Eighth Edition

Summer Issue

August 2012


FIND THE LOGO IN THIS EDITION AND WIN!!
(Details On The Right)

Greeting Maine Chapter of HFMA Members,

 

First I would like to thank our chapter's volunteers, sponsors, and members for a very successful past year! Lisa Trundy ,as our chapter's Past President, recently attended the HFMA National Institute Conference (ANI) where our chapter received four awards based on the 2011-2012 year's performance (see article on ANI). Our chapter also attained 100% on all of the goals set by National HFMA for last year. Each year, National sets goals/standards that each chapter needs to attain, and each year National raises those standards. A couple of the key areas and the goals that our chapter is required to meet include:

  1. Education: for this year each chapter needs to provide 15.9 hours per member of education. This year our chapter's goal is set at 4,324.8 hours. In order to attain that goal, our chapter does provide some of the same programs each year as long as the attendance at those programs remains strong. Our chapter is always looking for new topics and speakers, so if there is any topic of interest to you please let us know. If you know of anyone willing to be a speaker including yourself, please let us know that as well. This year our chapter will be offering free webinars and has added two new education programs to its lineup - Hospital Best Practices and a Revenue Cycle conference. Denis Houle is our chapter's Vice President and Program Co-Chair in charge of the educational content this year. Please contact Denis at [email protected] with your ideas!
  2. Newsletter: each chapter is required to provide 4 newsletters during the year. That should be an easy goal to meet, but our chapter wants to make sure that it is adding value to your membership as the newsletter is one of our biggest means of communication with you. This year our chapter sent Natasha Erb, a co-chair of the newsletter committee, to HFMA's Leadership Training conference to get ideas on how our chapter can improve the newsletter. In September our chapter will be sending a survey out to our members to get your feedback and input. If you have any ideas or want to submit an article for our newsletter please contact Natasha Erb at [email protected].
  3. Member satisfaction: each year National sends a survey out to our members with a goal for every chapter to attain a certain % of their members that are very or extremely satisfied. This year's goal is set at 60%, and last year the goal was 55% with our chapter just passing at a 57% rate. Our chapter only had 27% of members respond to the survey, and also had a high rate of satisfied members. Unfortunately, those satisfied members aren't good enough for National. Our chapter's board recently reviewed the last survey results in detail and is in the process of making the changes mentioned above in education and the newsletter to address the results. Our chapter is also in the process of reviewing and updating the website based on the survey results. Please contact me at [email protected] to let us know what else we can do to maximize your experience with HFMA. Our chapter is here to serve you.

 

Our chapter truly cannot be successful without the hours of work put in by our dedicated volunteers, the support from our sponsors, and most importantly the support from our membership.   As I look forward to this year, I feel very lucky to be working with such a wonderful and dedicated group of individuals. National HFMA has raised the bar for the goals we need to meet this upcoming year, but I know that our chapter is up to the challenge.   The theme for this year set by National Chair Ralph Lawson is "Leadership Matters." The general idea under this theme is that everyone has the opportunity to make a difference, and that we are all accountable for achieving our organization's goals no matter what our role is. So as an HFMA member, YOU can make a difference. The chapter is always looking for suggestions on how to improve your experience, and we can't do it without your help. Remember - this is OUR Chapter!

 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Melanie Meader 

President 2012-2013

Maine Chapter of HFMA

 

Melanie Meader 

CFO Spotlight: Cynthia Thompson, Chief Financial Officer, Houlton Regional Hospital
 
   

Cynthia Thompson was recently appointed as the new Chief Financial Officer at Houlton Regional Hospital.  She had served as Controller at Houlton since 2005 and has been working the Houlton area for about 8 years prior to that in public accounting. 

 

Now that healthcare reform has survived its Supreme Court challenge, Cynthia feels the challenges ahead in healthcare finance due to healthcare reform are that hospitals are going to be asked to provide quality care (measured by more stringent criteria) while being paid less.  Patients will be more aware of comparative data and possibly "shop around" for the services that they are in need of.  She also feels that we are going to see a lot of new insurance plans or exchanges emerge.  These will be additional plans that our Patient Accounting staff will have to understand and keep track of.

 

When asked about the biggest challenges she sees forthcoming for Houlton, she says the biggest one that comes to mind is technology.  The electronic medical record (EMR), physician order entry, Meaningful Use - while all intended to improve the patient process, they take a lot of time, finances, and training to implement.  It is a balancing act to make sure that we are keeping up with regulations, without having a negative impact on patient care and employee morale.  The economy is also a continued struggle in Houlton, as a rural area.  Job losses and high deductible insurance plans lead to difficulty collecting our revenues.

 

When talking about some of the new and exciting things happening in Houlton, Cynthia states that during 2012, they have installed a new 32 slice CT scanner and upgraded our mammography camera to a digital platform.  We have added physicians to our Houlton Family Practice RHC and are facing space constraints there.  We have received a HRSA grant to help fund renovations, which we expect to begin in late 2012.

 

And some of the best and worst aspects of the new CFO job?  She says she has always been a numbers person, so digging into a good project for the CEO or Board is appreciated.  She has also enjoyed being more involved with the cost reporting process and understanding the impact that internal changes can have on it.  Her least favorite part so far is dealing with staff issues or patient complaints.

 

Cynthia is married with two children.  Her family all enjoy the many outdoor activities that Maine has to offer, by being active in kayaking, hiking, fishing, hunting, and snowshoeing.  

 

 

Submitted by Jeffrey P. Provenzano, FHFMA 

National HFMA ANI: Update from Las Vegas

 ANI Vegas HFMA National Institute 2012 was held at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on June 24-27. This year's conference was very exciting as it was, packed full of great information with many memorable moments. Among the key note speakers were Carl Lewis Nine-Time Olympic Gold Medalist, David Walker Former U.S. Comptroller General, and Chesley B. (Sully) Sullenberger III.

 

At the conference, we said goodbye to Dick Clarke DHA, FHFMA president and chief executive officer of HFMA. Dick has been the president of HFMA since 1986, and has lead health care efficiency and effectiveness initiatives such as the Patient Friendly Billing project. Clarke was presented with the Board of Directors Award for outstanding contributions to healthcare. HFMA has also renamed the award in honor of Clarke's contributions to the association; it will now be known as the Richard L. Clarke Board of Director's Award.

 

Leadership was a key theme at this year's conference. HFMA Chair Ralph Lawson told us that "Leadership is about doing the right thing even when it's inconvenient". Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger told us that "leadership makes a difference" and all the lessons in leadership that he had accumulated over his life and his own fierce commitment gave him the strength and presence of mind "to be able to handle, in 208 seconds, an event that we had never anticipated and to get it right the first time, never having considered the situation before". HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer made his first address to HFMA members since taking his leadership role. In his speech, he told the healthcare financial professionals "Don't sit back and wait for changes to happen to you. Create the future yourselves."

 

At the annual award awards dinner, I had the honor of representing the Maine Chapter in the presentation of Chapter Awards. The awards were presented by Ralph Lawson, 2012-2013 National Chairman and Gregory Adams 2011-2012 National Chairman.

  • Maine Chapter was awarded a Helen M. Yerger award for Improvement. Our Chapter launched Operation Volunteer 2 years ago to increase active volunteerism, in turn increasing member value and satisfaction.
  • In the area of chapter education the Chapter was awarded a John M. Stagl Silver award of Excellence in Education as well as a C. Henry Hottum Award for Educational Performance Improvement.
  • In the area of membership the Chapter was awarded a Silver award for excellence for Membership Growth and Retention.

If you didn't get a chance to attend this year, ANI 2013 will be held next year on June 16-19, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.

 

Submitted by Lisa Trundy, Past President  

CMS proposes two significant changes for OPPS 2013

 

Written by By Michelle Leppert, CPC-A, HCPro


CMS is proposing two major changes as part of the

 

The 2013 proposed rule is approximately half the size of the 2012 proposed rule and does not contain as many changes. However, the proposed suggestions are significant because they represent a major

difference in how CMS has been making payments, says Jugna Shah, MPH, president of Nimitt Consulting in Washington, DC.

 

Click Here for Full Article

Supreme Court Rules on Healthcare Reform Law

 

by Kathy Ruggieri and Joseph Glazer, Besler Consulting

 

On June 28, 2012 in one of the most anticipated decisions in many years, the United States Supreme Court voted by a 5-4 majority to uphold major provisions of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA). Led by Chief Justice John Roberts, the Supreme Court concluded that the "individual mandate," one of the most controversial aspects of the law, was constitutional as a valid exercise of the Federal government's taxing power. In addition to upholding the requirement that all individuals maintain some sort of insurance coverage, the Court also sanctioned the expansion of Medicaid provided under the PPACA. Importantly, however, the Court held that the Federal government could not withhold Medicaid funds from States that choose not to expand Medicaid coverage pursuant to the PPACA. How that aspect of the Court's ruling impacts Medicaid expansion will likely be a State-by-State issue. The stage is now set for the PPACA to continue to be one of the key issues in the upcoming Presidential and Congressional elections.

 

Click Here for Full Article

IRS Requirement for a Community Health Needs Assessment is fast approaching

 

By Edward Stall, Craig Anderson and Matthew Fadel, Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP

 

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) enacted in March 2010 has had a significant impact on the evolving healthcare industry. Buried among the numerous provisions of the PPACA legislation are the four new requirements for 501(c)(3) hospitals that must be implemented during tax years beginning after March 23, 2012. The law added two new sections to the Internal Revenue Code documenting the new mandates with one of the most significant requirements mandating each tax exempt hospital to conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment. 

 

Click Here for Full Article

 

Charge Description Master Maintenance and the Compliance Link Highlights of the July 2012 OPPS Hospital Update 

 

By: Elizabeth Schaub-DeBlock, Besler Consulting

 

Since the implementation of Medicare's Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) in August of 2000, we have come to understand the significant role the Charge Description Master (CDM) plays within this payment structure to ensure appropriate payments for hospital services. Constant changes, including Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) updates, changes in procedures being performed throughout the hospital and changes in reimbursement guidelines highlight the importance of maintaining the CDM.

 

Click Here for Full Article

From CFO to CEO: Transitioning to the Top Spot

 

Written byJeni Williams is associate managing editor, HFMA's

Westchester, Ill., office.

 

 

Four former healthcare CFOs share how they made the move to CEO

how finance professionals who strive to become CEOs should prepare.

___________________________________________________________

 

At a Glance

 

CFOs who want to become CEOs should consider the following strategies:

 

  • Learn how to speak in a nonfinancial language.
  • Ask to be exposed to broader, more strategic responsibilities in your role as CFO.
  • Take an active role in quality-of-care initiatives.
  • Establish strong relationships with physicians.
  • Establish partnerships outside your organization.
  • Have a passion for healthcare leadership-and be able to express it.

Click Here for Full Article

340B Opportunities Under The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)

 

By: Leslie Dykman, Besler Consulting

 

Introduction

 

The Federal 340B drug pricing program can provide significant savings in outpatient pharmaceutical costs for Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSHs or DSH hospitals). These savings contribute directly to the bottom line for providers operating in an increasingly difficult environment to serve an increasingly vulnerable population. Established in 1992 under the Veteran's Health Care Act and administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the program generates savings through an up-front manufacturer's discount. As a condition of participation in Medicaid, the program requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to sell most outpatient drugs to participating 340B providers (known as "covered entities") at a discounted rate. Covered entities include DSH hospitals (those with a DSH adjustment percentage of more than 11.75%), Federally Qualified Health Centers, and other designated federal grantees.

 

Click Here for Full Article

Make Your Revenue Cycle Hum

 

Daniel Schulte, Michael S. Friedberg, and Andrew DeVoe

 

For many hospitals, an elusive portion of their financial processes just doesn't "hum." Whether it's 2 percent or as much as 15 percent of your revenues, the real impact on your bottom line of this elusive percentage can be the difference between surviving or not.

 

Today's economy, combined with the uncertain impact of Washington's reforms, makes finding the last dollar critical to your financial goals and to your core mission of patient care. That elusive last percentage needs your attention and presents the greatest challenge.

 

Some creative ideas and a step-by-step formula can help you tackle that elusive last percentage.
 
Maine Chapter of HFMA Annual Meeting, Samoset Resort, Rockland, Maine
 
annual meeting 
 

The Maine Chapter of HFMA will be hosting the 2012 Annual Meeting on September 13th & 14th at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine.

This two day session will bring you up to date on all of the current developments in Healthcare and provide an evening of entertainment with our very own Casino Night.

This HFMA chapter event is a great combination of learning, networking, and fun.

The Samoset Resort will offer accommodations at a discounted group rate for reservations made by 8/12/2012, please mention HFMA. To reserve your room call 800.341.1650. If you encounter any problems with room reservations, please contact Denis Houle at
[email protected]

Today's ME HFMA newsletter is the eighth edition of the e-Beacon, where Maine HFMA'ers get their news!  Past editions can be found at HERE (just click).
 
Please contact  Ames Ryba at [email protected] or Natasha Erb at [email protected] to join the newsletter committee, we are always looking for new faces and ideas! 
 
Comments, questions and concerns are always welcome.  Have a suggestion please send to [email protected].
In This Issue
CFO Spotlight
National HFMA ANI Update
CMS OPPS Changes 2013
Supreme Court Rules on Reform
Community Health Needs
CDM Maintenance Update
From CFO to CEO
340b Opportunities
Make Your RC Hum
Chapter Annual Meeting Announcements
WIN with the eBeacon
Ask the Expert
Thanks to Our Sponsors
New Members
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Webinars
Free Webinars
In The News
Quick Links
**NEW!  PLAY to WIN!**

Beacon e-News I-SPY

 

  

The Maine Chapter of HFMA is about to reward your readership!  Play the Beacon e-News I-Spy game and WIN!

 

The National HFMA has announced a new theme for the upcoming year - "Leadership Matters".

 

As you read the newsletter, look for this logo:

 

 

 

 It could be ANYWHERE so make sure to click on the full article links as you search for the logo. Once you find the it, send an e-mail with your name and the location of the logo to Natasha Erb at [email protected].

 

 You could win a $50 gift certificate to L.L. Bean!!

 

All entries must be submitted by August 31st. A winner will be drawn on September 1st.

Happy reading!

 

NEW! ASK THE EXPERT!

 

We are happy to announce a new section of the newsletter:

 

"Ask the Expert"

 

Chapter members are encouraged to submit questions about healthcare finance, revenue cycle, reimbursement or other related topics.

 

We will select one question for each issue and will provide an answer from an expert on the subject matter in the following newsletter!

 

 Please submit your questions to Natasha Erb at [email protected].

Thanks

To Our

Sponsors

GOLD SPONSORS

 

Baker Newman Noyes

 

BerryDunn

 eHC Solutions

 E-Management Associates

 Emdeon

 Maine Recovery Services

 

Medical Bureau/ROI

 The Thomas Agency

 

 

SILVER SPONSORS

 

DECO

 Martin's Point Health Care

 Ritter Project Management

 Vierill Dana, LLP

 

 

BRONZE SPONSORS

 

Morris Switzer

Welcome New Members!

Erica Dobler, Senior Auditor, BerryDunn

 

Chad Dudley, Senior Auditor, BerryDunn

 

Tonia T. Boyd, Physician Billing Supervisor, Franklin Memorial Hospital

 

Ken Demers, McKesson

 

Dana Cook, McKesson

 

Bill Myers, Regional Director, Siemens

Upcoming Education Events

Save the Date

 

  

Sept 13 - 14

 

Maine Chapter of HFMA Annual Meeting

 

Samoset Resort, Rockland

 

See Article in Main Body

 

_______________

 

October 26th

 

Hospital Best Practice Session

 

Hilton Garden in Auburn

 

_______________

 

 

November 2nd (tentatitve)

 

Joint HFMA / HIMSS IT Meeting

 

Portland, ME

 

________________

 

November 15th 

 

MaineCare Reimbursement


Augusta, ME

 

_______________

 

 December 6th & 7th

 

Medicare Reimbursement

 

 Portland, ME

NEW!  SAVE THE DATE: WEBINARS
 
August 23 - Charity Care & Self Pay Webinar Series
 

Thursday 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Session 2 of 4
11 Things to Know When Designing Your Self-Pay Collections Program

 

___________________________

 

September 20th -- Charity Care & Self Pay Webinar Series

 

Thursday 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Session 3 of 4
Your Self- Pay Operating Through Scoring and Segmentation

 

___________________________

 

October 18th - Charity Care & Self Pay Webinar Series

  

11 Steps to More Productive Collections Outsourcing Management

Thursday 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

 

Session 4 of 4

 

 

 

 

TAKE ADVANTAGE

FREE HFMA WEBINARS

 

August 14th - Employee Engagement in the Midst of Rightsizing

 

August 15th - Eliminate Payroll Checks with Debit PayCards

 

August 16th - Creating and Integrating a Finance Structure in Nursing

 

August 23rd - How to Control Costly Physician Preference Items*

 

August 29th - Managing Physician Revenue in a Hospital Environment



 

 

To access full list of educational webinars click here: http://www.hfma.org/webinars/

 

 In The News:

 
CMS Proposes Care Coordination Payments for Recently Discharged Patients  
 
Patients CMS Proposes Care Coordination Payments for Recently Discharged Patients

For the first time, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to pay community physicians for the care required to help a patient transition back to the community following discharge from a hospital. Under the proposed rule, CMS would make a separate payment to a patient's community physician to coordinate care during the first 30 days after a patient's hospital stay.

In comment letters to CMS, HFMA has encouraged CMS to make payments for care coordination for patients who have been recently discharged from hospitals. Research shows that patients who receive timely physician follow-up care after being discharged are significantly less likely to be readmitted.

 

Click Here for Full Article
 

ME HFMA Newsletter Committee 

Ames Ryba, co-chair, 860-656-5102, aerb_3@live.com

 

Natasha Erb, co-chair, 207-779-2284,  [email protected] 

 

Jeff Provenzano, CFO Reporter, 
[email protected]

 

Laurie Melanson, committee member, [email protected]

Next e-Beacon

November 2012