Revenue Cycle & Financial Strategies Forum – Northeast
September 18, 2025 | Virtual
Joseph Vasile
CEO
Rochester Regional Health
Darrel Morris
COO
Rural Hospital Group
Keith Neal
CFO
Advocates
Alison Smith
AVP, Revenue Initiatives
NYC Health + Hospitals
AnnMarie Cloonan
NeighborHealth
NeighborHealth
Lisa Perez
AVP, Revenue Initiatives
NYC Health + Hospitals
Kenneth McGhee
AVP Finance
Jackson Park Hospital
Debra Runge-Ashley
Director, Revenue Cycle
Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Center
Alexandra Rodriguez
Director of Patient Experience
RWJBarnabas Health
Dr. Arvela Heider
Chief Innovation Officer
Community Health Center of Buffalo
Brandon Bigelow
VP, Revenue Cycle
Anne Arundel Dermatology
Ami Faria
Interim VP, Regulatory & Compliance
PowerBack Rehab
Wendy Ayers
Director of Utilization Review, Clinical Denials, and Appeals
Inova Health System
Tamara Phams
AVP Corporate HIM, Coding, & CDI
The Guthrie Clinic
Kathryn Bulava
Director, Organizational Development & Change Management
WellSpan Health
Dorene Harold
Director, Strategic Planning & Special Projects – Compliance Officer
Orthopaedic Specialty Group
8:00 REGISTRATION AND WELCOME COFFEE
8:55 OPENING REMARKS & PROGRAM WELCOME
9:00 EXECUTIVE PANEL DISCUSSION: THE CURRENT STATE OF THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY IN 2025
• Navigating growth through shifting and complex industry-wide challenges
• Forecasting legislative and policy changes & their impacts on healthcare
• Innovative improvements to operations and revenue flow
• Adapting to shifting needs and expectations of employees and providers
• Rapid advancements in technology, AI, & cybersecurity
Joseph Vasile, Rochester Regional Health
Dr. Arvela Heider, Community Health Center of Buffalo
Keith Neal, Advocates
Darrel Morris, Rural Hospital Group
Lisa Perez, NYC Health + Hospitals
Brandon Bigelow, Anne Arundel Dermatology
10:15 LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY & AI TO ENHANCE REVENUE CYCLE OPERATIONS
As healthcare organizations face mounting financial pressures, AI and automation are transforming revenue cycle operations by improving efficiency, accuracy, and cash flow. This discussion will explore how leading health systems are using AI-driven solutions to streamline claims processing, reduce denials, enhance coding accuracy, and optimize patient financial interactions. Attendees will gain insights into practical implementation strategies, common pitfalls to avoid, and the evolving role of automation in shaping the future of revenue cycle management.
Alison Smith, AVP, Revenue Operations
NYC Health + Hospitals
11:00 NETWORKING & COFFEE BREAK
11:45 EFFECTIVELY LEADING THROUGH TIMES OF IMMENSE CHANGE
As healthcare organizations face acquisitions, digitization, and workforce transformation, leaders must guide teams through uncertainty with clarity and purpose. This discussion explores strategies to engage staff, build champion networks, and align culture with finance and revenue cycle goals to sustain lasting change.
Katherine Bulava, Director, Organizational Development & Change Management
WellSpan Health
12:30 LUNCH BREAK
1:45 TRACK ONE
USING DATA ANALYTICS TO DRIVE STRATEGIC PLANNING IN THE REVENUE CYCLE
Healthcare organizations have access to an overwhelming amount of data, but turning that information into actionable strategy requires the right lens. This session will explore how to leverage MGMA benchmarks, RVU trends, and coding insights to identify what’s working, uncover areas of improvement, and align resources to maximize efficiency. The session will share practical approaches for smoothing gaps across the front-to-back end revenue cycle, eliminating waste, and repurposing staff where they can drive the greatest value.
Dorene Harold, Director, Strategic Planning & Special Projects- Compliance Officer
Orthopaedic Specialty Group
1:45 TRACK TWO
BEST PRACTICES IN MANAGING THIRD-PARTY REVENUE CYCLE OUTSOURCING
Healthcare organizations are increasingly leveraging outsourcing partners to streamline revenue cycle operations, making strong governance and oversight essential. This session will explore best practices for selecting, managing, and optimizing vendor relationships to improve efficiency, cash flow, and patient financial outcomes. Discussion will include strategies for performance benchmarks, risk mitigation, and ensuring outsourcing partnerships remain agile amid regulatory and technological change.
Tamara Phams, AVP Corporate HIM, Coding, & CDI
The Guthrie Clinic
2:30 NETWORKING & COFFEE BREAK
3:15 TRACK ONE
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN BILLING, CODING, & CLINICAL OPERATIONS
This session aims to improve the revenue cycle by improving coordination between billing, coding, and clinical operations. It will identify the challenges and inefficiencies that arise from discrepancies or disconnects between these key areas and highlight strategies to address them. It may touch upon best practices for enhancing communication and collaboration among billing, coding, and clinical teams, leveraging technology and data analytics to identify and rectify gaps in processes.
Debra Runge-Ashley, Director, Revenue Cycle Systems
Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Center
3:15 TRACK TWO
STRENGTHENING RECOVERY EFFORTS FOR UNDERPAYMENTS AND DENIALS
As healthcare reimbursement models evolve and regulatory requirements shift, providers face growing challenges in recovering lost revenue from underpayments and denied claims. This session will explore practical strategies for optimizing recovery efforts after the bill is submitted, with a focus on outpatient therapy and skilled nursing environments.Attendees will gain actionable perspectives on how to tighten recovery processes, adapt to regulatory change, and ensure long-term financial sustainability.
Ami Faria, Senior Director, Payment & Discovery
PowerBack Rehab
4:00 NETWORKING & COFFEE BREAK
4:30 PREVENTATIVE MEASURES TO REDUCE & MANAGE DENIALS
This discussion group will delve into the root causes of claim denials, ranging from coding errors and documentation deficiencies to lack of prior authorization and eligibility issues. Through interactive discussion, attendees will collaborate on preventative strategies aimed at addressing these underlying causes and minimizing denial rates. This discussion group will also explore best practices for denial management, including the implementation of robust processes for claim tracking, follow-up, and appeals.
Wendy Ayers, Director of Utilization Review, Clinical Denials, and Appeals, Inova Health System
5:15 TRACK ONE
CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT OF TEAM MEMBERS IN RESPONSE TO NEW TECHNOLOGY & PROCESSES
As healthcare technology and processes evolve, teams must adapt quickly to maintain efficiency and accuracy. This session explores strategies for continuously developing staff skills, fostering a culture of learning, and ensuring successful adoption of new tools and workflows. Participants will discuss practical approaches to training, coaching, and sustaining team performance amid ongoing change.
AnnMarie Cloonan, Director, Patient Financial Services
NeighborHealth
5:15 TRACK TWO
BRIDGING CLINICAL AND NON-CLINICAL TEAMS TO ELEVATE PATIENT COMMUNICATION
Effective patient communication requires alignment between clinical and non-clinical teams, yet silos and differing responsibilities often create barriers. This discussion will explore strategies for fostering collaboration across disciplines to ensure patients receive consistent, compassionate, and clear communication throughout their care journey. Attendees will gain insights into practices that improve patient experience, strengthen accountability, and build a unified care team culture.
Alexandra Rodriguez, Director of Patient Experience
RWJBarnabas Health
6:00 CONCLUSION OF EVENT
Previous Forum Attendees Include:
Assistant Vice President, Finance & Decision Support
Appalachian Regional Healthcare System
Assistant Vice President, Revenue Cycle
Ochsner Health System
Assistant Vice President, Revenue Cycle Solutions
The University of Texas Medical Branch
Assistant Vice President, Value-Based Performance Management
Ochsner Health System
Chief Executive Officer
Methodist Health System
Chief Executive Officer
MUSC Health
Chief Financial Officer
HCA Houston Healthcare Pearland
Chief Financial Officer
Jackson Health System
Chief Revenue Officer
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Chief Revenue Officer
Baptist Health
Director, Health Information Management
WellStar Health System
Director, Patient Financial Services
UNC Health Care
Director, Revenue Cycle
Grady Health System
Director, Revenue Cycle
Emory Healthcare
Director, Finance
Houston Methodist Hospital
Executive Director Patient Access
Broward Health
Regional Chief Financial Officer
St. Luke’s Health
Senior Director, Patient Access & Denials Management
Franciscian Missionaries of Our Lady Health System
Who should attend:
Executives that will find this program of greatest relevance are those currently working to discover new and innovative methods to advance the healthcare finance industry through active discussion and an open mind to new or different ideas. Job titles of those executives that will find this program to be most applicable to the job function include:
• Vice President of Revenue Cycle Operations
• Vice President of Finance
• Director of Health Information Management
• Director of Patient Access
• CFO, COO, CRO
• Director of Finance or Financial Operations
• Director of Patient Financial Services
• Director of Revenue Cycle
• Director of Coding
• Director of CDI
• Revenue Cycle Manager/Senior Lead
