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Reimbursement Conference 2025

Program Description

Gain the insights you need to strengthen your organization’s financial performance at IHCA’s half-day Reimbursement Conference. Expert-led sessions will explore the latest Medicaid rebase projections, PDPM accuracy and compliance strategies, and the impact of teamwork on revenue cycle success. Attendees will also hear how to apply Medicare cost report benchmark data to drive smarter financial decisions. Together, these sessions provide practical tools and strategies to optimize reimbursement outcomes and support long-term sustainability in today’s challenging environment.

The Impact of Teamwork on Revenue Cycle Performance
This presentation will explore the critical components of the skilled nursing revenue cycle and identify strategies to improve compliance and collections. We will focus on the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork and the implementation of best practices to optimize accounts receivable performance.

PDPM Essentials: Accuracy, Compliance, and Performance
This session equips skilled nursing professionals with the tools to optimize PDPM outcomes through accurate data collection, audit readiness, and performance monitoring. Participants will learn best practices for precise MDS documentation, strategies to navigate medical reviews confidently, and techniques to analyze HIPPS code trends for continuous improvement. The session also highlights the importance of a strong triple check process to ensure billing accuracy and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Benchmarking Iowa Healthcare: Key Medicare Data & Trends
Join us for a focused session where we’ll present a comprehensive benchmark analysis of Iowa’s healthcare landscape based on 2024 Medicare cost report data and current data trends. Our session will cover essential data and insights, including Medicare cost report benchmarks, Iowa’s occupancy and utilization trends, as well as PBJ and cost report staffing patterns. This is a valuable opportunity for healthcare professionals, administrators, and policymakers to gain actionable insights and compare performance across the state. Additionally, we will provide a national perspective on these key benchmark items. Perfect timing as we approach budgeting for the upcoming year!

Reimbursement Realities: Rebase Projections and Financial Outcomes
Iowa’s Medicaid rebase process has a direct impact on the financial outcomes of nursing facilities. In this session, Jeff Steggerda of Brighton Consulting Group will walk through current rebase projections and explore the major drivers of reimbursement — including the 85% occupancy rule, PDPM case mix data, and shifting resident demographics. Attendees will learn how to track these variables effectively and apply them to strengthen financial planning and long-term sustainability.

Continuing Education Credit

This program is approved for 3 contact hours for:

• NF Administrators

Registration Fees

Members:   $75 per person
Non-Members:    $225 per person

Speakers

Julie Bilyeu is the director of Forvis Mazars’ long-term care billing services, which provides billing outsourcing to providers across the nation. She has more than 21 years of healthcare industry experience, focusing on the long-term care revenue cycle. Her areas of expertise include billing software consulting, accounts receivable recovery, and billing and compliance assessments. She also serves as a resource for complex revenue cycle issues. Julie routinely speaks to national and state industry associations and conducts webinars and training presentations regarding a variety of billing topics. She is a 2006 graduate of Cox College, Springfield, Missouri.

Sherri Robbins has more than 30 years of experience and focuses on long-term care. She provides clinical consulting for healthcare providers and educates providers about Medicare reimbursement strategies. Sherri has trained numerous skilled nursing facilities as well as swing bed and skilled nursing units about proper minimum data set completion to manage the Medicare program. She performs comprehensive follow-up reviews focused on patient-centered care and regulation compliance to help providers obtain appropriate Medicare reimbursement. Sherri also assists clients with Medicaid case mix education, strategies, and monitoring for successful programs. Prior to joining Forvis Mazars, she had 15 years of healthcare experience as a director of nursing and administrator in a skilled nursing facility and worked as a licensed practical nurse and certified nurse assistant. She is a 1992 graduate of Mercy College of Nursing and Health Sciences of Southwest Baptist University, Springfield, Missouri, with an R.N. certification, and a 1998 graduate of Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, Missouri, with a B.S.N. degree.

Felicia Adams is a Senior Manager with Forvis Mazars’ long-term care billing services team. Since joining the firm in 2012, she has played a key role in leading a high-performing team that specializes in Medicare, Medicaid, private pay, and insurance billing for skilled nursing facilities across the country. With over a decade of experience, she brings deep expertise in billing operations, software training, aged accounts receivable recovery, and consulting services tailored to the unique needs of long-term care providers. She is a 2011 graduate of Missouri State University, Springfield with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting.

Malissa Fields is part of Forvis Mazars’ senior living billing services team, which provides billing outsourcing, recovery, training, and consulting to providers nationwide. She works in multiple software systems to coordinate the billing services for her clients. She assists with recovery and special projects as needed. Malissa serves as the client onboarding specialist for her team and meets with new clients to streamline the transition to Forvis Mazars. She worked for a Fortune 500 investment management company for 11 years in their national office division. Malissa worked directly with PPO networks to resolve pricing issues, process claims, handle appeals, and serve as a client liaison to resolve day-to-day issues ranging from eligibility to complex client setup. Malissa also worked for a third-party administrator for five years processing medical claims.

Denise A. Leonard, CPA, has over 25 years of accounting and healthcare industry experience. She is a reimbursement specialist focusing on guiding healthcare organizations through the ongoing changes in reimbursement and industry issues. She works with the full spectrum of post-acute care providers from stand-alone ICF providers to multi-site SNFs. With her industry background, Denise has continued to focus on the revenue cycle process for a variety of provider types. From restructuring the entire revenue cycle process to making recommendations on efficiency, structure, and overall process improvement. Denise is known for balancing both the innovation needed for the future as well as the practical aspects for providers to be successful in the long term. Most recently, she has been working with senior care providers in navigating the options for evaluating ISNP options and other Population Health initiatives. Additionally, Denise works with her clients on their strategic planning process and related initiatives. Denise is often asked to speak to clients, their boards, and at industry conferences regarding current reimbursement topics and their impacts as well as positioning organizations for a strong future given the changes inherent in healthcare reform. Denise currently serves on various state affiliates reimbursement committees and is part of the AHCA Reimbursement Committee.Jeff Steggerda is a Consultant and Co-Founder of Brighton Consulting Group. Jeff has worked in the long-term care profession since 1986 and he began working with IHCA in 1993 as a Reimbursement Consultant. His roles for IHCA have included creating and maintaining several informational databases to support the quality, finance, and data objectives of the association. His career path includes public accounting and positions as Director of Accounting with regional long term care companies.

• Training Hours: 3.00