregone revenue related to changes in billing collections policy’s as well as impacts on Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement including uncompensated care DSH payments, state DSH pools, and meaningful use payments. The details summarized above are just a few of the mandates within 501(r) Regulations. The responsibilities of tax exempt hospitals prompted from the regulations are quite tedious and comprehensive. At the NCHFMA 2015 Summer/Fall Institute, 'Go Beyond', HFMA members will host a panel of your peers, consultants and receivable management vendors to lead an open discussion on this subject. This session will be held on Monday, October 12th at 10:15 in the Winchester Room. WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please submit questions on your challenges or come willing to share the success stories of your organization. Questions for the panel can be emailed in advance to Bill Howard, [email protected]. Implications of Noncompliance Failing to meet one or more of the requirements of section 501(r) may result in revocation of 501(c)(3) status. Revocation would be based on the hospital’s history of prior 501(r) failures, the significance of the failure, and other factors indicating the hospital’s efforts made towards implementing the Regulations and corrective actions taken. The Regulations also institute an intermediary step to revocation which results in taxing of the noncompliant facility (i.e. applying corporate tax rates to the organization’s taxable income). The Regulation does include a materiality concept stating that if a hospital facility has only a ‘minor omission or error’, the hospital can make corrective action with no taxation or revocation. Multiple omissions or errors are considered in the aggregate and ultimately the IRS will determine the deficiency (or deficiencies) to be ‘minor’ based on the facts and circumstances. 11 Welcome our 2015-2016 Regional Executive By Tom Henderson, 2015-2016 Region IV Regional Executive W When I began my HFMA journey 11 years ago, I had never even heard of the title Regional Executive. And now, I proudly represent that title for Region IV of HFMA. Serving on the membership committee in the Virginia-DC chapter seems a lifetime ago. Eventually, that role steered me through the ranks and I found myself serving as Chapter President. Before I knew it, I was a Regional Executive. There are so many HFMA friends that have supported me and shared this journey with me. I can’t thank them enough. I am looking forward to serving Region IV, its chapter presidents and their members during 2015-2016. Tom Henderson 2015-2016 Regional Executive Virginia/DC HFMA Chapter As my term begins, I want to thank all of the chapter leaders for their hard work and dedication to HFMA. The 5 chapters that make up Region IV (NC, MD, KY, VA/DC, and WV) are well respected in the ranks of HFMA. Our Region IV chapters continue to excel in all Chapter Balanced Scorecard criteria and lead the way with new initiatives designed to improve Education, Networking, Sponsorship and Certification. Sadly, Membership within our region is in decline….mostly on the provider side. This seems to be a typical pattern in other regions across the country also. There are many reasons for this. Consolidation and budget cuts seem to be the primary reasons, though. However, we can’t let this devalue HFMA. There are plenty of our peers that need the benefits of HFMA. Let’s identify them together. Let’s find new ways to bring them into HFMA. Let’s find new ways to engage providers in HFMA. If you are a provider and you have ideas as to how to build provider membership, please contact your chapter president or me. The average age of members within Region IV is over 50 years. A national initiative is taking place now to recruit and engage young careerists (millennials) in HFMA. If you have ideas on this and wish to help, please contact your chapter president or me. We understand the value of HFMA, so let’s share that passion with others. I want to encourage all members to get involved. Clearly, your benefits of HFMA will be equivalent to the energy you put into it. Personally speaking, HFMA has helped me grow as a leader and has provided lifelong friendships. My involvement has also afforded me the opportunity to help improve my chapter and be a part of something special. There are many ways that you can assist your chapter. Any amount of time that you can commit is valued by your chapter. Volunteering for HFMA is fun as well! Please consider volunteering for your chapter. Thank you for being a member of HFMA. Thank you to our providers for supporting our efforts to improve Education and Programs. Thank you to our corporate sponsors and vendors for their financial support. Without your commitment to our chapters, we would not be able to do the things we do. Our industry is ever changing. HFMA is invaluable to those on the frontlines of Healthcare Financial Management. I wish everyone in Region IV a great 2015-2016 HFMA year! As always, please let me know how I can be of service. 12 2015-2016 Theme for HFMA Go Beyond By: Chair—Melinda S. Hancock, FHFMA, CPA I In the past, American health care was built on the fee-forservice payment system. Today, we know that system does not promote the high-value care that patients and other care purchasers demand and that providers want to deliver. We are going through a long transition to transformation—a transition that will require us to go beyond our current payment system which is increasingly being phased out. Finance leaders today must go beyond the ways of the past to succeed in the new era of health care. In a time when key industry stakeholders are realigning at an unprecedented pace, finance leaders should go beyond old assumptions about traditional roles and responsibilities and collaborate with others to meet industry challenges together. In a time when pressures to resolve longstanding industry problems are mounting, finance leaders are challenged not only to meet but to go beyond expectations and deliver results that will set the bar ever higher for all of us. In a time when emerging care and payment models offer vast untapped potential, finance leaders should go beyond traditional mindsets to identify and seize the opportunities that abound during times of change. During this time, HFMA is also challenged to go beyond well established and proven methods of the past of learning, communications, membership composition and educational offerings. When we commit to embracing change, our achievements—and the healthcare system that we are shaping—will go beyond our expectations. We are all going through a long transition and transformation—a transition that will require all of us to go beyond. And through your service as a volunteer leader, I am confident that together we will accomplish great things for our industry and our communities. You already go beyond through your HFMA service and leadership in these dynamic times and you set a lasting example of what this theme means in actions, much more than words can express. I want to remind you how much your efforts are appreciated. On behalf of the HFMA National Board of Directors, I want to express our gratitude, thank you for going beyond and I look forward to working with you throughout the coming year. 13 Scholarship Funds Available!!! The William “Bill” Moffitt NCHFMA Scholarship Did you know scholarship funds are available for students or NCHFMA members? In honor of one of the founding members of the NC HFMA chapter, Mr. J. William “Bill” Moffitt, a scholarship program was established and named in his honor. In the years since our Chapter was founded, Bill has been a strong support of higher education, with an interest in promoting the field of healthcare financial management. The scholarship reflects the commitment of the chapter to promote excellence in the field of healthcare financial management by providing financial support to those currently enrolled in an eligible field of study. Each year the NC Chapter of the HFMA awards $2,000 for each scholarship recipient (up to two per year) seeking a degree in healthcare administration or healthcare management with an interest in a career in healthcare financial management. The scholarship is available to chapter members, along with those new to the healthcare profession. Candidate qualifications are: Must be sponsored/recommended by a NC Chapter member Must be enrolled in an appropriate institute studying health administration, health management, or business, and with a demonstrated concentration and career interest in healthcare financial management Must be in good academic standing Applications for the scholarships are due by April 15 and October 15 of each year and reviewed by the Scholarship Committee for eligibility and merit. The application must include 500-1000 word essay by the candidate of what led to your career goal and/or your intended major, two letters of reference (including one from an NCHFMA Chapter Member), and transcript from institution of current enrollment. Further information regarding scholarship information and application can be found on the Chapter’s website at www.nchfma.org under the “About” menu. The Scholarship Committee would like to request NCHFMA members encourage student candidates you know to gather their information and submit an application. 14 15 Feature Article Medicare’s Mandated Orthopedic Bundle Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CCJR) Keys to Success can be found in other bundle programs such as BPCI By: Sheldon Hamburger C CMS has announced their intent to initiate a five-year mandated orthopedic bundle program for hospitals in certain defined geographies. The proposed rule for this new program has been released (available here: http://www.gpo.gov/ fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-07-14/pdf/2015-17190.pdf ) and public comment is due by September 8, 2015. The new program, known as ComprehensiveCare for JointReplacement (CCJR), would put most hospitals in 75 identified locations into the program effective, January 1, 2016. With the stated goal of saving CMS over $150M, CCJR has been built on the experiences of previous bundle programs such as ACE (Acute Care Episode) and BPCI (Bundled Payments for Care Improvement). CCJR is a bundle for MS-DRGs 469 and 470 and post-acute care for 90 days postdischarge. CMS will provide historical claims data for analysis to help hospitals develop their strategy. While there is no downside risk in the first year, hospitals will be at risk in the remaining four years of the program. The upside for hospitals will be the reduction in total spend below a CMS defined “target price” (based on the hospital’s historical spend) and meeting certain quality measures. Interestingly, these quality measures are hospital-wide, not bundle specific. While previous CMS demonstration programs such as ACE and BPCI have had mixed results, CMS is attempting to integrate “lessons learned” in formulating CCJR. The proposed rule explains both the details of the proposed program’s operation and the rationale for various decisions. As in previous programs, CMS will pay all providers using the current fee-for-service model and reconcile against target prices on an annual (not quarterly as in BPCI) basis. This maintains cash flow and current business process. Ultimately, this program is intended to drive savings in the post-acute experience. This will require hospitals to engage surgeons and post-acute providers to improve outcomes while optimizing spend. The savings to CMS will be the basis of provider upside payments. Stay tuned – more to come! Sheldon Hamburger serves as a Principal Consultant of The Aristone Group, a healthcare consultancy with focus on helping healthcare enterprise organizations address emerging trends. Sheldon can be reached at (248) 613-7166 or [email protected]. 16 Matrix NCHFMA 2015-2016 Matrix DIRECTORS EDUCATION COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP COUNCIL PROGRAM COUNCIL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES COUNCIL PUBLICATIONS COUNCIL CHAPTER SERVICES COUNCIL Lisa Morgan Ariana Zibilich Debbie Hoffman Craig Wade Kyle McMahan Elaine Peeler Jeffrey Weegar Danielle Andujar Laura Branch Teresa Gitomer Colleen Wood Brandon Hughes Veda Williams Snow Coriale-Roche Gladys Mills Wendi Bennett Sarah Goodman Van Cates Roy Lewis Liz Farrow Tim Pollard Loretta Long Tim Owens Ken Vance Camey Thomason Diana Moore Ernie Davis Troy Spring Lisa Morgan Robert Hall Brandon Ayscue Steve Ford Larry Trout Bobby Von Bremen Deborah Brown Chris Johnson Ty Carson Phil Geissinger Sheldon Hamburger Matthew Deets Eric Summers Sid Stern April York Kent Thompson Kathy Entwistle Angela Deans Bill Hayes Elaine Peeler Kenya Bennett David Kilmer Cassandra Fahey Sarah TeagueMckenzie James Robinson Carol Barron Lisa Kellner Lisa Griffin Lorie Collins Keith Bray Christine Sibley Anthony Poole Michele Melchior Sabrina Hedglin Bobileigh Daniels Bunnie Overby Kevin Leder Bobby Hamill Bill Howard Bill Bedsole Rick Shrader Travis Justice Linda Darden Keith Hullender Gabe Jacobs Kathy Wood Kim Coker Randy Medlin Tim McElderry Lyn White, CPA Tim McElderry Past President Lyn White Assistant Treasurer Kim Gore Belinda Tilley John Cook Christine Sullivan Craig Brondyke Jeff Joyner Rhonda Silver Jeff Wakefield Fred Graessle Craig Wade Stacey Stachel HOSPITAL SERVICES COMMITTEE Chair – Kim Gore PHYSICIAN SERVICES COMMITTEE Chair – Lynn Lambert Co-Chair – Larry Trout PAYOR/MANAGED CARE COMMITTEE Chair – Cassandra Fahey Co-Chair – Sherry Keck COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE Chair - Kevin Leder INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Malcomb Torres Sherry Keck Brandon Holland Jim Privette Ashley Sanders Lauren Elmore Wendy Penfield Marc Brewer Chair - Tim Lea TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE (Limit 6) Note: Board Designees Tim Lea Mark Ellis Carl Scarabelli Bill Calamas Rob DeLoach Peyman Zand Adam Doyle Jeff Fuller Jordan Miller Chair - Eb Preuninger Charles Acker Linda Darden Mike Brown Jody Fleming Billy Glidewell Sarah Goodman Windy Minor Irene Watts Aaron Tregoning SPONSORSHIP COMMITTEE (Limit 10) Note: Board Designees Chair - Jody Fleming NASBA COMMITTEE (duties not done at Matrix) Chair – Randy Medlin OFFICERS Lisa Morgan – Education Randy Medlin Don McNeil, CPA Jeff Wakefield, CPA Ken Vance President Debbie Hoffman Programs Bill Bedsole President-Elect Carol Barron Secretary April York Treasurer Get Involved in Matrix! Call or Email Ken Vance at 704-880-4887 or [email protected] 17 Matrix Meeting Your Matrix at Work By: Kim Coker The Women’s Education Center at Cone Health in Greensboro served as the host for the July 16 Matrix meeting of councils and committees. President Ken Vance opened the meeting and welcomed those in attendance and expressed appreciation for participation and contribution to the chapter. Committees met to discuss topics of interest in the industry to our membership. After committees came to a close council meetings took place to begin the chapter work to serve members. The following reports were given by council leaders. Publications Council Program Council Debbie Hoffman reported that the summer meeting agenda was complete. The agenda will focus on topics of interest to members to include 501(r) panel discussion, healthcare 101, IPPS and SGR Update, revenue cycle opportunities and lessons learned, and physician panel discussion. General sessions will include pricing transparency, CFO roundtable and special guest Olympic Gold Medalist Joe Jacobs. Planning for the winter meeting is underway with agenda topics discussed to include patient engagement, customer service, volume to value, ACA premiums and kick-backs, explaining bill transparency, and generational consideration session. Any other topics of interest please submit to Program Council. Education Council Lisa Morgan reviewed the education events from the 20142015 chapter year. The chapter provided 18.6 education hours per member. Several workshops/webinars are planned and upcoming events will be sent to members in the next few weeks. The chapter will be offering free webinars, “TN trains on Tuesdays”, by partnering with the TNHFMA chapter to help meet educational needs. Any topics of interest please provide feedback to Education Council. Management Practices Council Craig Wade reported his council will transition to serving the chapter with various reporting metrics to meet chapter goals. The group reviewed various chapter performance reports to include Davis Chapter Management System (DCMS), Chapter Balanced Scorecard (CBSC) and Management Practices job description. The council is focusing on efforts of key metrics to be reported, monitored and made available to board members and HFMA members on a regular and timely basis. The plan is to create a dashboard to capture the key elements. 18 The council is currently seeking a new Chair as several candidates have expressed interest. Position should be filled by end of July upon board approval. The theme of the next edition will be tied to summer and the new theme for National ‘Go Beyond’. Ken reminded the council to encourage members to write articles and encourage others as there are monetary prizes for those that submit best papers. Advertising options in the Tarheel News for transition to calendar year is a focus of the council to make payment simpler and move to Cvent for processing payments. The deadline for submitting articles for the Fall Newsletter is October 15. Membership Council Arianna Zibilich reported the chapter ended the 20142015 chapter year with 901 members, compared to goal of 893. The 2015-2016 goal is to maintain the 901 members. Presently, NCHFMA has 936 members, with potential drops as of July 15, 2015 of 240 members. The council discussed how to diversify membership and identify need to get more representation from payer side and physician side. Membership activities to be held at Summer/Fall Institute at Myrtle Beach in October include beach networking party, volleyball and morning walk. Milestone recognition as members in Tarheel News. The council will continue to focus on student recruitment at universities for 2015. Current student membership count as of July 16 is 193. Discussions of how to engage the students include ways to volunteer outside classes, attendance at institutes, networking reception to learn more about value of HFMA. The council will advertise the Bill Moffitt Scholarship to local universities to gain student interest in chapter and way to become involved. At the conclusion of council reports a $50 attendance prize was given by a random drawing from the sign-in sheet. Congratulations to the lucky winner, Veda Williams! Thank you for those that attended the matrix meeting and for your involvement in the chapter. The next matrix meeting is scheduled October 12th at the Summer/Fall Institute in Myrtle Beach. Founder Points Get Involved with NCHFMA – Awards Await YOU!!! The Founder Merit Award program was established to acknowledge volunteer contributions made by HFMA members like YOU and thank members for their involvement!!! The core purpose is to “Recognize the Volunteer in You”. Each year members contribute their time, efforts and talents to serve the healthcare industry, profession and our members. Established in 1960, the Founder Merit Award Series acknowledges the contributions made by HFMA members. Points are accumulated to reflect volunteer activity for participation in HFMA functions and leadership roles within the organization. The Founder year runs June 1st through May 31 and is comprised of 4 Award Levels: The William G. Follmer Bronze Award is awarded after an individual has earned 25 member points. This award is named after William G. Follmer, who is credited with the creation of the American Association of Hospital Accountants (AAHA) (now HFMA). The Robert H. Reeves Silver Award is awarded to an individual who has earned 50 member points. Reeves, an organizing member of the AAHA, was elected president of AAHA in 1956. The Frederick T. Muncie Gold Award is presented to a member who has earned a total of 75 member points. This award honors Frederick T. Muncie, an organizing member of the AAHA, and the first president of the association (1947-1949). The Founders Medal of Honor was added in 1986 and is conferred by nomination of the Chapter Board of Directors. This prestigious award recognizes an individual who has been actively involved in HFMA for at least three years after earning the Muncie Gold Award, has provided significant service at the chapter, regional and/or national level in at least two of those years, and remains a member in good standing. Do you know the ways to earn Founder Points? Volunteer for a chapter committee or national committee Write a newsletter article Participate as an Event Volunteer Mentor a new member or student Speak at an event or participate on a panel As one of the largest HFMA chapters we have a number of opportunities for volunteers beginning with just a few hours of your time. YOU are valuable to the chapter and can help the NC HFMA chapter become one of the BEST known for quality education and networking. The time is now to get involved with NCHFMA and the chapter needs YOU! Don’t wait another minute to get involved and start earning Founder Points. To review your Founder Points or learn how to earn Founder Points visit www.hfma.org, login with your HFMA username and password and click on Founder Points under My Account, Members Only section. Founder Member Awards The chapter is pleased to congratulate the following members on receiving Founder Awards for their volunteer efforts with the Chapter and National. The awards were presented in March at the Annual Meeting in Pinehurst. William G. Follmer Bronze Award Christine Sibley, CHFP Marcie Terry Robert H Reeves Silver Award Rob DeLoach Elaine Peeler Frederick T Muncie Gold Award Carol Barron, FHFMA Michael Brown, FHFMA Jody Fleming Paula Greeno, FHFMA Ken Vance April York Congratulations and thank you for a job well done! 19 NCHA Update Submitted by Jeff Weegar CMS Issues Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and LongTerm Care Hospital (LTCH) Final Rule for FY 2016 On August 31, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) and long-term care hospital (LTCH) final rule for 2016. system (OPPS) and ambulatory surgical center (ASC) proposed rule for calendar year 2016. The proposed rule updates OPPS and ASC payment weights and rates, but also continues to transition the OPPS from a fee for service schedule to a prospective payment system by creating larger payment bundles and restructuring of ambulatory payment classification groups. Major proposals include: Major proposals include: An increase in operating payment rates paid under the IPPS of .9 percent, which reflects a market-basket update of 2.4 percent, -.5 percent for multi-factor productivity adjustment, an adjustment of -.2 percentage in accordance with the ACA, and -.8 percent for documentation and coding recoupment required by American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012; Distribution of $6.4 billion in Medicare DSH payments in FY 2016, a decrease of $1.2 billion from FY 2015 amounts; Updates in the inpatient quality reporting program; Update of measures in hospital value-based purchasing program in 2018 to remove 2 measures and add a care coordination measure. COPD will be added as a 30-day mortality measure beginning in 2021. The amount of base payment reduction will be 1.75 percent for FY 2016; An update to the domain contribution of each measure to the hospital total HAC score; Expand the hospital readmission reduction program to include pneumonia readmissions in FY 2017; Establish a new LTCH site neutral payment rate comparative to IPPS payment rates, with a 2-year transition period The full proposed rule can be found in the Federal Register. CMS Issues Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Proposed Rule for FY 2016 On July 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the outpatient prospective payment 20 Amending the two-midnight rules to allow certain Medicare Part A payments for inpatient services not spanning two midnights; Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) will complete medical review of patient status claims rather than Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) or Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs); 2.0 percent reduction to the OPPS conversion factor to offset CMS’ overestimation of the packaged laboratory payments under the 2014 OPPS. This proposed cut to create a net .2 percent reduction in the OPPS; and Adding 9 new comprehensive ambulatory payment classifications (C-APCs) to the 25 existing C-APCs, including a new C-APC for comprehensive observation status. Comments on the proposal are due by August 31. The final rule is expected by November 1, and will take effect January 1, 2016. The full proposed rule can be found in the Federal Register. CMS Issues Proposed Bundled Payment Program for Hip and Knee Replacements On July 9, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule that would bundle payment to acute care hospitals for hip and knee replacement surgery. Under the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CCJR) model, the hospital in which the joint replacement occurs would assume financial risk for quality and costs of the episode of care through 90 days after discharge. The model will be implemented in 75 geographic areas and would be mandatory for hospitals in those areas. NCHA Update Major proposals include: Testing of the CCJR model would begin on January 1, 2016 and end on December 31, 2020. The episode of care would begin with the inpatient hospital admission and extend to 90 days subsequent to patient discharge. The hospital would be paid based on one of two “Major Joint Replacement” MS-DRGs and would include all care covered under Medicare Parts A and B; In the first year of the program, CMS pay retrospectively and no hospital would be penalized for participation in the CCJR model. After the completion of year 1, services would be aggregated and would compare the total estimated payments to the “target price,” which would be hospital specific and regional blended payments, minus 2 percent. A “reconciliation payment” would be occur depending on the hospitals performance compared to their target price; For a hospital to receive a reconciliation payment, it must meet or exceed performance thresholds currently accumulated in the Hospital Quality Reporting Program Comments can be submitted to CMS by September 8, 2015. The full proposed rule can be found in the Federal Register. CMS Issues Proposed Rule on Managed Care for Medicaid and CHIP On June 1, 2015, CMS published a proposed rule intended to update Medicaid and CHIP Managed Care to better align Medicaid managed care plans with Medicare Advantage plans and other insurance plans. Major proposals include: Aligning quality improvement with HHS National Quality Strategy and CMS Quality Strategy; Allowing flexibility in delivery system reform efforts to align with the triple aim The full proposed rule can be found in the Federal Register. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Issues a Proposed Rule for 340B Drug Pricing Program and Manufacturer Civil Monetary Penalties On June 17, 2015, HRSA issued a proposed rule for 340B drug pricing program and manufacturer monetary penalties. The proposed rule clarifies many of the definitions used to regulate the program, amends the ceiling price for a covered outpatient drug, and clarifies civil penalties assessed to manufacturers charging greater than the ceiling price for a covered outpatient drug. CMS Issues Home Health Proposed Rule for FY 2016 On July 10, 2015, CMS published a proposed rule to update home health payment to the home health prospective payment system (HH PPS) with an effective date of January 1, 2016. 2016 will be the third of a four year transition of the rebasing adjustment to the national standardized 60-day episode payment rate. Comments can be submitted to CMS by September 4, 2015. The full proposed rule can be found in the Federal Register. Improving access to care by requiring states to establish managed care network adequacy standards; Standardizing actuarial standards used in the calculation of the Medical Loss Ratio; Aligning managed care requirements with Medicare Advantage and other managed care plans; Requiring managed care rates to be actuarially sound and transparent in actuarial standards and assumptions; 21 Student Member Focus Student e-Membership Full-time college students, not presently employed in the healthcare finance profession or one of its specialties, are eligible for free Student e-Membership through National HFMA. Crystal Miller is just one of the many students who is part of our chapter. Did you know that the NCHFMA has 193 estudents that are part of the chapter? Did you also know the chapter is willing to waive the registration fee for chapter conference attendance to any student member willing to write an article about their experience, or for volunteering on our matrix? Student members are the future of Healthcare Finance and Administration and the NC Chapter is proud to join our universities and faculty in support of young leaders. Please also keep in mind HFMA membership for recent graduates is very affordable (savings of nearly 70% of the standard rate) If you are interested to learn more please contact one of your chapter leaders. By: Ariana Zibilich, NCHFMA Membership Chair Name: Crystal Moore College: UNC Chapel Hill Master of Healthcare Administration Candidate (May 2016 expected graduation) Summer Internship: Healthcar e Consulting Inter n at DHG Healthcar e in Charlotte, NC What prompted your interest in pursuing a career in healthcare? I first became interested in a career in healthcare when I shadowed a Service Line Director at UAB Health System in Birmingham, AL. That, coupled with my degree in business and personal experience with Leukemia, led me to pursue a career in healthcare administration. What presentations were you able to attend while at Pinehurst? “Drinking from the Fire Hydrant” (Panel Discussion with Nathan White, VP and CIO for Appalachian Health Systems, Chad Eckes, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Sulaiman Sulaiman, Senior VP and CIO for Mission Health) “Don’t Land in the Sandtrap, How to drive for success in payment” ‘(Melinda Hancock, PartnerHealthcare at Dixon Hughes Goodman and HFMA National Chair-Elect) Blue Cross and Blue Shield ACO (Tiffany Cooper, Senior Strategic Advisor, Health Delivery Redesign, Pamela Holt, Primary Strategic Advisor, Healthcare Strategy, Phillip Edwards, Primary Strategic Advisor, Healthcare Strategy) Were the topics shared in the presentations similar to what you are hearing about in your classroom setting? Absolutely! It is always reassuring to know that we as students of UNC are learning current trends and issues that healthcare professionals are experiencing. What is one take away that you walked away from Pinehurst with? We, meaning current and future healthcare professionals, have a lot of work ahead of us. It’s important to have platforms like HFMA conferences to get a diverse group of professionals in the same room to discuss challenges and potential strategic solutions. No part of healthcare (provider, payer, government entities, etc.) can solve the healthcare issues alone. We need each other as resources and teachers if we plan on improving the American healthcare system. What were your initial impressions of NCHFMA (this does not have to be based on your experience at Pinehurst) and why do you feel it is important to join a professional organization? Since my first interaction with NCHFMA at UNC Chapel Hill, I have been impressed. As a student it has been extremely beneficial to me because I have been able to discover different career paths within healthcare, enhance my knowledge of the ever-growing glossary of healthcare acronyms as well as learn about real life challenges healthcare professionals face. I have used the opportunity to shadow, network and even find a summer internship through members of NCHFMA! I look forward to continuing my involvement with NCHFMA as a professional and giving back to future students interested in a healthcare career. 23 North Carolina Healthcare Financial Management Association 2015-2016 Corporate Sponsors Platinum Sponsors Xtend Healthcare, LLC Gold Sponsors AccessOne MedCard, Inc. Avadyne Health CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP MedA/Rx (A PMAB Company) NCHA Strategic Partners ParrishShaw The SSI Group, Inc. Triage Consulting Group, Inc. Valence Health Silver Sponsors Adreima First Point Healthcare Resources Allgood Professional Services, LLC PatientMatters, LLC. Avectus Healthcare Solutions, LLC PCB Collection Specialists Bank of America Merrill Lynch Professional Recovery Consultants, Inc. Bottom Line Systems, Inc. Revclaims, LLC ClearBalance Stern Recovery Services, Inc. Computer Credit Inc. The ROI Companies DHG Healthcare TruBridge Bronze Sponsors AmCare Group, LLC Bull City Financial Solutions Cirius Group, Inc. HCFS, Inc. MDS (Medical Data Systems, Inc.) Medlytix, LLC Nexsen Pruet, LLC ProAssurance Companies Resource Corporation of America SLG, Inc. Stanley Benefit Services, Inc. 24 Upcoming Education Events Chapter Conferences/Workshops August 18, 2015 2015 Medicare Update Greensboro, NC October 11-13, 2015 Summer/Fall Institute Kingston Plantation—Myrtle Beach December 31, 2015 Accounting & Auditing Update with Ethics Greensboro, NC September-November 2015 Fall Certification Series Webinar October 21, 2015 Health Insurance Institute and Medicare Workshop Greensboro, NC National HFMA Webinars Free HFMA Webinars to HFMA Members Live webinars are free for HFMA members and $99 for non-members, unless otherwise noted. Become a member today. August 11, 2015 2016 Proposed Rule Changes to the Outpatient and Ambulatory Service Center Payment Systems September 15, 2015 Overview of MACRA Legislation: How the SGR Repeal and New Merit-Based Incentive Payment System will Impact Physician Payments August 25, 2015 An Overview of Medicare’s Proposed Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model October 7, 2015 Are Payment Threats Lurking in your Hospital? August 26, 2015 Now Providers can Simultaneously Reduce Expenses, Improve Operations and Increase Revenue October 13, 2015 Medicaid Eligibility: 5 Winning Strategies in the Healthcare Reform Era August 27, 2015 Revealing Productivity Performance to Drive Financial Improvements November 3, 2015 Choosing the Right Value-Based Reimbursement Model in an Era of Population Health Management September 9, 2015 Aligning Physicians to Improve Reimbursement, Reduce Denials, and Enhance Regulatory Compliance November 19, 2015 An Update on the Latest Healthcare Legislative and Regulatory Issues