The Annual Meeting and Conference was held at the Red Lion Hotel - Columbia Center in Kennewick on April 22nd and 23rd 2004.  The event included educational sessions on both days, a report on the Rural Health Clinic Viability Study, Luncheon Round Table discussions, exhibit stations, networking opportunities, the Annual Meeting, and an evening Dinner Cruise. Please click Conference Photos to view photographs of conference sessions. 

On April 22nd, the 97 registered attendees were treated to a Continental Breakfast that was sponsored by Spencer Kinney Insurance and provided a great start for the day.  RHCAW President, Pam Schlauderaff, welcomed attendees, introduced the other Board Members, and reported on the purpose of the Association.  She also gave a brief presentation on Olympic Physicians QAPI program. 

Ron Nelson, a Board Member from the National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC), provided a National Policy Update on New Legislative Regulations. Our membership always appreciates hearing from someone from the National Association every year. 

Following the morning break, attendees split for educational sessions on RHC Medicare Billing. Susan Carrico, the Provider & Beneficiary Education Coordinator from Riverbend gave the session for Independent RHCs and Mike Bell, of Michael R. Bell & Co of Spokane, gave the session for Provider-based RHCs. Both sessions were well received by participants with a great deal of information shared.  Because of room size, Susan’s session was especially intimate, but the attendees made the best of it and have asked that she return next year. We will certainly do our best to make this happen.

Mike Bell’s group of Provider-based RHCs enjoyed the larger room, but kept Mike on his toes with a lot of very good questions. Mike’s expertise in WA Rural Health Clinic billing/cost reporting brings a lot to the table and attendees appreciated his forthright responses to their questions.  

The noon luncheon featured ten (10) Topic Tables for focused discussions and networking.  Representatives from WA DOH Office of Community & Rural Health, Eastern & Western WA AHEC, East-West Consulting, Riverbend, Spencer Kinney, M & M Computing, Mike Bell & Co., DSHS, and NARHC spread themselves around and led focused discussions on their particular areas of expertise. Our own, Pam Schlauderaff hosted a table on Olympic Physicians experience with a Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement Program.This was our first attempt at orchestrating Topic Tables and we learned from the experience.While there was not enough room at some tables, there was lively discussion at all tables and attendees appreciated the opportunity to go one-on-one with the experts. The lunch buffet of Champagne Chicken and London Broil also got rave reviews. 

Two consecutive sessions in the afternoon presented results of the Rural Health Clinic Study conducted by the WA Office of Community and Rural Health.  The study provided a comprehensive profile of Medicare Certified Rural Health Clinics in WA State.  Those clinics that participated in the study and attended the conference were given a report specific to their clinic. Other attendees received summary data.

Alice James gave the presentation overview – purpose of the study, study methodology, and objectives for the presentation.  The purpose was to provide a comprehensive profile of WA RHCs, establish their roles as a health care safety net, provide a tool for RHCs to improve efficiency and effectiveness, and highlight areas for RHCAW to use in developing training and technical assistance programs.  

Charlotte Hardt presented a comprehensive profile of RHCs as of October 31, 2003.

Larry Thompson presented financial information on RHCs.

Terry Tatko presented Qualitative Information about RHCs.

There was great audience participation with follow-up questions and the development of conclusions and recommendations.

You can view slides and other information presented at the Conference by going to the following website:

http://www.doh.wa.gov/hsqa/ocrh/RHC/rhcMminpg.htm

(Scroll down to “Rural Health Clinic Initiative” then click-on “Preliminary Finding of the Washington State Rural Health Clinic Survey”.  It is in .pdf format.)  This is good stuff and well worth the time reviewing! 

Ron Nelson ended the day with a session on the new Federal Guidelines for Rural Health Clinic Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) Programs.  He covered program requirements; steps to developing a QAPI Program; organizational processes, functions, and services; developing your programs activity, and patient satisfaction surveys.  This is all new information and attendees were eager to hear the NARHC interpretation and guidance.  Ron is a great speaker and he held the audience’s attention until the 5 pm adjourn.

Columbia River Dinner Cruise.  This years evening event was a 3-hour dinner cruise on the Columbia River for conference attendees and their guests.  The boat, Columbia Voyager, (relocated from tour service at Lake Coeur d’ Alene) departed at 6:30 pm with 75 aboard for a 3-hour cruise (sorry, no Gilligan music).  Many thanks to Bob Linn and M & M Computing for sponsoring the boat tour.  The buffet dinner and weather were great!   Guests enjoyed visiting with the crew and the boat’s owner during the tour.  It was a smooth ride with great scenery and a fantastic sunset.  Please click Cruise Photos to view photographs of this event. 

The second morning started with a session on Cost Reporting followed by Conditions of Participation, both presented by Mike Bell.  During this session Mike covered the purpose of a cost report, cost report layout, various worksheets, physician and mid-level FTEs, Medicare Productivity Standards, cost per visit issues, flu and pneumonia immunization logs, and calculation of settlement.  Mike responded to numerous, very good questions during his presentation and gave everyone their money’s worth for the session.  Thanks, again, Mike for your participation in the conference! 

The second session of the morning brought Mary Wendt, Section Manager for PRS-MAA to talk about Medicaid Issues – Billing, enhancements, etc.  She introduced attendees to her colleagues, Louis McDermott, Supervisor for PRS-MAA, and Kevin Collins, FQHC/RHC Program Manager – MAA.  Mary discussed changes to Healthy Options Managed Care Enhancement Payments – Short-term & long-term solutions, explained Re-basing, and concluded with information about communication with MAA.   As always, Mary’s session was well attended with spirited discussion and many questions.  The Association expressed appreciation to Mary for her continued participation in our annual Conference, her openness to seeking mutually agreeable solutions to problems, and her support of RHCs Statewide.  We look forward to continued harmony with Louis and Kevin as we work through issues relevant to our membership. 

The Annual Association General Member Meeting and another outstanding luncheon buffet followed the MAA Session.  Pam opened the Annual Meeting by introducing the Board and making a few welcoming remarks.  A quorum was established, last year’s minutes where read by the Secretary and approved, and the Treasurer provided a report on the financial status of the Association.

Old business included reports on the Billing Taskforce and the Legislative Taskforce as well as a report on Web page development progress.

New business included election of two (2) Board members.  The terms of Pam Schlauderaff and Karl Schweinfurth are expiring.  Both agreed to run for another term.  With no additional nominations from the floor, they were re-elected by acclamation.  The meeting was adjourned. 

In conclusion, the Association would like to thank the many people the contributed to our Conference and took the time to make it a quality event.  They include:

Presenters:

Ron L. Nelson, NARHC Board Member

Susan Carrico, Riverbend Government Benefits Administrator

Alice James, Office of Community & Rural Health

Vince Schuler, OCRH for the great maps

Larry Thompson & Chelle Davidson, East West Consulting    

Charlotte Hardt, Eastern WA AHEC

Terry Tatko, Western WA AHEC

Mary Wendt, Louis McDermott, and Kevin Collins – DSHS MAA

Mike Bell of Michael R. Bell & Co.

Katie Jo Raebel of Michael R. Bell & Co for her support with nametags, conference booklets, and  round table participation.

Exhibitors:

Community Health Plan of WA

Eastern WA AHEC

M & M Computers

Michael R. Bell & Co.

Molina Healthcare of WA

Office of Comm. & Rural Health

Spencer Kinney

Western WA AHEC

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