Rural Health Clinic Conference
Annual Rural Health Clinic Conference
October 14-15, 2008
Savannah, Ga.
Member Rates: $179, after Sept. 20: $199
Non-Member Rates: $379, after Sept. 20: $399 (includes one-year memberhip)
Click here to download a registration form.
Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort and Spa
Interested in critical access hospitals? Plan to attend both conferences in Savannah.
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The 2008 Rural Health Clinic Conference will feature two days of classes on integrated billing and cost reporting strategies taught by the nation's foremost experts in RHC financial management. From the basics of billing and cost reporting for beginners to advanced techniques that maximize reimbursement and keep clinics financially viable, the RHC conference will offer valuable insights, new strategies, and a question and answer opportunity with renowned RHC financial consultants.
In addition, the conference will offer attendees the opportunity to discuss the latest rule proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that change the conditions of participation and make Medicare payment changes for RHCs. A representative of CMS's RHC program willl be on-site to discuss the proposed rule.
The final day of the conference includes a panel of experts on Medicare Advantage Private Fee For Service plans discussing the effects of Medicare Advantage on rural health clinics, as well as a class on integrating relative value unit (RVU) benchmarking to enhance your clinic's performance.
Who Should Attend the RHC Conference?
The RHC conference offers clinic administrators, managers, financial employees and consultants, policy experts, and others interested in the functioning of an RHC a single venue for education, skill-building, and networking. This conference is designed for those just entering the world of RHC management and for long-time professionals. There are no prerequisites for enjoying the RHC Conference, and no advance preparation is needed.
Learning Objectives:
Attendees will leave the Rural Health Clinic Conference:
*With the ability to maximize their RHC reimbursement by utilizing advanced techniques in billing and cost reporting;
*Able to evaluate their cost and expense data, as well as provider productivity, using RVUs;
*Understanding all relevant aspects of the latest rule proposed by CMS regarding participation and payment in the RHC program;
*With the tools necessary to create a smooth and efficient front desk;
*And with an expanded network of peers and contacts who work in rural health all over the nation!
Continuing Education: Earn up to 6 CPE Credits and 6 Hours of ACHE Credit!
*The National Rural Health Association is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registery of CPE Sponsors. State Boards of Accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registery of CPE Sponsors, 150 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 700, Nashville, TN, 37219-2417. Website: www.nasba.org.
*The National Rural Health Association is authorized to award 6 hours of pre-approved Category II (non-ACHE) continuing education credit for this program toward achievement or recertification in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Participants in this program wishing to have the continuing education hours applied toward Category II credit should indicate their attendance when submitting application to the American College of Healthcare Executives for advancement or recertification.
Conference Schedule
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
1:00 pm - 1:15 pm
Welcome and Opening Comments
Tommy Barnhart, NRHA RHC Constituency Group Chair
1:15 pm - 2:00 pm
CMS Update
Corinne Axelrod, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (invited)
By October 2008, new regulations concerning rural health clinics will be in place. Hear a representative of CMS offer an exclusive update on what these new regulations mean and how they will affect your clinic.
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Washington Update
Maggie Elehwany, Vice President, Government Affairs and Policy, NRHA
Get the real scoop on what the federal government is doing this year that may affect the rural health clinic program. From budgeting and appropriations to payments to regulations, this session will provide a targeted overview of what's happening on the Hill. There will be time after the update to ask the nation's top rural health lobbyists any questions that may be on your mind!
2:45 pm - 3:15 pm
Break
3:15 pm - 5:15 pm
Concurrent Sessions
1. Cost Reporting 101 to Advanced Cost Reporting
Mike Bell, Michael R. Bell & Company PLLC
This session starts as an introductory course for beginners in RHC cost reporting, as well as an overview of the rules and basics for long-time professionals. This session will include a check-list of necessary documentation to collect before you begin your cost report, give you the skills you need to efficiently prepare a consolidated cost report, and will describe why thorough and complete reporting may affect your RHC's long-term fiscal health. After an introductory overview, this course moves into a detailed, skill-building session for those who need to learn how to maximize the financial impact of the RHC benefit and ensure compliance with RHC regulations and cost reporting requirements.
2. Front Desk Operations: Disastrous or Dynamic?
Andrew J. Thompson, BKD, LLP
Is your front desk staffing a revolving door? Are patient demographic and other clerical errors hurting your reimbursement? Stop spending so much time putting out front desk fires! This presentation will equip attendees with the knowledge and tools to get to the root of front desk problems to create a smooth and efficient front desk.
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Reception
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
8:00 am - 8:30 am
Breakfast
8:30 am - 10:00 am
RHC Billing
Presented by Susan Carrico, Riverbend
This intensive session is a complete course in RHC billing for face-to-face encounters, which will maximize your reimbursement by helping you avoid costly mistakes when submitting claims for payment.
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Break
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Concurrent Sessions
1. Medicare Advantage Panel
Hear experts discuss strategies on how to deal with the onslaught of Medicare Advantange Private Fee For Service (PFFS) plans in our rural communities and its effects on Rural Health Clinics.
2. RVU's 101: Understanding and Applying
Andrew J. Thompson, BKD, LLP
If you have ever wished for an objective way to measure and benchmark your clinic to local, regional and national data, we have the solution. Relative value units (RVUs) are an objective way to measure and evaluate various aspects of your clinic. This session will de-mystify RVUs, what they are, how they were developed and how to put them to use in your clinic.
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
Conference wrap-up and Town Hall Meeting
The educational activities at this conference are offered in a group-live format.
If you have questions about the conference program, please contact Meaghan McCamman at 202-639-0550. For more information regarding refund, complaint, and program cancellation policies, please contact the NRHA's Kansas City offices at (816) 756-3140.
