ASC Coding & Billing Seminar

Speakers

Cristina Bentin, CCS-P, CPC-H, CMA
Founder of the Coding Compliance Management, a healthcare consulting company specializing in the markets of ambulatory surgery centers with emphasis on coding support, reimbursement audits, and training. Ms. Bentin is nationally recognized as a leading freestanding ASC coding educator, speaker, and writer with over 19 years of hands-on experience in ASC multi-specialty surgical coding. Ms. Bentin is a member of the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Certified Professional Coder Hospital based, a member of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certified Coding Specialist – Physician based and a member of the National Association of Health Professionals.

Prior to establishing Coding Compliance Management, Cristina was CFO of a surgical hospital and participated in its start-up and development. She was also formerly the Director of Education for a medical consulting firm in which she was responsible for educational ASC coding seminars and audit processes. In addition, Cristina has had extensive experience as the education and training manager for a national healthcare corporation, and was directly involved in the continued education of its 200 + ASC facilities and coders nationwide ensuring OIG, Medicare and state requirements were met. She enjoys developing and providing educational coding and compliance training to meet the needs of ASC facilities.

Cristina's coding lectures include groups such as Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, Ambulatory Surgery Foundation, The Coding Institute, The American Health Information Management Association, The American Academy of Professional Coders, Becker's ASC, Wisconsin State ASC Association, and the Florida State ASC Association. She frequently contributes trade articles to Outpatient Surgery Magazine and Becker's ASC Review.

Stephanie Ellis, RN CPC
Ms. Ellis started Ellis Medical Consulting, Inc. (EMC) in 1992. EMC specializes in coding chart audits, business office operational assessments, litigation support, reimbursement research, difficult/challenging coding questions, outsourced coding, coding/billing training and compliance programs for ASC facilities, physician practices, hospitals, IDTF radiology facilities, and clinics nationwide. Ms. Ellis is an accomplished speaker and gives seminars around the country on such topics as ASC Coding and Billing Issues, Surgery Documentation Issues, E & M Coding and Documentation, Fraud and Abuse Issues, Nurse Practitioner/PA Billing, Medicare Denials, Specialty Coding, and Compliance Plans. Ms. Ellis is on the Advisory Board of OR Manager magazine and HCPro's Ambulatory Surgery Coding and Reimbursement Insider newsletter. She also writes numerous articles on compliance, coding and billing issues for national magazines (Outpatient Surgery Magazine, Becker's ASC Review, AORN Magazine, OR Manager Magazine, etc.) on a regular basis. Prior to starting her company, Ms. Ellis worked as a Fraud Investigator at the Tennessee Medicaid Program. Ms. Ellis is an active member of The Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (formerly FASA and AAASC), AAPC, AHIMA, MGMA, HFMA and AORN. She is a Board Member and past Treasurer of FASCA of TN, the Tennessee state surgery center association.

Margie Scalley Vaught, CPC CPC-H CCS-P MCS-P ACS-EM ACS-OR
With over 25 years experience in the Healthcare arena, in positions from nurse's aide to ward clerk and medical transcriptionist to office manager, Margie understands how offices are structured. Eighteen of those years were spent in the field of Orthopedics. She obtained Certified Professional Coder (CPC) designation in 1995 from the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), where she served as a National Board Member for over 3 years. Currently she is performing work for the AAPC as a technical support person, in the Education Department. Also in 1996 she obtained the status of Professional Credit Executive (PCE), which deals with extending credit issues, bankruptcy and collection efforts under the current legal system. She further obtained the designation of CCS-P (Certified Coding Specialist – Physician) in September 2000 from American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Having also obtained the credential of Medical Compliance Specialist-Physician (MCS-P) in Jan. 2001, thus giving a more detailed background of compliance issues as outlined by the OIG. In 2003 obtained the credential of ACS-OR Advanced Coding Specialist – Orthopedic. She is a recognized AAPC Approved PMCC Instructor. She has served as the technical advisor for the Orthopedic Practice Coder, for Decision Health since 2000 and became Coding Content Specialist for Decisionhealth in April 2007. Since 1998 she has been providing consulting services to CodeCorrect.com, in regards to their question and answer sections. This section allows their clients to post coding questions relating to all aspects of the medical field and then she will research and come back with supporting information in answer form.