Critical Access Hospital and Rural Health Clinic Conference - Minneapolis

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Critical Access Hospital and Rural Health Clinic Conference - Minneapolis

10/8/2019 07:30 AM - 10/10/2019 12:00 PM (CT)

Register

WHY ATTEND

You are invited to this annual event to receive quality education, have the opportunity to communicate directly with industry experts, and to network with colleagues at other critical access hospitals and rural health clinics. Our sessions are intended for all levels of critical access hospital and rural health clinic professionals including administrators, CFOs, CEOs, CIOs, directors of finance, finance professionals, reimbursement analysts and office managers.

TRAINER(S)

Jeff Bramschreiber
Rick Ensenbach
Benjamin Fee - Hall, Render, Killian, Health & Lyman, PSC
Joseph Kojis
Michelle Rathman, CEO - Impact Communications
Vicki LaHue
Marc Courey
Deron Kling
Nicholas Smith
Alan O’Neil, CEO - Unity Medical Center
Holly Pokrandt
Paul  Traczek
Lori Wink - Hall, Render, Killian, Health & Lyman, PSC

REGISTRATION FEE

• Regular rate: Full Conference $500 per person
• CAH (days 2-3 only) $450
• RHC (day 1) $300

Registration fees include:

• Up to 15.5 CPE credits in accordance with the standards of the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. CPE credits are granted based on a 50-minute hour.
• Reference materials (any PowerPoint presentations and/or additional references) available for download.
• Heavy hors d’oeuvres and entertainment at Networking Social.
• Breakfast and lunch provided on day one and two.
• Breakfast provided on day three.
• Refreshment breaks.

Cancellation Policy
Cancellations made after September 16, 2019, will be charged the full registration fee. If you cancel, you may send a substitute from your organization. Participants who register but neither attend nor cancel are charged for their full registration fee. Call 888.876.4992 or email gfponline@wipfli.com for questions about this policy.

Casual for a Cause
All attendees are invited to wear casual attire (jeans) for a $1 donation per day. All proceeds will be matched by Wipfli and donated to a nonprofit organization. For this conference, we are thrilled to be supporting Occupaws Guide Dog Association.

HOTEL INFORMATION

Radisson Blu Mall of America
2100 Killebrew Drive
Bloomington, MN 55425

Special group rate: $179
Wipfli room block available until September 18, 2019.

Website Registrations: https://www.radissonblu.com/reservation/resEntrance.do?pacLink=Y&promoCode=WIPFLI&hotelCode=USABLMA
Enter “WIPFLI” in promotional code field.

Phone Reservations: 1.800.333.3333
Room block code: Wipfli Health Care Training

DAILY SCHEDULE

RHC Day: Tuesday, October 8, 2019   

7:30 - 8:30 a.m.              Registration
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.              Breakfast (provided)
8:30 - 8:45 a.m.              Welcome and Housekeeping
8:45 - 10:00 a.m.            Legislative Changes that Can Impact Your RHCs
10:00 - 10:30 a.m.          Break
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.  Billing, Billing and More Billing
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.            Lunch (provided)
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.              Uncovering Opportunities for Improvement
2:00 - 2:30 p.m.              Break
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.              Marketing Your RHC Effectively and Securely
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.              Key Strategies for Growing Your RHC

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

7:30 - 8:30 a.m.              Registration
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.              Breakfast (provided)
8:30 - 8:45 a.m.              Welcome and Housekeeping
8:45 - 10:00 a.m.            Opening Session: The Art of Building Community Stakeholder Groups
10:00 - 10:30 a.m.          Break
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.          General Session: Panel Discussion with Unity Medical Center: Leading Growth and Sustainability in an Independent CAH
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.    Lunch (provided)
1:00 - 3:30 p.m.              Medicare Cost Report Troubles? The Reimbursement Doctors Are In! (part I) – Breakout
1:00 - 2:30 p.m.              Fraud Schemes and Internal Controls – Breakout
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.              Cybersecurity: Threat and Call to Action – Breakout
3:30 - 4:00 p.m.              Break
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.              Medicare Cost Report Troubles? The Reimbursement Doctors Are In! (part II) – Breakout
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.              Building an Actionable Strategic Plan and Leading Effective Change – Breakout
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.              Networking Social
Open Bar – Heavy hors d'oeuvres – “Strolling Entertainment” Magician David Farr

Thursday, October 10, 2019

8:00 - 9:00 a.m.              Breakfast (provided)
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.            General Session – Collaborative Tables
10:00 - 10:30 a.m.          Break
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.  Legal Update – General Session

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

8:45 - 10:00 a.m. Legislative Changes That Can Impact Your RHCs

Advanced Preparation: None
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: None
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization
CPE*: 1.5 credits

Do you want your RHC to operate better tomorrow than today? Understanding how the market is changing and where new opportunities exist will help you build strategies that are proactive rather than reactive. This session will focus on national rural policy matters impacting RHCs, as well as current industry trends.

Learning Objectives 

1. Apply your understanding of market trends to the strategic growth of your RHC.
2. Understand how legislative changes impact your facility.

Presenter: Jeff Bramschreiber, CPA, Partner - Wipfli

10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Billing, Billing and More Billing

Advanced Preparation: None
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: None
Field of Study: Finance
CPE*: 1.5 credits

Your facility cannot capture revenue without effective billing processes. What billing opportunities are you missing? This session will cover important concepts related to Medicare billing in your rural health clinic. Ever get stuck with unique billing items? There will be  ample time set aside for you to ask questions regarding billing challenges at your facility. You will also be able to learn from examples shared by other attendees.

Learning Objectives 

1. Medicare reporting of CPT/HCPCS codes.
2. Common rural health clinic billing issues.
3. Billing differences between rural health clinic and non-rural health clinic services.
4. Billing for preventive services.
5. Rural health clinic revenue codes.
6. Flu and pneumococcal vaccine reporting.

Presenter: Vicki LaHue, CPA, Director - Wipfli

12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch (provided)

1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Uncovering Opportunities for Improvement

Advanced Preparation: None
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: None
Field of Study: Accounting
CPE*: 1 credit

Managing RHC operations has become increasingly complex and challenging. This session will provide you with a structured approach to assessing the effectiveness of RHC operations using key industry metrics, including the RHC Benchmark Report, and data commonly found within its current systems. You will also gain an understanding of how an assessment can lead to improved financial and operational effectiveness. We will review a practice assessment framework – identifying key areas for measuring financial and operational effectiveness.

Learning Objectives 

1. Identify sources of data used in assessing RHC financial and operational effectiveness.
2. Explain how RHC cost report data is used in constructing the NARHC RHC Benchmark Report.
3. Illustrate how benchmark data can be used to identify opportunities for improvement.
4. Demonstrate strategies for improving performance in key financial and operational areas.

Presenter: Jeff Bramschreiber, CPA, Partner - Wipfli

2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Marketing Your RHC Effectively and Securely

Advanced Preparation: None
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: None
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization
CPE*: 1 credit

It’s so easy to share information on social media … maybe too easy. But what are you sharing? What should you be sharing? During this session, we’ll discuss how to effectively share information on social media and, most importantly, how to share information in a manner that is safe and HIPAA compliant. You’ll leave this session equipped with sample policies and resources that you can implement within your RHC immediately.

Learning Objectives

1. Sharing information safely on social media.
2. HIPAA regulations to follow.
3. Primary causes of breaches to PHI.

Presenters: Rick Ensenbach, CISSP, CISA, CISM, ISSMP, CCSFP, Director and Joseph Kojis, Marketing Manager, Health Care Practice - Wipfli

3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Key Strategies for Growing Your RHC

Advanced Preparation: None
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: None
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization
CPE*: 1 credit

Many RHCs are looking for ways to expand the breadth and depth of services provided to the communities they serve. Identifying new services, evaluating options and integrating selected services can be a daunting task. In this session, we will share strategies to identify services that may be needed in the community, as well as how to evaluate, introduce and/or expand new services that meet these needs.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify sources of data used in evaluating the need for services in the community.
2. Evaluate the benefits of potential new services that can be offered in the RHC setting.
3. Consider the financial and operational challenges of introducing new services or care delivery.

Presenters: Jeff Bramschreiber, CPA, Partner and Jeff Johnson, CPA, Partner - Wipfli

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

8:45 - 10:00 a.m. Opening Session – General Session: The Art of Building Community Stakeholder Groups

Advanced Preparation: None
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: None
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization
CPE*: 1.5 credits

Michelle will provide an insightful breakdown of the differences between unrequited outreach and mutual engagement. Through this session, you will explore an honest, holistic and practical approach to tackling the subjects of outmigration and aversion. Michelle will also introduce proven strategies that hospitals use to turn their Community Health Needs Assessments into winning initiatives and concrete population health activism.

Learning Objectives

1. Apply new strategies to transform Community Health Needs Assessments into initiatives and concrete population health activism.
2. Evaluate internal communications efforts designed to increase engagement by employees and promote a higher level of care, quality and service – the first step to external stakeholder engagement.
3. Objectively assess current community outreach efforts and explore strategies to enhance and derive more value.
4. Identify practical opportunities to engage with community businesses and organizations with more purpose and structure.
5. Address customer service issues that consistently derail the mission to be the community’s first choice for care.

Presenter: Michelle Rathman, CEO - Impact Communications

10:30 - 11:30 a.m. General Session: Panel Discussion with Unity Medical Center: Leading Growth and Sustainability in an Independent CAH

Advanced Preparation: None
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: None
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization
CPE*: 1 credit

CAHs face pressure on multiple fronts: declining population, shift to outpatient services, changing reimbursement and shortages of staff and medical providers, all of which affect financial performance and ability to afford necessary capital investments. In this panel discussion, Board and Management of Unity Medical Center, a 14 Bed CAH with a RHC in North Dakota, will discuss how they have been addressing these issues and provide perspective on financial monitoring, management of accounts receivable and the importance of Medicare cost-based reimbursement. The discussion will also offer insight and lessons learned as Unity reinvigorated their clinic in coordination with a large facility expansion.

Learning Objectives 

1. Addressing challenges related to declining population, shift to outpatient services, changing reimbursement and staff shortages.
2. Diving into financial monitoring, management of accounts receivable and reimbursement.

Presenters: Alan O'Neil, Chief Executive Officer - Unity Medical Center and Kelly Arduino, MA, MBA, Partner and Nicholas Smith, Director (facilitators) - Wipfli

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch (provided)

1:00 - 3:30 p.m. Medicare Cost Report Troubles? The Reimbursement Doctors Are In! (part I) – Breakout

Advanced Preparation: None
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: None
Field of Study: Accounting
CPE*: 2.5 credits

The Medicare cost report requires great effort to gather information as well as prepare and review the report for accuracy, and there are many pitfalls in this process that can greatly impact the financial performance of a hospital. While we may not be medically trained doctors, or hold Ph.D.s in Medicare reimbursement, we can give you tips and tricks for diagnosing problems in your cost report.

During this two-part session, we will teach you what areas to focus on in gathering data, as well as how to review the outcomes of your Medicare cost report. We will walk through key tools that can be used to “diagnose” or evaluate your cost report for potential opportunities.

Learning Objectives 

1. Understand the most critical aspects in completing the cost report.
2. Evaluate the most common mistakes in completing the cost report.

Presenters: Paul Traczek, CPA, Partner and Holly Pokrandt, CPA, Partner - Wipfli

1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Fraud Schemes and Internal Controls – Breakout

Advanced Preparation: None
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: None
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization
CPE*: 1.5 credits

Though this is not to be used as a “how to” session, we will discuss actual fraudulent activities that have occurred in a variety of settings. The "postmortem" review will include identification of the factors that allowed the frauds to occur, how the frauds were initially identified and the good and bad ways in which organizations responded once the frauds were identified.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify root causes of fraud schemes that could impact your organization.
2. Discuss real-life frauds and the factors that lead to their occurrence and eventual identification.
3. Explore ways your organization can address potential fraud risks.

Presenter: Marc Courey, CPA/CFF, JD, LLM, CFE, CICA, CCEP, CIA, Director - Wipfli

2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Cybersecurity: Threat and Call to Action – Breakout

Advanced Preparation: None
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: None
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization
CPE*: 1 credit 

Health care organizations are increasingly at risk of evolving security threats. This evolving threat landscape puts added importance on the safeguards health care providers maintain to securely acquire, use, store and disclose protected health information (PHI) while carrying out their patient care mission. It is clear from Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) data breach records that health care providers are struggling to keep up. Since 2017, 90% of breached PHI records were attributed to health care providers. In this session, we will review the threat landscape and results of recent OCR breach investigations and audits to better understand the threat landscape. We will review recent HHS publications further defining the threats and practical guidance for implementing safeguards to protect against them. You will come away from this session with a better understanding of evolving security threats and actionable recommendations for addressing them.

Learning Objectives

1. Become aware of the evolving security threat landscape.
2. Learn about practical safeguards that can be used to address the top threats.
3. Come away with actionable recommendations to help your organization improve its defenses.

Presenter: Rick Ensenbach, CISSP, CISA, CISM, ISSMP, CCSFP, Director - Wipfli

4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Medicare Cost Report Troubles? The Reimbursement Doctors Are In! (part II) – Breakout

Advanced Preparation: None
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: None
Field of Study: Accounting
CPE*: 1 credit 

The Medicare cost report requires great effort to gather information as well as prepare and review the report for accuracy, and there are many pitfalls in this process that can greatly impact the financial performance of a hospital. While we may not be medically trained doctors, or hold Ph.D.s in Medicare reimbursement, we can give you tips and tricks for diagnosing problems in your cost report.

During this two-part session, we will teach you what areas to focus on in gathering data, as well as how to review the outcomes of your Medicare cost report. We will walk through key tools that can be used to “diagnose” or evaluate your cost report for potential opportunities.

Learning Objectives 

1. Understand the most critical aspects in completing the cost report.
2. Evaluate the most common mistakes in completing the cost report.

Presenters: Paul Traczek, CPA, Partner and Holly Pokrandt, CPA, Partner - Wipfli

4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Building an Actionable Strategic Plan and Leading Effective Change – Breakout

Advanced Preparation: None
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: None
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization
CPE*: 1 credit

Strategic plans are most effective when they align the strengths and resources of an organization with the environment to develop a realistic set of initiatives to drive growth and improve performance. What is often overlooked is the capacity of the organization to embrace the change required to execute on these initiatives. This session will provide you with some of the key knowledge and tools to develop an actionable strategic planning process and better equip you to engage your team. and lead the change that will be critical to successfully implement a strategic plan.

Learning Objectives

1. Aligning the strengths of your organization with the environment when developing your strategic plan.
2. Leading change within your organization when implementing a strategic plan.

Presenters: Nicholas Smith, Director and Deron Kling, Senior Manager - Wipfli

5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Networking Social

Join your peers and conference speakers for a fun, relaxing networking event with heavy hors d’oeuvres and refreshments.

Thursday October 10, 2019

9:00 - 10:00 a.m. General Session - Collaborative Tables

Use this time to pick the brains of our experts on any of the topics discussed during this conference. Bring your questions, share ideas and collaborate with your peers. Rotate around the subject areas to address your issues. We will have staffed tables for: 

1. Rural health clinic reimbursement/operational issues/cost reporting/billing
2. Hospital cost reporting
3. Strategic planning
4. Risk, security and fraud

10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Legal Update

Advanced Preparation: None
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: None
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization
CPE*: 1.5 credits

This session will provide an overview of and update on important legal and compliance issues facing rural providers in CAH, RHC and other provider settings. Topics covered will include CAH Medicare regulatory and payment developments and strategies, provider-based updates, RHC requirements, compliance considerations and other relevant legal developments. 

Learning Objectives

1. Understand the latest legal and compliance updates affecting your facility.
2. Evaluate potential compliance issues currently up for consideration on a federal level.

Presenters: Benjamin Fee, Attorney and Lori Wink, Attorney - Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman, PSC

BE PREPARED: Download your materials prior to the conference.

All reference materials (PowerPoint presentations and/or supplemental materials) for this conference will be available on the conference app one week prior to the start. Before the conference, please download the materials to your computer/device and bring it with you to each session. If you prefer to print the materials, please bring them with you because paper copies will not be available on site.

Internet access and power outlets will be available. Please limit Internet access to checking email and accessing session materials.

*CPE

National Registry of CPE Sponsors: Wipfli LLP is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry 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 submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.NASBARegistry.org.

Instructional Delivery: Group-Live. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaint, cancellation, and refund policies, please contact our offices at 888.876.4992.

Special Speakers

Benjamin Fee, Attorney - Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman, PSC
Ben practices exclusively in the area of health law advising health systems, hospitals, pharmacies, long-term care providers and medical practices on a variety of regulatory, compliance and corporate transactional matters. He regularly counsels clients on fraud and abuse issues, including compliance with the federal Stark Law and federal and state anti-kickback statutes; government reimbursement and payment matters; corporate structure and reorganization; 340B drug discount program issues; state pharmacy laws, licensure and accreditation matters; and corporate compliance issues. Ben's transactional experience includes advising on strategic coordination and optimization of third party reimbursement opportunities; analyzing, drafting, structuring and negotiating health care contractual arrangements; and counseling clients regarding mergers and acquisitions.

Alan O’Neil, CEO - Unity Medical Center
Alan is the administrator and chief executive officer at Unity Medical Center. He has over 30 years of management experience in health care, specializing in finance and operations. Alan has worked in hospital, clinic and long-term care finance and operations management positions. He has been involved with several construction projects, starting with project feasibility, obtaining financing and working with local city and county entities to obtain the necessary permitting through the architectural design and the actual construction phase. Alan is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has written or been quoted in numerous health care publications. He has also spoken at numerous health care conferences, including regional and national HFMA, on topics related to six sigma and productivity enhancement.

Michelle Rathman, CEO - Impact Communications
Michelle founded Impact! Communications, Inc., in 1989, a leader in health care strategy and communications. Impact’s focus includes academic, for-profit, critical access and rural hospitals, clinics, primary and specialty care provider practices, as well as organizations and associations serving the health care sector. Its work across the U.S. includes strengthening hospital identity and brand, engaging community stakeholders and strategic partners, identifying opportunities to decrease outmigration, improving internal culture, communications, and customer service across service lines and practices, as well as providing transformative professional development that inspires positive change.

Lori Wink, Attorney - Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman, PSC
Lori assists clients in the analysis of general health law matters and regulatory issues, including accreditation, certification, licensure, billing and payment, compliance, Medicare appeals, fraud and abuse and Stark. She advises a variety of health care clients including health care systems, hospitals, group practices, diagnostic centers and long-term care facilities. Lori chairs the Medicare Issues Committee for the Wisconsin chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and is a frequent speaker on regulatory issues. Prior to practicing law, she was a manager in the audit department of KPMG and was a member of KPMG's Healthcare Practice Group.

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