1
NAME: CFO Practice Group
DATE:
September 8, 2014
Time:
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Presiding:
Cheryl Marks Young
Co-Chair: Bob Parkinson
Recorded By:
Mary Abrams
PRESENT: Robert Addesso, Javaid Akhtar, Jorge Diaz, Parbattie Harris, Betty Hogan, Jay Hood, Caren Jesseman,
Cheryl Marks Young, Carlton Meier, Robert Parkinson, Vincent Santaro, Lisa Thouin, Patrick Vitale, Kathy Wingate
PRESENT BY PHONE: Dave Bartels, Mara Bienstock, Mary Catherine Bohan, George Bontcue, Robert Edes,
Dieter Hovermann, Jeffrey Krieger, Laura Maier, Steve Marchiano, Paul Perry, Shabnam Sharma, Qindi Shi, Melissa
Zinni
Guests:
Staff: Mary Abrams, Debra Wentz
AGENDA
DISCUSSION
ACTIONS
TIMEFRAME
ITEMS/ISSUE
TAKEN/OUTCOME
Approval of the N/A
The minutes were
N/A
June 9, 2014
m/s/p.
meeting minutes
Rates
The group was asked for comments on Monitor rates process Ongoing
the DDD rates that recently came out.
at the State.
Most liked the process, but cannot
translate what they mean for their
organization and cannot budget based on
them. One identified problem is that
Medicaid’s definitions are different requiring re-ordering of services - a
crosswalk from old to new is needed.
There are many questions, including
about whether hours are rounded up or
down and how acuity level is
determined. In New York, they round
up; it is not clear what New Jersey will
do. Another question is whether a
service allowing three hours a day can be
averaged from a four-hour and two-hour
day. Without full information, agencies
cannot test these rates. It was also noted
that there is no marginal rate for
documentation. Discussion followed
about incorporating documentation into
the service time - this is an operational
issue, not a finance one. On the mental
health and addictions side, grant funding
will continue to decrease and rate based
to increase. Some agencies have already
seen significant reversals (e.g. from 95%
grants to 45 to 60% grants). Three areas
were suggested for the CFO to focus on:
leveraging technology on clinical and
back office sides; bring in practical cost
cutting (insurance; third party); and
getting more substance use agencies at
the table (five were present). [The
WHO’S
RESPONSIBLE
N/A
Debra Wentz,
Mary Abrams
2
AGENDA
ITEMS/ISSUE
Rates Cont’d.
DISCUSSION
Division of Developmental Disabilities
released several documents subsequent
to this meeting. They are: Fee for
Service FAQs; Fee for Service
Implementation Timeline; and Fee for
Service Rate Schedule: Quick Reference
Guide]
Costs
Debra Wentz asked for volunteers that
are good at calculating costs for a half
day workshop to guide others,
particularly smaller organizations.
Anyone interested should email Mary
Abrams. It was pointed out that at some
smaller agencies, the CEO is the CFO.
The goal is to help all NJAMHAA
members to succeed.
Review of
Information on the September 24th
Exchange
Insurance Roundtable was shared.
Healthcare Plans Questions for the panelists were asked
for in advance of the Roundtable. It was
clarified that agencies do not need to
enroll individuals, but do need to direct
them to where they can enroll.
Standing Agenda: The background and purpose of the
Clinical
standing agenda was described.
Documentation Credentialing was discussed. Some are
Workforce
keeping this in mind when hiring.
Development
Qualifications are coded in databases
Quality
tied to EHRs. Many have had staff with
Assurance
no credentials on board for years. The
Consolidation
hiring pool needs to be enlarged. It was
stated that clinical documentation is a
financial, clinical and human resources
concern. “If it is not documented, it did
not happen.” In RAC audits, weak or
no documentation means no pay, which
is applied to the entire population.
EHRs do help.
ACTIONS
TIMEFRAME WHO’S
TAKEN/OUTCOME
RESPONSIBLE
Email CFO group for October/
volunteers and
November
establish half day
program.
Mary Abrams
Questions for the
Roundtable panelists
should be submitted
to Mary Abrams.
By September
22nd
All Members
N/A
N/A
N/A
A request for Medicaid regulations was
made, especially for those applying to
substance use treatment.
A link to Medicaid
regulations will be
distributed.
As soon as
possible.
Mary Abrams
A discussion followed on performance
improvement (PI). PI, including
mapping, is tied to much of what has
been discussed. Accreditations, policy
and procedure updates, monthly PI
meetings, etc. take a significant amount
of time.
Focusing one meeting For March
on Performance
meeting.
Improvement will be
explored.
Cheryl Marks
Young, Debra
Wentz, Mary
Abrams
3
AGENDA
DISCUSSION
ITEMS/ISSUE
Topics of Interest There is a list of topics already identified
by the group for a focus at upcoming
meetings. Other ideas that were
suggested include: Medicaid billing,
RAC audits, billing private payers,
maximizing billing/weekly billing. It
was noted that we do not want to cover
topics being covered elsewhere and want
to address the most critical topics first.
Topics of Interest Molina will send teams out to train on
Cont’d.
several topics, though a Medicaid expert
is needed for some.
ACTIONS
TIMEFRAME WHO’S
TAKEN/OUTCOME
RESPONSIBLE
Suggested topics can Ongoing
All Members
be sent to Mary at
mabrams@
njamhaa.org.
Three priority topics are: Billing
Medicaid, Medicaid Compliance
Training and Rates. NJAMHAA does
have a Billing Supervisors Group.
Ask someone from
Roxanne Kennedy’s
office to attend the
next meeting to
address billing and
compliance issues.
There was discussion of conflicting
“Payer of Last Resort” provisions.
Clarification on Payer Prior to
of Last Resort will be December
sought from DMAHS. meeting
Debra Wentz,
Mary Abrams
A workshop will be December/
set up to cover single January
audit rule changes.
N/A
N/A
Mary Abrams
Contact Mary at
mabrams@
njamhaa.org
All CFO’s
interested in
mentoring
program
It was noted that there have been
changes to the single audit rule that will
be effective for 2015.
Upcoming Events Several upcoming events were noted:
Fall Behavioral Healthcare Meeting
October 21st; Basic Management
Training Series November 12th,
December 1st and December 12th; and IT
Project Annual Conference is December
3rd
Old and New
Those willing to volunteer for the
Business
mentoring program and those looking
for a mentor should contact Mary
Mentoring
Abrams.
Program
Upcoming Meetings:
December 8, 2014
March 9, 2015; June 8, 2015
For December
8th Meeting
Ongoing
Mary Abrams
N/A
All from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at NJAMHAA