Irfan Ahmad
Mark R. Anderson, CPHIMS, FHIMSS
Lee Barrett
Tom Brekka
W. Christopher Johnson, FHFMA
Donna Houlne BSN, MHA, MHRM
Jason Kane
Raul Matas
Michael Rawdan, Ph.D., MBA
Samuel E. Rubenstein
Brad Smith, AAP
June St. John
Ralph Tang
Dr. Adele Towers
Patrick Violette
April H. York
Jake Yount
If you are a health plan, hospital/health system or financial institution and would like to speak at this highly acclaimed forum please contact [email protected] For sponsorship opportunities, contact [email protected]
Irfan Ahmad
Irfan Ahmad is Senior Vice President, Product Development and Strategy for The Clearing House. Mr. Ahmad is deeply engaged in the development of several new digital payments initiatives, including real-time payments where he is responsible for the product development work stream. In this role, he works with internal and external technology experts and bank executives to define, develop, and launch the new U.S. payments infrastructure.
Mr. Ahmad brings expertise in payments, product development, strategic planning from his previous work in PriceWaterhouseCoopers consulting practice, where he focused on medical banking and assisting financial service companies define their healthcare strategy and implement payment transaction solutions. He also managed product development and strategic planning for products at Medco Health Solutions.
Mr. Ahmad has a Master’s degree in Public Health from Yale University, and a B.A. in Biology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
Mark R. Anderson, LFHIMSS, CPHIMS
Mr. Anderson is one of the nation's premier IT futurists dedicated to health care. He has 45 years’ experience in Healthcare as a CEO, CFO and the corporate CIO at 4 IDNs and has worked with over 250 hospitals and over 26,000 physicians. Additionally, since 2010, Mr. Anderson has worked with 28 ACOs regarding moving from FFS to VBR, has created over 20 Care Coordination and Patient Engagement programs, and has developed the 7-Stages of VBR functionality matrix. Finally, Mr. Anderson has served as an Expert Witness on numerous legal cases dealing with Healthcare Technologies, hospital protocols, and malpractice cases.
Lee Barrett
Lee Barrett is the Executive Director of The Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission (EHNAC), a federally recognized, standards development organization designed to improve transactional quality, operational efficiency and data security in healthcare, where has served in that capacity since the commission's inception in 1993. He has 10 years of experience leading healthcare professional services organizations including PricewaterhouseCoopers, SAIC, Covansys and Virtusa and 20 years in senior management roles in payer organizations including Travelers and Aetna. He has held senior leadership positions with the American Dental Association Business Enterprises Inc. (ADABEI), the for-profit, wholly owned subsidiary of the ADA, a provider organization and has led several healthcare software/services development companies including: MBEXX, Claredi, HealthEC and others in which for many he facilitated their growth and acquisition. He has served as chairman of WEDI, and ASCX12N Insurance Subcommittee and currently serves on the eHi Leadership Council and DirectTrust Board and has been on many other industry boards.
A member of both the HHS Cybersecurity Task Force (405d) and ONC Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) Tiger Team as well as Chair of the National Trust Network Data Sharing and Cybersecurity Task Group, Barrett works on key HIT industry initiatives that lay the foundation for health information technology – including support and implementation of important healthcare legislative mandates. He speaks nationally regarding security, privacy, ransomware and cybersecurity risk management/assessment and mitigation strategies, tactics and best practices and is a continued go-to resource for industry media.
Tom Brekka
VestaCare helps hospitals and other medical care providers secure the majority of their patient-responsible revenues, while enhancing patient satisfaction by helping them avoid the devastating impact of medical bad debt.
Brekka has nearly three decades of healthcare industry experience as both an entrepreneur and executive manager of high technology companies.
He was the founder and CEO of WiSE Medical Systems, which developed the first mobile point-of-care information system for physicians. Brekka raised over $30 million from business partners Pfizer and AMP in the launch of WiSE. He was also founder and CEO of two semiconductor industry companies Sequoia Semiconductor and Syncerption, which was sold to MCT, Minneapolis, MN. While at MedPlus, now owned by Quest Diagnostics, Brekka assisted in developing early cloud-based solutions for their hospital medical record products.
Brekka has published numerous articles and papers on health related matters, has been a keynote speaker at the Self Insurance Industry Association national conference and the AAPPO American Association of PPOs conference. Also, Mr. Brekka will be a keynote speaker at the upcoming Silicon Valley CFO Hospital Conference in San Jose, CA, as well as panel presenter and workshop leader at Becker's RCM/HIT Healthcare Conference in Chicago, both in September 2017.
He has been married for 32 years, has three children and is a competitive triathlete, runner and ocean swimmer.
Donna Houlne BSN, MHA, MHRM
Donna Houlne, a senior healthcare executive with more than 30 years of hospital operations and consulting experience, has proven ability to create multi-disciplinary alliances and teams in order to meet the demands of the challenging and fluid healthcare environment. Recognized for being a hands-on, pro-active troubleshooter who can rapidly identify business problems, formulate resolution strategies, initiate change and implement new processes in challenging and diverse environments.
Key strengths include: Ability to develop and manage complex and diverse relationships; Strong project management; highly principled and values driven individual; Resourceful and creative problem-solver;
Donna has worked in or served most segments of the healthcare industry including Provider; not-for-profit, for-profit, academic medical centers; physician office practices healthcare payers, and life science industry.
W. Christopher Johnson, FHFMA
Chris Johnson has been employed in the healthcare finance field for more than 30 years. During this time Chris has worked in multiple environments including sole community providers, an academic medical center and in integrated healthcare delivery system. He is current employed by Atrium Health in Charlotte as Vice President Revenue Cycle Management Regional Facilities and Unified Business Office. In his current role, Chris oversees the Unified Business Office which is responsible for “patient facing” billing functions for both hospital and professional billing operations for the Atrium Health Owned facilities. In addition, Chris leads the Regional PFS Team which supports revenue cycle operations for the regional healthcare facilities affiliated with the HealthCare System. Chris is a Fellow in the Healthcare Financial Management Association and an active member of the North Carolina Chapter of HFMA where he has served in numerous leadership positions including Chapter President. Chris has also worked with National HFMA on the Board of Examiners, National Advisory Council, Regional Executive for Region IV, and the Chapter Advancement Team. In 2017 received the Fredrick C. Morgan Award, the highest service award presented by National HFMA. Chris received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Montreat College in Black Mountain, North Carolina, and is certified in Epic Resolute Hospital Billing and Single Billing Office Administration.
Raul Matas
Raul is the director of analytics at Kaiser Health Plan Claims AA Optimization. He has also formerly led the operational reporting, project management office, application development, quality assurance and cost containment functions in the claims operation.
Prior to his current role, he was one of the original core leadership team members on the program to replace the claims platform, and led the finance function and business case development for that project approved by KPCAC in 2010.
Raul began his career at KP in 2007 as an internal consultant supporting claims operations first in finance, then in quality.
Prior to KP, Raul held roles at Hewlett-Packard HP Services North America where he began as a financial analyst and planning and reporting manager, then led the finance function for HP Global Corporate Account Sales Organization.
Raul earned his undergraduate business degree in accounting and information systems and M.B.A. in finance, both from the University of Southern California.
Raul's daughter, Avery, attended both Wheelock College in Boston and Marymount Manhattan in New York City and is on a work study in Paris France. He lives in Pasadena, CA, with wife Nandani and performs regularly as an opera baritone in recitals and full productions with local opera companies.
Michael Rawdan, Ph.D., MBA
Michael is responsible for Account Management & charter for a structure that redefines the Patient Financial Experience for the largest Provider in Idaho. He has over 20 years' experience in customer management and patient experience working for firms such as Capital One and Hewlett-Packard.
Michael has held various roles across diverse organizations including customer management and insights for Capital One. At Hewlett-Packard, Michael was the Executive responsible for a $2B e-Commerce organization. Within HP, Michael managed Data & Analytics to drive user interface changes that drove significant improvements in performance.
These experiences have led Michael to St. Luke's Health System where he has been tasked with identifying and developing solutions that improve Patient Financial Experience from end to end. This is defined as pre-patient experience through each step of the clinical and non-clinical touch points.
Michael holds a BS in Marketing from the University of Tampa, MBA from Northwest Nazarene University and a dual PhD. in International Business & Decision Sciences from NOVA Southeastern University.
Samuel E. Rubenstein
Mr. Rubenstein joined the information technology department of the Montefiore Medical Center in 1999 as
Assistant Director of Revenue & Financial Systems. In that role he has managed key strategic initiatives,
including the design, development and deployment of applications that serve as a delivery hub and intelligent
work flow engine predicated on the use of X12 transaction sets, and the medical centers core revenue cycle
applications.
Mr. Rubenstein brings many years of industry experience and regulatory knowledge in a variety of health care
venues including Acute Care Hospitals, Long Term Care Facilities, Ambulatory Care Centers, Physician Practices
and specialty healthcare organizations.
In 2003 Mr. Rubenstein was promoted to Technical Director, Revenue Cycle, Business & Care Management
solutions for MMC and also assumed the additional role of Practice Director / Delivery Executive, Revenue &
Financial Solutions at Emerging Health Information Technology (a wholly owned subsidiary of Montefiore
Medical Center). In this role Mr. Rubenstein leads Emerging Health’s team of revenue & financial solutions
consultants and has managed multiple engagements in the areas of Revenue Cycle process optimization,
installation and replacement of core revenue cycle, financial and clinical applications. Mr. Rubenstein has
successfully assisted MMC and outside clients to achieve increased productivity and improved operational
performance, thru the expanded use of electronic transaction exchange and automate the management of the
revenue cycle and exchange of required information with external entities and integration of that data into core
systems.
Most recently Mr. Rubenstein was promoted to the position of Chief Architect for Revenue Cycle & Business
Information solutions in 2013 and is currently leading strategic initiatives for MMC in the revenue cycle areas
including preparations for ICD-10, ACO’s, and Healthcare Reform and Payer Operations. Mr. Rubenstein is also
responsible for architectural solution designs related to the install of EPIC’s revenue cycle solutions including
Tapestry for the ACO / Payer Operations modules across the health system.
Prior to joining Montefiore Medical Center, Mr. Rubenstein served in the capacity of Chief Information Officer at
the Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center for 19 years, where he was responsible for a number of departments
including all Information Technology areas, Patient Accounting, Admissions, Health Information Management,
Safety & Security and others. Mr. Rubenstein and his team successfully implemented many systems including
Revenue Cycle, Clinical, Ancillary, & Administrative solutions including the development of a claims
management system to allow for the editing, correction, and transmission of electronic claims to various payers in
the mid 1980’s. Prior to that, Mr. Rubenstein served as the Patient Accounts Manager at the Hospital for Joint
Diseases for 3 years.
Mr. Rubenstein has also served in organizational leadership roles including Secretary / Treasurer, Health
Information Systems Users Group (6 years), President, Keane PATCOM National Users Group (4 years),
Associate Trustee, Board of Directors - Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center (8 years).
Currently Mr. Rubenstein represents MMC as a member of the Board for WEDI and Vice Chair for Education
Brad Smith
Raising awareness of ACH is key to Brad Smith’s responsibilities as Nacha’s Senior Director, Industry Verticals.
A payments industry veteran of more than 20 years, Brad works to increase the use of ACH in industries including healthcare and dental. An Accredited ACH Professional (AAP), Brad has served on Nacha’s Rules and Operations Committee as well as holding a leadership role in the Payments Innovation Alliance.
Before joining Nacha, Brad was part of Capital One’s digital strategy team researching and analyzing emerging payment trends and technologies. He was also Chief Technology Officer at EastPay (now ePay Resources).
June St. John, CTP
June has 32 years of Treasury Services product management and customer service experience. Since 2005, she has helped lead Wells Fargo's solutions development for the healthcare industry. Currently she is responsible for Wells Fargo's Revenue Cycle Management - Claims Payment Solution for Commercial/Government Insurance Payments product strategy and Supplier Payment Solution, a healthcare provider supply chain management payables strategy.
June is a frequent presenter and author on the convergence of healthcare and banking.
June holds both graduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL.
Jason Kane
Jason is currently the Enterprise Director of The Single Billing Office and Cash Processing/Reconciliation
Department for Jefferson Health. He is responsible for overseeing multiple aspects of Patient Financial
Services including: HB/PB patient billing, HB Cash application and reconciliation, Correspondence
indexing and vendor operations related to customer service/pre-collection call centers and third party
primary and secondary collections.
During Jefferson Health’s ongoing expansion in the metro Philadelphia area, Jason serves as one of five
team leads overseeing the EPIC transformation initiative from a Revenue Cycle prospective. He has been
focused on aligning all locations with best practices for SBO and Cash Processing.
Jason began his career in third party collections working on multiple streams of business throughout
banking and healthcare. Most recently serving as Satellite Operations Manager for one of the tri state
areas largest third party billing and collection agencies.
Jason is a graduate of Wilmington University obtaining a BS in Business Management and is currently
enrolled in their master’s program with a focus on Healthcare Administration. He also holds EPIC
certifications in Hospital Billing and SBO operations.
Ralph Tang
Ralph Tang is an experienced Healthcare Executive and Thought Leader with Value-Based Payer and
Provider background. His work is focused on Value-Based Contracting and Delivery to better serve
Medicare, Medicaid and Commercial populations. Ralph focuses on risk-capable Population Health
MSOs, including episodes of care and pharmacy—in partnership with Primary Care-led CINs and
preferred specialists and acute/post-acute/home care providers in order to deliver better health, better
care at lower costs.
Ralph’s executive experience includes serving as President, MSO IPA, Universal American, and President,
MD/VA IPA with WellCare Health Plans, a $20+ billion Managed Care Plan serving Medicare, Medicaid
and Commercial beneficiaries. He was formerly CEO & President of Partners In Care, New Jersey—an
18-year-old multi-entity physician-owned organization—comprising a population health MSO, a 650-
provider IPA/CIN, and several ACOs (Medicare and Commercial). Ralph led and restructured the
organization for growth in alignment with a transforming industry to better serve beneficiaries of CMS,
Health Plans, and Self-Funded Employers. In 2014, he was named “New Jersey Health Care 50.”
Ralph’s executive experience also includes PCMH eHealth leadership at Patient Centered Primary Care
Collaborative (PCPCC), an industry pioneer and promoter of PCMH. Ralph was formerly Senior VP,
Solution Marketing (& Strategic Partnerships) for MEDecision, a Digital Health IT care coordination and
management company and subsidiary of HCSC Health Plans (2018) serving ~15 million members.
Ralph is a thought leader and passionate about value-based transformation. He speaks frequently at
industry forums on reforms challenges and opportunities. These forums include(d) Healthcare Payers
Transformation Assembly, ACO and Payer Leadership Summit, Payer/Provider Partnership Summit,
Network Contracting Forum, PCMH/Integrated Behavioral Health Summit, Healthcare Payments
Innovations Summit and World Health Care Congress.
Ralph holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, complemented with its executive program on
“Transforming Health Care Delivery” with focus on value-based strategy and execution.
Dr. Adele Towers
Dr. Towers is the Director of Risk Adjustment for UPMC Enterprises, and is also a geriatrician on the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh. At UPMC Enterprises, she is directly involved in the development of healthcare related technology, with emphasis on use of Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Risk Adjustment coding and use of Clinical Analytics to optimize clinical performance. Prior to this role, she has served as the Medical Director for Health Information Management at UPMC with responsibility for Clinical Documentation Improvement as well as inpatient coding denials and appeals. She has been on the faculty in the Division of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh for over 25 years and continues to see patients at the Benedum Geriatric Center in UPMC. She is the former Medical Staff President at UPMC Presbyterian, and her prior positions have been as Vice Chair for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety for the Department of Medicine, Medical Director of UPMC Home Health, Medical Director of the Benedum Geriatric Center and Medical Director of Primary Care at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. Dr. Towers has presented the experience at UPMC with use of NLP and Clinical Analytics at multiple regional and national conferences.
Patrick Violette
Patrick Violette has served in Revenue Cycle Management at the Cleveland Clinic for the past seven years. As Director of Customer Service, his responsibility includes oversight of the Enterprise Single Statement, Online Payment Portal, Patient Account Receivable Management, Primary/Secondary Collection Agencies, and the Customer Service Inbound/Outbound Call Center. Patrick’s primary objective is to ensure patients are engaged in their post clinical financial experience and provide much needed support to understand their healthcare financials. This focus on engagement eliminates patient confusion, drives collections, and reduces bad debt for the organization.
Patrick is a graduate of Manchester College, and obtained Master’s Degrees from the University of Oregon and Waynesburg University. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and watching college football.
April H. York
April York is the Sr. Director of Acute Revenue Cycle Service for Novant Health, Inc. In this role, she is directly responsible for enhancing the process capability and ensuring the integrity of Novant Health’s acute revenue cycle system net revenue of $4 billion annually. This encompasses fifteen acute care facilities located in North Carolina and Virginia, multiple imaging centers, surgical centers, provider based clinics, hospice agencies and joint ventures. She has been with Novant Health since 2000.
She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from High Point University and is currently pursuing her MHA at Appalachian State University. She is an active member of the North Carolina Healthcare Financial Management Association. She most recently served on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Chapter as president and currently serves as past-president. April has spoken at state, regional and national levels regarding healthcare revenue cycle topics of interest and participates in multiple healthcare industry forums.
Jake Yount
Jake Yount is Director, Network Pricing in the Healthcare Division at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. He is responsible for system configuration for all commercial reimbursement contracts at the plan. This includes the prospective Episodes of Care Bundled Payment Programs with several provider partners throughout the state. He provides data models and analytic services used for negotiations and is an instrumental partner in the entire end to end process. Jake has been with Blue Cross NC for 14 years in numerous Provider Network, Finance, Project Management, and Business IT roles. Prior to joining the company, he was a Sr. Software Consultant where he operationalized and enhanced ERP systems for healthcare, apparel, and telecommunication clients across the country. Jake holds an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an MBA from East Carolina University, and is a Certified Project Management Professional.