WASHTENAW COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY
Leadership, legislative action, and community outreach since 1827
The WCMS E-Newsletter is a bimonthly publication highlighting major medical, public health, and community issues affecting physician and medical student leaders in Washtenaw County. Distribution is a unique benefit of membership. To learn more about WCMS' member benefits, please follow this link.
NEWS & STORIES
ICYMI:
Collaborative Care for
Mental Health Webinar
Recording Available Now

Thank you to Kristyn Spangler, LMSW, IHA Associate Director of Behavioral Health; Patricia Ryan, MD, Medical Director and Consulting Psychiatrist for IHA Behavioral Health Collaborative Care; and Kathleen Kobernik, RPCV, Senior Health Care Analyst-Value Partnerships for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for leading our panel presentation and discussion in mid-May.

Collaborative Care (CoCM) is a type of primary care-based practice that treats common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Developed at the University of Washington, CoCM has been shown to consistently improve on usual care in patient outcomes and better patient and provider satisfaction.

If you were unable to attend the webinar, you can still watch the recordings on Behavioral Health CoCM- Increasing Access to Effective Behavioral Health Care in the Primary Care Setting and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s Support and Incentives for Adopting CoCM:
Start Your Summer by Reading the WCMS Bulletin
Table of Contents

‣ What to Look For in This Issue of the Bulletin
‣ President's Message: Little (Vape) Shop of Horrors
‣ Reporter-at-Large: At the MSMS 2022 House of Delegates
‣ Final Action by 2022 HOD to Resolutions from Washtenaw County Medical Society Members
‣ A Medical Student View of the HOD
‣ Share Your Story: The Cottage: Part 4: Boats, Docks, and Boathouses
‣ Another Book You Should Read: The Secret Life, by Howard Markel
‣ Washtenaw County Health Department Updates 6/13/22 

Plus... 
  • Membership News 
  • Renew your 2022 Membership
  • Leadership Opportunities at WCMS
  • More!
Guest Column:
The 5 Most Important Questions You Should Ask a
Prospective Billing Partner

When a medical practice decides to partner with a new billing service provider, there are typically one of three over-arching reasons for the change: (1) the client’s hair is proverbially on fire due to ongoing crises with the current medical biller, resulting in the practice experiencing a significant decline in its financial health; (2) the client is so inspired by the value proposition of the new medical billing service provider, it’s unquestionably worth making the transition; or (3) the medical billing process has simply become too overwhelming for office staff to adequately manage, and a billing partner is the next natural step to alleviating those back office pressures.
 
Regardless of which scenario applies, it is critically important to ask the right questions when considering a new medical billing partner. Using these questions as your guide for vetting the billing company will help to ensure you receive quality services that meet the specific needs of your practice.
 
  1. Are specific metrics utilized to assess the performance of the medical billing partner? If so, what data is tracked and how is it reported?
  2. How and when will the medical billing partner communicate with your practice? What type(s) of information will be delivered through those communications?
  3. How is the billing partner’s company structured and what support team and resources will be deployed to your practice?
  4. What steps will the medical billing partner take to deliver service, and why are those steps optimal relative to other options in the market?
  5. What examples can the medical billing partner provide to demonstrate how they have historically provided exceptional outcomes? Do they have reviews, endorsements, and/or current clients willing to share their experiences with you?
 
Every practice is unique, and as the practice owner, you have distinct goals and objectives aligned with your short and long-term growth plan. Taking the time to ask the right questions will help you identify the best partner to support your medical billing processes and improve the financial position of your practice.

Dr. Michael Fossum is CEO of Nobility RCM.
EVENTS & IMPORTANT DATES
COMMUNITY VOICES
*Reference to any specific product, process, or service, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of members and does not constitute medical advice, endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the Washtenaw County Medical Society.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR MEMBERSHIP AND SUPPORT OF WCMS!
The Washtenaw County Medical Society has been the leading physician medical association for legislative action and community outreach since 1827. WCMS works together with the Michigan State Medical Society to optimize patient, physician, and community well-being through professional support; public health activism; and advocacy for excellence in patient care.