2022 Two-Fer

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

- Billing company owners, executives and operations managers

- Practice billing executives in medical practices and hospitals

- Offshore vendor executives

- Billing software executives

REGISTRATION

Online registration is available through 5 pm on Thursday, February 17, 2022. After that time all registration will be onsite based on availability. Onsite registration by check only. 

Seats are limited!

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PAY YOUR REGISTRATION BY CHECK: 

Select your Registration Type, Quantity 1 and Click Buy Now. You will need to print the registration page(s) and mail them in with your check. You are not registered until your payment is received.

Send the form and check to:

Executive Education Plus

Attn: Meeting Registration Department

PO Box 18639

Asheville, NC 28814

Cancellation requests: The last day to request a cancellation must be received in writing by January 20, 2022. Refunds will be issued for requests received less a $600 cancellation fee. No refunds will be issued after January 20, 2022.

MASK POLICY

MBEC will be following the mask mandate rules as per the state of Nevada. Currently, in all counties in the state of Nevada everyone, including vaccinated individuals, are required to wear a mask in public indoor settings. For the most up to date information visit: https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/current-status-mitigation-measures/

CORONAVIRUS POLICY

First and foremost, we want our attendees to have the safest and most comfortable experience possible, given the many variables and constantly changing effects of the ongoing pandemic.  After careful thought and consultation with other organizations, medical professionals and trade show organizers, we have established the following policies for MBEC Attendees:

1.         Attendees are required to be vaccinated.  The minimum requirement is two doses of one of the FDA approved vaccines.  If the second dose was administered before August 31, 2021, an FDA approved booster is also required.  We will provide registered attendees with a way to electronically submit your documentation in advance, but will expect to verify the same when you are on site.

2.         Attendees are required to comply with the applicable policies of the Park MGM Hotel, the City of Las Vegas and the State of Nevada, if their requirements are more stringent.

3.         During conference activities, masks are highly recommended, and may be required if circumstances change.  We will have additional masks and hand sanitizer available on site.

4.         We are not requiring pre-conference testing at this time.  Naturally, if you believe you have symptoms, we strongly encourage you to be tested to determine your medical status.

5.         We must reserve the right to remove any attendee who demonstrates obvious symptoms, such as persistent cough, fever, etc.

6.         Out of respect for your fellow attendees – and your families and staff when you return, we trust that everyone will be thoughtful about exposure safety, social distancing and other mitigation practices while attending the conference and in public while in Las Vegas.

7.         Please read our refund policy.  While we cannot guarantee that we will waive our policy, we will make every effort to work with anyone whose attendance is affected by a verified, Covid-related diagnosis.

HOTEL INFO

Park MGM Las Vegas

3770 S Las Vegas Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV

Reservations can be made by calling (888) 529-4828. Or use this link to reserve online: https://book.passkey.com/go/SEEP0220PK

Please indicate you are with the Medical Billing Executive Conference (MBEC) to receive the contracted block rates below. Rooms at the group rate are limited.

2/17 Park King - $45

2/18 Park King - $140

2/19 Park King - $215

2/20 Park King - $110

2/21 Park King - $55

2/22 Park King - $55

A $39.00 Daily Resort Fee plus applicable Clark County room tax at the time of stay which is currently Thirteen and Thirty Eight Percent (13.38%) (subject to change) is applied to each hotel room reservation and includes amenities that are sure to enhance the guest experience. For all registered guests, the resort fee includes: Property-wide high speed wireless internet access (public spaces, meeting space and in-room), unlimited local and toll free calls, airline boarding pass printing, notary service, and cardio room access for guests 18+.

AGENDA 

Sunday, February 20, 2022

7:30 am - 6:30 pm — Registration Open

7:30 - 8 am — Breakfast

8:00 - 9:00 am — Opening Session (Dave Jakielo and Bob Burleigh, CHBME)

9:00 am — Break

9:15 - 10:15 am — Industry Overview (Dave Jakielo and Bob Burleigh, CHBME)

10:15 - 11:15 am — Compliance: 2022 E & M Coding and Other Risks (Holly Louie, RN, BSN)

11:15 am — Break

11:30 am - 12:30 pm — Six Ideas that Could Fix Healthcare (Dave Jakielo)

12:30 pm — Lunch

1:30 - 2:30 pm — Marketing and Selling During a Pandemic (Dave Jakielo and Bob Burleigh, CHBME)

2:30 — Break

2:45 - 3:45 pm — 2022 Surprise Billing Regulations and Billing Companies (Bob Burleigh, CHBME and Holly Louie, RN, BSN)

3:45 - 5:15 pm — Advanced Management: Live, Virtual and Everything in Between (Dave Jakielo)

5:15 pm — Break

5:30 - 6:30 pm — Building Your Company's Long-Term Value (Dave Jakielo and Bob Burleigh, CHBME)

6:30 - 7:30 pm — Opening Reception

Monday, February 21, 2022

7:30 am – 6:15 pm — Registration Open

7:30 - 8 am — Breakfast

8 - 9:30 am — Countdown to 2030: How our World is Changing (Bob Burleigh, CHBME)

9:30 am — Break

9:45 - 11:15 am — What's Happening in Washington, and Why Does it Matter? (Matt Reiter VP Capitol Associates)

11:15 am - 12:15 pm — HIPAA After 25+ Years: Common Billing Company Mistakes (Holly Louie, RN, BSN)

12:15 pm — Lunch

1:15 - 2:15 pm — How has COVID Changed Healthcare? (Dave Jakielo and Bob Burleigh, CHBMA)

2:15 pm — Break

2:30 - 3:30 pm — AI, Blockchain & RPA Bots (Dave Jakielo and Bob Burleigh, CHBMA)

3:30 - 4:30 pm — Is this the Right Time to (Re)Start a Billing Company? (Dave Jakielo and Bob Burleigh, CHBMA)

4:30 pm — Break

4:45 - 6:15 pm — Mergers, Acquisitions and Valuations During and After a Pandemic (Ted Stack Managing Partner Falcon Capital Partners)

6:15 - 7:15 pm — Reception

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

7:30 am - 12:15 pm — Registration Open

7:30 - 8 am — Breakfast

8 - 9:30 am — Billing Company Benchmarks and KPIs (Bob Burleigh, CHBME)

9:30 am — Break

9:45 - 11:15 am — Offshore - 25 Years Later....(Dave Jakielo and Bob Burleigh, CHBME)

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS

This program is eligible for RBMA Fellow credits.

SESSIONS

Sunday, February 20, 2022

OPENING

The conference opens with a review of everyone’s reasons for attending, expectations, goals, specific answers and solutions they’re seeking and what’s happening nationally and globally relating to legislation, regulation, information systems, technology innovations, hospitals, and their effect on the billing industry. We also have the attendees introduce themselves as a way to kick off the networking and sharing that is traditional to our conference. (1 Hour)

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW

Explore the latest and most important trends in healthcare – hospitals, practices, health insurance, pharmaceuticals, clinical and IT technology and how they all relate to the medical billing industry – and how they may have a positive or negative effect on your company. Insights will be shared as to how you can adapt and capitalize on the various trends. We’ll cover active and emerging trends in hospitals, practices, insurers, regulations, billing companies, technology and much more. (1 Hour)

COMPLIANCE: 2022 E & M CODING and OTHER RISKS

2021 introduced significant changes to how E & M codes are documented, coded, billed and paid. One year later, what has emerged are expected and unexpected outcomes, problems, compliance consequences, payment policies and other operational and compliance challenges. In addition, this session covers changes for 2022 and how they affect various specialties and their billing. (1 Hour)

SIX IDEAS THAT COULD FIX HEALTHCARE

As costs continue to spiral out of control and with more Baby Boomers joining Medicare daily, it is inevitable that we will need to make some drastic changes so our healthcare system doesn’t implode. This session will offer some ideas that may help to ensure healthcare doesn’t become unaffordable. Audience participation is required! (1 Hour)

MARKETING and SELLING DURING a PANDEMIC 

Have you found that your phone hasn’t been ringing off the hook with new prospects seeking out your services? With the number of independent physicians continuing to dwindle, plus the pandemic, it’s time you revisited your marketing plans to ensure future growth. So, we will offer various tips to help you grow your revenues in 2022 and beyond. (1 Hour)

2022 SURPRISE BILLING REGULATIONS & BILLING COMPANIES 

CMS has issued two rounds of proposed implementation regulations for the federal No Surprises Act (NSA). While there is significant resistance and ongoing activity opposing parts of the regulations, there is no doubt that NSA compliance will become part of your clients’ responsibilities – and yours, too. Get up-to-the-minute advice on what the regulations mean, how they overlap with various state Surprise Billing regulations, how to monitor your clients’ compliance and how to deal with arbitration and disputes. (1 Hour)

ADVANCED MANAGEMENT: Live, Virtual and Everything in Between

The pandemic sure has changed our management paradigm and how we thought we needed to manage and lead our team members. Everyone had to take a crash course in how to work with virtual teams and this skill set will be needed going forward – as our offices will never look the same. We’ll discuss how to ensure your staff is staying productive and motivated even when they, and you, are out of sight. (1.5 Hours)

BUILDING YOUR COMPANY’S LONG-TERM VALUE

In this session will examine what makes a medical billing company valuable. We will provide you with the key elements and building blocks that are used to determine if your company’s value would be considered having a High, Medium, or Low value in the current and future marketplace. This session is not solely about selling your business – valuation is important for borrowing and lines of credit, inviting or cashing out shareholders and investors, succession and estate planning and many other uses. (1 Hour)

Monday February 21, 2022

COUNTDOWN TO 2030: HOW OUR WORLD IS CHANGING

In eight years, we’ll enter the third decade of the 21st century. The real changes in our world since 2010 are remarkable, in technology, society, health care and the world at large. This session is a wake-up call that will cover how the entire world will look and work differently by 2030, including how we work, how we do business, which nations will affect our economy and workforce, and how we will live. (1.5 Hours)

HIPAA AFTER 25+ YEARS: Common Billing Company Mistakes

In 1996, Congress passed HIPAA. The most immediate change was highly important – preexisting conditions were effectively eliminated from health insurance – a policy and societal change that benefitted our industry and America. Operationally, we know HIPAA for Privacy, the Transaction Code Set (aka “Administrative Simplification,” and Data Security. We’ll review how HIPAA requirements are often misinterpreted, and/or many overlooked HIPAA requirements have impacted billing companies, physicians, hospitals, insurers and patients. You don’t know what you don’t know. (1 Hour)

MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS and VALUATIONS DURING and AFTER a PANDEMIC

Billing companies remain an attractive investment and acquisition target for larger billing companies, investors, private equity firms and others, just as they have since the early 1980s. Over the past five+ years, many smaller firms have also engaged in self-organized mergers with other, like firms. Our speaker will discuss they economics, recent history and current factors affecting company value, buyers’ interests, responsibilities of sellers and buyers, and how changes in the economy and the health care industry have affected recent and upcoming deals. (1.5 Hours)

HOW HAS COVID CHANGED HEALTHCARE?

I doubt that any company in the medical billing industry looks anything like it did in February 2020. This will be an interactive session where we will solicit input from all attendees to share what has substantially changed in their company and what have been the positive and negative effects. We’ll also discuss which changes are likely to diminish when (if) Covid recedes and which are almost certainly going to be part of the long-term future. (1 Hour)

AI, BLOCKCHAIN & RPA BOTS

If you’re still processing all of your incoming work, outgoing claims, incoming payments and unpaid receivables with personnel and your billing system, the likelihood of staying in business another five years is poor, or impossible. Artificial Intelligence (AI) products, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Blockchain are all revolutionizing many industries, including medical billing. We’ll provide a state-of-the-art update on the ways these tools will improve the results you produce for your clients, lower your operating costs, reduce errors and streamline your entire operation. Just like all of your competitors. (1 Hour)

IS THIS the RIGHT TIME to (RE)START a BILLING COMPANY?

Has the pandemic led to Billing Fatigue? For some of us the answer maybe yes, for others it has been a time of unparalleled growth. We will share what we see happening in the national marketplace and how you can position yourself to take advantage of the current opportunities. Despite that more than 50% of all physicians are now employed, there are many established and emerging opportunities to retool your company’s specialties, business model, etc. For those considering starting a billing company, the future remains promising – if you know where to look and how to do it. (1 Hour)

WHAT’S HAPPENING in WASHINGTON, and Why Does it Matter? 

Health care is one of the most (over)regulated industries in America. In addition to all of the clinical and legal regulations that affect (afflict) physicians, hospitals, insurers and every corner of health care, there are bookcases full of billing regulations. Most of the regulations originate in Washington, either from CMS or Congress. You’ll get an up-to-the-minute report on what’s in motion, what’s pending, what’s chronic and how you and your clients will be affected in 2022 and beyond. (1.5 Hours)

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

BILLING COMPANY BENCHMARKS AND KPIs

This ever-popular session covers WHAT to measure, HOW to measure it, WHEN to measure, WHY to measure it, and WHERE to go with information – and the importance of each. You’ll get all of the formulae, methods for gathering the data and how to deduce what cannot be obtained. We will also provide a number of totally new performance indicators and benchmarks specially designed for 21st century billing operations. (1.5 Hours)

OFFSHORE – 25 YEARS LATER . . . 

When we first started working with our offshore partners over 25 years ago, their services were usually limited to data entry, payment posting and a few other miscellaneous clerical functions. Jump ahead to 2022, and many of the functions they performed in the past are totally automated and we have now entered into a new era, where offshore company’s offerings can include automated coding, robotic process automation and artificial intelligence. We will discuss what is occurring now and what is on the horizon, including where new support companies are based and what new services are emerging. (1.5 Hours)

Total: 20.0 Hours

SPEAKERS

Robert B. Burleigh, CHBME

President, Brandywine Healthcare Services

610.306.9507

brandywinebob@aol.com

Bob has over forty-three years of healthcare financial management experience. His career has included eight years of hands-on and executive level hospital patient accounting for a 500 bed community hospital and an international chain of for-profit hospitals, eight years with Shared Medical Systems (SMS) [now Cerner] in both the Hospital and Physicians Services Division related to systems sales and delivery, project management, billing service management and consulting, and twenty-eight years as founder and President of Brandywine Healthcare Services.

Bob has conducted hundreds of engagements in medical practices, billing companies and hospitals in forty-eight states, including: practice performance reviews; assessment of billing operations; interim management and turn-around management of billing operations; compliance program development and audits; vendor performance audits, selections, and contract negotiations for billing services and coding services; coding and fee schedule reviews; billing and EDI software systems evaluations, selections, audits and contract negotiations; and litigation support of suits involving hospitals, physicians and billing service bureaus, including expert testimony and damage calculation. 

Clients have included: medical schools; medical practices in virtually every specialty and sub-specialty; municipal, not-for-profit and for-profit hospitals; government agencies; law firms; public accounting firms; health insurance companies; healthcare trade associations and healthcare billing companies. 

In 2003 and early 2004, Mr. Burleigh served as President and CEO of Alpha Thought Global, Inc., (ATG) one of the largest medical billing companies in the U.S. With offices in six states and New Delhi, India, ATG specialized in hospital-based medical practice billing, with clients in over twenty states. In late February 2004, he resumed the consulting practice he founded in 1988, Brandywine Healthcare Service. From 2009 to 2011, Bob served as Program Director for the RAC (Recovery Audit Contractor) Validation Contractor – Provider Resources, Inc., overseeing the initiation and operation of RAC oversight of CMS’ four RAC Contractors, including review and approval/denial of RAC audit proposals, assessment of RAC audit performance, and RAC policy development.

He has testified before Congress and NCVHS regarding patient privacy and the healthcare billing industry, as well as advising HCFA/CMS regarding billing company and physician compliance, the 4010 and 5010 transaction code sets, ICD-10 CM, provider enrollment, certificates of medical necessity (CMN), and physician documentation guidelines. He is a nationally recognized authority on billing services, professional service coding and fees, regulatory compliance, medical practice management, physician contracting, the management of hospital based medical practices, hospital departments and hospital patient accounting. Bob has been advising CMS on policy development and changes for over 15 years.

Bob is a frequent lecturer and author for numerous organizations including the Healthcare Billing and Management Association, Medical Group Management Association, Health Care Compliance Association, Healthcare Financial Management Association, American Health Lawyers Association, American Hospital Association, American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management, American College of Emergency Physicians, Radiology Business Management Association, American Pathology Foundation, American Collectors Association, and many others. Bob's authorship includes contributions to books on hospital and physician reimbursement, CPT-4 coding, contracts and risk management, emergency department management, feasibility studies and billing, for publishers such as the CCH, AHA, Aspen, Mosby's, ACEP, as well as numerous articles published by the Journal of Health Care Compliance, Part B News, Part B Insider (member of the Editorial Board), Medicare Compliance Alert, Report on Medicare Compliance, BILLING, Health Care Biller, Journal of Healthcare Financial Management, The Journal of Patient Accounting, ED Management and ED Physician News, Physician Payment Update, and many others.

Dave Jakielo, CHBME

President, Seminars and Consulting

412.921.0976

Dave Jakielo has over 30 years of hands on management experience. His background includes twelve years in hospital patient finance and, subsequently, over two decades of managing physician practices nationwide. 

Dave an Executive Coach has been speaking, consulting and teaching business methods to managers, clerical staffs, business owners and other professionals throughout North America and in Europe and Asia.

He has extensive experience in sales, marketing, customer service, business start-ups and turnarounds, due diligence process and acquisitions assimilation.

He is co-author of four books: The Sales Coach.. Tips from the Pros , Information Technology for the Practicing Physician , Real World Customer Service Strategies and Conversations on Success. He is also a regular columnist in the trade journals Billing and BC Advantage. Dave received his CHBME (Certified Healthcare Billing & Management Executive) in 1998. His professional membership includes being a Past President of the Healthcare Billing & Management Association (HBMA). In addition he is past President of the National Speakers Association – Pittsburgh Chapter and also holds membership in the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

Dave is a graduate of University of Pittsburgh and received his Masters in Management from Carnegie Mellon University. He is a certified trainer and has trained at the Buckley School of Public Speaking. Since 1995 he has been President of his own Seminar and Consulting Company.

Guest Speaker: