
Q1 Revenue Cycle & Financial Strategies Forum – Southeast
March 13-14, 2025 | Atlanta, GA
Todd DeWeese
Interim Vice President, Payer Relations
Scripps Health
John Emmanuel
Assistant Director, CDI
Emory Healthcare
Devona Jackson
Director, Revenue Cycle
Centerstone
Latrisha Starkes
Director, Revenue Cycle
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Joseph Zehler
Director, Specialty Physician Revenue Cycle
St. Joseph’s/Candler
Shalondan Hollingshed
Corporate Director, PGP Revenue Cycle
Emory Healthcare
Schain Irion
Vice President, Strategic Operations & Initiatives
ScionHealth
Kristen Nehk
Chief Billing Operations Officer & COO
Pain Treatment Centers of America; AAIT Health LLC
BJ Taylor
Director, Revenue Cycle Operations
Wellstar Health System
Elena Givens
Executive Director, HIM Operations
Wellstar Health System
Daphne King
Director, Patient Financial Services
Upson Regional Medical Center
Amy Premetz
Vice President, Revenue Cycle Operations
Houston Methodist
Carmen Titelman
Executive Director of Coding & Compliance
Piedmont Healthcare
Brittany Grinker
Director, Revenue Cycle Business Excellence
Piedmont Healthcare
Lakeysha Moore
Director, HIM & Coding Operations
Parkland Health
Tanvir Sahsi
Senior Director, Business Operations & Revenue Cycle
Mount Sinai Health System
Lisa Wang
Executive Director, External Reporting
PruittHealth
8:00 REGISTRATION AND WELCOME COFFEE
8:55 OPENING REMARKS & PROGRAM WELCOME
9:00 EXECUTIVE PANEL DISCUSSION: THE CURRENT STATE OF THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY
• 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
• Navigating growth through shifting and complex challenges
Amy Premetz, VP, Revenue Cycle Operations
Houston Methodist
Tanvir Sahsi, Senior Director, Business Operations & Revenue Cycle
Mount Sinai Health System
Elena Givens, Executive Director, HIM Operations
Wellstar Health System
Schain Irion, Vice President of Strategic Operations & Initiatives
ScionHealth
10:00 LEVERAGING AI & AUTOMATION IN THE REVENUE CYCLE
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.
Kristen Nehk, Chief Billing Operating Officer
Paint Treatment Centers of America
10:45 NETWORKING & COFFEE BREAK
TRACK A
11:15 PREVENATIVE MEASURES TO REDUCE AND MANAGE DENIALS
This roundtable 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.
Daphne King, Director, Patient Financial Services
Upson Regional Medical Center
TRACK B
11:15 BUILDING STRONGER HEALTHCARE TEAMS: CULTIVATING A CULTURE OF COLLABORATION AND EXCELLENCE
In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, the importance of cohesive teams and nurturing a thriving workplace culture cannot be overstated. This discussion group delves into the strategies and best practices for fostering collaboration, communication, and camaraderie among healthcare professionals. From cultivating trust and respect to promoting diversity and inclusion, attendees will explore actionable insights and case studies to empower their organizations in creating an environment where both staff and patients thrive. Join us as we embark on a journey to unlock the keys to building resilient teams and cultivating a workplace culture that inspires excellence in healthcare delivery.
Lakeysha Moore, Director, HIM & Coding Operations
Parkland Health
12:00 BEYOND COVERAGE: INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO SUPPORTING UNINSURED PATIENTS
With rising healthcare costs and gaps in insurance coverage, hospitals and health systems must find new ways to support uninsured patients while maintaining financial stability. This session will explore innovative strategies, from financial assistance programs and community partnerships to technology-driven solutions that improve access to care. Attendees will gain insights into proactive patient engagement, sustainable funding models, and policy considerations that can help bridge the gap for uninsured populations while strengthening the organization’s bottom line.
Joseph Zehler, Director, Specialty Physician Revenue Cycle
St. Joseph’s/Candler
12:00 EFFECTIVE CONTRACT GOVERNANCE: ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY & COMPLIANCE
In today’s complex healthcare landscape, robust contract governance is critical to ensuring compliance, minimizing risk, and driving organizational success. This roundtable will focus on strategies for establishing strong contract oversight frameworks, aligning contract terms with organizational goals, and fostering transparent communication between stakeholders. Attendees will learn how to implement effective governance processes that hold parties accountable, reduce legal and financial risks, and improve overall contract performance across payer agreements, vendor contracts, and more.
Todd DeWeese, Interim VP, Payer Relations
Scripps Health
12:45 LUNCHEON
2:00 CLOSING THE GAPS BETWEEN BILLING, CODING, AND 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.
Shalondan Hollingshed, Corporate Director, PGP Revenue Cycle
Emory Healthcare
2:45 LEVERAGING FINANCIAL DATA FOR STRATEGIC DECISION-MAKING
In an era of data-driven decision-making, healthcare organizations must harness the power of financial data to drive strategic growth and operational efficiency. This conversation will explore how to transform financial data into actionable insights, guiding key decisions related to budgeting, investments, cost reduction, and revenue optimization. Attendees will gain practical strategies for integrating financial analysis into executive decision-making processes, enabling them to proactively respond to market trends, optimize resource allocation, and enhance financial performance in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment.
Lisa Wang, Executive Director, External Reporting
PruittHealth
3:30 NETWORKING & COFFEE BREAK
4:00 DENIAL ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS: TURNING DATA INTO ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS
Denial management is one of the most critical aspects of optimizing revenue cycle performance, and identifying root causes is key to reducing denial rates and improving cash flow. This discussion will delve into effective root cause analysis techniques, demonstrating how to leverage denial data to uncover patterns, address systemic issues, and implement corrective actions. Attendees will learn how to transform complex data sets into actionable insights that can drive improvements across coding, billing, payer relations, and claims management.
BJ Taylor, Director, Revenue Cycle Operations
Wellstar Health System
4:45 BUILDING EFFICIENT TEAMS WITH LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE
In an era of remote and hybrid work, automation, and consolidation, team building has become increasingly harder. Leadership excellence can strengthen existing teams while providing an avenue for innovative methods of recruitment and retention. This roundtable will focus on leadership exemplified in behavioral health and community healthcare partnerships.
Brittany Grinker, Director, Revenue Cycle Business Excellence
Piedmont HealthCare
5:30 End of Day One
Day Two Agenda
Friday, March 14
8:30 WELCOME COFFEE
9:00 STRENGTHENING REVENUE INTEGRITY: CREATING ROBUST INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL AUDIT PLANS
A strong revenue integrity framework relies on comprehensive audit plans that ensure compliance, reduce risk, and enhance reimbursement accuracy. This discussion will focus on the development and execution of both internal and external audit strategies, emphasizing the importance of continuous monitoring and proactive risk identification. Attendees will gain insights into best practices for designing audit plans that align with organizational goals, navigate regulatory complexities, and provide actionable insights to strengthen overall revenue cycle performance.
Carmen Titelman, Executive Director of Coding & Compliance
Piedmont Healthcare
9:45 REMOTE WORKFORCE: INCREASING ENGAGEMENT & TEAM COMMUNICATION
In today’s digital age, the landscape of work has undergone a profound transformation, with remote teams becoming the new norm. While remote work offers unparalleled flexibility and access to global talent, it also presents unique challenges in maintaining engagement and fostering effective team communication. This roundtable delves into the strategies and best practices essential for maximizing engagement and enhancing communication within remote teams.
Devona Jackson, Director, Revenue Cycle
Centerstone
10:30 NETWORKING & COFFEE BREAK
11:00 KPIS THAT MATTER: ALIGNING METRICS WITH FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL SUCCESS
Key performance indicators (KPIs) are essential for driving healthcare organizations toward financial and operational excellence. This session will explore how to select and align the right KPIs to optimize both clinical and financial outcomes. Attendees will learn how to measure and track critical metrics that directly impact revenue, cost management, and quality of care, while ensuring these KPIs reflect the organization’s strategic goals. Real-world examples will highlight how aligning KPIs with financial and operational objectives can lead to improved performance, better decision-making, and a more sustainable healthcare model.
Latrisha Starkes, Director, Revenue Cycle
Johns Hopkins Medicine
11:45 THE FUTURE OF AI-DRIVEN CDI: ENHANCING DOCUMENTATION ACCURACY & COMPLIANCE
Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) by improving the accuracy, efficiency, and compliance of medical records. This conversation will explore the transformative role of AI in CDI, from automating the review process to flagging potential issues and suggesting improvements in real-time. Attendees will gain insights into how AI can enhance documentation accuracy, reduce clinician burden, and ensure compliance with evolving regulations.
John Emmanuel, Assistant Director, CDI
Emory Healthcare
12:30 Conclusion of Event
Previous attendee information:
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