Note from the Speaker: A conference that brings together national leaders in revenue integrity

By Ronald Hirsch, MD, FACP, CHCQM

NAHRI is hosting the2018 Revenue Integrity Symposium (RIS) October 16–17 at the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park (Phoenix), Arizona. The conference is an important event for revenue integrity networking and education.

The sessions I’m looking forward to at this year’s RIS and would recommend to other attendees are all the sessions involving Jugna Shah, MPH, president and founder of Nimitt Consulting, Inc. This year she will be speaking on CMS’ latest OPPS proposal, as well as reporting of drug administration services and next generation technologies. Her breadth of knowledge and ability to teach are amazing. She will be presenting both days, including the second general session on October 16.

RIS is truly and important event for anyone in the revenue integrity profession. This conference brings together all the national leaders—Jugna Shah, as I’ve mentioned, as well as Valerie Rinkle, MPA, ACHE, lead regulatory specialist and instructor for numerous HCPro's Medicare Boot Camps®, and Kimberly A. H. Baker, JD, CPC, director of Medicare and compliance for HCPro, among others. There are no other opportunities to hear from them all in one place. In fact, the lineup is so amazing that at many times during the conference, I need to figure out how to be in two or three rooms at once!

My session is on day 2, October 17, 11:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m., titled “Joint Replacements and Cardiac Procedures: A Clinical and Financial Review.” As the title indicates, I will be speaking on joint replacement and cardiac procedures, which are high-volume procedures at most hospitals. The changes over the last year have significant financial implications that influence hospital revenue integrity—including the removal of total knee replacement from the Medicare inpatient-only list and the application of the 2-midnight rule.

This session will review the regulations and financial considerations applicable to total knee replacement and discuss the clinical and financial implications of the shift of orthopedic and cardiac procedures from the hospital to the surgery center that is anticipated to accelerate.

I’m also looking forward to taking advantage of the location of this year’s conference. I’m hoping to be able to rent a road bike and take a 40-mile ride out in the desert. I’d welcome any other road bikers to contact me so we can plan a ride!

Editor’s Note: Ronald L. Hirsch, MD, FACP, CHCQM, is vice president of R1 RCM in Chicago. He is a general internist and HIV specialist. Dr. Hirsch was the medical director of case management at Sherman Hospital in Elgin, Illinois. He is certified in healthcare quality and management by the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians. In addition, he is a member of the American Case Management Association, a member of the American College of Physician Advisors, and a fellow of the American College of Physicians.

For additional information, listen to a recording of our Revenue Integrity Symposium Demo and view the corresponding slides. Revenue integrity professionals wishing to earn support from program administrators to attend the 2018 Revenue Integrity Symposium may adapt our justification letter proposal.