| Welcome to Spring!
Spring is my favorite season. Spring is a time for new growth and revitalization.
As I think about growth and revitalization, I realize how far the Greater St. Louis Chapter of HMFA has come this year.
Due to the hard work of the Board members, committee chairs, co-chairs and membership we have experienced some real improvement and growth in the Greater St. Louis Chapter. We have increased membership, cash, social and educational activities.
The involvement of our members this year is awesome and refreshing. The committees are actively planning events even as we wind-down this year and “gear” up for next year.
We just sponsored a Pharmacy Panel in March and are very busy planning for the May Multi-chapter conference. This conference is held in conjunction with the Show Me Chapter and promises to not only provide solid educational sessions, however will also include plenty of networking opportunities including a night with the “stars”. We hope to see you there!!
Some of our officers will be headed to San Diego for Leadership training in April. This event gives insight to the officers as they begin their terms in office. It provides the foundation necessary to provide the membership of HFMA with strong leadership.
As I think of Spring and new growth and opportunities, I also think of the new officers that will be joining the Board in May. I extend to them my congratulations and can promise them they will be working with a wonderful group of people.
I hope to see each of you in the near future at one of the Greater St. Louis educational or social events.
Take care and enjoy the beauty of Spring!
Sincerely,
Sheila K. Washington
President
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Welcome to New Members
Dianne Merlendbach
Patient Account Product Specialist
SSMHC
Tammy Krebel
Senior Vice President
Commerce Bank
Rod Heilman
Deb Armer
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FY 2006-2007 Board Members
| President: |
Jim Hill |
| President Elect: |
Kathy Hughes |
| Vice President |
Teri Reger |
| Secretary: |
Rebecca Phillips |
| Treasurer |
Sharon Redel |
| Directors: |
Brian Clubb
Tracy Packingham
Susan Richardson
Tami Knobbe
Kathy Vogt |
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Illinois Getting Healthcare Industry’s Attention
Healthcare finance experts are keeping a close eye on Illinois, where the Attorney General recently proposed legislation that may significantly affect hospital billing and collection practices. The Hospital Fair Billing and Collections Practices Act targets overly aggressive collection techniques and confusing bill procedures. (According to the Collections and Credit Risk, March 2006) If approved, the law will trigger a whole set of guidelines for Illinois Hospitals, including prohibiting hospitals from sending accounts to collection agencies while bills are pending with insurers; requiring approval from hospital corporate offices before filing lawsuits or liens, and restricting what agencies can buy debt from hospitals. The proposal was introduced alongside legislation requiring hospitals to devote at least 8% of their bottom line to charity care.
The two provisions that concern the collection industry the most include the ambiguous definition of a complaint, which hospitals must track, and the hospital corporate officers must approve certain collection steps. The word “complaint” is not well defined in the bill and does not distinguish a complaint from a “dispute” under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. The bill is scheduled for an April approval.
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Update on Health Savings Accounts
Although President Bush and many politicians are putting their weight behind consumer-directed health plans, providers are working hard to change operations as we know them today. Health insurance plans are creating their own banks to allow consumers to maintain and fund their accounts. This may be good for the consumer, but providers may be lacking the technology to process patients with varying accounts, and this could have a negative impact on the accounts receivable department. Technology that would be required at the front desk include on-line eligibility verification, online verification of account funds and other insurance info. One likely solution is some kind of smart card, but that could be a couple of years away.
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CDHPs and Employee Education Tools
According to a survey of employers participating in Deloitte Consulting's 2006 Survey on Reducing Corporate Health Care Costs, in order to make CDHPs work, employers generally must make extensive information about the plans available to employees. In addition to basic information about how the plan works, CDHP participants should have access to information that enables them to manage their health and make better decisions as health care consumers. Thus, the shift to CDHPs has been accompanied by a significant increase in the incidence of all types of employee education tools.
|
Employee Education Tools |
|
|
2003 |
2006 |
|
"Report Card" comparing plans distributed to members |
6% |
18% |
|
Annual open enrollment materials |
72% |
93% |
|
Intranet-based plan information (employer) |
33% |
73% |
|
Intranet-based plan information (links to health plans) |
44% |
78% |
|
Intranet-based plan information (links to health content sites) |
39% |
57% |
|
Newsletters |
19% |
52% |
|
Health fairs or workshops |
33% |
58% |
|
Disease management programs |
24% |
64% |
|
Nurse line/demand management |
23% |
54% |
|
Self-diagnostic testing |
* |
11% |
|
None |
6% |
3% |
*Not asked in 2003 survey
Source: Washington Bulletin, February 6, 2006. Deloitte Development LLC. (www.deloitte.com)
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Legal Lines:
DEBTOR MUST COMPLETE CREDIT COUNSELING PRIOR TO FILING CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY
Gerald J. Bamberger, Attorney at Law
One of the goals of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Debt Act of 2005 which became effective October 16, 2005 was, in the writer's opinion, to reduce and/or make more difficult the filing of consumer bankruptcy filings. The recent ruling by the United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, indicates this goal is being accomplished.
In Re Dixon v. LaBarge, MLW No. 53533. Keith Dixon received notice that his home was being foreclosed by the secured lender and saw an attorney the day before the scheduled sale. The attorney filed a Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition to stop the foreclosure sale. But under the new bankruptcy act, a condition for filing is the completion within 180 days a program of credit counseling. Since Dixon didn't do that he filed a petition for waiver of that requirement due to Aexigent circumstances@ as provided in Section 11USC109(h)(3)(I).
The first ground, that there were no approved credit counseling agencies in the area did not apply. The second, that the debtor file a certification of exigent circumstances was done but rejected by the court. Dixon attempted to obtain counseling from an agency but was unable to arrange a class for two weeks. As he did not have a computer he was unable to get immediate counseling on line which was available.
In its ruling the court stated that Dixon was required to receive 20 days notice of the foreclosure under Section 443.310 RSMo. Certainly Mr. Dixon was aware of the delinquency before then but had not taken the necessary steps to resolve the problem. Although the foreclosure was stopped by the filing of the bankruptcy petition, since the bankruptcy petition was dismissed, the lender could give new 20 day notice to Mr. Dixon and republish the foreclosure sale. If Mr. Dixon refiles his petition after completing credit counseling prior to the new foreclosure sale date, the automatic stay provision under the new act will expire after 30 days unless the court extends it upon a motion by the debtor. So filing for bankruptcy protection is more time consuming, complex and costly to a person with little or no assets.
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February Program – Aspects of the New Bankruptcy Act and Tips for Collecting Medical Legal Accounts
Mr. Gerald Bamberger, attorney at law, offered an insightful overview on the recently enacted Bankruptcy Abuse, Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005. One of the goals of the new act is to have debtors pay a larger percent of their obligations under Chapter 13. However, creditors must realize that they need to properly file a claim with the Bankruptcy Court. The new act also established a National Creditor Registration Service at www.ncrsuscourts.com, phone 877-837-3424.
Gerry concluded the afternoon by providing useful information on handling Workman’s Compensation, filing medical liens and probate claims. These medical legal issues often result in lost revenue opportunities for the healthcare industry. If you have additional questions, you can contact Gerry directly at 636-946-6500.
On behalf of the Greater St. Louis HFMA Chapter, we would like to thank Gerry for taking the time to give us this update.
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Overcoming Barriers to Electronic Health Record Adoption
The HFMA recently published results of a survey and roundtable discussions regarding implementing electronic medical records. The highlights of this report include:
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Barriers to adoption by hospitals include lack of national information standards and code sets, lack of available funding, concern about physician usage, and lack of interoperability.
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Only 28% of respondents listed insufficient financial return as a significant barrier.
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Although hospitals are determined to implement HER systems, government action in the area so standard-setting and financial support would significantly speed adoption.
The report illustrates the level of adoption of EHR by various sized hospitals. The final page states the HFMA’s position on the government’s role encouraging HER adoption.
A growing hole in the safety net
Continuing a decade long trend, the proportion of physicians providing charity care dropped to 68% in 2005 from 76% in 1997. These results are from the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC). This report details how physicians have taken less charity care and the implications of that action.
There has been a decline in the amount of charity care provided relative to the number of uninsured Americans. The overall number of charity care hours per 100 uninsured people declined from 7.7 hours in 1997 to 6.3 in 2005, an 18% decline. Additionally, the proportion of physicians providing charity care declined across all major specialty groups and geographic regions. Surgical specialists are the most likely to provide charity care, probably because man required to be on call at hospitals had have less choice about whether to treat uninsured patients. Pediatricians are the least likely to provide charity care. Charity care is the highest amount physicians in solo or small group practices. In comparison, physicians in larger groups and institutional based practices are much less likely to provide charity care. Physicians who own their practice are more likely to provide charity care than non-owners.
The result is that the uninsured must rely more on formal safety net providers, such as community health centers, free clinics and public hospitals, or get less medical care. This also implies a shift in the financial burden to taxpayers in the form of direct and indirect subsidies to major safety net providers. Go to www.hschange.org report number 13 for additional details and charts.
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Upcoming Events
SPRING CONFERENCE IN ST. LOUIS
The Greater St. Louis and Show-Me of Missouri Chapters of HFMA are collaborating to bring you the annual multi-day Spring Conference. It will be held May 21-23, 2006 at the Crowne Plaza St. Louis-Clayton Hotel. Highlights include a welcome reception, a general session presentation by the HFMA National Chairman-Elect, Joseph Fifer, and a general session by Ed Casteel on Consumer Driven Health Plans. Along with multiple sessions for you to choose from in the healthcare finance areas of accounting, technology, capital and revenue cycle, there will also be an exhibit hall with exhibitors ready to help you with all your healthcare finance needs. Registration will begin in early April. Watch for the program brochure in your mailbox and on the Greater St. Louis Chapter’s website.
Topics Include:
Finance & Accounting - tax update, compliance/risk assessment, medical
malpractice trends, managed care contracting
Technology & Access to Capital - voice-based technology, secure
communications, electronic financial record, integrated strategic &
financial planning, investments
Revenue Cycle - collection strategies, cash for delinquent accounts,
ICD-10 and the importance of CPT codes, chargemaster maintenance
Other - provider-based clinics and medicaid billing.
The Social Committee has quite an entertaining evening planned for this event. The committee has created an Evening with the Stars. There will be a Wall of Fame where HFMA members will be dressed as popular characters and figures. Music will be provided by a DJ and prizes will be awarded for best dressed.
The HFMA member price for the full conference is $200 if received by the early bird deadline of May 7th, $225 after May 7th.
There will again be the option to choose to attend single days of the
conference for a reduced price.
ANI JUNE 17-21
Find the ideas and tools you need to achieve results in your organization -- come to HFMA’s 2006 Annual National Institute (ANI) in Orlando June 17-21! Through classroom sessions with the healthcare finance industry’s top leaders, ample networking time with your peers and access to leading healthcare vendors and suppliers in the Idea Exchange Exhibit, you’ll walk away from ANI with the resources and information you need to bring about positive changes in your organization and career. At ANI 2006, you’ll have the opportunity to choose from more than 70 educational sessions designed to provide you with a wide range of ideas and tools on a variety of healthcare topics. For more information go to http://www.hfma.org/education/ani/postcard.htm
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Board Meeting Calendar
| DATE |
TIME |
PLACE / OTHER EVENT |
COMMITTEE UPDATES |
| 5/24/06 |
Lunch |
Crowne Plaza St. Louis-Clayton
Spring Conference |
ALL COMMITTEES |
Note: Committee Updates are to be given by the Chair and/or Co-Chair. Any committee can address updates at any Board Meeting.
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Calendar of Programs and Events
For information on programs, contact Programs Chair Teri Reger at teri_reger@ssmhc.com.
For social events, contact Social Chair Lisa Haug at hauglm@senexco.com.
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