November 2023

Letter from our President:

As we gallop toward the holiday season time seems to move even faster than normal, and trying to stay current with the flood of changes from payers and from state and Federal lawmakers can seem like a hopeless task.? This is one reason I plan to be at the November GKC-MGMA monthly meeting next week, to hear Randy Schulz, with Lathrop Gage, give us his annual distillation of "Legal Update & What's Happening Next That Will Impact Medical Practices".? I always go in to Randy’s sessions with a mix of anticipation and dread.? I know there will be SOMETHING that is lurking around the corner waiting to put me in an orange jumpsuit just for what I thought was doing my job, and I depend on Randy to give me the heads-up on where to anticipate which direction the next surprise will come from as well as tips on strategies used in other parts of the US to strengthen the financial status of practices.? And it also allows another hour of MGMA in-person CEU contact points for those looking for CEUs.

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I hope everyone is enjoying the GKC-MGMA newsletter now being posted in LinkedIn.? If you came upon it by chance, please go to our LinkedIn page and select “Subscribe”.? If you aren’t on LinkedIn every day it is nice to get the notification monthly by subscribing.

. ~Barbara Sack, MHSA, FACMPE

Upcoming Event

This month we have a great educational opportunity.

November 15th - 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm - NKC Hospital - Skyview Room

Speaker: Randy Schultz, JDLathrop Gage -?GKC MGMA Legal Counsel

"Legal Update and What's Happening Next?That Will Impact Medical Practices"

This session will discuss current legal topics that are impacting medical practices, strategies used in other parts of the US to strengthen the financial status of practices and what to look for in the coming year that could impact your practice.

https://gkcmgma.wildapricot.org/event-5187683

Member Spotlight:

Each month we will spotlight one manager member and one business partner so you can get to know some of the people that make up our great organization.

Manager Member Spotlight: Jane Freeman

• What is your title at your current position? Practice Administrator for Women’s Health Associates, a division of Mid America Physician Services
• Why did you decide to join GKC? I was actually recruited to GKC back in 1994 when I was the Assistant Administrator for Leavenworth-Kansas City Imaging.? Phyllis Fulk was my Administrator and she was the Chair of the Banquet Committee that year.? She wanted me to be on the committee to help, but I had to be a member to be on the committee.? I had never heard of GKCMGMA (GKCMMA) before that time, but what a great organization I was introduced to!
• How long have you been a member and if have you ever had a seat on our Board? I have been a member for just shy of 30 years.? During that time, I served on the banquet committee and very briefly a few years ago I tried to assist as a Member at Large but time constraints did not allow me to continue.
• What is one of the best things you’ve gotten out of your membership? Hands down the best thing about being a part of GKC is the networking.? I have found it absolutely invaluable to be able to rely on my peers for advice, support and assistance over the years.? I have appreciated getting to know vendors that help to support our roles as well as the manager members that are right here in the trenches with me.

Business Partner Spotlight: Ann Yokley, CPCS

• What has being a member of GKC MGMA meant to you and how long have you been a member. Having only worked in the Hospital Environment for 11 years and then beginning to work with Medical Practices, GKC MGMA helped me learn all the many things that go on in a Medical Office. I quickly learned Practice Managers wear many ‘hats’. This organization has expanded my education and helped me meet many new people along the way. I am very grateful for the opportunities I have had and the friendships I have made. (I joined in May 2005)
• Please share a few things about what your business can do to help our manager members. Credentialing Experts not only provides Provider Enrollments in Commercial and Government Insurance Plans for varies Provider Specialties, we also provide Credentialing and Privileging at Hospitals, too. With over 30+ years of experience we can assist practices should they have issues with Enrollments, State Board Licensing Issues, and other Issues that require liaison assistance with General Counsel.? We consult with Practices on how to streamline their own internal Credentialing efficiencies to meet government accreditation standards such as CMS, NCQA and The Joint Commission.
• How can people reach out to you if they have questions or need more information? Please reach out, as we are only a phone call or email away for a free consultation. ?[email protected], 913.851.7780

Upcoming Member Events

https://gkcmgma.wildapricot.org/events

December 20th - 3:00 - 5:00 pm

• GKC Annual Business Meeting
• Holiday Inn & Suites OPW 8787 Reeder St, OP, KS
• Effective Communication, Dave Daughton, BA, MA, EdSAn essential factor of positive leadership and high performing teams is effective communication. Leaders need to use the right methods of communication at the right times, and they need their teams to do that as well. This session will take a look at some of the “do’s and don'ts” of communicating with peers and others and provide some skills that will help you improve the functioning of your team.https://gkcmgma.wildapricot.org/event-5207472

Job Posting

** If you have events or job postings that you would like us to share, please reach out to us at [email protected].

https://gkcmgma.wildapricot.org/Jobs

• Executive Practice Administrator - Wichita, KS - see website for details about position

About Us

Benefits of Joining GKC-MGMA

We are a not-for-profit corporation comprised of administrators, medical managers and staff; allied health professionals and business partners. We cover the entire Kansas City metro area.

GKC-MGMA is an affiliate local chapter of National MGMA through our state chapter Missouri MGMA. We are working together with other local chapters across the state to provide additional educational opportunities for our manager members and other opportunities for business partners.

Board Members

President - Barbara Sack, MHSA, FACMPE

President Elect - Rebecca Allison, M.B.A., CMPE

Treasurer - Brad Carney, FACMPE CPC CPCO

Secretary - Jason Stalling, DHSc

Past President - Andrea Wyatt, MBA, FACMPE

Membership - Barbara McCollum, CMPE, COPM

Programs - Barbara Bergman

ACMPE Forum Rep - Tracy Bird

Social Media - Carolyn Baruch

Business Partner at Large - Lou Anne Gonzales, Scott Walterbach