Dear Fellow Members:

I hope you are enjoying the summer and are finding time to spend with your families and friends. The summer is going quickly, and your chapter leaders have been busy planning for a new fiscal year. I want to welcome Molly Galvin from Crouse Hospital to her new role as Secretary. I would also like to welcome our newest Board members: Carol Hamel from Freed Maxick, Scott Rau from Fust Charles Chambers, and Katie Taylor from St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center. As we establish our goals for the coming year and establish our committees, it’s a great time to get involved! If you have an interest in volunteering or getting more involved in HFMA, let me know. We’d love to hear your ideas!

In April, CNY leaders joined their peers from the other 67 chapters across the country at the Leadership Training Conference (“LTC”) in Anaheim, California. The LTC gives us the opportunity to learn from chapters with best practices for providing benefits to the membership. Then, in June, President-Elect Michele Mecomonaco and I gathered with our counterparts from the chapters across the country at the Annual National Institute in Orlando to accept our chapter’s awards for the 2013 fiscal year. Our chapter was recognized for excellence in education and in certification. Additionally, along with the other chapters of Region 2, we accepted 2 awards for multi-chapter collaboration.

Member education continues to be one of the primary missions of our chapter. Our Region has continued its free webinar series. In July, webinars on the topics of Supply Chain and the RHCF-4/2 were held. In addition, National HFMA continues to host numerous webinars on various topics of interest that are free to members. See www.hfma.org/webinars to see what’s coming up. As always, if you have a need for education on a specific topic, let us know. It might be something we can provide locally at a reasonable cost, thanks to our sponsors.

I enjoyed seeing members and their families at our night at the Chiefs on Saturday July 20th. Those in attendance enjoyed a winning game and fireworks on a gorgeous night. One of the benefits of your membership is to network in a relaxed environment with your peers. If you have an idea for a networking event, let us know.

In this era of consolidation and change, it’s becoming increasingly important to stay abreast of the rapidly changing landscape. HFMA provides the ability to stay in touch not only through education but through the ability to chat with your peers about how various organizations are preparing for the future. HFMA exists to serve its members, so don’t be afraid to let us know how we can help.

July 2013

Presidents Letter – Karen Carter, CPA I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

Local Notes

CMS Considers a Star Rating 2

IOM Examines Geographic Variation 2

The Regional Front by Bruce Liebel

3 & 4

Remembering Corey Scialdo 5

LTC/Mini LTC – Pictures 6

ANI – Pictures 7

New Members 8

Member Spotlight 9

Sponsor Listing 9

July 19—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is contemplating assigning a visual cue—such as stars or another easyconsumers digest and compare quality infrecent article in Kaiser Health News.

Medicare would include the star ratings on its Hospital Compare website, basing star ratings on many of the 100 quality measures Medicare already reports, says Kais

According to the article, critics have expressed concern about the potential accuracy of a star rating system and suggest it might be misleading. For example, the Association of American Medical Colleges said a star rating system “may make inappropriawhose performance is not statistically different…[and] exaggerate minor performance differences on [quality] measures," Kaiser reports.

Medicare already uses a fiveinsurance plans from which one in four U.S. seniors get insurance

CMS Considers a Star Rating for Hospitals

July 25—Differences in the use of posthome health care are one of the main reasons for variation in Medicare spending, according to a report released this week by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Variaspending are more likely tied to the difference in what hospitals and physicians charge for services, the report states.

The IOM conducted a fourspending and its underegarding geographic variation, and it suggests that any effort to reward physicians and hospitals based solely on geographic variation would be inherently unfair.

Variation in healthcare spendnever been a definitive answer as to why. Congress has even considered rewarding providers in lowproviders in high

To improve value, the IOM recommends that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) take the following steps:

•Continue to test payment reforms such as valuehomes, bundled payments, and accoat decision-making entities and provide incentives for health care providers to integrate care delivery, coordinate care with other providers, and share data on service use and health outcomes in realbeneficiaries to share in the savings for higher

•Evaluate the impact of reforms on value and use the findings to make ongoing improvements in valueaccelerate its transition from traditional Medicare to new payment models if evaluations demonstrate that these reforms improve care value,” the report states.

•Collaborate with private insurers so that new paymenpayers.

Additionally, the IOM recommends that Congress encourage CMS to make Medicare and Medicaid data more accessible for research purposes and provide CMS with resources to carry out this task.

IOM Examines Geograp

In the news…

Used with permission

from HFMA News;

for more news, visit

http://www.hfma.or

g/newslisting.aspx

Page 2

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is contemplating assigning a visual such as stars or another easy-to-understand symbol—to hospitals in order to help

consumers digest and compare quality information from different institutions, according to a recent article in Kaiser Health News.

Medicare would include the star ratings on its Hospital Compare website, basing star ratings on many of the 100 quality measures Medicare already reports, says Kais

According to the article, critics have expressed concern about the potential accuracy of a star rating system and suggest it might be misleading. For example, the Association of American Medical Colleges said a star rating system “may make inappropriate distinctions for hospitals whose performance is not statistically different…[and] exaggerate minor performance differences on [quality] measures," Kaiser reports.

Medicare already uses a five-star system to rate the private Medicare Advantage health surance plans from which one in four U.S. seniors get insurance

CMS Considers a Star Rating for Hospitals

Differences in the use of post-acute services such as skilled nursing facilities and home health care are one of the main reasons for variation in Medicare spending, according to a report released this week by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Variaspending are more likely tied to the difference in what hospitals and physicians charge for services, the report states.

The IOM conducted a four-year research effort exploring geographic variation in healthcare spending and its underlying causes. The IOM indicates there are still many unknowns regarding geographic variation, and it suggests that any effort to reward physicians and hospitals based solely on geographic variation would be inherently unfair.

Variation in healthcare spending across geographic areas has always existed, but there has never been a definitive answer as to why. Congress has even considered rewarding providers in low-Medicare spending areas with increased payments while penalizing providers in high-Medicare spending areas.

To improve value, the IOM recommends that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) take the following steps:

•Continue to test payment reforms such as value-based purchasing, patienthomes, bundled payments, and accountable care organizations. “These reforms are directed

making entities and provide incentives for health care providers to integrate care delivery, coordinate care with other providers, and share data on service use and health outcomes in real time,” the report states. “CMS also should pilot programs that allow beneficiaries to share in the savings for higher-value care.”

•Evaluate the impact of reforms on value and use the findings to make ongoing improvements in value-based payment models. “Congress should give CMS the flexibility to accelerate its transition from traditional Medicare to new payment models if evaluations demonstrate that these reforms improve care value,” the report states.

•Collaborate with private insurers so that new payment models can be evaluated across

Additionally, the IOM recommends that Congress encourage CMS to make Medicare and Medicaid data more accessible for research purposes and provide CMS with resources to carry out this task.

IOM Examines Geographic Variation in Healthcare Spending

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is contemplating assigning a visual to hospitals in order to help

ormation from different institutions, according to a

Medicare would include the star ratings on its Hospital Compare website, basing star ratings on many of the 100 quality measures Medicare already reports, says Kaiser.

According to the article, critics have expressed concern about the potential accuracy of a star rating system and suggest it might be misleading. For example, the Association of American

te distinctions for hospitals whose performance is not statistically different…[and] exaggerate minor performance

star system to rate the private Medicare Advantage health

acute services such as skilled nursing facilities and home health care are one of the main reasons for variation in Medicare spending, according to a report released this week by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Variations in commercial spending are more likely tied to the difference in what hospitals and physicians charge for

year research effort exploring geographic variation in healthcare rlying causes. The IOM indicates there are still many unknowns

regarding geographic variation, and it suggests that any effort to reward physicians and hospitals based solely on geographic variation would be inherently unfair.

ing across geographic areas has always existed, but there has never been a definitive answer as to why. Congress has even considered rewarding

Medicare spending areas with increased payments while penalizing

To improve value, the IOM recommends that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

based purchasing, patient-centered medical untable care organizations. “These reforms are directed

making entities and provide incentives for health care providers to integrate care delivery, coordinate care with other providers, and share data on service use and health

time,” the report states. “CMS also should pilot programs that allow

•Evaluate the impact of reforms on value and use the findings to make ongoing ongress should give CMS the flexibility to

accelerate its transition from traditional Medicare to new payment models if evaluations demonstrate that these reforms improve care value,” the report states.

t models can be evaluated across

Additionally, the IOM recommends that Congress encourage CMS to make Medicare and Medicaid data more accessible for research purposes and provide CMS with resources to

hic Variation in Healthcare Spending

Local Notes

Local Notes Page 3

ANI:

I was honored to be present at the Awards Dinner at the Annual National Institute (ANI) in Orlando last month. It was gratifying to see each of our Past Presidents or Chapter Representatives walk across the stage as they announced the awards they achieved, and was topped only by seeing all 7 Chapters on-stage together to receive the two Yerger Awards won, for the Mini-LTC and the Fall Region 2 Conference. Our Region has a history of winning these awards, both which are a collaborative effort, not only to help meet the education hours required of the chapters, but more importantly, to meet the training and education needs of our individual members.

FALL PRESIDENTS MEETING:

Next month, the chapter presidents and president-elects will hold their annual meeting as a region. Known as the Fall President’s Meeting (FPM), it is a Davis Chapter Management System chapter requirement, and needs to be held between August 15th and September 30th. The FPM is important in that it 1) provides a forum for idea sharing, problem solving, and collaboration among chapters, and 2) gives chapter leaders an understanding of HFMA strategic initiatives and provides an opportunity to give feedback to HFMA via the Regional Executive.

Some items that are considered for the FPM are:

• The Regional Executive Council sets the agenda for the FPM based on HFMA strategy and input from chapter leaders.

• Presidents and presidents-elect should represent the opinions and needs of their chapter as a whole rather than personal opinions and needs.

• Regional best practice sharing occurs during Fall Presidents Meetings to give chapters an opportunity to exchange ideas, review successful practices, recognize achievements, and identify opportunities for improvement.

Along with the chapter leaders, the Regional Executive (RE), and our Regional Executive-Elect (RE-E), Teresa Figueroa from the Puerto Rico chapter, also in attendance will be our Region 2 Treasurer, John Cousins, National HFMA Representative, Jinna Davis, and National HFMA Board Member, Becky Speight. This year’s meeting will be held at the Hotel El Convento, in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.

REGION 2 CONFERENCE:

Our largest event held as a Region is the Annual Region 2 Conference. The 2013 Conference, which will be held October 9 – 11, 2013, at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, N.Y., is well under way in the planning, thanks to the dedicated group of coordinators working with Teresa and myself, as follows:

• Chris Etsler (Rochester) • Christine Blidy (WNY) • Cindy Strain (Metro NY) • Karen Richards (Northeastern NY) • Raphael Rodriguez (Puerto Rico) • Scott Rau (Central NY) • Will Scheuermann (Hudson Valley).

This year’s theme is “Healthcare 2013 – Accept the Challenge”. The team has completed the program, and we’re proud to announce that we have secured National HFMA President, Joe Fifer, to open the conference, followed by the 2013-14 National HFMA Chairman, Steve Rose. We have 3 Keynote Speakers over the course of the conference, including:

The Regional Front – By Bruce K. Liebel, FHFMA

This is the start of my second

year writing “The Regional

Front” for the WNY

Chapter’s newsletter, and the

second article shared with the

other chapters in the Region.

I hope you find it

informative and interesting to

read.

Feel free to contact me at

bliebel@ecmc.edu for any

regional topics you would

like discussed.

Local Notes

• Dr. Jonathan Niloff, for a session on Risk Contracts and the use of Data Analytics

• National Health Care Policy Expert, David Merritt, discussing the Health Reform Law

• Inspirational Speaker, Lauren Manning, talking on “Unmeasured Strength: Making Every Day Count”, after surviving the 9/11 attack. (Note: Lauren will be available for a book signing).

To help meet the education needs of our members, we are also offering three breakout sessions, along with a general Medicaid Update Session from John W. Gahan, Jr. This results in a wider variety of sessions, with breakouts covering the following topics:

- Accounting - ACO’s - Insurance Exchanges - ICD-10 - Revenue Cycle Best Practices - Merger Readiness - Legal & Compliance Update - Denial Management - The New Medicare DSH - Beacon Project: Transforming our Healthcare Delivery System - Prepayment Audits / RAC / Observation

The conference is also a great networking opportunity for members of Region 2. We start the conference Wednesday evening, with the network reception that includes great food and drinks, and we’ve added Comedian Rob Lederman for a show at evening’s end. Thursday is our night of music. We’re changing things up by having a DJ this year, along with an assortment of munchies. Other changes to this year’s conference includes having a “Sponsor Booklet”, detailing such information as our valued sponsors, the location of the sponsor booths, the full conference agenda, and other information vital for all attendees.

If you haven’t attended the Region 2 Conference before, please make every effort to attend this year, and join those who find it rewarding, educational and fun!

Page 4

Save the Date!!

Region 2 – Turning

Stone Casino

October 9th – 11th

2013

Page 5 Local Notes

In Memory…

The Chapter wishes to extend heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of Corey Scialdo. Corey passed away on July 6, 2013. He was an active member of our chapter since 2004 and could be found at many educational and chapter social events. Corey was the controller at Rome Memorial Hospital. He was an avid golfer and loved spending time with his two children. Corey will be greatly missed by those who knew him. The following appeared on herkimertelegram.com:

Frankfort, N.Y. — Mr. Corey J. Scialdo, 44, a lifetime Frankfort resident, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, July 6, 2013. Corey was born on July 4, 1969, in Landstuhl, Germany, son of Gary and Phyllis (Gelose) Scialdo. He attended Frankfort-Schuyler school and Syracuse University. He was employed as the controller for Rome Memorial Hospital. Prior to that employment, he worked at Bassett Healthcare in Cooperstown and Blue Cross BlueShield. Corey leaves behind his beloved children, Dominick and Demi; his parents, Gary and Phyllis Scialdo, of Frankfort; his sister, Tammi and her husband, Keith Kincaid, of Whitesboro; his niece and nephew, Hayley and Jimmy Kincaid; his uncle and aunt, Scott and Francesca Scialdo; and his uncle and aunt, James and Janet Gelose. Corey also leaves his girlfriend, Anna Petronio; his cousins, Patrick Gelose, and Stephen and Andrew Scialdo; and many family members and friends also survive him. He was predeceased by his grandparents, Patrick and Rose Gelose, and Andy and Marie Scialdo. He was a parishioner of Our Lady Queen of Apostles Church, St. Francis Society, Frankfort Youth Association, Pop Warner football and youth basketball. He also coached Little League baseball in Frankfort. Corey loved golfing, coaching and skiing, but especially loved to spend time with his children, family and friends.

Read more: http://www.herkimertelegram.com/obituaries/x1580225421/Corey-J-Scialdo#ixzz2a45oWGce

Pictured left to right is Corey Scialdo, Melissa Pangaro, Nick Mayhew, and Tom Kynch

“Corey was excellent at

his job, but that paled in

comparison to how he

was as a friend, family

member and father. He

will be greatly missed by

us all.”

Nicholas Mayhew,

VP/CFO Rome

Memorial Hospital

“Corey was always a

pleasure to work with,

helpful and responsive.

Fun to be around, always

smiling, always happy.

A huge loss to his family

and his family at Rome

Hospital.”

James Humphrey,

Controller Faxton St.

Luke’s Memorial

Hospital

“Corey was an excellent

boss, mentor and friend.

He always remained

optimistic and kept me

grounded. We will truly

miss him.”

Ashley Vinci,

Manager of

Reimbursement

Rome Memorial

Hospital

Local Notes Page 6

Leadership Training Conference

CNY Chapter Leaders Scott Rau, Michele Mecomonaco, Karen Carter, and Melissa Phelps attend the Leadership Training Conference at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA.

Mini Leadership Training Conference

National Director of Chapter Relations, Eileen Crow, discusses HFMA’s structure to Region 2 Chapter Leadership at the Mini-Leadership Training Conference in Cooperstown

Did you know? The Baseball Hall of Fame was founded in 1935.

Local Notes Page 7

Annual National Institute

Members of the CNY, Rochester, Northeastern, and Western NY Chapters mingled at the Annual National Institute (ANI) in Orlando

Karen Carter accepts the CNY Chapter’s awards at the Presidents’ Dinner at the ANI in Orlando

2014 ANI Conference is being held June 22-25th in Las Vegas, NV.

Local Notes

Welcome New Members

Lou Calixte – Agent, GSL Financial Group

Beth Gibson – Chief Financial Officer, New York Blood Group

Amy Jackson – Hospital Contacting Specialist, Emblem Health

Molly LaLonde – Assistant Controller, Au

Timothy Pethybridge – Financial & Reimbursement Analyst, Oswego Hospital

Why become an HFMA Member?

1. Publications and Resources: including hfm magazine, HFMA Weekly News, Buyer’s Resource Guide, HFMA Forums.

2. Education; Events such as Region 2, ANI, Mini LTC, LTC, Webinars.

3. Professional Designations Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP) designation, or become a Fellow of HFMA (FHFMA).

4. Career Development Resources and confidential resume referral s

5. Networking, Networking, Networking!

Welcome New Members

Agent, GSL Financial Group

Chief Financial Officer, New York Blood Group

Hospital Contacting Specialist, Emblem Health

Assistant Controller, Auburn Memorial Hospital

Financial & Reimbursement Analyst, Oswego Hospital

Why become an HFMA Member?

Publications and Resources: including hfm magazine, HFMA Weekly News, Buyer’s Resource Guide, HFMA Forums.

Education; Events such as Region 2, ANI, Mini LTC, LTC, Webinars.

Designations - Certifications, such as HFMA's Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP) designation, or become a Fellow of

Career Development Resources - self-assessments, nationwide job postings, and confidential resume referral services.

Networking, Networking, Networking!

Page 8

Publications and Resources: including hfm magazine, HFMA Weekly News,

Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP) designation, or become a Fellow of

assessments, nationwide job postings,

Would you like to volunteer with the membership committee?

Please contact Karen Carter for this and other volunteer opportunities @ karencarter@lacny.com.

Is there something you would like to see or read about in the Chapter Newsletter?

Please contact Molly Galvin @ Mollygalvin@crouse.org

Page 9 Local Notes

Corporate SponsorsCorporate SponsorsCorporate SponsorsCorporate Sponsors

PLATITUM

Fust Charles Chambers,

LLP

M & T Bank

Freed Maxick

Kopp Billing Agency, Inc.

GOLD

KeyBank

First Niagara Bank

SILVER

Franciscan Companies

Laboratory Alliance of

CNY, LLC

Physicians’ Reciprocal

Insurer

BRONZE

Bailey, Haskell & LaLonde

Blumberg Ribner, Inc.

Costello, Cooney &

Fearon, PLLC

Kinney Management

Services

Summit Healthcare

Solutions

Hancock Estabrook, LLP

Member Spotlight – Nora O’Keefe, CPA Nora grew up in Syracuse and graduated from LeMoyne College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. Nora worked in public accounting in the audit department for over thirteen years, spent six years at Community General Hospital as the Director of Finance, and is now a sole practitioner (CPA) providing a variety of accounting and consulting services to not-for-profit organizations, with a concentration in healthcare.

Nora chose healthcare finance because of its challenging nature and to work for mission based organizations. Nora has been an HFMA member since 2005. She has served time on the education committee for several years and has been on the board of directors for over two years.

When asked how HFMA has benefited her personally and professionally Nora had this to say: “First of all, the people are great. I have worked with a lot of the people in the CNY Chapter either as a client, co-worker or went to school with them so staying connected with them through HFMA has been great fun. Professionally, the HFMA seminars are a valuable tool to increase your knowledge base and skill sets in a challenging industry. The CNY Chapter works very hard to bring great programs to our membership and I would encourage anyone interested in volunteering on a committee or the board to get involved!”

Outside of work, Nora enjoys the outdoors while hiking, kayaking, motorcycling, and snow shoeing. Pictured below is Nora at the top of Watch Hill near Indian Lake in the Adirondacks.

Interested in becoming a

sponsor?

Call Carol Hamel at (315) 491-8969