JUNE/JULY 2015 PIKES PEAK PAHCOM NEWSLETTER
EXTRA ... EXTRA .... READ ALL ABOUT IT IN THE PPP-N!!
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PIKES PEAK PAHCOM CORPORATE SPONSORS:
Corporate Sponsors' Liaisons:
o Debbie Carlson, CMM, Sponsor's Director: debbie@cs-obgyn.com
o Marla Lopez, CMM, Assistant Sponsor's Director: csepc323@qwestoffice.net
 Please see Pikes Peak PAHCOM's new website and find important information about our
sponsors.
 Sponsors, please remember that you must build your webpage that is embedded within
the new chapter website. Please do this soon, as the old website will be shut down
SEPTEMBER 1, 2015!!!: If you need assistance, please let us know.
http://www.pahcom.com. Choose "Membership/Community" -- "Chapters" -- "Pikes
Peak."
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MONTHLY PIKES PEAK PAHCOM CORPORATE SPONSORS' RECOGNIZED:
o June Presenting Sponsor:
Federal Credit Union. Stacey Harris,
Business Banker. 719.550.6844. sharris@ent.com. Stacey provided a brief
overview of the services that Ent can offer medical practices. Ent is a communitychartered credit union offering full-service banking financial services. That means that
at Ent you're not just a customer, you're a member-owner. Our mission is to improve
members' quality of life through education, unbiased financial advice, and access to
the highest quality financial products and services.
o July Presenting Sponsor:
Mark Carlson, COO,
St. Francis Medical Center provided a brief update regarding both Penrose & St.
Francis Hospitals and important information on how St. Francis is growing with
added services and a growing census continues. They enjoy being the able to
service the Mom-Baby sections of the hospital and have a special NICU for
those babies that require special care. Penrose Hospital will be expanding on
JUNE/JULY 2015 -- PIKES PEAK PAHCOM NEWSLETTER
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Fillmore Hill over the next few years. Our Pikes Peak PAHCOM sponsor liaison is
Jodi Feist, Physician Liaison Surgical/Imaging -719.776.5843, Cell 719.205.1852,
JodiFeist@Centura.Org.
o Pikes Peak PAHCOM would like to thank ALL of OUR SPONSORS for their
“constant” support of our Pikes Peak PAHCOM Community!!! We could NOT
provide such valuable education programs without ALL of their ongoing
support!
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JUNE CHAPTER MEETING REPORT -- MEANINGFUL USE (MU) 2015: Pikes
Peak PAHCOM was privileged to host Barbara Drury, BA, FHIMSS, President of Pricare.
Barbara works closely with HIMSS and the ONC serving on multiple committees and speaking
nationally to organizations. She briefly reviewed the "2015 Medicare/Medicaid MU" options
for practices while providing details and steps that practices will need to take. Medicare
CMS/Medicaid is projected to provide final guidance regarding the 2015 reporting period
and other parameters in August. The presentation included in-depth information regarding
the future journey of MU (Stage 3.....) and how it will continue to require practice managers
to keep a close eye on regulations/requirements. We appreciate Barbara traveling from
Arizona to present once again to the Pikes Peak PAHCOM Chapter.
Reminder of some Meaningful Use Medicare 2015 TIPS (MU2)!
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Stage 2 MU: Just some of the multiple changes that will required your attention:
o Still waiting to hear officially if CMS is going to put 90-day attestation period(s) in
place for 2015. Confirmation sometime in August.
o Registration of the Colorado Department of Public Health. Thanks to the
Colorado Springs Neurology Team we were informed there is a Colorado
Meaningful Use Website -- http://www.costage2mu.dphe.state.co.us/.
o Working with Imaging Companies on image integration.
o Integration with Labs now required.
o More requirements for the patient access to their health information which may
require an upgrade of one's current patient portal.
o Higher reporting percentages on Core Measures with additional Core Measures
added and changes in Menu Measures.
o Work closely with your EHR vendor is a must..... etc., etc.
JUNE/JULY 2015-- PIKES PEAK PAHCOM NEWSLETTER
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JULY CHAPTER MEETING REPORT - ICD-10 Documentation (How You Can Help
Your Providers Succeed!!!!) Denny Flint, Talon Company, National ICD-10 Speaker
returned to the Pikes Peak PAHCOM Chapter to provide the membership with important
steps and guidelines to help their providers succeed with the documentation process of
ICD-10. He also provided an important CMS update regarding the transition phase of
choosing the correct codes within the same code-family for one year to assist physicians
with lessening claims denial. Practices must continue the most important steps to get ready
for the October 1, 2015 mandated deadline. The key to success is having your EHR System
upgraded and providers adding more specific documentation! Hierarchical Co-existing
Conditions (HCC) that must be addressed and coded annually to increase the (RAF) Risk
Adjustment Factors. ICD-10, PQRS, HCC, RAF, etc., are all steps towards Value-Based
Payments! Provider Documentation is the cornerstone to ICD-10 Success and ….so much
more! We would like to thank Denny for traveling from Denver and providing another great
presentation on ICD-10.
2015 PIKES PEAK PAHCOM MEDICAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Nominations have
been received and the selection process has been completed! Each of the nominees
shows an excellence in the following categories:
o Integrity
o Independence
o Confidence
o Decorum
o Relevance
o Courage
o Commitment
The votes have been tallied and the nominees and the 2015 Medical Manager of the Year
will be Announced at the September Pikes Peak PAHCOM Event! It is killing me not to put
the nominees in the newsletter but we want to keep it a secret until the Chapter Meeting!
Please plan on attending and honoring your peers!!!!!
VALUE-BASED PAYMENT MODIFIER - VBPM (MEDICARE): A program that includes a
modified payment under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule based on Quality and Cost
Performance. If your practice is currently not participating in the PQRS Program, now is the
time to start or more negative Medicare adjustments in the coming years. The Value-Based
Payment Modifier which is starting to phase in first large practices and all providers by 2017
but the data from 2015 PQRS is what will be used by CMS for calculating part of the 2017
VBPM composite scores for practices/providers. There can be a positive adjustment, stay
neutral or receive a negative adjustment; separate from PQRS penalties and EHR penalties
or incentives. Also, start having your providers’ document chronic conditions, as this will help
JUNE/JULY 2015-- PIKES PEAK PAHCOM NEWSLETTER
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in the goal of providing "triple aim healthcare," the new pathway of healthcare. It is all
about the changes forthcoming in reimbursement!!
The Executive Committee is looking for a speaker for Value-Based Payment Modifier but here
are some free resources through CMS and Navicure Clearinghouse.
http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/PhysicianFeedbackProgram/index.html
http://www.navicure.com/
Navicure Site: Learn from us, scroll to free webinar on Value-Based Payment Modifier
NATIONAL CONFERENCE: PLEASE PLAN ON ATTENDING & REGISTER!!
October 20-22, 2015.
Pikes Peak PAHCOM is sponsoring a basket to benefit the national conference scholarship
fund! This fund allows many attendees each year to receive some assistance to attend the
conference! Basket Theme/Title = Rocky Mountain High Rollers. We are encouraging
members/sponsors/practices to donate toward the basket. Please get those items to
Sandra. Examples: gift cards, Rocky Mountain items, or something anyone would love from
our area. We will be shipping those items to the conference Hotel at the end of September
so the items can be displayed at the National Conference in October.
Colorado conference attendees will get together at the Conference for a social event!!!
Stay tuned for more information!!!
GOING GREEN! PP-PAHCOM Meeting RSVPs; speaker handouts/presentations; electronic
newsletters, etc..... Yes, it has been challenging but things are getting better all the time.
More-and-more is being moved to an electronic process through the National PAHCOM
Website. Please expect continued multiple changes throughout the year in how we
automate and "go green" using the Pikes Peak PAHCOM website through the National
website. There will be "challenges" and we ask you to be patient as we learn the processes
as well. If you cannot get the payment portion of the website to work, payments should be
sent immediately after registering to Lori Trivelli, Treasurer:
Address:
Lori Trivelli, CMM, Practice Manager
AgeWell Medical Associates
2350 International Circle
Colorado Springs, CO 80910
JUNE/JULY 2015-- PIKES PEAK PAHCOM NEWSLETTER
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REMAINING AUGUST MEETINGS:
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(This Week) Friday, August 21, 2015 - Breakfast Club, 7:15 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. -- Location:
Penrose Pavilion, Colorado Springs Neurological Associates (Tracie Broom's office), 3rd
Floor Conference Room. All members Welcome!
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Wednesday, August 26, 2015 -- PP-PAHCOM EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING,
Matthews-Vu Medical Group (Bridget's Office), 4190 East Woodman Road, #100. All
members are welcome! Please let Sandra know if you are attending.
UPCOMING SEPTEMBER MEETINGS: REGISTER NOW AND MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
PLEASE REMEMBER TO SIGN-IN FOR ALL MEETINGS: WE GET A SMALL STIPEND FOR
EACH PERSON THAT ATTENDS!!! IF YOU ARE A CMM/HITCM-PP, there must be
proof of your attendance!!!!!
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Attend free CME seminar on ICD-10
Documentation Excellence: ICD-10 from a Physician's Perspective
In less than two months the United States will transition from the ICD-9 code set for medical diagnoses to
ICD-10. Even though the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that they will allow
flexibility in the claims auditing and quality reporting process, beginning Oct. 1 claims must be submitted
(for Medicare/Medicaid and commercial payers) with the ICD-10 diagnosis codes.
No doubt your staff has already begun preparations for the transition; however it is important for
physicians to understand how the ICD-10 documentation requirements differ from those of ICD-9. Your
staff needs your help. As you have heard, ICD-10 diagnosis coding is much more specific than
ICD-9, and your staff can't code something that hasn't been documented.
To help physicians with this transition, the Colorado Medical Society and Colorado Access present
"Documentation Excellence: ICD-10 from a Physician's Perspective," with James M. Taylor, MD, Senior
Medical Director of Clinical Analytics/Performance Improvement at Colorado Access. This 90-minute
program is accredited for 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ and will be presented at locations along the
Front Range thanks to the support of organizations such as the Boulder County Medical Society, Clear
Creek Medical Society, Colorado Medical Group Management Association, Denver Medical Society, El Paso
County Medical Society, Northern Colorado Medical Society and the Pikes Peak Chapter of the Professional
Association of Health Care Office Management.
The primary audience is intended to be physicians. Please encourage your practice's physicians to attend.
Practice managers are welcome to attend with one of their
practice's physicians.
Programs are being scheduled at various locations. Click the links below for registration information.
Check this website on CMS.org for more information as additional locations are added.
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Denver: Aug. 24, 7:30 - 9 a.m. (morning program)
Denver: Aug. 24, 6 - 7:30 p.m. (evening program)
Northern Colorado (Loveland): Sept. 8, 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Colorado Springs: Sept. 10, 6:30 - 8 p.m.--
Pikes Peak PAHCOM &
CMGMA are helping sponsor this session!
JUNE/JULY 2015-- PIKES PEAK PAHCOM NEWSLETTER
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
September 17, 2015 -- Pikes Peak PAHCOM Chapter Meeting -- ICD-10
Countdown Celebration & Announcement of 2015 Pikes Peak PAHCOM
Medical Manager of the Year Nominees and Winner!!! Please join your
Executive Committee for an evening of winding down to ICD-10 and networking with
colleagues!!! You have been doing lots of work, now take a break before the
October 1st deadline and chat with colleagues and get some final tips on ICD-10!
LOCATION: South Side Johnny's (Middle Bar), 528 South Tejon, Colorado Springs, CO
80903.
RSVP: Must be completed through our chapter website @ www.pahcom.com.
The Pikes Peak PAHCOM Medical Manager Nominees will be announced and the
2015 Medical Manager of the Year will receive an award. You will not want to miss
this event!!!! Congratulate your peers for receiving this important nomination and the
2015 Medical Manager of the Year!
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September 18, 2015 -- Breakfast Club Cancelled due to above networking
meeting the evening prior.
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September -- El Paso County Office Managers' Association (OMA) to be
announced.
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September 24-25, 2015 -- Survive & Thrive -- CMGMA Fall Conference -Breckenridge!!! Plan on attending and outwit, outlast and overcome today's
challenges in managing medical practice.
Registration is now open at www.cmgma.com.
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September 30, 2015 -- PP-PAHCOM Executive Committee, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m., AgeWell Medical Associates, 2350 International Circle, Colorado Springs, CO 80910. (Note
-- changed to 5th Wednesday to allow several chapter officers and members to
attend the CMGMA Fall Conference). All members welcome, please let Sandra know
if you are attending.
UPCOMING OCTOBER MEETINGS:
 No Chapter Meeting due to National PAHCOM Conference.
JUNE/JULY 2015-- PIKES PEAK PAHCOM NEWSLETTER
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 Friday, October 16, 2015 -- Breakfast Club, 7:15 - 8:30 a.m., Location: Colorado
Springs Neurological Associates, 2312 North Nevada Avenue, 3rd Floor Conference
Room, Colorado Springs, CO 80907.
 Wednesday, October 28, 2015 -- PP-PAHCOM Executive Committee 4:00 - 5:30
p.m. Matthews-Vu Medical Group (Bridget's Office), 4190 East Woodman Road, #100
All members welcome, please let Sandra know if you are attending.
MEMBERSHIP:
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The word is out.... Pikes Peak PAHCOM is a true leadership organization in the Pikes Peak
region. We have new members interested all the time. Talk to your colleagues that are not
members. Bring them to a meeting and let them see the value. The Executive Committee
keeps the sponsor ratio of 2:1 and we have a waiting list of really good sponsors that want to
support PP-PAHCOM! We need more members!!!
Membership with Pikes Peak PAHCOM requires both a National PAHCOM Membership and PPPAHCOM Chapter Membership! Yes, there are separate dues $$! Renewals for National
PAHCOM Membership can be completed on-line www.pahcom.com; renewals for Pikes Peak
PAHCOM are emailed from the Membership Director -- Val Chavez, CMM, can now be paid
on our PP-PAHCOM chapter website that is embedded with the National PAHCOM website.
Please keep both memberships current! If you are a CMM or HITCM-PP, do not let your
recertification(s) expire every other year. Check your membership page on the national
website and make certain you affiliate with our chapter on your membership page, just two
clicks and you are done. Otherwise, you do not receive any notices, newsletters, etc.
Did you know that you can save $100 when renewing the National PAHCOM Membership by
choosing "auto renew." This does require a secure credit card to be on file but that saving
could be put toward your Pikes Peak PAHCOM Chapter dues which are currently
$125.00/year.
Add your professional photo to your National PAHCOM Membership profile. It is really simple
to upload. I put my mug shot under my profile! www.pahcom.com
Recruit your colleagues!! Bonus $$ -- a discount on your next local chapter renewal when you
refer a new member to join!!
NEW PIKES PEAK PAHCOM MEETING REFUND POLICY: Effective August 1, 2015
Pikes Peak PAHCOM Refund Policy (Educational session registrations only–
membership dues are non-refundable and non-transferable)
Unless otherwise specified, refunds for educational sessions are available as
follows:
JUNE/JULY 2015-- PIKES PEAK PAHCOM NEWSLETTER
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You submit your request to Lori Trivelli at lorit@agewellmedical.com a minimum
of ten (10) days prior to the event. Include the name of the attendee the refund
is being requested for
– The event name and date
– Reason for refund request
Once approved, Pikes Peak PAHCOM will deduct 5% of the amount paid as a
processing fee and issue a refund check or a credit to the charged card
account.
MANAGEMENT POSITIONS AVAILABLE: Please contact Sandra for more details for a
practice management position with an Ophthalmology/Optometric practice in Colorado
Springs.
Busy GI practice seeks Chief Administrator. Colorado Springs practice is looking for an
experienced person to bring professional management and administrative leadership to a
long established practice. Areas of focus will be: Personnel Management, Financial
Management, Operational Control, Third Party Expertise (including CMS), Legal and
Accounting Liaison, Strategic Planning and Development, and, of course, interfacing with
the physician team. Salary commensurate with experience; excellent benefit package. For
further information, please contact Shannon Doyle at (719) 482-4740, or
DoyleShannonJ@Yahoo.com – lots to talk about!
2015 Pikes Peak PAHCOM Chapter Officers:
o
Sandra Robben-Weber, CMM, HITCM-PP, 2015 President
o
Tari Gilmore, CMM, RMA, 2015 Vice President
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Bridget Pieffer, CMM, 2015 Secretary
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Val Chavez, CMM, 2015 Membership Director
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Lori Trivelli, CMM, 2015 Treasurer
o
Debbie Carlson, CMM, 2015 Sponsors' Director
o
Marla Lopez, CMM, 2015 Assistant Sponsors' Director (New Position)
QUOTE:
WE ARE NOT WHAT WE REPEATEDLY DO. EXCELLENCE, THEREFORE, IT IS NOT AN ACT, IT IS A HABIT!!!!! Aristotle
Aristotle would have been proud of PAHCOM Members in achieving Excellence Every Day!!
Remind your physicians of your Excellence --- Often!!!!!
Sandra Robben-Weber, CMM, HITCM-PP, PP-PAHCOM 2015 President
JUNE/JULY 2015-- PIKES PEAK PAHCOM NEWSLETTER
sandra@cspulmonary.com
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