1. Healthcare

Registration Fees
Member Non-Member
On or before March 18
$225
$325
From the same Organization
$115
$165
On or after March 18
$275
$375
From the same Organization
$145
$195
Who Should Attend?
This conference is designed for CEOs and administrators of medical group practices,
contracting personnel, CFOs, CPAs, business accounting professionals, physicians or
physician executives, operations managers, business office managers, nurses or
nursing professionals.
These individuals may have entry-level or moderate to extensive experience working in a
medical practice.
MGMA Certified - Pick up the form for your records. All Six Domains of Knowledge are
included in the conference.
Hotel and Conference Site
Rooms for the 2015 AzMGMA Annual Conference have been reserved at the Loews
Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson.
The Group Rate at the Loews Ventana Canyon is $129 plus tax of 12.05% through March
16, 2015.
To reserve your room at the Loews Ventana Canyon click on Reserve Now and select the
Book Now button underneath the hotel’s picture. Reservations can also be made by calling 800-234-5117. Be sure to ask for the Arizona Medical Group Management Association rate. The rate is available three days prior and three days after the conference.
The resort is located in the stunning Catalina Mountain range in the Sonoran Desert, with
serene desert landscape and two Tom Fazio-designed PGA golf courses just steps from
our doors. Pull up to the hotel and you’ll notice Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired architecture
surrounded by indigenous saguaro cactus trees. In fact, the stone columns are modeled
after the cacti, right down to their delicate ridges. Hang onto that feeling as you take in
the natural beauty—the very essence of the southwest—that calm, relaxing feeling is just
the beginning of something wonderful.
Casual business attire is appropriate for all conference events. Consider layering as it is
difficult to maintain comfortable conditions for everyone.
Wednesday, April 8
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm ~ Registration
9:30 am – 12:00 pm ACMPE Certification & Fellowship Preparation
Laura Inlow, Senior System Director, SLHN Physician Network
1:15 – 2:45 pm Remaining Independent and Strong
Rosemarie Nelson, MS, Consultant, MGMA Health Care Consulting Group
Physician practices exist in an environment of constant challenges and regulatory changes. Managing a practice to
remain independent and strong requires a broad knowledge base and strong administrative skills. Evolution is
necessary but you can still survive remaining independent. This session presents options and considerations for
evaluating those options.
The Learning Objectives:
1. Identify the value in your practice and learn how to focus on that value.
2. Evaluate the power of physician driven grouping.
3. Explore new models, including ACO, PCMH, Direct Pay/Hybrid, and Micropractice.
3:00 – 4:30 pm Meaningful Use 2 and What it Means To You
Nancy Babbitt, FACMPE, Past Board Chair of MGMA-ACMPE National Board of Directors
Whether you are just beginning with the EHR Incentive Programs or moving on to the next Stage, knowing the latest set
of regulations will help you successfully receive and keep the incentive payments. This session will review the latest
requirements for the CMS Stage 2 meaningful use and the changes and differences from Stage 1. Learn about the
changes and challenges with the new regulations while hearing lessons learned and best practices on how to survive
meaningful use audits.
The Learning Objectives:
1. Overview of Stage 2 regulations
2. Update on recent changes in regulations and deadlines
3. Be prepared for a Meaningful Use audit
4:30 pm - 6:30 pm ~ President’s Reception / Exhibit Hall
Thursday, April 9
7:30 am - 6:00 pm ~ Registration
7:00 am - 8:00 am ~ Breakfast / Exhibit Hall
8:00 – 9:30 am The New Health Care Consumer – Partner in the Triple Aim
Jane Sarasohn-Kahn, Health Economist, Advisor, Trend Weaver, THINK-Health and Health Populi blog
Patients, healthy people and caregivers are morphing into health care consumers due to market forces. Jane will discuss the key drivers re-shaping the new health care consumer, such as the post-Recession consumer, household health
economics (the growth of high-deductibles, health savings accounts, and growing out-of-pocket costs), the growing
adoption of mobile platforms, wearable technologies and mobile health apps, the search for transparency and shared
decision making in health and health care, and the emergence of retail health options from the pharmacy to the grocery store. Jane will conclude with implications for health care providers vis-à-vis this new health care consumer, who
can help health care providers partner and drive toward realizing the Triple Aim.
The Learning Objectives:
1. Identify and anticipate the many forces shaping the new health consumer
2. Empathize with the emerging health consumer to enhance ability forge shared decision making in health
care
3. Anticipate the evolution of health care consumers over the next 1-3 years.
9:30 – 10:15 Break in Exhibit Hall
10:15 – 11:45 Concurrent Sessions
A-1 Utilizing Quality Metrics for Meaningful Use
Nancy Babbitt, FACMPE, Past Board Chair of MGMA-ACMPE National Board of Directors
Quality metrics are integral to the meaningful use requirement outlined by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid
Services. While the Meaningful Use Incentive Program provides financial rewards for EHR implementation, the ultimate intent of the program is to improve the quality of healthcare. Hear how to utilize data mining for population
health management to improve outcomes and reduce costs while meeting Meaningful Use requirements.
The Learning Objectives:
1. Use data mining for quality metrics
2. Target care delivery for groups of patients to improve outcomes and reduce costs
3. Learn how to use Quality Metrics for Meaningful Use
A-2 How Automated Should my Office Be?
Rosemarie Nelson, MS, Consultant, MGMA Health Care Consulting Group
Technology can optimize operating efficiencies in all medical practices. The key is implementation of the right technology tool for effective results, much like having the right person in the right position. This session introduces new
technologies as well as discusses existing technologies that are underutilized in medical practices.
The Learning Objectives:
1. Identify opportunities in the practice where waste can be eliminated by effective application of
technology.
2. Evaluate your specific technology implementation with a checklist tool.
3. Discuss new technology spot solutions that can bring relief to bottlenecks and improve patient, provider
and staff satisfaction.
11:45 am – 12:45 pm ~ Lunch MGMA Western Section Update
12:45 – 2:15 ~ Concurrent Sessions
B-1 10 Mistakes We Keep Making As Practice Managers
Kyle Matthews, CEO, Cardiovascular Associates of Mesa
WARNING: This session may offend those who are not willing to reflect or change. As a practice administrator, I continue to make and see others make mistakes that keep our practices from achieving ultimate efficiency. Together,
we will discuss 10 mistakes that are observed most often and how we can overcome these common pitfalls. While
many anecdotes will provide humor, this session will allow every manager to rethink protocols and procedures that
could be the difference in achieving the next level of success.
B-2 Beyond the Low Hanging Fruit...Managing Your Brand Online
Kay Sperduti, President, Sperduti Communications
Web presence means different things to the providers within our practices and clinics. Our goal is to define key aspects of how current and prospective patients find you online and then create tools to optimize your presence regardless of practice size and resources.
The Learning Objectives:
1.
Understand the layers of web presence
2.
Determine the priorities for your organization and create buy in from decision-makers
3.
Breakdown tasks for ongoing coverage
2:30 – 3:30 ~ Concurrent Sessions
C-1 Data Driven Business Decisions
Cass Schaedig, Director, Data Solutions, Trellis/Healthtronics
Thinking of replacing a retiring physician, adding a provider, investing In a new piece of equipment or opening/
closing a satellite office? Before you embark In your next endeavor, gather your data first to make fact based business decisions. In your practice management sits a wealth of information waiting for you to tap Into. This session will
outline strategies to extract and transform your data Into a format that will support and track the success of your
next business Initiative.
Learning Objectives:
1.
Define strategies to gather data from your practice management system.
2.
Provide report samples for initial analysis and ongoing tracking.
3.
Identify how to Incorporate external data in your analyses.
C-2 Cultivating a Culture of Compliance: Understanding Health Care Fraud and the Importance of an Effective Compliance Program
Patti Vignone, Associate Director of Compliance, Optum Partner Services, UnitedHealth
Group/Optum
The Affordable Care Act mandated compliance programs a condition of Medicare and Medicaid enrollment. This
presentation provides the tools you need to establish an effective compliance program and to cultivate a culture of
compliance.
The Learning Objectives:
1. Gain a greater understanding of fraud abuse laws.
2. Identify the 7 required elements of a compliance program and how they cultivate a culture of compliance.
3. Learn how to evaluate compliance program effectiveness.
3:30 – 4:15 pm ~ Break in Exhibit Hall
4:30 – 5:30 ~ Concurrent Sessions
D-1 What’s new in Human Resources
Gary Cohen, Partner, Mesch, Clark & Rothschild
D-2 Rebuilding Financial Health - Refinancing and Capital Options
Donna Parker, Vice President, Wells Fargo Bank Professional Banking Group
Learning Objectives
1. To understand how bank's view your company financial statements in assessing your financial health.
2. Options available for obtaining financing.
3. How to determine what financing is best for you.
5:30-7:30 ~ Reception in Exhibit Hall
Friday, April 8
7:00 am - 8:00 am ~ Breakfast
8:00 - 9:30 am Being Quality Driven
Collin Udall, MD, Paragon Medical Associates
9:30 – 9:45 ~ Break
9:45 – 11:00 A Cartoonist Perspective: Draw your own Conclusions
David Fitzsimmons, Cartoonist, Columnist, Speaker, Insultant, Arizona Daily Star
The first half will be an interactive quiz show with 6 "contestants" from the audience, divided into 2 teams, competing
to correctly answer trivia questions about healthcare, the conference they have just attended, and silly trivia about
Arizona. This will elevate your mood elevator with the whole room cheering. The second half will be humorous talk,
speaking, sketching and cheering you on.
Learning Objectives:
1. Learn to cultivate humor.
2. Learn how humor improves the workplace.
11:00 – 12:30 pm ~ MGMA Washington Update
Allison Brennan, Senior Advocacy Advisor
This update will provide timely information on the status of pertinent healthcare issues under consideration by Congress and federal regulatory agencies. Attendees will learn about recent legislative and regulatory developments affecting medical groups, gaining a deeper understanding of these changes and their impact on the day-to-day activities
of medical group practices. Additionally, attendees will learn what resources are available to clarify these federal initiatives.
Learning Objectives
1. Identify how legislative and regulatory initiatives affect your daily work
2. Learn about new or pending policy changes
3. Describe the resources available to assist you
12:30 pm ~ Prize Drawings (You Must be Present to WIN)
Recess until April 2016, when the
4-Corners MGMA Conference goes to Albuquerque