About the Board of Examiners

The Board of Examiners (BOE) consists of content specialists in the following content areas: Patient Financial Services, Managed Care, Accounting and Finance, and Physician Practice Management. One member of each group serves as a member of the Executive Committee. All members of the BOE serve a three-year term.

The Executive Committee has six members, one from each specialty area and the chair of the Board of Examiners. Board of Examiner appointments are made by HFMA’s Chair of the Board of Directors.

The BOE meets twice a year; one meeting is coincident with the ANI, the other takes place in the fall. There are times when work is required between meetings.
 

BOE Responsibilities

The Certification Process
The BOE ensures that the certification process is working properly, both for the member and the Association. They are also the first body that evaluates requests from members for variances or interpretations of the stated rules.

Certification Maintenance
The BOE ensures that the certification maintenance requirements and processes are both appropriate and effective. The BOE also evaluates variance requests from members in this area.

Examination Scoring
The BOE works with a specialist in testing and measurement to set and monitor the pass points for the examination and overall exam performance.

Examination Development
The BOE content specialists approve the content for the CHFP examination based on guidance provided by the Executive Committee.

Question Evaluation
The BOE content specialists approve questions for inclusion in the question pools and re-evaluate question performance on a regular basis.

Study Materials
Under the guidance of the Executive Committee, the BOE members work with HFMA staff and content experts to create preparation aides for the certification program.
 

Board of Examiners 2012-13

Renee A. Rasmussen, FHFMA, CPA, MBA

Chair of the Board of Examiners 

Renee is the Senior Vice President of Finance/CFO at Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo, Iowa. She has an MBA from the University of Iowa. Renee joined HFMA in 1991. She has held various leadership positions in her local chapter including Chapter President, Program Chair, Certification Contact and Chapter Director. She received her CHFP in 1995 with specialties in Accounting and Finance and Managed Care. Renee also became a Fellow of HFMA in 1995. She will serve on the BOE until 2013.

Michael J. Neuman, FHFMA, CPA

Vice Chair of the Board of Examiners 

Mike is Senior Vice President, Finance/CFO at the Kennedy-Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Md. Mike holds an MBA from the University of Baltimore and is a practicing CPA in Maryland. Additionally, Mike attained Fellowship in HFMA in 2001. He has served as President of his local chapter and received the Founder’s Medal of Honor in 2009. Mike will serve on the Board of Examiners through 2014.

Michael Alwell, FHFMA, MPA

Mike is the Vice President, Revenue for Saint Michael's Medical Center in Newark, N.J. He has been an active HFMA member since 1995, holding various leadership positions at the local chapter level including Chapter President, Certification Contact and Director. He earned the HFMA Founders Muncie Gold Award in 2008. Mike holds a master's degree in public administration from Farleigh Dickenson University in Madison, N.J. Additionally, Mike earned his CHFP in 2004 and became a Fellow of HFMA in 2005. He will serve on the BOE through 2015.

Diane Blaha, FHFMA

Diane has most recently served as the Compliance Officer for LRG Healthcare in Laconia, N.H. Diane has a B.S., Business Management – Accounting from the University of Wisconsin and Graduate Certificate of Advanced Study in Accounting from New Hampshire College Graduate School of Business. Diane joined HFMA in 1989 and has been actively involved with HFMA National and her chapter ever since. She received her CHFP in 2006 with a specialty in Patient Financial Services and received her Fellowship in 2007. Diane will serve on the Board of Examiners through 2013.

Terrence M. Brennan, FHFMA

Terry is Controller at the Yavapai Regional Medical Center, Prescott, Ariz. Terry earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1997. He joined HFMA in 1991 and has served his local chapter in a number of different capacities including the following committee positions: Chapter President, Certification Chair, Program Chair, Membership Chair and Chapter Director. He earned the CHFP designation with a specialty in Accounting and Finance in 2007. He attained Fellowship in HFMA that same year and has received the following Founders Merit Awards: Follmer Bronze (2001), Reeves Silver (2006) and Muncie Gold (2008). Terry will serve on the Board of Examiners through 2014.

Arthur Cusack, FHFMA, PhD

Art is the Senior Administrator at the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, Chinatown, New York, N.Y. Art holds a PhD in health administration from Kennedy-Western University. Art joined HFMA in 2000 and has served his local chapter in a number of different capacities. He earned the CHFP designation with a specialty in Managed Care in June 2004. Art attained additional specialties in Patient Financial Services (2004) and Physician Practice Management (2006) and received an HFMA Certification Exam National High Scorer Award in 2006. He attained Fellowship in HFMA in 2006 and has received the Follmer Bronze Merit Award (2007) and the Reeves Silver Merit Award (2008). Art will serve on the Board of Examiners through 2013.

Robert J. Ellertsen, FHFMA

Bob is currently the Interim Vice President Finance/Chief Financial Officer with Cambridge Health Alliance Physicians Organization in Waban, Mass. Bob holds an MBA, earned in 1973. He has served his local chapter in a number of different capacities including Chapter Treasurer, Chapter Secretary and membership Directory Chair. Bob is currently also serving on the HFMA National Traditions Committee through 2014. He earned the CHFP designation with a specialty in Accounting and Finance in 1982. Bob attained additional specialties in Managed Care (1996), Patient Financial Services (1998) and Physician Practice Management (2005). He attained Fellowship in HFMA in 1982 also. Bob is a recipient of the Medal of Honor (1999), Muncie Gold (1994), Reeves Silver (1991) and Follmer Bronze (1987) Founders Awards. Bob will serve on the Board of Examiners through 2014.

Christine Fontaine, CHFP

Christine Fontaine is the Vice President of Revenue Cycle Solutions for Ingenix in Annaoplis, Md. Prior to joining Ingenix, Christine was the Director of Revenue Cycle Operations for Shore Health System, a member of the University of Maryland Medical System. Christine has been in the healthcare finance field for over 20 years, in both physician and hospital business offices. She has served on the local chapter Program Committee since 2005 at MD HFMA, and she served a three-year term as a member of the HFMA PFS Revenue Cycle Forum, where she was the 2008 committee chair. Christine earned the CHFP designation with a specialty in Accounting and Finance in 2010. Christine is a recipient of the Reeves Silver (2009) and Follmer Bronze (2008) Founders Merit Awards. She will serve on the BoE through May 2014.

Donna A. Hutchison, FHFMA

Donna is CFO at St. Mary's Hospital & St Nicholas Hospital, Green Bay, Wis. Donna joined HFMA in 2003 and has served her local chapter in a number of different capacities, as well as serving as a Regional Executive in 2010. Donna has an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. She earned the CHFP designation with a specialty in Accounting and Finance in 2000. She attained Fellowship in HFMA in 2001 and has received all four Founders Merit awards including the Medal of Honor (2009). Donna will serve on the Board of Examiners through 2013.

Samuel (Sam) J. King, FHFMA

Sam is a faculty at The Paul Merage School of Business, University of California, Irvine. Sam earned his MBA in 2000. He joined HFMA in 2004 and has served his local chapter in a number of different capacities including the following committee positions: Chapter President, Certification Chair, Program Chair, Chapter Secretary and Chapter Director. He earned the CHFP designation with a specialty in Managed Care in 2008. He attained Fellowship in HFMA in 2009 and has received the following Founders Merit Awards: Follmer Bronze (2008), Reeves Silver (2009) and Muncie Gold (2010). Sam will serve on the Board of Examiners through 2015.

Ronald J. Kintz, DHA, FHFMA, MBA

Ron is Senior Vice President and Chief Finance Officer for Arnot Health in Elmira, N.Y. Art holds a doctorate in health administration from the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, S.C. Art joined HFMA in 2000 and has served his local chapter in a number of different capacities. He earned the CHFP designation with a specialty in Managed Care in 2004. Art attained additional specialties in Patient Financial Services (2004) and Physician Practice Management (2006) and received an HFMA Certification Exam National High Scorer Award in 2006. He attained Fellowship in HFMA in 2006 and has received the Follmer Bronze Merit Award (2007) and the Reeves Silver Merit Award (2008). Art will serve on the Board of Examiners through 2013.

Michele Marcum, CHFP

Michele is Managed Care Contract Specialist at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Boise, Idaho. Michele holds a B.S., Business Administration- Accounting from Central Missouri State University. Michele has served on the Board of her chapter and as a Regional Executive. Michele earned her CHFP in 2003 with a specialty in Managed Care. She is a frequent presenter on managed care and reimbursement topics. Michele has received the following Founders awards: Follmer Bronze (1998), Reeves Silver (2001) and Muncie Gold (2003). Michele will serve on the Board of Examiners through 2013.

William C. Matheney, FHFMA, CPA, MBA

Bill is Director of Matheney, Stees & Associates P.C. in Chattanooga, Tenn. An HFMA member since 1991, Bill has served on local Tennessee chapter committees since 1994 including Chapter President, Program Chair and Treasurer. He also served a three-year term as a member of the HFMA National Advisory Council Revenue Cycle Forum. Bill received his MBA in 1983. He received his CHFP in 2000 with a specialty in Accounting and Finance and received his Fellowship later that year. He is a recipient of the Medal of Honor (2003), Muncie Gold (2000), Reeves Silver (1997) and Follmer Bronze (1984) Founders Awards. He also twice won the President’s award from the Tennessee chapter. Bill will serve on the Board of Examiners through 2015.

Craig Nesta, FHFMA

Craig is a Partner with TRG Healthcare LLC in Philadelphia, Penn. TRG Healthcare LLC is a specialized management consulting firm dedicated to meeting the needs of healthcare organizations nationwide. Craig received his J.D. from Suffolk University Law School in Boston in 1998. In addition, Craig also received two separate master’s degrees; a M.S. in Management in 1994 and an MBA in 1993. Craig joined HFMA in 2004 and has been actively involved with HFMA National, most recently serving on the Physician Practice Management Committee in 2010. He received his CHFP in 2010 with a specialty in Physician Practice Management and received his Fellowship later that year. Craig will serve on the Board of Examiners through 2014.

Cindy Price, FHFMA

Cindy is the Chief Operating Officer at the Houston SCC/HCA in Katy, Texas. Cindy has a Bachelor of Business Administration (1989) with a major in Accounting from the University of Houston. Cindy joined HFMA in 1990 and has served her local chapter in a number of different capacities including the following committee positions: Chapter President, Membership Chair and Chapter Director. She earned the CHFP designation with a specialty in Patient Financial Services in 1993. She attained Fellowship in HFMA later that same year and has received the following Founders awards: Follmer Bronze (2003), Reeves Silver (2007) and Muncie Gold (2009). Cindy will serve on the Board of Examiners through 2014.

Su S. Tucker, FHFMA

Su is the Director of Provider Network Management for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. She has an MBA in Management from California Lutheran University. Su joined HFMA in 2003 and is a past Board member of the Arizona chapter. She also served on the Arizona Chapter Membership Committee as Co-Chair. She received her CHFP in 1995 with a specialty in Managed Care and became a Fellow of HFMA in 2008. Su is a recipient of the HFMA Follmer Bronze Founders Award (2009). She will serve as a member of the Board of Examiners through 2015.

Publication Date: Tuesday, November 20, 2012