Dear John,

The Revenue Integrity Symposium (RIS) is a conference that really speaks to the contemporary and emerging issues that revenue integrity professionals grapple with. Other conferences may have bits and bobs that address some areas but are not fully focused in the same way as RIS.

This year’s symposium will be held October 15–16 in Orlando. Orlando holds a special place in my heart due to the Epcot Center and how this introduces both younger and older visitors to different cultures and countries—always a wonderful thing to do and Disney does it with such fun! RIS attendees can take advantage of special Disney park rates to enjoy some downtime after valuable learning and networking.  

On day one, I will be speaking on the major rules (OPPS, IPPS, and MPFS) with Jugna Shah, MPH, CHRI, of Nimitt Consulting in Spicer, Minnesota. We will summarize the changes and implications of these rules. Highlights of related regulations and rules, such as drug pricing and price transparency, will also be covered.

I am also speaking on pricing hospital services alongside John D. Settlemyer, MBA, MHA, CPC, CHRI, assistant vice president, revenue cycle, with Atrium Health, in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Dapo Akanbi, MBA, who is implementation manager, net patient revenue, with Craneware. We will review the do’s and don’ts for pricing hospital services and the rationale behind the guidelines as well as recent requirements to post prices online and how these issues relate to price transparency.

While I look forward to presenting my session on hospital pricing, I am also excited to listen in on the price transparency session presented by Caroline Rader Znaniec, MBA, MS-HCA, owner and consulting lead of Luna Healthcare Advisors, LLC, in Denton, Maryland. She will provide discussion and review of strategies utilized nationally, and pros and cons to the various approaches.

These sessions will be invaluable, particularly since President Trump recently signed an Executive Order related to price transparency and more regulation will be coming on this important topic!

I hope you’ll join me there.

Sincerely,
   

     


      Valerie A. Rinkle, MPA, CHRI
     

 

          
   

Editor’s Note: Rinkle is a lead regulatory specialist and instructor for HCPro's Revenue Integrity and Chargemaster Boot Camp as well as instructor for the Medicare Boot Camp®—Hospital Version, Medicare Boot Camp®—Utilization Review Version, and Medicare Boot Camp®—Critical Access Hospital Version. Rinkle is a NAHRI Advisory Board member.

Register for the 2019 Revenue Integrity Symposium before August 17 to get the $100 early bird discount. NAHRI members get an additional $100 discount. Professionals wishing to earn support from program administrators to attend the 2019 Revenue Integrity Symposium may adapt our justification letter proposal.