Kathryn Austin Email and Phone Number

Designed and created entire HIM department for startup 10-hospital system located in two markets using two different EMRs and financial software systems. Worked closely with CBO counterpart and staff to ensure clean claims. Created all polices related to HIM and documentation. Developed revenue integrity processes to ensure accurate charge capture and prevent billing errors. Chair for Medical Records Committee. • Single-handedly created successful HIM department for startup 10-hospital system in two markets. • Achieved 98% of ambulatory coding within 3 business days.• Achieved 100% of ROI turnaround time in 1 business day.• Accomplished 100% of charge capture for all 10 facility go-lives.

Served as system resource for CPT coding expertise. Created advanced CPT coding workshop materials. Taught on-site advanced CPT coding workshops. Developed content for webinars, coding coursework, and publications. Reviewed content for publications, briefs, articles, and white papers. Answered Code-Check™ CPT questions submitted by subscribers.• Achieved 99% “very good” or “good” attendee satisfaction scores for coding workshop. • Independently created CPT coding workshop materials from case selection to presentation creation.

Facilitated extensive provider education with proven results, including one-on-one feedbacks for 100% of providers. Guided internal clients regarding coding, documentation, and regulatory compliance. Created formal recommendations for physician practices to enhance compliant coding and documentation practices. Identified and researched regulatory compliance issues, including supervision guidelines, incident to, shared services, etc. Developed compliance audit plan for physician practice, including concept development and creating compliance plan policy.• Established weighted audit deficiencies and satisfactory/unsatisfactory scoring.• Designed audit sample parameters and audit scope.• Implemented, executed, and maintained audit plan as only coding compliance auditor. • Ensured integrity of auditing and monitoring billing compliance plan for growing 195-provider practice.• Resolved EMR documentation issues for providers identified during audit process.

Directed FTE billing compliance auditors and one FTE project assistant. Ensured integrity of auditing and monitoring billing compliance plan for growing 400-provider practice. Designed and implemented new provider identification and education processes. Created and managed new procedures and processes for practice experiencing 50% growth. Provided billing compliance audit feedback for 99% of all providers. Facilitated new provider billing compliance education for virtually all new providers. Ensured integrity of compliance plan through continuous QA and education to providers and team members. Implemented and provided continuous troubleshooting and issue resolution of new audit management database.• Developed, trained, and mentored employees.• Tested new EMR product to interface with newly implemented audit database (MD Audit).• Reviewed and processed all RAC audit requests and initiated appeals.• Hired and trained new auditors and project assistant.• Generated extensive provider education with proven results, including one-on-one shadowing with providers to improve documentation for coding and compliance.• Provided guidance for internal clients regarding coding, documentation, and regulatory compliance

Supervised CDM analysis to ensure correct and complete reimbursement for departmental services, supplies, and equipment. Created charge capture solutions within Cerner EMR product. Oversaw revenue generated through EMR. Worked closely with patient accounting leadership to develop solutions within EMR to prevent CCI edits and ensure clean, accurate claims. Performed system audits to ensure complete charge capture. Collaborated with revenue cycle and charge master staff to ensure accurate CDM information. Collaborated with hospital departmental leadership to ensure complete charge capture of services. • Designed and created vendor billing system for laboratory. • Tested all charge capture processes.• Facilitated support for clinical application go-lives.• Provided troubleshooting and support to clinical application users.

TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER, Lubbock, Texas, Assistant Managing Director, 2002-2007. Oversaw eight to 15 FTE coding professionals. Restructured departmental charge capture systems, resulting in millions of additional revenue and improved coding compliance for school of medicine. Identified missed charge capture, coding compliance, and documentation issues through professional fee coding and reimbursement audits for all hospital services. Redesigned multiple clinical departments operations with 15-80% increase in charges and 24-100% increase in charge capture. Analyzed, revised, and implemented new coding and charge capture processes.