The American Association free essay sample

The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management Titanic Janice Introduction to U. S. Healthcare Sector Mary Jog Sexton-Toss March 27, 2015 The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AMAH) is a professional organization in the healthcare administrative management field. The focal point of AMAH is to be a hub for information in regards to education and advocacy pertaining to reimbursement, admitting and registration, data management, medical records and patient relations to name a few (American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management AMAH), n. . ). At the organizations founding in 1 968 it was known as the American Guild of Patient Account Management. The initial formation of the organization was centered around patient account managers. Today AMAH consists of thirty seven chapters and 2600 healthcare professionals ranging from hospital settings, clinics, billing offices, allied vendors, physicians and multi physician groups (The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management to collaborate with WHIMS Medical Banking Project, 2010).One of the most challenging issues facing healthcare industries today is bringing down operational costs while simultaneously ensuring high quality patient care is being maintained. Collecting fees earned from patients and insurance companies is imperative for medical facilities to ensure profits continue on an upward trend. Understanding the revenue cycle is key to overcoming this obstacle (Why Revenue Cycle Management is Important for Healthcare, 2013). The Revenue cycle encompasses the entire life of a patients account from the time they enter a medical facility until payment has been rendered.Effectively managing the revenue cycle takes many different healthcare refashions working together (Why Revenue Cycle Management is Important for Healthcare, 2013). Poor compliance is a direct result of loss of revenue. AMAH recognizes this and one of the organizations primary goals is the professional development of its members in order to realize sound revenue cycle management in turn increases revenue (American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AMAH), n. D. ).Mamas perspective is to equip health professionals with developmental tools and education centered around revenue cycle functions and roles. Many people join AMAH for the professional development opportunities through certification programs publications, conferences and seminars (American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AMAH), n. D. ). AMAH offers certifications such as CPA and CAM. They offer exams on CPA, and CAT as well. These certifications and exams help staff and managers alike.As mentioned earlier AMAH initially focused on Patient Accounts Managers. After realizing the revenue cycle was about more than accounts receivables their perspective changed to focus on a more broad anger of healthcare professionals to include administrators, billing professionals, coders and physicians (Why Revenue Cycle Management is Important for Healthcare, 2013). AMAH also holds an annual legislative day. The organization understands the power of having a voice in Washington D. C.Annually members are giving the opportunity to go to Capitol Hill where they meet with key leaders and are offered a chance to express their perspective on challenges faced in the healthcare sector (The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AMAH) to Hold Annual Legislative Day, 2012). In 201 2 the organizations focus was on the Telephone Consumer Act (TCP). During that years Legislative Day AMAH felt it was important for Congress to take action on the modernization of TCP into the 21st Century (The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AMAH) to Hold Annual Legislative Day, 2012).AMAH believes there is a correlation between a consumers right to consent to receiving phone calls from cell phones if the consumer provided the phone number and providers/their agents ability to contact patients. According to the Wall Street Journal one in three homes eave no landlines (Spaceports, 201 3) and the trend isnt going to decline as technology adv ances. It would negatively impact medical facilities to prohibit contacting patients via cell phones. Prohibiting this contact leads to greater balances, which in turn results in an increase in the cost of healthcare (The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AMAH) to Hold Annual Legislative Day, 2012). AMAH partners with many different organizations. In 2010 the organization partnered with the WHIMS Medical Banking Project. Together the two will collaborate in addressing vital educational needs, as well as advancing a new multi-stakeholder industry initiative (The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management to collaborate with WHIMS Medical Banking Project, 2010).The WHIMS Project Medical Banking Project is a global educational platform that strives to enhance the capability of healthcare financial networks through increasing the use of banking systems (The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management to collaborate with WHIMS Medical Banking Project, 2010). AMAH is comprised of a national Board of Directors as well as thirty one local chapters. The current national president is Victoria Diatoms. In addition to being the national president she is the System Director, COB at Lee Memorial Health System in Cape Coral Florida.