Virtual Interactive Workshop: Pro-Active Planning to Prepare for the RAC

Date and time

May 20th, 12:00 - 4:00 pm Central Time

You’ll Learn

• The role of RACs 
• RAC review process and summary of RAC findings on key areas
• The potential financial impact
• How other organizations who have been through the process overcame operational challenges
• Identify the steps that your facility needs to take to prepare for a RAC review

Audio Webcast Summary

This innovative four-hour virtual course will expose participants to what providers from the initial RAC demonstration experienced, lessons learned and successes achieved.

After an introduction of the current RAC initiate and an overview of key finding by the three hospital associations that were actively involved in the initial RAC demonstration project, class participants will break out into one of three interest groups to discuss best practice solutions to preparing for RAC audits.  Participants will have an opportunity to join the breakout session in their area of interest. Each of these virtual breakout rooms will be facilitated by a provider that has gone through the RAC audit process.  At the end of the one-hour breakout session, all of the participants will reconvene to review the specific areas explored, the issues that were discovered, and the solutions developed in the session. 

The general session will highlight common findings from experiences with RACs in California, Florida, and New York.  They will be put into perspective first by describing the newly expanded role of RACs and the RAC implementation timeline. The class will also explore some of the unique findings including one day stays, medical necessity, coding and billing anomalies that could critically impact the bottom lines of healthcare providers.  Finally, there will be a brief overview on some of the operational challenges the provider must deal with. 

Breakouts

You will explore a provider case study and develop solutions with your group.

• Assembling a RAC team and improving relations with clinical staff
• Facilitated by an expert in this field 

After a brief overview of the provider case study, participants will engage in an active discussion on how to develop a RAC team, improve internal communication and develop physician documentation improvement efforts.   This discussion will help participants to assess their RAC readiness.

• Workflow coordination and staffing impact 
• Facilitated by an expert in this field 

During this breakout participants will be involved in a discussion regarding a provider’s current RAC review process, how to reduce the risk of decreased cash flow and minimize work flow disruption by developing a comprehensive coordinated RAC review process.  

• Appeals process and tracking and trending data
• Facilitated by an expert in this field  

 This breakout will focus on a providers current appeals process including how to coordinate communication to initiate appeals in a timely manner, how to reduce future reviews, and identify coding deficiencies.  In addition, key data elements will be identified so that participants understand what information to monitor internally and what to request to measure their current position.

Closing General Session

Groups will reconvene to describe the case study they worked on the issues addressed and the solutions developed. 

Additional Benefits of Participating in this Session Include:

• Each participant will receive a recording of the opening and closing general sessions synched with initial presentation and each breakout session along with any notes taken by facilitators.
• Upon completion of this course, each participant will be eligible for a $50 discount toward registration for an HFMA seminar held before December 15, 2008.

Intended audience

This course is recommended for healthcare leaders across a broad spectrum of areas including (but not limited to)

• Compliance, Revenue cycle, Case management, Health Information Management, Clinical, physician services, and Finance and reimbursement.

There are no prerequisites or required prework for this group-live course.

ALL BREAKOUT SESSIONS ARE INTERACTIVE AND AND RELIANT UPON FULL PARTICIPATION OF EACH MEMBER OF THE WORKGROUP.   There will be short breaks provided during the course of this event.  Because of the interactive nature of this event, registration will be capped at 50.  

Level

Intermediate/Operational

Subject Category

Financial management

4 CPEs

Speakers