Coding and Reimbursement Series: Third Party Contracting: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Duration: 1 hour

Presenter: Kathy Foltner AuD

CEUs: .1

Who Should Attend: Any audiologist:
1. interested in obtaining information on third party contracting
2. with a desire to understand how to determine if one should participate or not with third party payors
3. that wants to know what to evaluate prior to signing a participating provider contract

Instructional Level: Introductory
Program Focus: Knowledge

Learner Outcomes: Upon completion, each participant in the eAudiology Web seminar will be able to:
1. Define the advantages and disadvantages of third party payor contracting.
2. Identify key issues in third party contracts.
3. Identify key indicators for determining whether or not one should become a participating provider for third party payors.

Description: In this changing healthcare market many audiologists are questioning whether or not they should participate with third party payors and if so, how they can contract for optimal reimbursement. The final answers can be influenced by region, payor, proposed fee schedule, individual practice breakeven plus more and will vary by individual provider. This eAudiology Web seminar will look at some of the common dos and don'ts when evaluating one's options.

Kathy Foltner, AuD has over three decades of experience in senior management and executive positions in the hearing health care industry. Early in her career she founded an independent audiology practice in Michigan that was ranked among the fastest growing companies in the Michigan Private 100. After selling her practice in 1994 she became a top network industry executive, first responsible for national operations and later negotiating and securing managed care contracts nationwide. She is now an independent private practice business consultant, author, frequent presenter at professional conferences, and holds adjunct faculty status at two universities.

This dynamic individual has authored numerous professional articles, chapters, and a book, "Success Is A Decision of The Mind". She earned a Bachelor's Degree from Ithaca College in 1975 with a double major in Audiology/Speech Pathology and Psychology, a Master's Degree in Audiology from Michigan State University in 1976 and a Doctor of Audiology Degree from Salus University in 2002.