Compiled Winning Essays of the 2016 State Partnership

Texas MGMA Application for the State Partnership Award
Texas MGMA continues to be a leader in advancing Medical Practice Management at national,
state and local levels. Throughout its 42-year history, Texas MGMA have focused on the
growth and education of our professional membership by providing current, industry-related
information, supportive infrastructure for innovation and growth, and networking
opportunities for career advancement and collaborative learning. Texas MGMA remains
committed to its mission of:



Fostering the professional development of its members through education and networking
opportunities.
Enhancing the image of medical group practice leaders in the effective delivery of
healthcare services.
Representing the interest of our membership in policy-making activities through advocacy
at the state level.
We routinely review our goals and objectives in the areas of engagement and contribution to
Medical Practice Management. These goals and objectives are accomplished by the Board
using Regional Directors and Committees. Regional Directors are voting Board members
representing the North, South, East, West, and Central regions of the state to engage local
chapters and members. Texas MGMA Committees make recommendations for improvements
in their assigned areas.. These committees meet quarterly. Local chapter leaders are invited to
participate as non-voting members at Board Meetings. The local chapter leaders are provided
agenda opportunities to update other local chapters and Texas MGMA about issues and events
in their part of the state. Texas MGMA continues to explore the establishment of local chapters
in unrepresented areas.
2015 was a year Texas MGMA continued to implement new and innovative approaches
supporting Medical Practice Management. Each committee was challenged with clear and
specific goals and each committee delivered in the following manner:
Communications Committee
Aligning separate national, state and local chapter organizations in accordance with the
affiliation agreement, the 2015 Communications Committee goal was to improve and
standardize communication to all Texas MGMA members, constructively collaborate with state
and local leaders to discuss challenges, and identify opportunities. This goal was achieved by
inviting the local chapter presidents to participate in the Board Meetings. And, going beyond
the invitation, the Committee placed the local leaders as an agenda item, allowing them an
opportunity to speak directly to the Board and other local leaders. The Committee also
improved the website by moving “Upcoming Events” from around the state to the landing page
of www.txmgma. com . Events such as local chapter meetings, webinars, conferences, student
competitions, and social events are now promoted at both local and state levels by
chronological order. This standardized communication has resulted in increased awareness and
participation by Texas MGMA members as well as open communication between state leaders
so that we may collaborate to improve.
Education Committee
The Education Committee’s goal remains focused on delivering high quality conferences in the
spring and the fall. While conferences remain steadfast goals, the committee was challenged to
develop new programs that would offer more value to local chapter members. In 2015, the
Committee responded by implementing a monthly webinar series, implementing the “Friday
Focus”, and securing the Mock ACMPE exam at every annual conference. The monthly, 1-hour,
lunchtime webinars are offered at no cost to Texas MGMA members. The “Friday Focus” is a
quick, one question survey electronically distributed to Texas MGMA members every Friday.
The anonymous result is electronically presented to Texas MGMA members every Monday.
Also, the Committee has recommended offering the Mock CMPE exam at every annual
conference encouraging members to achieve ACMPE certification and fellowship.
Legislative Committee
The legislative committee and legislative liaison represent Texas MGMA and Medical Practice
Management with state lawmakers. We dedicate a legislative liaison for a two-year
commitment timed to start between the biennial sessions to build relationships and learn the
details of the lawmaking process. The state and local organizations maintain close
relationships with state and county medical societies to promote health care policies favorable
to the health care industry. We send the president and legislative liaison to the state’s
Legislative Day at the capital where Texas MGMA is on the Texas Medical Association’s
Advocacy Retreat Agenda to discuss issues with lawmakers and other medical professional
associations. Texas MGMA hosts a “Day at the Capital” where advocacy efforts are
demonstrated through membership meeting with their representatives regarding current
health care issues. The Committee sponsors a speaker from the state and/or national level to
keep the membership apprised of legislative issues.
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee accepted the greatest challenge in 2015. Prior to 2015, Texas
MGMA membership was separate and distinct between the state and local chapters. Members
had to pay for membership separately. Effective 2015, with the new affiliation agreements,
members would join both organizations. Joint membership meant some members saw an
increase in dues. The Membership Committee worked with state and local leaders and
members to develop a fair and equitable dues structure. We reduced the administrative
challenges of dues collections for the local chapters while allowing those chapters to be
adequately funded. . Members without a local chapter could dedicate the local chapter
portion of their dues to fund a local chapter. , The Committee explored a dues structure that
allowed organizational membership. Observing vendors could be statewide, the Committee
explored a vendor dues structure that allowed cross chapter affiliations.
Student Committee
The Committee focuses on providing students with resources to prepare for a career in
healthcare and encourage them to become involved in Texas MGMA. The committee has
established a student liaison program providing a hands-on experience in which they are in
invited to attend a board meeting. Ideas are exchanged so the organization can address the
needs of student members and continue to provide pertinent educational offerings.
Texas MGMA is ready to adapt our educational offerings and communication strategy. We
remain committed to contributing to Medical Practice Management for our members across
the state.
MGMA State Partnership Award Submitted December 31, 2015 For consideration of the 2016 State Partnership Award Advancement of the Medical Practice Management Profession The mission of MGMA‐MO is to “develop and equip our members to create dynamic, successful medical group practices that meet the needs of today’s patients through education, building relationships, advocating and providing tools that focus on the delivery of excellence in patient care”. MGMA‐MO is committed to providing each member with excellent value for each membership and hope each member will find membership a tremendous value for their dollar. Our organization strives to shape the future of healthcare, knowing our members have dedicated their professional lives to serving patients and their respective practices. Education and Information MGMA‐MO recognizes the importance of educating our membership; we have provided several avenues to ensure those needs are met. We seek to be the primary resource for educational opportunities for medical practice executives.  Free webinars on current, timely healthcare issues. Those offered in 2015: o Getting Ready for 2015: The Reimbursement Landscape for Medical Practices” o “Breaches, Business Associates and Texting, Oh My! HIPPA HiTech Updates for 2015” o “Security and Smartphone Revolution” o “Evidence‐based Management for Healthcare Professionals” o “Game‐Changer: How do HDHP’s Affect Medical Groups o “Are You Prepared for Payment Adjustments? Making the Most of Value‐Based Modifiers and MEA” o “Managing UP!” o “Developing a Managed Care Strategy: Negotiation Tips and Tactics” o “Automating the Life Cycle of a Practice Dollar” o “Leaning In: Skills for Emotional Resiliency” o “Telemedicine” o “Getting Ready for 2016: The Reimbursement Landscape for Medical Practices”  Bi‐monthly Newsletter, ‘Communiqué, sent electronically to over 500 members and non‐
members. The State legislative liaison and ACMPE Forum Representative are regular contributors (December issue attached).  E‐News Updates.  MGMA‐MO Annual Spring Conference attracts approximately 200 attendees and offers 10 ACMPE continuing education hours. Since 2007, the conference has included a track for coders offering AAPC CEU’s. Sessions include national and local speakers discussing current critical topics in the healthcare field. Members are given over six hours to meet and interact with 60+ business partners. Pre‐conference sessions feature the ACMPE Forum Representative’s session on certification and obtaining fellowship (2015 Conference Brochure attached).  Leadership Symposium (pre‐conference invitation). The MGMA‐MO Board of Directors wished to develop a way to bring leadership of the seven local chapters together. This is our version of an abbreviated MGMA Leadership Conference, striving to bring local chapter leadership together to share ideas, build strong chapters and networking. This past year, David Taylor, FACMPE and David Kelch, FACMPE led the discussion on local chapter governance. Networking MGMA‐MO offers a Members Only membership directory as a resource tool providing contact information about fellow MGMA‐MO members. This provides an opportunity to talk with other medical practice administrators who face similar challenges and frustrations. MGMA‐MO promotes the association with presence on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. There is continued support and promotion of seven local affiliate chapters to increase networking and educational opportunities; the state board has committed to attend local chapter conferences and/or meetings. MGMA‐MO, as part of the Board of Directors development and succession planning, sends their president to Annual Conference and four of the five Board members attended annual conference in 2015. The Secretary, Treasurer, and ACMPE Forum Representative attended the State Leadership Conference. ACMPE We have put together resources so that our members have access to information to help them along the path to certification. We offer a column in our bi‐monthly newsletter promoting the benefits of certification and fellowship, publish test dates and recognize new members of the college. At the state annual conference, a booth is manned by the forum representative who supplies Body of Knowledge resources (Q&A deck of cards, sample test questions), information on study programs and scholarship information for members interested in pursuing certification. Complimentary MGMA‐MO membership is offered for all new Fellows. For 2015, five members gained their CMPE and one member earned Fellowship. Resources MGMA‐MO supported the 2015 Management Compensation Survey. Our goal in promoting the survey was to increase participation, simplify the participation process and provide meaningful information. All MGMA‐MO and local chapter members were encouraged to participate along with other Missouri based medical group managers. Articles and ads were included in our newsletter, weekly e‐mails sent during open survey and participation was promoted at the local chapter meetings. For 2015, there was a total group count of 72 participants and individual manager count of 317. This is a substantial increase from 2014, where we saw 53 group count participants with 113 individual manager count participants. This demonstrates the efforts in promoting the survey resulted in increased participation. MGMA‐MO awards a total of six scholarships each year totaling over $5,000. These scholarships are available to members who are furthering their education or attendance to a MGMA conference. The Professional Enrichment Scholarship is available quarterly for a member pursing certification or Fellowship in ACMPE. MGMA‐MO partnered with business partner ProAssurance to recognize a Practice Manager of the Year. This award recognized a practice manager who demonstrated leadership and proficiency to enhance operational effectiveness in his/her practice. Recipients receive a $2,000 stipend to apply toward attendance to the MGMA Annual Conference. Advocacy MGMA‐MO monitors legislative/regulatory issues through our Legislative Committee, chaired by the state treasurer. Members receive periodic Legislative Updates, including information provided by the Missouri State Medical Association and the MGMA Government Affairs staff in Washington, DC. Our Legislative Liaison, provides our members with more than thirty pieces of state and federal legislative news through the newsletter or as E‐News. Our website has a section devoted to legislation describing advocacy, grass roots resources, a ‘How to Guide’, linked to the MGMA Legislative pages, so our members may effectively communicate with legislators. We also offer ‘Legislative Update’ sessions at our annual conference, where a staff member from MGMA provides critical information to our members. Conclusion MGMA‐MO continues to live by its Mission statement by continuing to build stronger members through education, networking, advocacy and building relationships. COMMUNIQUE
2015 ­ 2016
Board of Directors
Dec/Jan
2015/2016
Letter from the President
to experience history in the making.
President
I am thankful for the many people that
have been an inspiration to me through
the years as they have allowed me to
grow both personally and professional­
ly.
Susan Reichert, FACMPE
Director, Clinics
CoxHealth
Springfield, MO
susan.reichert@coxhealth.com
President Elect
Jeff Ruch, CPA, MBA
Director of Operations
Mercy Clinic
Joplin, MO
Jeffrey.ruch@mercy.com
Treasurer
Sharon Sagarra, MBA, FACMPE
Practice Administrator
Benrus Surgical Associates, Inc.
St. Peters, MO
sharon.sagarra@gmail.com
Secretary
Brad Carney, CPC, CMPE
Office Manager
Meritas Health Oakview
Gladstone, MO
bcarney@meritashealth.com
Immediate Past President
Pat Francis, MBA, FACMPE
Administrator
Washington Univ. School of Medicine
Dept of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Reproductive Endocrinology and
Infertility
St. Louis, MO
francisp@wudosis.wustl.edu
MGMA Missouri Office
Rebekah S. Francis
Executive Director
P.O. Box 381533
Birmingham, AL 35238
(573) 556­6111
info@mgma­mo.org
Susan Reichert, FACMPE
President, MGMA­MO
Every year at this time I like to reflect on
things that I am thankful for and for the
many blessings in my personal and pro­
fessional life. I also like to look to the
future and try to set a few goals for the
upcoming year. It is so easy to get
caught in the day to day routine that it is
very easy to lose perspective of how
truly good life is. One might think that
with all the healthcare changes and
headaches we are undergoing at this
time that it may not be easy to find any­
thing to be thankful for in a professional
way, however, I am thankful for many
things both professional and personal!
I am thankful for my family and the love
I feel from them and for them.
I am thankful I have a roof over my head
and shoes on my feet.
I am thankful that I live in a country
where there is a democratic process.
I am thankful that I have a job that chal­
lenges me every single day.
I am thankful that I am involved in the
changing healthcare landscape as I get
We have all set goals at some point in
our lives. One professional goal that I
always keep in mind each year is to stay
focused on continuing my education in
my chosen profession. I have tried to
push that envelope a little bit more each
year. Some years have been more
challenging than others I have to admit!
Here is my challenge to you…
Set a goal to do one more educational
thing for yourself in 2016. For some it
could be to attend a conference or a
webinar series and for others it could be
to begin a more formalized education
path such as achieving a bachelor’s or a
master’s degree. Whatever your path­
way and goal is, just make sure it is rel­
evant and that it matters to you.
For those of you that may not know,
MGMA­Missouri offers many scholar­
ships that are available to Active
Members who are pursuing additional
education.
There are scholarships
awarded for the following:
$1,000 is awarded to an Active Member
who is pursuing continuing education
either through a formalized degree pro­
gram or registration/lodging for a nation­
al MGMA sponsored conference.
(Judith
Hillyard
Professional
Development Scholarship)
A bi-monthly publication of Medical Group Management Association - Missouri
Letter from the President, continued
$2,000 is awarded to an Active Member who is pur­
suing higher education through a formalized degree
program.
(Presidential Scholarship)
$250 is awarded to an Active Member who is pursu­
ing certification or fellowship through the American
College of Medical Practice Executives (ACMPE).
This scholarship is offered on a quarterly basis.
(Professional Enrichment Award)
There are also scholarships available for Student
Members (Vincent A. Schneider, Jr. Scholarship)
and a scholarship available for a dependent of an
Active Member.
For additional information and deadlines for the
available scholarships please visit our website at
mgma­mo.org. We would love to give every schol­
arship penny away in 2016 as our mission is to help
inspire our members to reach new heights of educa­
tion and professional development! I am hopeful
that 2016 will bring more inspiration through educa­
tion for us all!
­ Susan Reichert, FACMPE
President, MGMA­Missouri
Susan.reichert@coxhealth.com
2
T ABLE
OF
C ONTENTS
Letter from the President . . . . . . . . . 1­2
2016 Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Speaker Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5­6
ACMPE News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Legislative Update. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9­10
Secretary Article . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11­12
Avoid Embezzelment . . . . . . . . . . 13­14
Membership Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Are you “ALL IN” for SUCCESS?
MGMA-MO Spring Conference
May 1-3, 2016 – Tan-Tar-A Resort, Osage Beach, MO
Are You “All In” for SUCCESS
Superior Service
Unprecedented Transformation
Continual Growth
Creative Thinking
Exceptional Care
Solid Decisions
Sound Business Practices
We live and serve in an industry that is ever­chang­
ing and evolving. Just think back five years ago and
ask yourself what you were doing during your twelve
hours in a day. I would guess that most of us would
say that much of what we are focusing on is much
different than what we did even five years ago, much
less ten or even twenty years ago. Healthcare is
changing faster than any other industry short of
maybe the technology industry. What we must do to
have “SUCCESS” in medical practice leadership is
to be proactive in our change methodology and be
looking ahead for trends to be prepared for. We also
have to come up with new ways of practicing medi­
cine, and stay abreast of the many changes that are
occurring, so we can be educated consultants to our
physicians and hospital leaders who are looking to
us to provide this guidance. This will involve
“Unprecedented Transformation” in how we do
things to stay afloat in the waves of change now and
in the future.
The 2016 MGMA­MO Annual Conference has multi­
ple sessions planned to prepare you for this transfor­
mation in your practices: Specialty Roundtables,
Washington Update, Physician Compensation and
30 Cost Saving Ideas for Your Medical Practice are
just a few of the sessions being offered. Your
Conference Planning Committee is confident that
you will walk away from this conference feeling ener­
gized and ready to tackle the future of Healthcare.
Plan on attending the MGMA­MO Spring
Conference May 1­3, 2016 at Tan Tar A resort in
Osage Beach Missouri. Register before 12/31/15
and receive a 10% discount off your registration fee.
­ Jeff Ruch, MBA
President Elect and Conference Chair
Jeffery.ruch@mercy.net
3
When you need it.
Medical professional liability insurance specialists
providing a single-source solution
4
ProAssurance.com
MGMA­MO Conference Keynote Speaker Spotlight
MGMA­MO’s Conference Planning Committee has been hard at work! We are excited to announce
our three keynote speakers lined up for the spring conference.
Ron Feingold has been on stage since age 10. He got his musical theatre start in high
school. At age 17 he began his professional career performing in a melodrama theatre
by the name of "Bob Young's Cabaret" located in beautiful Cascade, Colorado.
Ron then moved on to dinner theatre in the summers during his breaks from college at
Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. There was a distinct trend that he
noticed over the years that all of his roles and jobs were mostly comical. So Ron decid­
ed to give Stand­up Comedy a try. A contest called the U.S. College Comedy
Competition came to Colorado State and Ron signed up. For a first timer, he placed third
and he's been hooked on laughs ever since!
While a performer in the dinner theatre, Ron was also working on his He earned his Private Pilot license at the
age of 18. Graduating in the top 10% of his class from Colorado State University with a degree in Psychology,
Ron received the academic honor of Phi Beta Kappa! In May of 1999, Ron received his Masters Degree in
Guidance and Counseling and spent a year as a Guidance Counselor while he worked on his second CD­ "Solo
Effort." He also loves water and snow skiing, writing poetry and music, and most of all performing!
Ron has toured the entire United States and has performed in America's finest Comedy Clubs, Universities, and
Theatres. Currently, Ron is a corporate and cruise ship entertainer residing in Florida and also performs at his
favorite comedy clubs around the country. You do not want to miss Ron’s General Session on “The Power of
the Smile”, you will laugh, learn and rejuvenate!
Mary Kelly, PhD is an internationally renowned author and speaker in the fields of lead­
ership, productivity, communication and business to improve profit growth.
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Mary has trained over 40,000 military and civil­
ian personnel in multi­cultural environments around the world. She served 21 years as a
commissioned officer in the Navy, and retired as a commander.
She is an author of many books, including award winning and best selling Master Your
World, 15 Ways to Grow Your Business in any Economy, and Money Smart; 360
Degrees of Leadership, Stop the Barking, and In Case of Emergency Break Glass. She
is also published in 100’s of magazines, newspapers and journals worldwide.
A university business and economics professor, Mary combines theory and practicality. With extensive experi­
ence in human resources, finance, insurance, organizational leadership, strategic planning, and project devel­
opment, she focuses on building successful strategies for business leaders at all levels of an organization.
Mary’s passion is helping people excel in business. An energetic, engaging and perceptive leadership coach
and speaker, Mary delivers humorous, inspiring, and insightful keynote speeches, offering tools and insights that
increase productivity, morale, and profits.
5
MGMA­MO Conference Keynote Speaker Spotlight
Bruce Hamilton travels throughout the United States spreading his "NO BAD DAYS" and "NO BAD SERVICE"
philosophies to thousands of people every year. Using his inspirational, fast­paced, humorous style, his encour­
aging messages have been motivating individuals and organizations for over 12 years.
With experience as a professional speaker, sales trainer, business owner, general manager of a tele­
vision station, host of an internationally syndicated children's show, husband and father of two, Bruce
has a varied background to choose from. Bruce has been awarded the Merit of Achievement for the
best use of humor in advertising in the United States and has also shared the stage with some of the
greatest speakers in the world.
Bruce is not just a motivational speaker, he
is a MOTIVATED speaker. He is motivated
to inspire others to take control of their
lives. Bruce keeps audiences on the edge
of their seats as they laugh and learn the
key principles of success, achievement
and happiness.
A reputation
reputation iiss
llike
ike trust.
trust.
It
It takes
takes years
years to
to grow,
grow, but
but
can
c an b
be
e rruined
uined in
in seconds.
seconds.
Make
sure your
your reputation
reputation is
Make sure
protected
protected w
with
ith ma
malpractice
lpractice
insurance
insurance coverage
coverage from
from PSIC.
PSIC.
S
Scan
ca n o
orr v
visit
isit
psicinsurance.com
p
sicinsura
ance.com
Call
1-800-788-8540
C
all 1
- 80 0 -788 - 8540
6
Malpractice
Malpr ac t ice iinsurance
nsur ance is uunderwritten
nder w r i t t en bbyy P
Professional
r o f e s s ional Solutions
S o lu t ions Insurance
Insur ance C
Company.
o m p a n y.
114001
4 0 01 U
University
ni ver si t y A
Avenue
venue | C
Clive,
li ve , IIowa
o w a 550325-8258
0325-8258 ©
©2015
2 0 15 P
PSIC
SIC N
NFL
F L 99459
459
ACMPE News
As we continue to manage the changes in healthcare, you may wonder if it is possible to stay
current on everything affecting the success of the medical practice. In 2016, we will face chal­
lenges in many areas of our profession. Across the state we will continue to see fewer insur­
ance plans available for our patients, we will continue to struggle with our reimbursements being
affected by past actions or inactions. Our providers and staff will struggle with us as they try to
process the new guidelines and rules that govern our profession.
Merry E Mullins,
There are a few ways I have managed change throughout my career. I have learned to lean on MBA, FACMPE
my peers for support and confirmation. I have relied heavily upon the management associations
I am a part of to help me stay up to date on the current issues. MGMA­MO has been a great resource for many years
for managers and administrators to stay current on healthcare trends, as well as, communicate with other colleagues
across the state when faced with challenging situations.
Another great opportunity afforded to managers and administrators is the opportunity to become board certified in the
American College of Medical Practice Executives. The information gained by going through the certification process
is something I will carry with me through the remainder of my career. The college strives to stay on top of the latest
trends in healthcare and works hard to make sure the study guides and test reflect real life scenarios managers and
administrators face in today’s market. One way the college has accomplished this is by providing us with a guide
called “The Body of Knowledge” The Body of Knowledge web portal (www.mgma.org/bok) is also a great resource
to use when preparing for the certification exam. The (BOK) includes all 6 domains on the website and also allows
you to take a quiz over each domain. There are also sample essay questions that help you become familiar with the
question formatting.
Take the first step in 2016 and become a Nominee
To apply for board certification you need to be a current member of MGMA, pay a one­time $250 application fee and
submit your completed application form along with documentation of two years of healthcare management, with at
least 6 months in a supervisory role. Once you have completed this step, you will become a Nominee in the American
College of Medical Practice Executives. Once you receive Nominee status, you are 3 steps away from obtaining your
certification.
1.
Pass 175 question objective exam
2.
Pass the 3 questions essay exam. (Exams are held in various testing sites.)
3.
Accumulate 50 hours of CEU’s (Continuing Educations Units) CEU’s are obtained by taking the practice
exam for the test, attending local, state and national conferences and meetings, educational webinars, on­line study
groups, and by reading articles in the MGMA connection.
The 2016 certification exams are:
Exam Dates
February 13 – 27
June 11 – 25
September 10 – 24
December 3 – 17
Location
Nationwide
Nationwide
Nationwide
Nationwide
computerized
computerized
computerized
computerized
testing
testing
testing
testing
Registration
December 30, 2015 – January 13, 2016
April 27 – May 9, 2016
July 27 – August 8, 2016
October 19 – November 2, 2016
Additional Registration information is located at www.mgma.com/exams.
Exam sites can be found at: http://www.castleworldwide.com/cww/our­solutions/test­delivery/test­site­cities/#usloca­
tions
Once you become board certified, you then become eligible to obtain your Fellowship in the American College of
Medical Practice Executives.
­ Merry E Mullins, MBA, FACMPE
ACMPE Forum Rep MGMA­MO
7
MGMA­MO Legislative Update ­ December 2015
Medicare continues to move toward value­based
reimbursement and its complexities
Physician groups with two or more eligible practition­
ers, as well as certain types of non­physician practi­
tioners, will all be subject to value­based payment
adjustments based on 2016 performance, CMS
announced in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
final rule.
The expanded eligibility for the value­based payment
modifier (VBP) means the actual payment hits will be
felt by providers in 2018, but the amounts will be based
on 2016 data. Any adjustments made to 2016 pay­
ments will be based on data from the 2014 calendar
year.
The VBP, first implemented in 2013, is designed to
reward or penalize physician groups, divided by tax
identification number (TIN), based on the quality and
cost of care provided to Medicare patients. It’s been
gradually expanded, having initially applied only to
groups with 100 or more eligible providers.
The Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act
(MACRA) of 2015 will ultimately phase out the individ­
ual VBP program in 2018, making it part of a larger
Medicare Incentive Payment System (MIPS) that
includes the Physician Quality Reporting System
(PQRS) and Electronic Health Record (EHR) incen­
tives.
VBP sets metrics, based on practice size, patient pop­
ulation, provider specialty and service mix, for the
mean costs of furnishing care to Medicare patients.
The performance of individual groups is detailed
through Quality Use Resource Reports (QRURs),
made available twice a year, that show performance
compared to other groups.
After the data is collected, a payment adjustment fac­
tor is created and groups of 10 or more physicians may
earn as much as four times the payment adjustment
factor; smaller groups may earn as much as two times
the adjustment factor. Poorly performing groups of 10
or more providers can lose as much as 4% of pay­
ments; smaller groups as much as 2%. Previously, the
division of groups was 100 or more providers and 10 to
99 providers.
Here are the key changes
being made by CMS to the
2016 program, which will be
reflected in 2018 payments:
­ The VBP will apply to these
non­physician practitioners:
Physician Assistants, Nurse
Practitioners, Clinical Nurse
Specialists, and Certified
Registered
Nurse
John Marshall
Anesthetists, when they are Legislative Liaison,
part of a group of two or more
MGMA­MO
eligible providers or when they
are in solo practice.
­ Quality­tiering will be applied to groups of all sizes to
include both upward, neutral and downward adjust­
ments in 2018. Currently, only groups of 10 or more
providers may see downward adjustments. In 2018,
only PAs, NPs, CNSs, and CRNAs in groups consist­
ing entirely of non­physician EPs and PAs, NPs, CNSs,
and CRNAs who are solo practitioners will be ineligible
for downward adjustments.
­ The maximum upward adjustment for the CY 2018
Value Modifier will be four times the to be determined
adjustment factor for groups of physicians with ten or
more EPs; two times an adjustment factor, for groups
of physicians with between two to nine EPs and physi­
cian solo practitioners; and two times an adjustment
factor for groups that consist of non­physician
providers and solo practitioners who are PAs, NPs,
CNSs, and CRNAs.
­ The potential payment risk will be a 4% cut for groups
of physicians with ten or more EPs; 2% cut for groups
of physicians with between two to nine EPs and physi­
cian solo practitioners, and 2% cut for groups of non­
physician EPs and solo practitioners who are PAs,
NPs, CNSs, and CRNAs.
­ The value modifier will be waived for groups and solo
practitioners if at least one eligible provider in the
group who bills for services in 2016 is part of the
Pioneer ACO Model, Comprehensive Primary Care
Initiative (CPCI), or other similar Innovation Center
model (such as Comprehensive ESRD Care Initiative,
Oncology Care Model (OCM), and the Next
Generation ACO Model) during the performance peri­
od.
9
MGMA­MO Legislative Update ­ December 2015
­ Starting with the 2017 payment adjustment period,
the minimum episode side for increased Medicare
spending per beneficiary measure will increase to
125 episodes for all groups and solo practitioners.
The All­Cause Hospital Readmissions measure is
being dropped from the quality composite calculation
for solo providers and groups of nine or fewer
providers.
­ A downward payment adjustment will not be auto­
matically applied to TINs that don’t meet the criteria
for the downward adjustment under the PQRS, when
an informal PQRs review shows that at least 50% of
eligible providers in the TIN meet criteria to avoid a
downward payment adjustment. Groups initially
determined to have not met the criteria to avoid the
PQRS downward payment adjustments and initially
subject to the automatic downward adjustment under
the Value Modifier would likely not yield data to have
their quality composite calculated. These providers
would be classified as “average quality.”
Hospitals nationwide prepare for mandatory bun­
dled payment program for lower extremities
CMS has finally released the final rule for its
Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR)
program, a complex pay­for­performance experiment
that will bundle lower extremity (hip and knee) joint
replacements for five years in 67 areas nationwide
starting April 1, 2016.
The final rule makes few concessions to provider
complaints, most of which centered around the fact
that the program is mandatory and was being rushed
through, with fewer than six months between the
release of the proposed rule and the proposed imple­
mentation date of Jan. 1, 2016. In its final rule, CMS
pushed that date back to April 1 and also reduced the
number of affected geographic areas from 75 to 67
(metropolitan service areas or MSAs).
The program is limited to five years, during which
affected hospitals will continue to receive fee­for­
service Medicare payments, CMS will calculate actu­
al episode payments and compare them against CJR
payment targets. If the actual costs were greater for a
hospital, CMS will demand repayment from those
hospitals. If the actual costs were less, CMS will
10
make a “reconciliation payment” to the cost­saving
hospitals based on the difference. Overall, CMS is
projecting a cost savings of $343 million over the five
years.
While the CJR program will end after the five years
are up, if CMS achieves anything close to its project­
ed savings without negatively impacting patient out­
comes, the agency is likely to make some version of
the CJR model permanent and possibly expand it
nationwide.
­ John Marshall
Legislative Liaison, MGMA­Missouri
jmarshall@signaturehealth.net
The 2016 MGMA Management and
Staff Compensation Survey &
The MGMA Provider Compensation
and Production Survey
OPENS JANUARY 11th
Who can complete a survey?
Both MGMA members and nonmembers are wel­
come to participate in all four surveys.
Why should I participate in a survey?
In addition to contributing data to your specialty and
the industry, you will receive access to the survey
results for free. Participants seeking additional ana­
lytical tools can also purchase those at a discounted
rate.
When are the surveys open?
Surveys are open January 11 ­ March 4.
Where do I go to participate?
Simply login to data.mgma.org to begin your survey.
If you do not already have a username and login,
register for one for free.
Need one­on­one help?
MGMA data analysts are available Monday through
Friday, 9 am to 6 pm CT.
Toll­free: 877.275.6462, ext. 1895
survey@mgma.org
Leadership: A Few Thoughts
If you google “define leadership” the very first entry
that comes up is this: “The action of leading a group
of people or an organization” followed by “The state
or position of being a leader.” The list of synonyms
is interesting, too. A sampling of them includes gov­
ernance, administration, control, supremacy, power,
dominion and influence. I suggest to you, though,
that leadership is not so much supremacy, control or
power. Rather true leadership has to do with char­
acter, integrity and more of an attitude of a servant.
Let me try to explain.
As managers, administrators, directors or whatever
other title we have the position of leadership. I sus­
pect that at least one of the many synonyms is even
in our job descriptions. But are we really leaders?
The first test of a leader, in my mind, is do we have
followers? If we do not have followers, who or what
are we leading? I know it sounds elementary.
Sometimes though we need to step back and look at
what we do with a fresh set of eyes. Or maybe even
have someone else look. Are we directing people,
bossing people by saying “do this” or don’t do that”?
Or are we gently guiding the way. Oh, I know some
of you are thinking that sometimes the guiding has
to be much more firm, and I agree. Yet there is a dif­
ference between saying “Do it this way.” and “Have
you thought about trying this method?” This is part
of the character I mentioned: a character of a bit
more humility or gentleness. Remember you can
catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. And if
that is true wouldn’t we have more loyal ‘followers’ if
we treat them kindly rather than boss them around?
I mentioned that a leader needs to have integrity.
We can look at the news any given day, probably
any given hour, and find examples of “leaders” that
were unethical. The most pointed example of this I
have ever heard is the preacher that tells his flock to
“Do as I say, not as I do.” Just like leadership, there
have been entire books written on integrity. I like to
think of it defined this way: If I have integrity, I will
do the same thing the same way whether 1,000 peo­
ple are watching, 100 people, one person or even if
no one is watching. I would even venture to say that
a person of integrity is more likely to have followers
that, sooner or later, do not have to ask near as
many questions. Instead they ask “what would
<insert the leader’s name> do?”
I want to dwell a few moments on my last point
above: A leader having more of an attitude of a ser­
vant. Let me tell a bit of my personal story to explain
this. I started my third career a few years ago when
I entered the health care field, handling accounts
payable and accounts receivable for a small private
practice. I took the position after being laid off from
my prior position and industry. I was brand new to
this field. As I performed my daily tasks, I watched
what was going on around me. I wondered why
things were done the way they were. Being shy until
I get to know someone, I didn’t ask questions. About
three to four months of this I went to the physicians
and asked about a full time position. To my delight
they offered me the office manager position. The
morning after accepting the offer the physicians met
with the staff and made the announcement, telling
them I had authority or power (remember those syn­
onyms?) to make changes as I saw fit. For those
employees I know that was probably intimidating.
They barely knew me, had no idea what I might
change and may have even feared for their jobs.
However I knew I had to understand the procedures
and the why of various things. I asked employees to
explain things to me, asked them what would make
the process easier, asking them how I could help
continued on page 12
11
Leadership: A Few Thoughts, continued
them do their job better. By doing so I learned so
much more than just the answers to my queries. I
learned about them, their learning styles and their
personalities. These were the people that would be
my followers. And to this day I describe my job in, at
least in certain circles, as making sure my direct
reports have everything they need to do their job as
efficiently and effectively as possible I have said all
of this to say that by being willing to ‘serve’ my
employees, there has been a very strong loyalty
built. The dollars and cents of this is I have almost
zero employee turnover.
There is one other thing about leadership I have not
yet mentioned – being a leader without the title or
position. If you were able to attend the 2014 MGMA
national conference, you had the opportunity to hear
one of my favorite authors, John Maxwell. Several
years ago I had access to several cassette tapes of
some of his lectures. (“Cassette tape” helps you fig­
ure out how many years ago.) There is one tape
which the title and content I will never forget:
Leading From the Middle of the Pack. The actual
lecture focused on being a leader without being in a
leadership position. In my humble opinion, leading
from the middle of the pack is more than that. There
may be things that you or I do which someone above
us on the corporate ladder sees, then emulates in
some way. Or maybe it at least makes them think
about the way they do things. My employees lead
me in some respects. Probably the best way to sum
this up is to say that you never know who is watch­
ing. And as you can see it ties directly back to
integrity.
As I said in the beginning there are volumes and vol­
umes of books on leadership. There are great lead­
ers whom we study that are truly controversial. I will
again say that, at least in my mind, the true leader
must have character and integrity. I believe the
strongest leaders, though, are the ones with a ser­
vant’s attitude.
­ Brad Carney, CMPE
Secretary, MGMA­Missouri
bcarney@meritashealth.com
JOB BOARD
The following positions are currently being advertised in the MGMA­MO Career Center. For full
details please visit our website at www.mgma­mo.org.
Company
Location
Position
Cejka Executive Search for BJC Medical Group
St. Louis
Director Practice Operations
St. Anthony’s Medical Center
St. Louis
Biller Coder (Full & Part Time)
Mulqueeny Eye Centers
Creve Coeur
Office Manager
12
Steps to Avoid Embezzlement in Your Physician Medical Practice
Medical practice embezzlement war stories confirm
the existence of clever thieves that steal from the
medical practice they work for. It is devastating at
both an emotional and financial level to discover a
trusted employee has betrayed you. Don’t be the vic­
tim of an embezzlement scheme that has your prac­
tice financing someone else’s lifestyle. Here are
some tips on how to protect your practice from an
embezzlement scheme.
transactions and identify which
employee completed the trans­
actions.
It’s not a matter of
being suspicious; it’s a matter of
being smart with money.
I have observed a number of practices where
finances are handled casually and create temptation
for future embezzlement opportunities. For example;
cash is loosely kept in drawers and not reconciled to
practice records before it hits the bank deposit – in
fact some physicians have made a habit of taking
funds from the cash drawer when it is convenient.
This is a sure fire way to compromise the ability to
reconcile the money.
Embezzlement can occur at
many locations throughout the
office. It can be at the front
desk, the billing department, the
payroll system, or the accounts
payable. But it almost always
Reed Tinsley,
starts small! It can begin by bor­
CPA
rowing $10 from the cash draw­
er for lunch, but if it doesn’t get repaid and goes unno­
ticed the waters have been tested. The thief now has
permission to take the next step. Assuming things are
being done the right way and having too much trust
provides an opportunity for embezzlement and may,
in fact, encourage it. It’s time to take notice – to get
and keep your practice in protective financial order.
Follow the money yourself
Divide duties and ensure accountability
Sure, you have other people handling financial trans­
actions in most areas of the practice, but it’s important
for you to read those bank statements each month.
This can be done on­line (or the old­fashioned paper
copies) and should take less than one hour per
month. Banking records reveal the truth about how
the money is being spent and are a trigger­point for
identifying irregularities in expenditures. I’ve seen
reports pulled from accounting systems where pay­
ment for an expense looks legitimate, but the bank
statement reveals that the large tax contribution you
made was actually a check or on­line payment direct­
ed to an employee’s personal bank account. You
might even discover your star office manager issued
herself an unauthorized bonus check or an unearned
vacation check.
Efficiency of a medical office depends on streamlining
procedures and avoiding duplication of tasks. At the
same time it is important that multiple people be
involved in finances, creating a separation of duties.
You don’t want the person to audit the cash drawer,
post the charge and payment, and take the money to
the bank. Nor do you want the person who prepares
the checks to be the one that reconciles the bank
statement.
Eliminate casual handling of cash
Secure system­wide audit trails
Next, make sure the computer system has a proper
audit trail and that the financial procedures in the
practice provide sufficient oversight for financial
transactions including charges, adjustments and pay­
ment on patient accounts. Your practice manage­
ment system, accounting system, banking system
and payroll records must provide the ability to track all
Create essential financial role diversity by requiring
anyone handling finances to rotate out of their posi­
tion for a period of at least two weeks each year. If
someone has something to hide, they sure don’t want
someone else doing their job for two weeks. This dis­
courages the thief, but it is not foolproof. Clever
employees can sometimes find ways to outsmart the
system or clean up their act during the weeks preced­
ing their time off. Nonetheless, they know there is a
chance of discovery.
Beyond having multiple people involved in financial
transactions, it is equally important to have processes
that ensure there is clear and appropriate documen­
13
Steps to Avoid Embezzlement in Your Physician Medical Practice
tation to support all financial transactions: money in
and money out. This documentation is your audit trail.
It allows the practice to spot check to ensure the
financial processes are being adhered to. This is one
case where duplicate efforts are a powerful financial
tool.
Looking over someone’s shoulder occasionally helps
keep him or her stay honest. In a small practice, the
doctor or an independent source such as the
accountant or consultant can be the point person for
accountability. A larger practice may use an inde­
pendent source or have an audit committee com­
posed of employees from various departments.
Either way, a Protective Financial Review should be
conducted periodically.
It is easy to understand how physicians, struggling
with the decline in reimbursement, government regu­
lations and the cost to stay afloat, fail to take the time
to take a hard look at your internal financial opera­
tions. But it is an area of the practice that must not be
neglected. Here are some simple rules you can put
in place that will go a long way in protecting practice
finances.
Apply these twelve steps to prevent embezzle­
ment:
1. Pay bills on­line or use an automated check­writ­
ing system that prints checks that leave no room for
alteration;
2. Use electronic remittance for payment from third
party insurance companies where the service is avail­
able and have a bank drop box for receiving pay­
ments on patient accounts and insurance payments
where electronic funds transfers (EFTs) are not avail­
able;
3. Audit the cash drawer daily;
4. Never borrow from the cash box (or others will);
5. Get rid of signature stamps with the same names
as the signers on bank accounts;
14
6. Review bank statements on line or have bank
statements come to the home of one of the physicians
and have someone that neither writes the checks nor
makes the bank deposits complete the reconciliation;
7. If a non­owner of the practice is permitted to be a
signer on the bank account, limit the dollar amount
approved;
8. Audit payroll records quarterly or at a minimum
semi­annually to prevent potential unauthorized rais­
es, bonuses or overtime pay;
9. Conduct complete background checks on all
employees before you hire them;
10. Obtain an insurance bond for the bookkeeper
and the office manager, but keep in mind that does
not cover financial neglect by the practice owners;
11. Conduct occasional Protective Financial Reviews
of each aspect of practice finances;
12. Listen to your instincts. If you become suspi­
cious, start digging. If the person handling the money
seems territorial and protective of his position or
begins living a more extravagant lifestyle or avoids
going on vacation, something is wrong and it’s impor­
tant to dig deeper to make sure finances are in prop­
er order.
13. Establish strong financial practices in your office
and adhere to them. It’s a matter of sound business
principles. Existing employees will appreciate a solid
foundation and a clear understanding of how things
need to be done. New hires will recognize how much
you respect finances and know what is expected of
them. They will understand this is a practice that
“minds the money.”
As a final note, during the employee orientation dis­
cuss the financial principles of the practice and let the
new employee know you will not tolerate deceit, fraud
or theft. Too many practices leave financial matters
unspoken and too many physicians that who have
been the victim of embezzlement fail to prosecute.
Let your staff know you would!
­ Reed Tinsley, CPA
www.rtacpa.com
Welcome New Members
Encourage your colleagues to become members of MGMA­Missouri. They will reap the benefits of education,
valuable networking, and learn about many issues dealing with practice management, legislation, and profes­
sional growth. To obtain a membership application, call the MGMA­MO office at (573) 556­6111, or sign up for
membership on­line at www.mgma­mo.org.
MGMA­Missouri
Membership Figures For December 2015
291
39
4
Active Members
Business Partner Members
Associate Members
4
28
Faculty/Student Members
Life Members
Total Membership ­ 366
Active Member
Hollie Allen
Mercy Clinic
Washington
Terri Bradley
Western Missouri Medical Center
Warrensburg
Amy Dunn
Capital Regional Medical Center
Jefferson City
Barbara McCollum
Midwest Medical Specialists
Kansas City
Katie Riechmann
SSM Medical Group – North
Paris
Shelly Sappington
JCMG
Jefferson City
Sherri Uren
Heartland Spine Institute
Jackson
Member Announcements
Trish Schmidt will be retiring from
Boonslick Medical Group as the
Practice
Administrator
on
December 31, 2015. She will stay
on as an advisor to Boonslick
through June. Trish has been an
Active MGMA­MO member for sev­
enteen years.
Gail C. Williams, CMPE is
retiring in January as the
Administrator at Infectious
Disease Associates of Kansas
City. Gail has been with IDA
for over thirteen years and is a
past president of the Greater
Kansas City MGMA local chapter. Gail has been
an Active MGMA­MO member for thirteen years.
Thank you Trish and Gail for your many years of
service in the healthcare industry. Enjoy this new
chapter in your lives!
Business Partner Member
Amy Earp
SNC Squared
Joplin
Dedicated to the Support and Professional Development of our Members
2015 MGMA MO SPRING CONFERENCE
TEAM
Together
Everyone
Achieves
More
MAY 3 - 5, 2015
Tan-Tar-A Resort
Osage Beach, MO
mgma-mo.org
2015 MGMA MO SPRING CONFERENCE
TEAM
Together Everyone Achieves More
MAY 3 - 5, 2015 • Tan-Tar-A Resort • Osage Beach, MO
Conference Agenda
Sunday, May 3rd
12:00-5:00pm
1:00-3:00pm
3:00-4:00pm
4:00-5:00pm
5:00-6:30pm
6:30-8:00pm
8:00-11:00pm
Registration
Bowling (Benefiting the MGMA-MO Scholarship Fund)
Preconference Sessions
Spring Training for New Managers - Jean Hansen, Paula Johnson, Michelle Yarnall
10 Mistakes We Keep Making As Practice Managers - Kyle Matthews
ACMPE Overview - Terri Fischer
New Member/First Time Attendee Reception
Opening Night Reception & Dinner - Team Jersey Night!
General Session: Put Me In Coach...I’m Ready To Play - Mary Feeley
Entertainment presented by MyDJKJ
Monday, May 4th
6:30-7:30am
7:00-8:00am
8:00-9:30am
9:30-10:00am
10:00-11:00am
10:00-12:00pm
11:00-12:00pm
12:00-1:00pm
1:00-2:00pm
2:00-2:30pm
2:30-3:30pm
3:30-5:00pm
5:00-6:00pm
5K Fun Run (Benefiting the MGMA-MO Scholarship Fund)
Breakfast with Exhibitors
General Session: What Exceptional Leaders Know - Tracy Spears
Exhibitor Networking Break
Breakout Sessions
Why People Do What They Do - Tracy Spears
Coding Basics for Non-Coding Managers - Kim Huey
Job Function vs. Job Purpose; Why Satisfied Patients Cost Your Practice Money - Jamie Verkamp
Do You See What I See? - Stephen Dickens
SPECIAL BREAKOUT PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED: Myers Briggs - Scott Foster
Breakout Sessions
Seventh Inning Stretch - Ways To Approach Patient Collections - Tim Childers & Curt Mayse
Surviving Healthcare Reform - Marc Halley
How To Hit A Homerun With Scorecards & Benchmarking (repeated on 5/5) - David Taylor
What Went Wrong: Why Smart Employees Underperform - Jamie Verkamp
From Spring Training to the World Series - Owen Dahl
Lunch with Exhibitors
Breakout Sessions
10 Mistakes We Keep Making As Practice Managers - Kyle Matthews
ICD-10 for Physician Offices - Kim Huey
Washington Update (repeated at 2:30pm) - Jeb Shepard
Teaming With Your Physician To Run A Successful Practice - Stephen Dickens
Managing Toxic Personalities in an Organization (repeated at 3:30pm) - Scott Foster
Exhibitor Networking Break
Breakout Sessions
Health Care Reform Driving Population Health: Fact or Fiction - James T. Rogers MD
Billing for Non-Physician Practitioners - Kim Huey
What Do The Fans Want...Expect - Owen Dahl
Washington Update - Jeb Shepard
Breakout Sessions
Roundtable Discussions: Legislative - Jeb Shepard; Practice Management - Stephen Dickens; Coding - Kim Huey;
Population Health - James T. Rogers MD; Team Players: NPs & PAs - Janice Jones DNP & Misty Lansberg PA-C
Managing Toxic Personalities in an Organization - Scott Foster
Networking Reception in the Exhibit Hall
Tuesday, May 5th
7:00-8:00am
8:00-9:00am
9:00-9:45am
9:45-11:15am
11:15-11:45am
11:45-12:00pm
Breakfast with Exhibitors
Breakout Sessions
How To Be Batting Champions With Your Practice’s Revenue Cycle Processes - Tim Childers & Curt Mayse
Compliance Mistakes by Small Physician Practices - Kim Huey
How To Hit A Homerun With Scorecards & Benchmarking - David Taylor
How To Keep Scoring With PCMH - Sarah Vale
Practice Management As A Profession - Marc Halley
Exhibitor Networking Break
Strike Out Adultitis: Find Balance, Beat Burnout & Work Happy - Jason Kotecki
Annual Business Meeting
Closing Remarks & Prize Drawings
8:00-9:30am
Sunday, May 3rd
12:00-5:00pm
1:00-3:00pm
3:00-4:00pm
REGISTRATION
BOWLING
(Benefiting the MGMA-MO Scholarship Fund)
PRECONFERENCE SESSIONS
Spring Training for
New Managers
Jean Hansen FACMPE, CEO,
Kansas City Internal Medicine
Paula Johnson CMPE,
Director of Physician
Development, CoxHealth, Michelle Yarnall CMPE, Practice Administrator,
Pediatric Associates of SW Missouri
Please join Jean, Paula and Michelle for an overview of practice management including financials, human resources, and marketing. Please bring
questions to the session for group discussion. 10 Mistakes We Keep Making As Practice Managers
Kyle Matthews, CEO,
Cardiovascular Associates of Mesa, AZ
Warning: This session may offend those who are not willing
to reflect or change. Matthews will identify 10 frequently
observed mistakes that keep practices from achieving ultimate efficiency, and discuss how we can overcome the common pitfalls.
While many anecdotes will provide humor, this session will allow practice
leaders to rethink protocols and procedures that could be the difference in
achieving the next level of success.
ACMPE Overview
Terri Fischer FACMPE CPC CPC-I CMC,
Principal, Fischer Consulting Group
This session provides general information on the American
College of Medical Practice Executives requirements for
certification and fellowship, and will give you a better understanding of the process involved for advancement in the College. This
session offers you a first step for assessing skills and helps you develop a
plan for pursuing certification and fellowship.
4:00-5:00pm
RECEPTION FOR ALL NEW MEMBERS &
FIRST TIME ATTENDEES
5:00-6:30pm
OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION & DINNER WEAR YOUR TEAM JERSEY!
6:30-8:00pm
GENERAL SESSION
Put Me In Coach...I’m Ready To Play
Mary Feeley CSP, Keynote Speaker
Practices that create a culture of positive teamwork
thrive and prosper. The humor advantage is a powerful strategy and communication skill to create an
environment that can reduce conflict and anxiety,
break down barriers and promote positive relationships with internal and external team players and
patients. Mary will dissect the “team connection”
by humorously identifying personality types and communication styles.
You will learn how negative emotions can impact team spirit and how to
reflect a consistent positive image to enhance team building through the
challenges of a constantly changing workplace.
8:00-11:00pm
ENTERTAINMENT presented by MyDJKJ
Monday, May 4th
6:30-7:30am
5K Fun Run
(Benefiting the MGMA-MO Scholarship Fund)
7:00-8::00am
BREAKFAST WITH EXHIBITORS
GENERAL SESSION
What Exceptional Leaders Know
Tracy Spears, Regional Vice President,
Transworld Systems
Tracy defines specific skills of proven leadership
styles and examines myriad ways a leader’s influence
is demonstrated. Her audience is equipped with effective leadership tools that can be applied immediately, resulting in increased teamwork and employee
productivity. Tracy identifies the most common mistakes made by leaders with adjustment strategies to overcome those challenges. She discusses how these leadership skills are enhanced through an
understanding of personality temperament needs, strengths and motivators.
9:30-10:00am
EXHIBITOR NETWORKING BREAK
10:00-11:00am
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Why People Do What They Do
Tracy Spears, Regional Vice President, Transworld Systems
Why people do what they do is more clearly understood after learning various ways we each approach and process the world. This program enhances
communication skills by identifying what motivates individuals based on
their core needs and strengths, which are essential in building an effective
team and better relationships. Learning objectives for this session include:
- Identifying interactive styles and their individual needs, strengths and
motivators
- How to listen for intent and meaning behind the message
- How to build a cohesive and productive team
Coding Basics for Non-Coding Managers
Kim Huey MJ CPC CCS-P PCS CPCO, President, KGG
Coding and Reimbursement Consulting, LLC
The revenue coming into the physician office depends on
correct coding and billing. For an office manager with little
or no coding background, it can be a challenge to understand the coding guidelines without relying completely on the coders and
billers. This session provides managers who have no coding background
with the basics of where to find the information, how to determine if services are being coded, billed and paid appropriately, and how to correct
coding and billing issues to assure appropriate payment. This is the 411 for
physician office managers.
Job Function vs. Job Purpose;
Why Satisfied Patients Cost Your Practice Money
Jamie Verkamp, Managing Partner, (e)Merge
We have all been there; a company’s representative goes
above and beyond their call of duty to ensure we receive
the best treatment possible and that our expectations are
exceeded. Then, there are the experiences in which the representative “did
their job” by taking care of our needs, but we are left with a lackluster impression of the organization and we walk away merely satisfied with little
to say about the practice. What makes these two experiences so different
to our patients? During this session, we explore the concept of “Job Function vs. Job Purpose” in our organization. You’ll walk away challenged to
implement simple tips and how you can best serve your patients to create
a lasting impression.
Do You See What I See?
Stephen Dickens JD FACMPE,
Senior Consultant in Organizational Dynamics, SVMIC
This session takes a light hearted look at a practice from the
viewpoint of a physician seen as a patient. Video vignettes
are used to demonstrate the bureaucracy that sometimes
becomes a barrier to effective patient care which can also set the stage for
an adverse outcome. Takeaway tools are offered to both mitigate risk and
improve the patient experience.
11:00-12:00pm
SPECIAL BREAKOUT
PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED
Myers Briggs
Scott Foster, Director of Talent Acquisition,
SSM Medical Group
The purpose of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®)
personality inventory is to make the theory of psychological types understandable and useful in people’s lives. After
administering MBTI, Scott will spend time interpreting the results and
discuss how understanding your personality and the personalities of
those around you can make you a better leader.
10:00-11:00am
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Seventh Inning Stretch Ways To Approach Patient Collections
Timothy Childers CPA, Partner,
CliftonLarsonAllen
Curt Mayse FACMPE, Principal,
CliftonLarsonAllen
The objective of this session is to understand the implications of improved
practices for the front end aspects of the revenue cycle. Further, with the
new exchange plans, identification, verification and addressing the patient
amount due at the time of service is critical for a practice’s cash flow. We
will review critical front end revenue cycle functions and their impact on
ultimate cash collections.
Surviving Healthcare Reform
Marc Halley MBA, Chairman and CEO,
Halley Consulting Group
Healthcare reform has taken a number of twists and turns
over the past several years (even decades). At this point,
two things are certain - first, the health care topic will remain a highly visible national concern - and high visibility always increases
government regulation. Second, reimbursement for medical services will
decrease. According to author and national health care consultant, Marc
Halley, MBA, health care providers must focus on four Business Imperatives
to survive. In “Surviving Health Care Reform” Mr. Halley identifies all four
business imperatives and proposes responses to those challenges.
How To Hit A Homerun With Scorecards
and Benchmarks (repeated on 5/5)
David Taylor FACHE FACMPE, Vice President
Regional Services, CoxHealth
Statistics play an important role in understanding performance in baseball. Managing a physician practice has its
own nuances and having knowledge of some key metrics can provide insight as to trends, outcomes, and where to put resources to better position
your organization. Learn what data can be used to help elevate your team
and achieve greater results.
What Went Wrong: Why Smart Employees Underperform
Jamie Verkamp, Managing Partner, (e)Merge
Your candidate has the right experience, qualifications, work history, and
gives an impressive performance during the interview process. You hire
her. Three months later, you begin to question your decision. After investigating further and speaking with a few key team members, you realize
there’s a disconnect—a mismatch. While she looked impressive on paper
and presented well during one-on-one interviews, your new hire’s style, approach and behavior on the job are simply inconsistent with the values and
expectations of your organization. What went wrong? You will leave this
session with the knowledge you need to properly integrate your next new
hire into your team’s culture.
From Spring Training to the World Series
Owen Dahl MBA, FACHE, Owen Dahl Consulting
Teams go through a lot of transitions with changing players, weather, injuries, and other issues as they proceed
through the year with that one goal in mind. We will look
at the transitions that are being faced on a practice wide but
also a daily basis. How can we better respond, doing more with less, and
achieve the goal of maintaining our “business” – the medical practice. The
idea of “change” implies and leads to barriers that make progress difficult,
we will break down those walls. We also will challenge the idea that how
we’ve always done things may not be best. Innovation or significant change
can have major benefits to the practice.
12:00-1:00pm
LUNCH WITH EXHIBITORS
1:00-2:00pm
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
10 Mistakes We Keep Making As Practice Managers
Kyle Matthews, CEO,
Cardiovascular Associates of Mesa, AZ
Warning: This session may offend those who are not willing
to reflect or change. Matthews will identify 10 frequently
observed mistakes that keep practices from achieving ultimate efficiency, and discuss how we can overcome the common pitfalls. While many anecdotes will provide humor, this session will
allow practice leaders to rethink protocols and procedures that could be the
difference in achieving the next level of success.
ICD-10 for Physician Offices
Kim Huey MJ CPC CCS-P PCS CPCO, President,
KGG Coding and Reimbursement Consulting, LLC
This session discusses what you need to know to manage the ICD-10 transition without getting bogged down in the minutiae that your coding and
billing staff will need. Who will need what training? How to plan and
budget for the transition? How to identify specific documentation issues
for your physicians? Washington Update (repeated at 2:30pm)
Jeb Shepard, Government Affairs Representative, MGMA
Medical practices often receive contradictory information
about the actions of Congress and federal administrative
agencies. This update provides critical information about
legislative proposals under consideration in Washington
and timely regulatory issues. Other highlights include details on federal quality reporting programs and resources available to help
group practices successfully navigate numerous changes and federal initiatives.
Teaming With Your Physician To Run A Successful Practice
Stephen Dickens JD FACMPE, Senior Consultant in
Organizational Dynamics, SVMIC
This session focuses on the relationship between a practice executive and
physician practice leader. How this relationship should look and the areas
for which each should be responsible will be addressed. Included are suggested tools to help your physician feel engaged and informed while promoting confidence in the practice executive to do his/her job.
Managing Toxic Personalities in an Organization
(repeated at 3:30pm)
Scott Foster, Director of Talent Acquisition, SSM Medical Group
Toxic people can be a combination of self-centered attitudes, motivations,
and behaviors that have adverse effects on staff, the organization, and mission performance. This person lacks concern for others and the climate
of the organization, which leads to short- and long-term negative effects.
Scott will identify ways to work in this environment and discuss how you
can protect yourself and your staff from buckling under the pressure.
2:00-2:30pm
EXHIBITOR NETWORKING BREAK
2:30-3:30pm
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Health Care Reform Driving
Population Health: Fact or Fiction
James T. Rogers MD, Vice President,
Adult Primary Care, Mercy Clinic/Ambulatory Care
Join Dr. Rogers and learn about Mercy’s 10 year involvement in healthcare reform projects, their journey, lessons
learned, and future directions.
Billing for Non-Physician Practitioners
Kim Huey MJ CPC CCS-P PCS CPCO, President,
KGG Coding and Reimbursement Consulting, LLC
More and more practices are hiring non-physician practitioners to cope
with increasing patient loads with decreasing reimbursement. These providers can be valuable assets to the practice, but there are specific documentation and billing requirements that vary by payer as well as specific
practice guidelines by state. This session reviews those guidelines as well as
highlighting compliance issues and concerns.
How To Be Batting Champions With
Your Practice’s Revenue Cycle Processes
Timothy Childers CPA, Partner, CliftonLarsonAllen and
Curt Mayse FACMPE, Principal, CliftonLarsonAllen
The objective of this session is to outline the implications of incorporating
lean processes, enhanced financial metrics and the detection of fraud tools
in our practice’s revenue cycle. Specifically, by the end of this discussion,
everyone should be able to:
• Review critical revenue cycle functions and the impact that lean
processes can have on them.
• Understand the essential metrics to track and trend revenue cycle
aspects properly.
• Discuss revenue cycle tools that can assist your practice with making
key financial decisions
How To Hit A Homerun With Scorecards and Benchmarks (repeat)
David Taylor FACHE FACMPE, Vice President Regional Services,
CoxHealth
How To Keep Scoring With PCMH
What Do The Fans Want . . . Expect
Owen Dahl MBA, FACHE, Owen Dahl Consulting
Are we meeting our “fans” expectations or simply doing enough to get a
reasonable grade. Fans have choices on who they support, what can we do
to meet their expectations? This implies a need to provide quality care. This
ties to the concept of bringing value through a value based approach to
meeting the customers (fans, patients) needs, wants, and expectations. We
will look at theoretical and practical approaches to meet their expectations.
Sarah Vale BS PCMH CCE, Project Manager, PCMH and
Care Management Services, CoxHealth
The patient-centered medical home journey is just that, a
journey. With all of the changes in the healthcare world today PCMH can often feel like “just another thing.” Our
discussion will highlight important medical home concepts, and include a
fresh perspective on implementing them into your practice.
Washington Update (repeat)
Practice Management As A Profession
Jeb Shepard, Government Affairs Representative, MGMA
3:30-5:00pm
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Round Table Discussions
Please join in on some of the leading topics in our industry today. Each
table topic will have a moderator who will keep the conversation relative
and flowing. Attendees can stay with one topic or move around and
participate in as many topics as they choose.
Legislative - Jeb Shepard
Practice Management - Stephen Dickens JD FACMPE
Coding - Kim Huey MJ CPC CCS-P PCS CPCO
Population Health - James Rogers MD
Team Players: NPs & PAs - Janice Jones DNP & Misty Lansberg PA-C
Managing Toxic People in an Organization (repeat)
Scott Foster, Director of Talent Acquisition, SSM Medical Group
5:00-6:00pm
9:00-9:45am
EXHIBITOR NETWORKING BREAK
9:45-11:15am
GENERAL SESSION
Strike Out Adultitis: Find Balance,
Beat Burnout, and Work Happy
NETWORKING RECEPTION
Tuesday, May 5th
7:00-8:00am
8:00-9:00am
Marc Halley MBA, Chairman and CEO,
Halley Consulting Group
Some practice managers are formally trained, with degrees in management
or business administration, and others received most of their training on
the job. Regardless of your preparation, the demands of medical practice
management have increased dramatically. Experienced executives managing large practices and hospital-owned networks are in demand – and
they command significant salaries and performance bonuses. There is a
clear career path for managers who properly prepare, seek increasing levels
of responsibility, and deliver results. Join Marc as he discusses the skills,
knowledge and experience necessary to meet the increased demands of our
profession.
BREAKFAST WITH EXHIBITORS
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Compliance Mistakes by Small Physician Practices
Kim Huey MJ CPC CCS-P PCS CPCO, President,
KGG Coding and Reimbursement Consulting, LLC
Compliance guidelines and regulations for physician practices are numerous and sometimes confusing. Most small physician practices cannot afford to employ a full-time Compliance Officer and the person handling
compliance duties is often overwhelmed with other responsibilities. Many
times things “slip through the cracks” even if they are understood. Drawing
on the experiences of health care attorneys and compliance professionals,
this session will review the most common compliance mistakes made by
small physician practices and how to avoid making those mistakes yourself.
Jason Kotecki, Keynote Speaker and Author
Stressed? Busy? Overwhelmed? If you’ve ever wanted to resign from adulthood, you may be struggling
with a case of Adultitis. Make your escape! Our
passion and energy levels are regularly depleted by
Adultitis and the burden of increased regulations
and the need to do more with less. You may not be
able to be six again, but Jason shares how recapturing wisdom from childhood can help you reignite your passion, turn stress into laughter, and get
more done while having more fun. Jason provides witty observations, humorous anecdotes and real-world techniques that will entertain and inspire
you to live a richer, more balanced life.
11:15-11:45am
ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING
11:45-12:00pm
CLOSING REMARKS & PRIZE DRAWINGS
CONFERENCE FEES
Before 04/12/15
MGMA-MO MEMBER
$295
AAPC MEMBER
$295
NON MEMBER
$395
MGMA-MO LIFE MEMBER
$125
After 04/12/15
$395
$395
$495
$150
CONFERENCE FEE REFUND POLICY
Cancellations received prior to April 10, 2015 are subject to a $50.00 cancellation fee. Cancellations received before April 24, 2015 are subject to a $100.00
cancellation fee. Cancellations after April 24, 2015 and no-shows cannot be refunded. Substitutions from within the same group are acceptable.
CREDIT HOURS
American College of Medical Practice Executive (ACMPE) Credit Hours: To apply this program toward your ACMPE continuing education requirement,
please calculate the total number of clock hours you spent in educational sessions and enter your hours online in the My Transcript area of mgma.com.
CEU APPROVED
®
The program has the prior approval of AAPC for 12.0 continuing education hours. Granting of prior approval in no way
constitutes endorsement by AAPC of the program content or the program sponsor.
HOTEL INFORMATION
Tan-Tar-A Resort, located in Osage Beach, Missouri, is a resort removed from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. Come to the
Lake of the Ozarks, only three hours from St. Louis and Kansas City, and discover a place unlike any other. It’s convenient location
and stunning surroundings makes Tan-Tar-A the premier Missouri family vacation resort.
Hotel reservations can be made by calling 800-826-8272 or online at www.tan-tar-a.com. Reservations must be received on or before April 4, 2015.
Be sure to mention our group code: MDCL to receive our discounted rates. Rates are as follows:
Run-of-House: Single/Double/Triple/Quad:
Resort Complex: Single/Double/Triple/Quad:
One Bedroom Suite:
$ 99.00
$122.00
$170.00
MGMA-MISSOURI
2015 SPRING CONFERENCE SPONSORS
These organizations have committed financial support to bring you this tremendous educational conference opportunity:
PLATINUM LEVEL SPONSORS
GOLD LEVEL SPONSORS
NSORS
BRONZE LEVEL SPONSORS
Register Today at mgma-mo.org
2016 MGMA State Partnership Award Essay
Idaho Medical Group Management Association (IMGMA) is a professional association of administrators and
managers from a variety of medical practices and facilities throughout Idaho. An affiliate of the national Medical Group
Management Association (MGMA), together we help improve members’ practices through exclusive member
benefits, education, resource news, and networking opportunities.
Areas of focus include:
 Providing a forum for the exchange of ideas
 Providing educational and professional development opportunities
 Influencing the regulatory environment for medical group management through concerted group action
Advancing the medical practice management profession through: Education and
Networking
Educational Opportunities on-site or via webinar: Innovative approaches to educational opportunities has
been IMGMA’s primary focus in 2015. This has been demonstrated by providing quality educational offerings
to members throughout the state. Educational forums are provided through several avenues to allow members
across the entire state to attend, which includes a webinar option. (See attached)
The Effective Practice Management Series (EPMS) and the Medical Managers Forums are offered eight times
per year thanks to our partnership agreements with two local area hospitals. In 2015, we increased the
number of yearly educational forum offerings to ten adding two rural area opportunities for our members.
Medical Management Inc. donates the internet technology to allow access to the webinars. Local experts
speak on a variety of topics that follow the core areas of the MGMA Body of Knowledge. Surveys are sent to
attendees after each event to help improve and determine future topics that are applicable to medical practice
management.
Other educational opportunities promoted by IMGMA include:
 Third Party Payer Forum, held annually
 Free compliance webinars by Kim Stanger, IMGMA member and attorney, held bi-monthly
 Northern and southeastern Idaho Medical Managers Lunch and Learn, held every other month
State Educational Conferences: Each year IMGMA provides an in depth conference held in the fall. The
location of the conference rotates throughout the state to accommodate the geographical rural limitations.
This conference offers 8 hours of CEU credits. All content is relevant to the medical practice profession and
always follows the core areas of the MGMA Body of Knowledge. A theme is chosen based on the current
healthcare environment to empower members. Our most popular session is the “Networking Challenge”
where topics discussed range from hospital owned to physician owned challenges.
Regional Ambassador Program: Due to the geographical spacing of our membership, IMGMA developed
the Regional Ambassador Program with representatives encompassing three main areas of the state. This
liaison is a local representative of IMGMA and facilitates educational and networking events. The meetings
are well attended and held quarterly.
Scholarship: A $1000.00 scholarship is awarded at our annual conference. Our board, through an extensive
application process, chooses the recipient. These monies can be used to further personal education or cover
fees associated with certification through the American College of Medical Practice Executives.
Advancing the medical practice management profession through: Advocacy
Legislative Liaison- Andrea Robertson: IMGMA provides timely information and engagement of legislative
updates.
Legislative areas this year include:
 Forwarding on the Washington Connection and posting it to members only section of IMGMA website.
 Attendance and speaking engagement by Suzanne Falk from the MGMA Government Affairs staff office
at our annual state conference.
Idaho MGMA Legislative Liaison: Andrea Roberston arobertson@scsp.net or office (208) 501-8926; cell
(208) 871-4527
Advancing the medical practice management profession through: ACMPE
ACMPE Certification Study Group: Idaho was selected for the certification pilot program through MGMA. Our
goal was to successfully promote ACMPE advancement through the MGMA pilot program and we achieved this
goal in collaboration with the St. Alphonsus Health Alliance. Due to the overwhelming response, a bi-weekly
education study group was formed. To engage our current ACMPE Fellows, the IMGMA board of directors
recruited Fellows within the state to lead the study groups of each of the Body of Knowledge domains. (See
attachment)
Typical interest for the CMPE certification was average of 2-4 per year, but the study group resulted in 44
participants in 2014 and brought in 26 attendees in 2015. Of those, 14 became new members in 2014 and 10 in
2015. All are national members of MGMA.
Goals of the Study Group: Having the study group has provided support, motivation, and accountability of the
attendees and IMGMA. From the 2015 study group, 18 new CMPEs were certified this year and IMGMA
anticipates a high pass rate of the CMPE certification in early 2016. We were also able to offer exam materials to
participants at a significant discount. For record, Idaho had two CMPE certifications in 2013, three certified in
2014, 18 in 2015, and our goal is to have 20 certifications in 2015. Another benefit offered includes reimbursement
for testing to members that successfully pass the CMPE and/or FACMPE exam.
ACMPE Advancement: New to our 2015 annual conference, one session was offered for those attendees
interested in obtaining their CMPE or FACMPE certification. The course was taught by ACMPE Forum Rep,
Sharon Lee, CMPE and the IMGMA Membership Director and Study Group leader, Katie Gries, CMPE. Sharon
also contributes to our monthly newsletter promoting certification advancement through MGMA.
Advancing the medical practice management profession through: Additional
Communication & Survey Participation
We encourage our members to participate in MGMA surveys.
 Participation in MGMA Physician Compensation Survey.
Year
2012
2013
2014

Participation in MGMA Cost Survey.
Year
2012
2013
2014

Groups
15
15
13
Groups
11
11
14
Monthly Newsletters include updates from a different board member each month, articles from ACMPE
Forum Rep, Legislative Liaison, and IMGMA legal representative.

IMGMA also uses social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, to communicate event information. Our
website, www.imgma.com, also stays current with upcoming events, an education calendar, legislative
updates, and a member forum.
Conclusion
As evidence by the overwhelming success and demand for the ACMPE certification study group, IMGMA has
proven its dedication and innovative approaches to continuing education and advancement of medical practice
managers. Future goals include a stronger partnership with MGMA in the cost survey as well as continuing to
dedicate our financial resources for the advancement of the medical practice profession through ACMPE
certification. With this scholarship from MGMA, we would have the financial resources available to continue to
assist those that pass the CMPE course, obtain fellow certification, and pursue ongoing education towards
advanced degrees.
IMGMA 2015 Education Calendar – Treasure Valley
February 12, 2015
EPMS Luncheon/Webinar
 Topic: “Succession Planning: Where are Tomorrow’s Leaders Today?”
 Presenter: Andy Fujimoto
 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
 St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center | Anderson Center - Boise Room |Boise.
 1 hour of CEU credit hours available
March 11, 2015
Medical Managers Forum | Available in person and via webinar.
 Topic: “A Foot in Two Canoes”-Tools for simultaneously managing a fee for service
practice and a fee for value practice
 Presenter: Dr. Edward McEachern
 Time: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
 Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center | McCleary Auditorium | Boise.
 1 hour of CEU credit hours available
April 9, 2015
EPMS Luncheon/Webinar
 Topic: Effective Performance Management
 Presenter: Jennifer Jones Hooft, SPHR, GPHR, M.Ed
 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
 St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center | Bannock Room |Meridian.
 1 hour of CEU credit hours available
May 14, 2015
EPMS Luncheon/Webinar
 Topic: Electronic Payment Compliance and Security
 Presenter: Scott Marker from NLP Secure
 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
 St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center | Bannock and Cheyenne Room |Meridian.
 1 hour of CEU credit hours available
May 15, 2015
Holland and Hart Compliance Bootcamp
 Topic: Compliance Bootcamp
 Presenter: Holland and Hart, LLC
 8am-5pm
 Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center | McCleary Auditorium | Boise.
 8 hours of CEU credit hours available
June 10, 2015
Medical Managers Forum | Available in person and via webinar.
 Topic: Top Physician Practice Risks
 Presenter: Jana Weis, CPC
 Time: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
 Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center | McCleary Auditorium | Boise.
 1 hour of CEU credit hours available
September 23-25, 2015
IMGMA Annual Conference | The Riverside Hotel | Boise, ID
 A total of 8 CEU credit hours available
October 28, 2015
Medical Managers Forum | Available in person and via webinar.
 Topic: Change Management: The Great Oxymoron
 Presenter: Barry Frank
 Time: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
 Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center | McCleary Auditorium | Boise.
 1 hour of CEU credit hours available
November 12, 2015
EPMS Luncheon/Webinar
 Cancelled
December 2, 2015
Medical Managers Forum | Available in person and via webinar.
 Topic: Insurance Premiums
 Presenter: Norm Varin, IPN Executive Director
 Time: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
 Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center | McCleary Auditorium | Boise.
 1 hour of CEU credit hours available
IN THE WORKS:
Indiana MGMA – 2016 State Partnership Award Submission
The Indiana MGMA has been very busy over the past year. We held a successful joint conference with
our Indiana State Medical Association and it was an effort that yielded a much higher attendance rate
(almost double from the previous year) and it sparked interest with our existing business partners and
we have been able to recruit at least 10 new partners this year. Our organization turns 30 in 2016 and
we discovered the Illinois chapter does too. We have brokered a 2 year deal with the Illinois chapter to
host joint annual meetings in 2016 & 2017. The first will be held in Indianapolis in May, 2016. We think it
will be a big draw because it leads into the weekend Indianapolis hosts the Mini-marathon, which boasts
26,000 + runners, so the city will be buzzing. We hope to draw Chicago based members because of this.
In 2017, we will go to Illinois and a location has already been confirmed. I think this is a win-win for both
groups and some of our joint business partners like the fact they’ll be able to attend one meeting and
have visibility for both memberships.
As far as communicating with our members, we consistently send out information to our membership
on a weekly basis and have a robust newsletter that goes out quarterly to our members. This includes
information on our business partner services, articles that are focused on the state and federal level
issues, with the publication being 14-16 pages. We also highlight new members and accomplishments
of members around the state.
We transitioned in a new administrator, Angie Stevenson, who replaced someone who had been in
place 13 years. This change took our organization and communication to a new level. Angie is also our
education coordinator and recently obtained her FACMPE designation as well. She attends conference
calls monthly with our membership, legislative and board calls. We are not a board by title only, we
meet monthly and are always in communication about how to better our organization.
We are very active legislatively, with Jocelyn Forehand being named the 2015 liaison of the year. She
fostered relationships with several state and federal level office representatives and has worked with
lobbyists to provide information on new bills being introduced in session. The legislative relationships
with the MGMA, including having Jeb Shepherd, Robert Tenant, Allison and Jennifer actively
communicating with our group and participating at our annual meeting and our legislative update, we
feel Indiana is at the high end of the bell curve of involvement and education of our members. Our
annual legislative update was a success in 2015 since we partnered with the Indiana Rural Hospital
Association (IRHA) and we had over 125 legislators, lobbyists, healthcare executives from around the
state, as well as the Governor, Mike Pence. Indiana has a health plan option that serves over 350,000
underinsured Hoosiers called the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP). Last year the state rolled out HIP 2.0 with
enhanced services and functionality changes for their members and expanded coverage for more
people. Jocelyn served on two committees that were appointed by the Governor to examine a uniform
prior authorization form as well as a HIP 2.0 debit card. During the year, there are events that bring
legislators together hosted by the local Chamber of Commerce and someone from the IMGMA always
attends.
A Congressman from Georgia is introducing legislation regarding the hardship inflicted on physicians
with implementing and meeting Meaningful Use goals. This has been a moving target ever since the
government rolled the program out. Jocelyn personally reached out to Indiana Congresswoman Susan
Brooks and asked her to consider co-authoring this bill, and explained the impact it does have on
physicians. Susan has been a supporter of the IMGMA, even agreeing to speak at our 2015 annual
conference and provide updates on healthcare items being discussed at the federal level. A lot of effort
has gone into relationship building that extends above and beyond forwarding issues of the Washington
Connection (which we do on a regular basis).
As the MGMA rebranded and signed new agreements with the state chapters regarding the use of their
own salary surveys and data, the MGMA has produced their own information based on responses from
state organizations. However, this has been an area we have had a lot of member complaint due to the
lack of specificity we used to provide at the state level. The Data Dive tool is not as easy to use nor does
it produce useable information for practice leadership. So, Indiana does participate in the surveys the
MGMA asks us to and we ask our practice leaders to do the same.
One thing that Indiana does very well is hosting events around the state in conjunction with our
business partners. We hosted a panel discussion on ACO’s that was attended by over 100 people in Ft
Wayne, Indiana and we have networking events in South Bend, Indianapolis and Evansville. We have
done a great job of representing state members and not centering on Indianapolis alone.
We appreciate the committee taking time to review the information we have submitted and hope to be
considered as a finalist and would love to offer an educational grant to member(s) of our organization.
We plan to have at least four board members at the State Leaders conference in 2016.
Submitted by the Indiana Medical Group Management Association,
Jocelyn Forehand, President & Legislative Liaison
www.imgma.net