2020 Virtual Fall Institute
This event is now closed.

Event Date: 10/13/2020 - 10/29/2020

Event Overview

NARHC 2020 VIRTUAL FALL INSTITUTE


The National Association of Rural Health Clinics has been awarded a government grant related to COVID-19 testing. As such we will now be able to provide Free access to a select few of the 15 conference sessions offered. At this time, we do not know which of these sessions will be made available free of charge. In light of this development, we are happy to announce we are able to reduce the registration fees by $100!

Dates: (Tues. & Thurs.) October 13th - 29th... see agenda for times

NARHC Institutes are put on by the only national association dedicated strictly to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). A wide range of rural health professionals will be in attendance including CEOs, CFOs, Physicians, PAs, NPs, Clinic Managers, Billers & Coders.

Earn Continuing Education Credits: 15.75 CME from AAFP (for MDs, PAs, NPs, some RNs), 16 CEUs from AAPC (for coders). Download the AAPC form here.


15 Sessions

  • Washington Update Amid COVID
  • Successful RHC Operational Strategies Amid a Pandemic
  • Lessons Learned Amid COVID from Clinic Mgrs & Directors
  • Value Based Payments & Quality in the RHC
  • Post-COVID Workflows in the RHC
  • Telehealth Amid COVID
  • Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH)
  • Emergency Plan Development & Review
  • Policies & Procedures 
  • Establishing an RHC Compliance Plan
  • What Does Healthcare Look Like Post-COVID
  • RHC Compliance & Recertification
  • RHC 101 Basics
  • RHC Billing
  • RHC Cost Reporting 101                         

Additionally, we are now offering an online course, the Certified Rural Health Clinic Professional (CRHCP), with the final exam online for this session. This course is a separate registration fee.  If you want to attend both the virtual conference and the course, you will be required to pay both registration fees.  For more information on the CRHCP course Click Here.

Member Rates: Save up to $100 per person on registration by being a NARHC member! If you are interested in becoming a member Click Here for the membership application. Unsure if you're a member? Call us and we'll be happy to check your organization's status for you (866-306-1961 x1).

Member Rates will be given to those who have already renewed their 2020 membership.
No refunds will be provided if membership is paid after registering.

Cancellation Policy: Due to the conference being held virtually, both live and recorded sessions, no refunds will be available. No transfers to future conferences will be allowed.

 
Speakers

Washington Update Amid Covid

 

Nathan Baugh
Director of Government Affairs
National Association of Rural Health Clinics
Alexandria, VA

 

Nathan is the Director of Government Affairs for the National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) where he has worked since April of 2015. Nathan works on both regulatory and legislative policy at the federal level. He has been involved in issues such as the CPT reporting policy, the Chronic Care Management benefit, and the Emergency Preparedness rules. Nathan is instrumental in planning and organizing the annual Washington Fly-in which is a key part of NARHC’s RHC advocacy action plan. He has worked tirelessly on getting the RHC Modernization Act legislation introduced in the Senate and continues seeking support for the same. Nathan is a frequent speaker at state RHC conferences across the country.

Post-Covid Workflows in the RHC

 

Dr Jonathan N Brueggeman
DPM, FACFAS, AAPWCA, Interim Chief Medical Officer
Aspirus Keweenaw Hospitals & Clinics
Houghton, MI

 

Dr. Brueggeman is a doctor of podiatric medicine with over 10 years of experience in foot and ankle surgery, as well as limb salvage and deformity correction procedures. He is seeing patients at the Aspirus Laurium and Aspirus Houghton clinics. Dr. Brueggeman is board certified in Foot Surgery as well as Rearfoot and Ankle Surgery by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. He treats all conditions involving the foot and ankle, including: fractures, torn ligaments and tendons, bunions, hammertoes, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid feet, plantar fasciitis and other heel pain, nail fungus, athlete’s foot, plantar warts and other skin legions of the foot. He also treats post-traumatic angular and functional deformities and has advanced training in correction of flat feet, high-arched feet and other deformities. He performs minor and major joint fusion and joint replacement surgery and provides orthotic and bracing management, as well as shoe modification recommendations. He received his education from William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine.

RHC 101 Basics / Billing-Coding Telehealth

 

Shannon Chambers
AHIMA App CD-10 CM/PCS Trainer, Ambassador, Dir. of Provider Solutions
South Carolina Office of Rural Health
Lexington, SC

 

Shannon assists private physician offices who desire to convert to RHC status & provides technical assistance to RHCs in maintaining compliance with the SC Department of Health & Environmental Control guidelines. Shannon also provides technical assistance in billing & coding, EHR implementation, & practice mgm. for all RHCs. Prior to joining the SC Office of Rural Health, Shannon worked in multiple physician practices. She has experience in Family Practice, Internal Med., Orthopedics, Urology, Peds, & many other specialties. Shannon has been a certified professional coder with the AAPC since 2006. She is also a Notary Public for the State of South Carolina since 2001. In 2015, Shannon became an AHIMA approved ICD 10 CM/PCS Trainer. Shannon has been a key player in the creation of NARHC’s RHC Clinic Manager Certification.

Washington Update Amid Covid

  

Bill Finerfrock
Executive Director
National Association of Rural Health Clinics
Alexandria,VA

 

Bill co-founded NARHC & serves as the Executive Director. He is a recognized expert on rural health issues & also acts as a policy consultant for NOSORH. He has worked with HMOs & assisted pharmaceuticals with their legislative & regulatory programs in addition to his work with health care providers & practitioners. Bill has worked in & with the U.S. Congress/Federal agencies for 30+ years. He began his public policy career in Washington, DC in 1976 as an LBJ Intern for Congressman Bob Edgar (D-PA). Between 1977 & 1984 he worked for Senators Edward W. Brooke & Roger Jepsen. In 1999 he wrote a book for the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy on managed care. More recently, Bill co-wrote & edited a publication entitled, “Starting a Rural Health Clinic, a How To Manual”. Mr. Finerfrock is a 1977 graduate of Penn State University. From 1985 – 1993, he was Director of Federal Affairs for the AAPA.

Successful RHC Operational Strategies Amid a Pandemic

 

Jeff Harper
Principal/Consultant/Coach
InQuiseek Consulting
Shreveport, LA

 

Jeff has been a leader & innovator for 40+ years. His accomplishments include: working with hospitals & physician practices in urban & rural areas; leading a regional CPA Firm as Managing Partner of a regional for 8 years; providing 10 years of strategic financial leadership as CFO; navigating & heavily negotiating through 12 mergers & acquisitions; & serving as President of 50-million-dollar international corp. for 3 1/2 years & earning INC 5000 for two consecutive years. He presently is a principal of InQuiseek Consulting, a Louisiana-based firm that provides a wide range of consulting services across a variety of healthcare facility types. Jeff is in various hospitals & RHCs every week all over the rural landscape & his diverse experience gives him a unique perspective to address opportunities for improved operational performance & cultural transformation.

Establishing an RHC Compliance Plan

 

Patty Harper
RHIA, CHTS-IM, CHTS-PW, CHC, CEO
InQuiseek Consulting
Shreveport, LA

 

Patty is CEO of InQuiseek Consulting, a healthcare consulting firm servicing critical access hospitals, rural health clinics & other organization across the United States. She has over 22 years of healthcare experience in healthcare finance & reimbursement, health info. management, compliance & practice management. She began her healthcare career as a hospital controller & reimbursement analyst. Patty holds a B.S. in Health Information Administration (cum laude) from LA Tech University. She is credentialed through AHIMA as a RHIA, CHTS-IM, & CHTS-PW. Patty successfully completed AHIMA’s ICD-10 Academy & has been recognized as an ICD-10 Trainer. She is Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC®) through the Compliance Certification Board. She has held memberships regional, state & national organizations throughout her healthcare career including NARHC, NRHA, AHIMA, MGMA, & HFMA. Patty currently serves on the NARHC Board & LRHA.

RHC Compliance & Recertification / Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH)

 

Kate Hill
VP of Clinical Services
The Compliance Team
Spring House, PA

 

Kate is a graduate of Einstein Medical Center School of Nursing. As an Army Nurse, Kate served in Viet Nam where she was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service. Kate joined The Compliance Team in early 2012 to direct TCT’s rural health clinic accreditation program & has fallen in love with Rural. As VP of Clinical Services, she has spearheaded the TCT Rural Health Clinic Accreditation program combining her clinical expertise, business acumen & passion for delivery of the best care possible to every patient. She presently serves on the NARHC Board. Her years of business & nursing experience combined well to contribute meaningfully to the NARHC board. Kate is now also working with clinics in TCT’s PCMH program & is seeing that a PCMH accreditation is being increasingly rewarded by payers. Kate also serves on the NRHA Rural congress and is always advocating for Rural Health Clinics. Kate lives in suburban Philadelphia with her husband and near her three granddaughters. She loves teaching Sunday school to the 4s. She’s happy to share photos anytime.

Billing-Coding Telehealth / Value Based Payments & Quality in the RHC / RHC Billing

 

Charles James Jr
MBA, President & CEO
North American Healthcare Management Services
St Louis, MO

  

Charles took the position of President & CEO in 2004 after the loss of the company founder, Charles James, Sr. North American celebrates its 25th year in business in 2017. Charles began his career with James Clinic running the IT department. As part of North American, Charles has overseen & helped develop all aspects of the company. Today, North American is a proud gold-certified, Aprima EHR/PRM. In addition, he provides Revenue Cycle Management, RHC certification/cost reporting/Annual Evaluations, Provider Enrollment, and Financial Consulting to all types of healthcare entities.

RHC Cost Reporting / Billing-Coding Teleheath


 

Julie Quinn
CPA, MBA, VP of Cost Reporting & Provider Education
Health Services Associate
Ringgold, GA

  

Julie is a CPA with over 25 years’ experience in governmental compliance and cost reporting, 15 of which she spent in the Medicare Contractor arena. She holds an MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Administration. During her years with Medicare, she managed an audit staff responsible independent RHC cost reports in 15 states and served as Compliance Officer for a Medicare Contractor. In her current role, she assists RHCs with cost reporting, audit resolution, rate setting and various cost issues. Ms. Quinn also works with new and existing RHCs providing mock surveys, policy and procedure manuals, as well as HIPAA and other compliance solutions.

Emergency Plan Development & Review

 

Tressa Sacrey
RHC Compliance Analyst
Health Services Associates
Fremont, MI

 

Tressa joined Health Services Associates in May 2015 as a Compliance Analyst. She brings over 10 years of business experience to Health Services Associates, Inc. She received her Bachelors’ Degree in Education and has completed courses in Business Applied Technology. Her key areas of responsibility include Policy and Procedure Manuals, Civil Rights, Emergency Preparedness and facilitation of hazardous training, Research of CMS regulations, education training, on-site compliance mock surveys, and creating forms and tools to assist RHC's across the nation.

Lessons Learned Amid Covid from Clinic Managers & Directors

 

Denise Schentrup
DNP, APRN-BC, Associate Dean of Clinic Affairs
Archer Family Health Care - UF College of Nursing
Archer, FL

 

Denise serves as the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at University of Florida College of Nursing &the Clinic Director of Archer Family Health Care, the only nurse-led federally designated RHC within the University of Florida Health system. This unique practice provides family & behavioral health services to its rural residents. The practice in Archer, FL serves Alachua & surrounding rural counties. She practices as an advanced practice registered nurse two days per week. She precepts students in this rural practice, giving them a glimpse into the challenges in this setting. Her combined role as a clinician & administrator gives her the opportunity to view the practice from a wide lens and make decisions that will ensure the sustainability of the practice. Under her leadership at Archer Family Health Care, she has been successful in obtaining Meaningful Use dollars, implementing an interprofessional care team, & obtaining Level 2 certification as a PCMH. She was awarded funding from various agencies to support improving access to quality health care for rural residents. Denise is a graduate of U. of FL College of Nursing in Gainesville, FL & Rush University, Chicago, IL.

RHC Compliance & Recertification

 

Monda Shaver
RN, BSN, MSHM, Chief Regulatory Affairs Officer
AAAASF
Gurnee, IL

 

Monda serves as the Chief Regulatory Affairs Officer with AAAASF. She’s very knowledgeable about the unique challenges facing accreditation organizations & the ever-changing healthcare regulatory landscape. Most recently Shaver has served as the Technical Director of Accreditation Services at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Prior to that she served as the Director of Accreditation Operations at the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program. During her tenure at CMS Shaver was the lead for national accrediting organization programs enforcement & oversight. She provided technical guidance to stakeholders and developed operational policies & procedures related to accreditation organization oversight. Shaver also served as lead for the national Accrediting Organizations IT reporting system ensuring quality control in addition to providing the necessary support & education to organizations utilizing the reporting system. Shaver received a BS in Nursing from the University of Michigan & a Master of Science Degree in Healthcare Management from Touro University.

Post-Covid Workflows in the RHC

 

Mandy Shelast
CRHCP, Regional Clinic Director Northern UP Region
Aspirus Keweenaw & Ontonagon Hospitals
Houghton, MI

 

Amanda Shelast serves with Aspirus is a nonprofit community health system spanning rural populations in Central Wisconsin & Northern Michigan. Her service area includes Aspirus Keweenaw & Aspirus Ontonagon, both critical access hospitals who are home to 5 PB NARHC member RHCs. Amanda brings eight years of experience in RHC operations & has a built rapport with the Michigan Center for Rural Health. She understands the uniqueness of rural communities and the vital role these clinics play to their residents. Amanda was one of the first group who took and passed NARHC’s Certified RHC Professional course. Amanda knew from a young age she wanted to work in healthcare and has truly found her passion in serving the rural communities she calls home. She understands the quality healthcare these clinics deliver and finds great interest in how the rural model will apply into the future with upcoming policy changes. She asks now for the tremendous opportunity to bring her experience and voice to represent Michigan and Wisconsin RHCs to serve on the NARHC Board.

What Does Healthcare Look Like Post-COVID

 

Brock Slabach
MPH, FACHE, Sr Vice President for Member Services
NRHA
Leawood, KS

 

Brock joined NRHA in 2008. He has administrative responsibility for all areas of member services, including membership, communications & meetings/exhibitions. He was a rural hospital administrator for more than 21 years and has served on the board of the National Rural Health Association and the regional policy board of the American Hospital Association. Brock specializes in rural health system development that encompasses population health and the varied payment programs moving rural providers into value-based purchasing models. He serves on the CMS Star Rating Technical Expert Panel (TEP), a member of the National Quality Forum’s Measures Application Partnership (MAP) Hospital and Rural Health Workgroup and serves on the Board of Directors of the National Rural Accountable Care Consortium and Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP). Brock is the 2015 recipient of the Calico Quality Leadership Award of the National Rural Health Resource Center and received the American Society of Healthcare Pharmacists (ASHP) Board of Directors’ Award of Honor for 2018. Brock earned a Master of Public Health Degree in health administration from the University of Oklahoma and is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.


Policies & Procedures / Lessons Learned Amid Covid from Clinic Managers & Directors

 

Teresa Treiber
RHC Team Manager
Spectrum Health Corporate
Reed City, MI

 

Teresa is Manager of the RHC Team with Spectrum Health System located in West Michigan. Spectrum Health currently has 31 NARHC memberships. Teresa has over 20 years of experience in Rural Healthcare including various leadership positions in the area of RHC billing, operations and finance. Over the past 20 years at Spectrum, Teresa’s role has evolved into her current position of leading a systemwide RHC team. This team functions as an internal consulting group to assist all 31 RHC’s in all aspects including billing, finance, reimbursement, operations and compliance. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for NARHC, Teresa has also been a member of the NARHC policy committee and the NARHC academy committee. She helped create content for the Introduction to RHC’s training as well as the NARHC CRHCP certification program and is also a frequent speaker at NARHC conferences. Teresa lives in the same small town that she was raised in and why she has a passion for rural healthcare. She continues to advocate and bring awareness to her system leadership of the unique challenges that rural practices and communities face to help ensure that the rural communities continue to receive the high quality health care that is needed. Teresa lives in beautiful northern Michigan with her family and enjoys fishing, camping and spending time outdoors.

Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH)

 

Lindsay Williams
RHIT, CCA, PCMH-CCE, Practice Transformation Consultant
South Carolina Office of Rural Health
Lexington, SC

 

Lindsay Williams joined the South Carolina Office of Rural Health in 2010, and currently serves as a Practice Transformation Consultant for the Center for Practice Transformation. In this role she is responsible for facilitating chronic disease management and Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition for rural health clinics, FQHCs, private fee for service providers, and hospital systems. Providing knowledge and tools with change concepts in access, care management, data collection, work- flows and team-based care. Helping practices to assess their patient population and working on performance improvement through quality metrics. Previously, she served SCORH as a billing specialist for four years. Prior to joining SCORH, she worked in medical records, billing, and as a referral coordinator for a rural primary care practice in Prosperity, SC. Lindsay received an associate’s degree in health information management and a certificate in medical record coding from Midlands Technical College. She has been certified through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) as a Registered Health Information Management Technician (RHIT) and Certified Coding Associate (CCA). Lindsay also received her Patient-Centered Medical Home Content Expert Certification from NCQA in 2018.

Board Candidates

Meet the 2021
Board of Directors Candidates!!

There are 3 openings on the NARHC Board of Directors for 2020. These positions will be voted into office by the members via absentee ballot leading up to the NARHC Annual Meeting on Thurs, Oct 15, 2020. The top 3 candidates with the most votes will serve out three-year terms: January 1, 2021 — December 31, 2023.

To hear what each candidate has to say about why they should serve on the NARHC Board of Directors, click on their name or photo below.

Erin Aune, MBA, CPC, CRHCP

Erin is the Director of the Glasgow Clinic Specialty Care Division at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital overseeing Orthopedics, General Surgery, and OBGYN. She also oversees the operations and marketing of Hi-Line Med Spa, which she helped launch, bringing a new service line to the community. Erin participated in the implementation and build of a new EMR system and electronic policies/procedures program. She has been with FMDH for 5 years, but also has experience as the Director of Finance and the Director of Human Resources at a local nursing home. Erin has served on the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for the past 8 years, and during this time, she has had the role of President, Vice President, Past President, and Secretary.

Being born and raised in the rural community of Glasgow, Erin is very active in volunteering for community events and attending sporting events with her children; she also serves on the Board of Directors for the Glasgow Wrestling Club that her children are active participants in. On a personal note, Erin enjoys cooking, spending time with family and friends, watching her kids participate in sports, and spending time on the lake.

Erin would love the opportunity to serve on the NARHC board and be able to represent the State of Montana. She would enjoy being an advocate for Rural Health Clinics in the area and keeping facilities informed and up to date on new information, as well as providing them with education. She would appreciate your support to serve on the board, as she would be a great addition with her dedication and well-rounded knowledge base for Rural Health Clinics. Erin is very outgoing and would enjoy this opportunity to grow and build networking relationships.

Erin Aune, MBA, CPC, CRHCP
Director of the Glasgow Clinic Specialty Care Div.
Frances Mahon Deaconess Hosp.
221 5th St S
Glasgow, MT 59230
erin.aune@fmdh.org

Michael Calhoun, MBA (Incumbent)

Michael is the Chief Operating Officer for Citizens Memorial Hospital (CMH), an integrated healthcare system that owns and operates 13 certified Rural Health Clinics. All are NARHC members. He has worked for CMH in various positions for 20 years before assuming his current role in January 2020.

Michael currently serves on the National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) Board of Directors. He also has previously served as a board member and President of the Missouri Association of Rural Health Clinics (MARHC). Working for CMH and serving as a board member for NARHC and MARHC has ignited a passion within Michael for rural healthcare. It is his desire to draw from his experience to continue to advocate for the advancement, growth, and support of the RHC program locally and nationally.

Michael was named to the Board of Examiners for the 2015 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The Baldrige Award is the nation’s highest honor for organizational innovation & performance excellence. Those selected meet the highest standards of qualification & peer recognition, demonstrating competencies related to customer focus, communication, ethics, action orientation, team building & analytical skills.

Michael has his Bachelor degree and his Master degree in Business Administration from Southwest Baptist University.

Michael Calhoun, MBA
Chief Operating Officer
Citizens Memorial Hospital
1500 N. Oakland Ave
Bolivar, MO 65613
michael.calhoun@citizensmemorial.com

Denise Dale, BA

Denise is the operations manager of Rural Health clinics for Valley Health of Virginia. She oversees 17 rural health clinics in 3 states; Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. She has been in practice operations for more than 30 years and has overseen the transition of 12 practices to rural health clinic status.

"NARHC has been a vital link to people, services and information that guided transition and decision making for our clinics. It has been an important and reliable source for the complex information we need to navigate our current crisis. Serving on the board would give me the opportunity to give back and to help improve the outreach and services that our members need in their everyday operations. It would allow me to represent an area of the country that has not had an opportunity to contribute to the board. I have seen the difference that rural health clinics and advocacy has made in our communities and I am proud that I am associated with their establishment and success."

She appreciates your support for the NARHC Board of Directors.

Denise Dale, BA
Operations Manager for Rural Health
Valley Health Systems
135 Memorial Drive
Luray Virginia 22835
ddale@valleyhealthlink.com

Patty Harper, RHIA, CHTS-IM, CHTS-PW, CHC (Incumbent)

Patty Harper is CEO of InQuiseek Consulting, a healthcare consulting firm servicing critical access hospitals, rural health clinics & other organization across the United States. She has over 22 years of healthcare experience in the areas of healthcare finance & reimbursement, health information management, compliance & practice management. She began her healthcare career as a hospital controller & reimbursement analyst. Patty holds a B.S. in Health Information Administration (cum laude) from Louisiana Tech University. She is credentialed through AHIMA as a RHIA, CHTS-IM, & CHTS-PW. Patty successfully completed AHIMA’s ICD-10 Academy & has been recognized as an ICD-10 Trainer. She is Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC®) through the Compliance Certification Board.

Patty is a frequent speaker & contributor for national, state, regional & rural healthcare associations on these & other reimbursement-related topics. She has held memberships regional, state & national organizations throughout her healthcare career including NARHC, NRHA, AHIMA, MGMA, & HFMA. Patty currently serves on the NARHC Board & LRHA.

Patty Harper, RHIA, CHT-IM, CHTS-PW, CHC
CEO
InQuiseek Consulting
940 Ratcliff St
Shreveport, LA 71104
pharper@inquiseek.com

Teresa Treiber, CRHCP (Incumbent)

Teresa is Manager of the RHC Team with Spectrum Health System located in West Michigan. Spectrum Health currently has 31 NARHC memberships. Teresa has over 20 years of experience in Rural Healthcare including various leadership positions in the areas of RHC billing, operations and finance. Over the past 20 years at Spectrum, Teresa’s role has evolved into her current position of leading a systemwide RHC team. This team functions as an internal consulting group to assist all 31 RHC’s in all aspects including billing, finance, reimbursement, operations and compliance. 

In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for NARHC, Teresa has also been a member of the NARHC membership committee, NARHC policy committee and the NARHC academy committee. She helped create content for the Introduction to RHC’s training as well as the NARHC CRHCP certification program and is also a frequent speaker at NARHC conferences.

Teresa lives in the same small town that she was raised in and why she has a passion for rural healthcare. She continues to advocate and bring awareness to her system leadership of the unique challenges that rural practices and communities face to help ensure that the rural communities continue to receive the high quality health care that is needed. Teresa lives in beautiful northern Michigan with her family and enjoys fishing, camping and spending time outdoors.

Teresa Treiber
RHC Team Manager
Spectrum Health System
300 N Patterson
Reed City, MI 49677
Teresa.Treiber@spectrumhealth.org

COVID-19 Waiver

Thank You to Our Exhibitors!!