MGMA Podcasts

MGMA Podcasts

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MGMA Podcasts episodes

  • Beyond the Waiting Room: Building Accessible Exam Spaces with August Boehnlein

    On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host and senior editor Daniel Williams sits down with August Boehnlein, marketing manager for Midmark’s medical division, to explore what patient accessibility means inside exam and procedure rooms. They discuss evolving federal requirements for medical diagnostic equipment, common accessibility gaps and practical steps healthcare organizations can take to create a more inclusive patient experience.

    Episode Takeaways

    • Accessibility should be evaluated across the entire patient experience, from parking and building entry to transfers onto exam or procedure equipment.
    • Aging patient populations and the prevalence of mobility-related disabilities are increasing the need for equipment that supports safe, dignified and clinically appropriate care.
    • Patients who remain seated in wheelchairs during examinations may not receive complete assessments, particularly when clinicians need access to the back, abdomen or lower body.
    • Powered exam chairs and procedure chairs serve different purposes. Exam chairs support routine assessments, while procedure chairs provide more advanced positioning for longer or specialized procedures.
    • Accessible medical diagnostic equipment may need to meet standards involving transfer height, transfer surfaces, base clearance, transfer supports and leg supports. Organizations should consult legal counsel to confirm which requirements apply to their facilities.
    • Federal accessibility requirements can vary depending on whether an organization is covered under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
    • A practical first step is to inventory equipment across each facility and exam room, identifying what is already accessible, where gaps exist and which future purchases should be prioritized.
    • Midmark offers accessible exam and procedure equipment, along with an equipment inventory and facility analysis designed to help healthcare organizations understand their current state and plan improvements.

    Resources

    • Connect with August Boehnlein on LinkedIn
    • Midmark Medical
    • Midmark Examination Chairs
    • U.S. Access Board
    • Americans with Disabilities Act
    • U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services - Discrimination on the Basis of Disability
    • MGMA DataDive Financials and Operations Data

    MGMA Members: Would like to appear on an episode? Email us at [email protected]. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to [email protected]. Don't forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts!


    This episode is sponsored by Midmark Corporation.
    Founded in 1915, Midmark Corporation is the only company transforming healthcare experiences through innovative design within the medical, dental and veterinary environments. With a deep understanding of the healthcare environment, Midmark helps physicians and care teams deliver exceptional patient care through seamless room design, better equipment, smarter workflows and integrated technologies. Midmark can help improve clinical outcomes and eliminate the barriers preventing seamless, well-coordinated patient care. For more information, visit: midmark.com/medical.

    34 min
  • The Claim That Never Gets Denied: Patti Peets’ Blueprint for an AI-Driven Revenue Cycle

    On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host and senior editor Daniel Williams sits down with Patti Peets, chief revenue and client experience officer at UnisLink, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping revenue cycle management. Peets explains why dashboards alone do not improve financial performance, how AI can help prevent denials before claims are submitted and why practices should evaluate technology based on measurable outcomes rather than price or features alone.

    Episode Takeaways

    • A high-performing revenue cycle in 2026 should be predictable, measurable and increasingly managed by exception rather than through manual review of every transaction.
    • Peets identifies several benchmarks practices can monitor, including a net collection rate of approximately 95% to 96%, a clean-claim rate of at least 98%, an overall denial rate below 7% and 35 or fewer days in accounts receivable. Charge lag, claim submission time, aging and first-pass resolution can also reveal problems before cash flow is affected.
    • Dashboards show what happened, but they do not automatically lead to better results. Revenue cycle leaders must identify why a KPI changed, determine who owns the corrective action, establish a deadline and measure whether the intervention worked.
    • AI is creating value through capacity and exception management. Technology can process predictable, repetitive work while directing staff toward claims and accounts where human judgment can change the financial outcome.
    • Denial prevention is one of AI’s most promising revenue cycle applications. Predictive tools can analyze payer behavior and historical claims data to flag claims that are likely to be denied, including problems that may not be covered by an existing rule or front-end edit.
    • Practices should examine how well an AI product integrates with their practice management system. A tool operating outside the core platform can add cost and workflow complexity if data and tasks do not move smoothly between systems.
    • The vendor with the lowest fee may not deliver the lowest economic cost. A higher-priced RCM partner could generate greater value by improving the net collection rate, reducing aging accounts receivable and preventing more denials.
    • Technology evaluations should consider the complete financial picture: how much earned revenue becomes cash, how quickly it is collected and the total cost required to collect it. Clinical workflow also matters, especially whether physicians can document care efficiently within the EHR.

    Resources

    • Connect with Patti Peets on LinkedIn
    • Unislink
    • Learn more about W. Edwards Deming and quality management
    • MGMA Insights Podcast Network
    • MGMA Data

    MGMA Members: Would like to appear on an episode? Email us at [email protected]. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to [email protected]. Don't forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts!


    This episode is sponsored by Unislink. 

    Reworking denied claims takes valuable time away from the people in your waiting room. At UnisLink, our mission is helping independent practices run smoothly. We pair intelligent revenue cycle tools with dedicated billing professionals who know your specialty inside and out. We help your clinic fix issues upfront, avoid payer delay, and collect every dollar you earned. Free your team to focus on healing. Discover how at unislink.com.

    39 min
  • Modernizing the Medical Practice Without Chasing the Next Shiny Tool, with BPM's Caila Cohen, Josh Schmidt, and Sven Jost

    On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host and senior editor Daniel Williams sits down with BPM partners Caila Cohen, Josh Schmidt and Sven Jost to explore what meaningful back-office modernization looks like in healthcare. Their conversation covers technology strategy, cybersecurity, data analytics and automation, with an emphasis on solving clearly defined business problems rather than purchasing technology first.


    Episode takeaways

    • Modernization is not synonymous with buying new technology. As practices add locations, providers and services, they often accumulate disconnected systems, duplicate data entry, manual workarounds and critical knowledge that lives only in employees’ heads.
    • Design around the organization’s current and future needs. Practice leaders should consider how they would build their operations if starting today, then work toward a back office that can scale securely and generate useful, trustworthy information.
    • Start with the business problem, not the product. Before evaluating software, identify what should become faster, easier or more visible. Otherwise, an organization may simply automate a broken process and make the underlying problem harder to correct.
    • Treat cybersecurity as an operational risk. Josh points to unsupported systems, known vulnerabilities, remote-access tools, patient portals and cloud infrastructure as important parts of a practice’s attack surface. Layered defenses and a tested incident-response plan are more dependable than any promised all-in-one solution.
    • Look beyond direct vendors. A practice’s risk extends to the processors, subprocessors and other downstream organizations used by its technology partners. Security due diligence should therefore address fourth-party dependencies, not just the vendor named in the contract.
    • Put guardrails around shadow AI. Employees may use personal or unapproved accounts to enter organizational information into AI platforms, bypassing established controls. Practices need clear acceptable-use rules, approved tools and workforce education appropriate for protected health information and other sensitive data.
    • Turn data into decisions rather than more dashboards. A useful analytics program should help leaders answer three practical questions: What changed? Why did it change? What action should we take next? Shared metric definitions and named data owners help prevent departments from debating conflicting versions of the same number.
    • Begin with one high-value source of friction. Repetitive manual work is often a strong starting point for modernization. By solving one important workflow or decision, documenting the result and then scaling what works, practices can improve operations without attempting a disruptive organization-wide overhaul.

    Resources

    • Connect with Caila Cohen on LinkedIn
    • Connect with Josh Schmidt on LinkedIn
    • Connect with Sven Jost on LinkedIn
    • Caravel, BPM Technology Solutions
    • Upcoming MGMA conferences and webinars
    • Explore MGMA Health IT resources

    MGMA Members: Would like to appear on an episode? Email us at [email protected]. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to [email protected]. Don't forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts!


    Allied Medical Waste is the premier medical waste and document shredding company for medical groups all over the United States. On average, Allied helps medical groups save up to 50% on their monthly costs. Allied is known for their great service and impeccable response times. Reach out today for a free quote! Allied has a special offer for all MGMA members: the first 2 months FREE of charge!

    Connect with us at [email protected] or call (801) 328-8581. 

    23 min
  • Building Patient Trust Through Better Communication with Patient Experience Experts Chelsea Grear and Jasmin Barber

    On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host and senior editor Daniel Williams sits down with Chelsea Grear, Patient Experience Specialist III, UT Physicians, and patient experience healthcare professional Jasmin Barber, MPH, LSSYB, to explore how thoughtful communication shapes the patient experience. Drawing on their work with healthcare teams, Grear and Barber discuss active listening, clear language, proactive service recovery and the connection between engaged employees and loyal patients.


    Episode Takeaways

    • Listen before offering a solution. Healthcare professionals may encounter the same condition repeatedly, but the situation is often new and unsettling for the patient. Giving patients time to explain their concerns helps establish trust from the beginning.
    • Replace medical jargon with accessible explanations. Plain language, diagrams and written instructions can make complex information easier to understand, particularly when patients are anxious or receiving several pieces of information at once.
    • Use teach-back to confirm understanding. Instead of asking whether a patient understands, invite the patient to explain the instructions in their own words. This can reveal confusion about medications, follow-up care or next steps before the patient leaves.
    • Make handoffs feel coordinated rather than repetitive. Team members should share relevant information as patients move between touchpoints. When questions must be repeated for clinical or safety reasons, explaining why can reduce frustration.
    • Pay attention to what patients are not saying. Repeatedly checking the time, looking around the waiting room, tapping a foot or becoming unusually quiet may indicate confusion, anxiety or dissatisfaction. A timely check-in can prevent the situation from escalating.
    • Communicate proactively during delays. Patients should not have to seek out updates. Acknowledging the wait, apologizing sincerely and providing available information demonstrates that the team recognizes and values the patient’s time.
    • Treat service recovery as an operational opportunity. When an experience falls short, teams should attempt to clarify the problem and restore trust. Recurring complaints may point to a workflow issue that requires process redesign rather than a one-time response.
    • Support employees to improve the patient experience. Greer emphasizes that patients are affected by the organization’s least-supported team member. Sharing efficient workflows, removing unnecessary steps and giving employees the tools they need can improve both staff and patient experiences.

    Resources

    • Connect with Chelsea Grear on LinkedIn
    • Connect with Jasmin Barber on LinkedIn
    • "5 everyday touch points that shape patient trust" — recap of Chelsea Grear and Jasmin Barber’s MGMA Summit presentation
    • MGMA Patient Experience Playbook
    • MGMA Tools & Checklists - Patient Experience


    MGMA Members: Would like to appear on an episode? Email us at [email protected]. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to [email protected]. Don't forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts!


    Allied Medical Waste is the premier medical waste and document shredding company for medical groups all over the United States. On average, Allied helps medical groups save up to 50% on their monthly costs. Allied is known for their great service and impeccable response times. Reach out today for a free quote! Allied has a special offer for all MGMA members: the first 2 months FREE of charge!

    Connect with us at [email protected] or call (801) 328-8581. 

    42 min
  • Finding Hidden Capacity in Ambulatory Care with Chris Seaman

    On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host and senior editor Daniel Williams sits down with Chris Seaman, vice president of enterprise sales at QGenda, to examine why expanding patient access requires more than hiring clinicians or building additional facilities. They discuss hidden capacity, fragmented operational workflows and the role of clinical supply intelligence in aligning providers, staff, space and equipment with patient demand.

    Seaman explains how a unified source of operational data can help healthcare organizations distinguish genuine resource shortages from capacity that already exists but remains difficult to see or deploy. He also shares how stronger enterprise visibility can support staffing, ambulatory growth and capital investment decisions.

    Episode Takeaways

    • A shortage of providers, staff or exam rooms may be real, but it is not always the only cause of limited appointment availability. Capacity emerges when the appropriate clinician, care team, space, equipment and operating conditions are aligned around the same patient service.
    • Ambulatory networks frequently operate as collections of individual clinics rather than as a connected enterprise. One location may be overwhelmed while another nearby location has available rooms and a fully staffed team.
    • “Hidden capacity” describes resources that exist but cannot be readily identified or deployed. Examples include a provider session opened by a cancellation, an underused room at another site or a qualified care team whose schedule is not aligned with current demand.
    • Planned capacity and actual capacity can differ significantly. Schedule changes, cancellations, staffing adjustments and room availability continually alter what an organization can deliver, but disconnected systems may not reflect those changes quickly enough.
    • Adding clinicians, employees or facilities does not automatically create an integrated operating model. Without enterprise visibility, new resources can remain confined to local workflows and fail to produce the expected improvement in patient access.
    • Provider scheduling can serve as a foundational source of truth because changes to a provider’s schedule affect staffing, room assignments, equipment needs and appointment availability. Keeping competing or disconnected schedules can lead to outdated information and operational mistakes.
    • Clinical supply intelligence gives leaders an actionable view of the people, time and physical resources available to deliver care. This can support more responsive staffing, resource redeployment and enterprise-level capacity management.
    • Better operational intelligence can also improve capital planning. Before acquiring or building more ambulatory space, leaders should determine whether existing clinics are being fully utilized and whether patient volume could be shifted across the network.

    Resources

    • QGenda
    • Connect with Chris Seaman on LinkedIn
    • MGMA Insights Podcast Network
    • "Optimize patient panels without burning out your providers" (MGMA article)
    • MGMA Patient Experience Playbook 

    MGMA Members: Would like to appear on an episode? Email us at [email protected]. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to [email protected]. Don't forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts!

    24 min
  • From Advocacy to Action: A Conversation with MGMA's 2026 Legislative Liaison of the Year Adam Pople

    On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host and senior editor Daniel Williams sits down with Adam Pople, MGMA's 2026 Legislative Liaison of the Year, to discuss healthcare advocacy, legislative engagement, and the role practice leaders can play in shaping policy. 

    Pople reflects on his journey into advocacy, shares lessons learned as Missouri's MGMA legislative liaison, and explains why storytelling is one of the most powerful tools healthcare leaders can bring to lawmakers.


    Episode Takeaways

    • Pople reflects on being named MGMA's 2026 Legislative Liaison of the Year and the mentors who helped launch his advocacy journey.
    • Legislative liaisons serve as a bridge between healthcare organizations and government, translating complex policy issues into actionable insights for practice leaders.
    • Healthcare professionals should not underestimate the value of their expertise when speaking with legislators, many of whom come from non-healthcare backgrounds.
    • Effective advocacy combines three elements: a policy position, supporting data, and a compelling real-world story.
    • Missouri MGMA partnered with the Missouri State Medical Association during White Coat Day to engage lawmakers on key healthcare issues.
    • Prior authorization reform remains a major advocacy priority, highlighting both the challenges and importance of sustained legislative engagement.
    • Staying informed about legislative developments helps practices prepare proactively for regulatory and operational changes rather than reacting after implementation.
    • Outside of healthcare leadership, Adam and his wife operate a durable medical equipment business focused on mastectomy and lymphedema care, and he volunteers as an archery coach for elementary and middle school students.

    Resources

    • Connect with Adam Pople on LinkedIn
    • MGMA Leaders Conference 2026, San Antonio
    • Missouri MGMA
    • Missouri State Medical Association (MSMA)
    • National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP)
    • MGMA Government Affairs April 2026 Prior Authorization Position Paper
    • "Fewer than 1 in 10 practices see faster prior auth turnarounds in 2026" (Sept. 2026 MGMA Stat article)


    MGMA Members: Would you like to appear on an episode? Email us at [email protected]. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to [email protected]. Don't forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts!


    22 min
  • Growing With Healthcare: A Lifetime of Learning and Leadership with Tracy Bird, MGMA's 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

    On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host and senior editor Daniel Williams chats with Tracy Bird, MGMA’s 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, about a healthcare career shaped by curiosity, service, and enduring professional relationships. Bird reflects on entering medical practice administration in the paper-chart era, adapting to decades of technological change, and helping emerging leaders build the knowledge and confidence needed to navigate an increasingly complex industry.

    She also shares why mentorship has remained central to her work, how MGMA and ACMPE became professional lifelines and what practice leaders at every career stage can learn from one another.

    Key Takeaways

    • Bird began her career in a pediatric practice after earning a degree in fashion merchandising. A physician mentor encouraged her questions and helped spark a lifelong interest in medicine and practice operations.
    • Although specialties and organizations differ, Bird sees three foundational functions across medical practices: patient access, clinical workflow and revenue cycle management.
    • Technology represents the most significant transformation Bird has witnessed during her career. Electronic medical records and other digital tools have reduced many labor-intensive paper processes while creating new opportunities for efficiency.
    • Artificial intelligence can support valuable business uses in medical practices, but leaders should approach it thoughtfully. Its potential is especially important as reimbursement pressures grow and healthcare operations become more complex.
    • Mentorship is a way of returning the support Bird received early in her career. She describes hospitality not simply as entertaining, but as welcoming people and creating a setting in which they feel safe asking questions and developing professionally.
    • Strong consulting relationships can grow into lasting personal connections. Bird recalls supporting one client for approximately 25 years, from launching a rural occupational health practice to helping the client’s family close the practice after her unexpected death.
    • Bird encourages emerging leaders to be genuine, remain curious and admit when they do not know an answer. Healthcare changes too quickly for any leader to stop learning.
    • Experienced professionals and emerging leaders have complementary strengths. New leaders bring fresh ideas, while seasoned professionals provide context about how healthcare reached its current state and why earlier lessons still matter.

    Resources

    • Connect with Tracy Bird on LinkedIn
    • Tracy Bird's recognition at MGMA’s 2026 annual conference in San Antonio: 2026 Awards and Recognition Reception (Invite Only) | Saturday, September 26 | 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM CT | Location: The Briscoe Western Art Museum
    • MGMA Awards
    • MGMA Mentor Program
    • MGMA ACMPE certification and Fellowship pathways


    MGMA Members: Email us at [email protected] if you would like to appear on an episode. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to [email protected]. Don't forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts!

    30 min
  • Taking Physician Compensation Beyond the Spreadsheet with Jamaal Campbell

    On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host and senior editor Daniel Williams sits down with Jamaal Campbell, general manager of Physician Enterprise at Hallmark, to explore how healthcare organizations can simplify physician compensation, reduce administrative risk and give leaders faster access to reliable workforce data.

    Campbell explains why compensation administration remains highly dependent on spreadsheets and disconnected systems, even as physician enterprises grow more complex. He also discusses the financial and compliance consequences of manual processes, the importance of transparency for physician and APP engagement, and the groundwork organizations should complete before adopting a compensation management platform.

    Episode takeaways

    • Physician compensation often depends on disconnected data. Information may originate in the electronic health record, practice management platform, human resources systems, contracts and locally maintained spreadsheets. Every handoff introduces another opportunity for an error or delay.
    • Simpler plans can improve understanding and trust. Physicians and APPs may not know how complicated compensation formulas translate into their payments. Clearer mechanics and accessible performance data help providers understand how they are paid and assess whether calculations are accurate.
    • Specialized compensation talent is increasingly difficult to find. As physician enterprises expand through employment and consolidation, organizations need analysts and leaders who understand finance, contracts, benchmarks and compensation mechanics. Campbell says professionals with that combination of expertise have become organizational “unicorns.”
    • A single source of truth supports faster decisions. When compensation calculations and source data are brought together, leaders can model potential changes without waiting days for spreadsheets to be rebuilt. That can make it easier to assess a new metric, benchmark or fee schedule using historical performance.
    • Spreadsheet errors can create significant financial exposure. Campbell notes that even a 3% to 5% error rate would represent $3 million to $5 million for an organization administering $100 million in annual provider compensation. The actual exposure may be difficult to determine when organizations do not consistently track errors.
    • Contract terms and payment practices must remain aligned. A compensation model may calculate payment one way while the provider’s contract requires something different. Connecting contracts, calculations and established compliance guardrails can help organizations identify inconsistencies before they become larger problems.
    • Provider confidence affects more than payroll. When physicians and APPs cannot verify their compensation, the resulting frustration may weaken engagement, contribute to attrition and distract clinicians from patient care. Transparent reporting gives providers the evidence they need to understand their performance and compensation.
    • Discovery should come before implementation. Campbell recommends cataloging every compensation plan, formula, exception and workflow before selecting or deploying a new system. Finance, human resources, operations and physician compensation teams should participate so the organization understands its current state and agrees on the desired future process.

    Resources

    • Hallmark Health
    • Connect with Jamaal Campbell on LinkedIn
    • Financial Management at MGMA

    MGMA Members: Email us at [email protected] if you would like to appear on an episode. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to [email protected]. Don't forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts!

    22 min
  • Turn Conference Conversations into Career Opportunities, with MGMA Annual Conference Speakers Kelly Miller and Jannine Walker

    On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host and senior editor Daniel Williams sits down with Kelly Miller, product manager for Enterprise Information Systems Business at Fujifilm, and Jannine Walker, senior vice president of sales and business development at Human Assets.

    Ahead of their session at The MGMA Annual Conference in San Antonio, Miller and Walker explain how authentic networking can create friendships, expand professional perspectives, and open unexpected career opportunities. They share practical ways to navigate conferences when introducing yourself does not come naturally. Their advice includes preparing before an event, setting manageable goals, moving beyond familiar professional circles, and using informal conference moments to form genuine connections.

    Episode takeaways

    • Networking can shape a career in ways that are difficult to predict. Walker traces her current leadership role to relationships built through the Radiology Business Management Association, while Miller explains how maintaining a connection with a Fujifilm representative ultimately helped her move from healthcare operations into product management.
    • The most valuable conference conversations often happen outside formal sessions. Receptions, meals, vendor-hall visits, coffee breaks, and other informal gatherings give attendees room to connect as people rather than job titles.
    • Preparation makes an unfamiliar room feel more manageable. Reviewing the conference app, identifying a few people or organizations of interest, and learning about exhibitors in advance can provide natural starting points for conversation.
    • A small networking goal is often more productive than trying to meet everyone. Walker and Miller recommend aiming for one or two meaningful introductions. One new contact may then introduce you to several others, allowing a network to grow organically.
    • Good networking is relational, not transactional. Instead of immediately launching into a sales pitch or exchanging business cards, begin with an approachable question about the event, a restaurant, a session, or even the coffee line. Listen closely and look for common ground.
    • The vendor hall can be a useful practice environment. Exhibitors are ready to begin conversations, which removes some of the pressure from attendees. Conversations with other people visiting the same booth can also reveal shared operational needs and interests.
    • Moving beyond your usual professional circle creates new possibilities. Connecting with people from different specialties, disciplines, or roles can broaden your understanding of healthcare and lead to opportunities that would not emerge inside a familiar peer group.
    • Relationships require continued investment after the conference. Staying connected, offering support, listening for what another person needs, and contributing value are what turn a brief introduction into a durable professional relationship or friendship.

    Connect with Our Guests

    • Kelly Miller on LinkedIn, and learn more about Fujifilm
    • Jannine Walker on LinkedIn, and learn more about Human Assets and Radiology Business Management Association

    MGMA Networking Opportunities

    • Connect with peers at the 2026 MGMA Annual Conference | September 27-30, 2026 | San Antonio, TX
    • MGMA Member Community
    • MGMA Resource Groups 

    Related MGMA Resources

    • How MGMA’s Early Careerist Group builds the future of healthcare leadership (podcast)
    • Member Spotlight: Delores McNair and Bryana Blanco on the impact of mentorship (podcast)
    • The human side of networking: Why connection matters more than ever in healthcare administration (article)


    MGMA members: Email us at [email protected] if you would like to appear on an episode. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to [email protected]. Don't forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts!

    34 min
  • AI vs. AI: The Next Generation of Revenue Cycle Management — A Conversation with ModMed's Rob Ware

    On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host and senior editor Daniel Williams has a conversation with Rob Ware, senior vice president and general manager of revenue cycle management at ModMed, about how artificial intelligence is reshaping medical billing and financial operations. Ware explains why revenue cycle management has reached an inflection point, how organizations can respond as payers adopt increasingly sophisticated technology, and what practice leaders should examine before adding another solution to their technology stack.

    Episode takeaways

    • Revenue cycle management is moving beyond rules and individual expertise. Billing has traditionally depended on experienced professionals navigating an enormous and constantly changing mix of payers, plans, codes and requirements. Machine learning and AI can evaluate more of those variables at once, giving organizations an opportunity to make revenue cycle performance more consistent and scalable.
    • Smaller amounts of revenue can no longer be dismissed. Rising operating costs, stagnant reimbursement and expanding administrative requirements have narrowed practice margins. Under those conditions, improving net collection rate by even one or two percentage points can have a meaningful financial impact.
    • Practices increasingly need to “fight AI with AI.” Payers are using automation and AI to apply edits, conduct initial claim reviews and accelerate denial decisions. Practices need tools capable of identifying changing denial patterns quickly, rather than relying exclusively on monthly or quarterly reports that describe problems after they have already affected cash flow.
    • Technology purchases should begin with a specific source of pain. Before selecting a solution, leaders should determine whether their primary leakage comes from charge capture, prior authorization, coding, denials, appeals or another part of the workflow. A clearly defined problem makes it possible to choose the appropriate technology and establish a meaningful measure of success.
    • Integration matters as much as individual functionality. Stand-alone applications may solve isolated tasks, but using numerous point solutions can produce expensive and unreliable data transfers. Ware advises practices to prioritize technology that integrates closely with the EHR, practice management platform and other core systems of record.
    • Prediction is most valuable when it leads to prevention. Flagging a claim immediately before submission may be too late if the missing information must come from the patient or physician. More advanced revenue cycle tools can bring guidance forward in the workflow, allowing staff to obtain required information while the patient is still present or while the clinician is completing documentation.
    • Technology may reshape staffing and outsourcing decisions. Persistent hiring challenges are encouraging more organizations to consider strategic RCM partnerships. Better dashboards, real-time tracking and operational visibility can help leaders retain oversight even when work is handled outside the practice. AI-enabled guidance may also help less-experienced employees become productive more quickly, although knowledgeable revenue cycle professionals remain essential.
    • Net collection rate remains a critical measure of financial health. By comparing the amount collected with the amount contractually available to collect, net collection rate provides a broad view of revenue cycle performance. Because it is a lagging indicator, however, practices should monitor it alongside earlier operational measures that can expose emerging authorization, denial and workflow problems.

    Resources

    • ModMed Revenue Cycle Management
    • Connect with Rob on LinkedIn
    • MGMA Insights Podcast Network
    • Beyond the hype: Practical AI applications that improve access, capacity, and revenue (MGMA article)
    • How AI and Human Talent Can Work Together to Transform Medical Practices (MGMA podcast)

    Email us at [email protected] if you would like to appear on an episode. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to [email protected]. Don't forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts!


    This episode is sponsored by ModMed.
    Every denied claim costs time and money to rework — for care you’ve already delivered. While payers sharpen their own AI tools, ModMed RCM Services pairs seasoned billing specialists with AI designed to help flag claims at risk before they go out the door, so your team can fix issues upfront instead of appealing after the fact. Learn more here.

    28 min

About MGMA Podcasts

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to the MGMA Podcast Network, your gateway to insightful discussions and expert analysis on key topics in healthcare management. Dive into a diverse array of shows tailored to meet the interests and needs of healthcare professionals like you.

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