SimiTree Health 360

In this episode, SimiTree experts delve into the world of home health operations and explore the latest trends and challenges in the post-acute space. From discussing the impact of Oasis E on agencies to navigating staffing shortages and optimizing case management models, we cover it all. With decades of experience in physical therapy, nursing, compliance, and coding, our hosts provide valuable insights and practical tips for agencies seeking to thrive in today's evolving healthcare landscape. Join these experts for “Crack the Code: Mastering OASIS-E for Improved Patient Care.”
Links from this episode:
Learn more about J’non: https://bit.ly/43zdTcQ 
Learn more about our Coding and OASIS-E solutions: https://bit.ly/3WHGtq7 
View our free on-demand webinars on this topic: https://bit.ly/3JVWjIK
 
Follow us on social media!
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3RR6KPy 
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3DAXiM 
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3LrB40Q 
J'non Griffin, RN MHA, HCS-D, HCS-H, HCS-C, COS-C Principal, SVP, Coding   
J’non Griffin is a registered nurse with 30+ years of clinical and leadership experience as a field nurse, agency director, regional director, executive, and consultant for home health and hospice agencies. She is an accredited ACHC and CHAP consultant and an AHIMA-approved ICD-10-CM trainer/ambassador with certifications in home care coding (HCS-D), OASIS competency (COS-C), hospice coding (HCS-H) and home care compliance (HCS-C). A frequent national speaker, she is a collaborator for Decision Health’s The Diagnosis Coding Pro, has published several manuals, and assisted with online coding/OASIS instruction modules. J’non earned a master’s degree in health care administration in 2005.
Charles M. Breznicky Jr, RN, MSN, MBA, HCS-DSenior Clinical Consulting Manager
Charles M. Breznicky Jr is Senior Clinical Consulting Manager at SimiTree, specializing in enhancing Quality, Clinical, and Operational processes within Home Health Agencies. With a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from La Salle University, he brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and strategic business acumen to drive positive transformations in the home health and hospice industry.
John Rabbia, PT, DPT, MBA, MS, COS-C Director, Operations Consulting
John Rabbia is a dynamic and patient-focused Home Healthcare Executive known for his exceptional leadership in driving comprehensive quality and performance improvements while ensuring the highest standard of care. With a proven track record of skillful change management, operational acumen, and a talent for building high-performing teams, he consistently enhances productivity, efficiency, and employee engagement. Armed with a range of educational qualifications, including an MBA in Healthcare Management, advanced study certificates, and industry certifications, John combines his expertise with strong communication skills to foster organizational growth, compliance, and outstanding outcomes for patients in the home healthcare sector.

Building an aggregate data warehouse now, several years before it's needed, is the future of home health, behavioral health, and hospice real-time reporting. In this episode, brought to you by Afia, A SimiTree company, Chris Akerley, Co-Founder, and Managing Partner and Melanie Elliott, Vice President, Analytics Strategy, explain the growing trend of creating large-scale data insights based on individual behavioral health (BH) providers' data. Join our experts for this episode, “It takes a Village: Aggregating Data Across Providers.”
Learn more about the Afia team: https://bit.ly/41SYgfI
View our free on-demand webinars on this topic: https://bit.ly/3JVWjIK
 
Follow us on social media!
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3AKyKxp
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3LQqemV
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Lt4goj
Chris Akerley, Co-Founder, and Managing Partner
In 2007, Chris Akerley co-founded Afia Inc, on a mission to revolutionize health care.  He has helped organizations across the country improve care, reduce costs, and improve engagement by thoughtfully integrating technology and data into their daily operations.
Melanie Elliott, Vice President, Analytics Strategy
Melanie’s expertise is creating leading business strategies and operational excellence for successful organizations. With a track record of success in developing strategies for new revenue streams and improved customer experiences, as well as internal process improvement and efficiency, Melanie has a unique combination of strategic vision, authentic leadership, and healthcare industry expertise.
About Afia
Are you tired of navigating the complex and confusing world of healthcare on your own? Look to the behavioral health experts at Afia, a SimiTree Company. Our team of experienced healthcare consultants will guide you through the process of finding and managing the technology and service your organization needs to deliver exceptional care. Our services include healthcare consulting, IT management and optimization, data analytics, and more. No matter the size of your organization, we are committed to creating custom-tailored solutions so you can make data-informed decisions, drive growth, provide purpose, and predict the future.
At Afia, we believe that everyone deserves access to high-quality healthcare. Let us help you create streamlined and optimized processes to give your patients the highest quality of care. Visit us at afiahealth.com to learn more about how we can help your organization thrive.

Knowing the critical elements of successful optimization can make all the difference between a costly mistake and better delivery of care when considering whether to pursue a new EHR selection. In this episode brought to you by Afia, A SimiTree company; Melanie Elliott, Vice President, Analytics Strategy and Elizabeth “Liz” Kern, Principal Consultant, share insights into successfully optimizing EHR systems to obtain more meaningful data insights for your organization. Join our experts for this episode, “How to Optimize Your EHR to Obtain Meaningful Data Insights.”
 
Learn more about the Afia team: https://bit.ly/41SYgfI
View our free on-demand webinars on this topic: https://bit.ly/3JVWjIK
 
Follow us on social media!
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3AKyKxp
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3LQqemV
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Lt4goj
 
Elizabeth “Liz” Kern, Principal Consultant
Liz has been a principal consultant at Afia for 7+ years. She leads EHR vendor selections and implementations, as well as data-driven optimizations, for behavioral health and I/DD providers throughout the US.
Melanie Elliott, Vice President, Analytics Strategy
Melanie’s expertise is in creating leading business strategies and operational excellence for successful organizations. With a track record of success in developing strategies for new revenue streams and improved customer experiences, as well as internal process improvement and efficiency, Melanie has a unique combination of strategic vision, authentic leadership, and healthcare industry expertise.
About Afia
Are you tired of navigating the complex and confusing world of healthcare on your own? Look to the behavioral health experts at Afia, a SimiTree Company. Our team of experienced healthcare consultants will guide you through the process of finding and managing the technology and service your organization needs to deliver exceptional care. Our services include healthcare consulting, IT management and optimization, data analytics, and more. No matter the size of your organization, we are committed to creating custom tailored solutions so you can make data-informed decisions, drive growth, provide purpose, and predict the future.
At Afia, we believe that everyone deserves access to high-quality healthcare. Let us help you create streamlined and optimized processes to give your patients the highest-quality of care. Visit us at afiahealth.com to learn more about how we can help your organization thrive.

In this episode, you will learn the real questions your organization should ask before applying for SAMHSA grants. Learn the role of SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency) grants and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) in improving mental health and substance abuse support services.. This episode is brought to you by Afia, A SimiTree company. Today's host is Elizabeth “Liz” Kern, Principal Consultant, and guest Kathy Polasky-Dettling, Vice President of Clinical Strategies. Join these experts for this episode, "Things to Consider If You Want To Become a CCBHC."
Learn more about the Afia team: https://bit.ly/41SYgfI
View our free on-demand webinars on this topic: https://bit.ly/3JVWjIK
 
Follow us on social media!
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3AKyKxp
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3LQqemV
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Lt4goj
 
Elizabeth “Liz” Kern, Principal Consultant
Liz has been a principal consultant at Afia for 7+ years. She leads EHR vendor selections and implementations, as well as data-driven optimizations, for behavioral health and I/DD providers throughout the US.
Kathy Polasky-Dettling, Vice President of Clinical Strategies
With over 26 years of experience in community mental health centers, Kathy is a consultant specializing in Behavioral and Primary Health Care Integration, as well as Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC) planning and implementation. Her expertise lies in developing and managing clinical and integrated health programs, allowing her to provide valuable insights to organizations seeking to improve their behavioral and primary health care services.
About Afia
Are you tired of navigating the complex and confusing world of healthcare on your own? Look to the behavioral health experts at Afia, a SimiTree Company. Our team of experienced healthcare consultants will guide you through the process of finding and managing the technology and service your organization needs to deliver exceptional care. Our services include healthcare consulting, IT management and optimization, data analytics, and more. No matter the size of your organization, we are committed to creating custom-tailored solutions so you can make data-informed decisions, drive growth, provide purpose, and predict the future.
At Afia, we believe that everyone deserves access to high-quality healthcare. Let us help you create streamlined and optimized processes to give your patients the highest quality of care. Visit us at afiahealth.com to learn more about how we can help your organization thrive.

You’re listening to SimiTree Health 360. This episode is brought to you by SimiTree Talent Solutions, the industry-leading healthcare recruitment and executive search firm dedicated solely to Home Health, Hospice, and Behavioral Health. Today's episode continues the conversation on creative solutions your organization can use to shore up leadership shortages. Hosted by Eric Scharber, Managing Principal, and SVP Talent Solutions, alongside Wayne Regan, Director, Interim Management. Join them for this episode, “Creative Solutions for Healthcare Leadership Shortages Part 2.”
About Our Hosts:
Eric Scharber, Managing Principal, SVP Talent Solutions at SimiTree, leads talent acquisition and retention efforts for the post-acute and behavioral healthcare industries. He is passionate about surpassing client expectations and has become a sought-after speaker on topics such as Employee Retention and Recruitment, Building Culture, Leadership Development, and Strategic Planning.
Wayne Regan, Director, Interim Management is a seasoned home healthcare, hospice, and palliative care leader with operations, business development, and growth experience.
Links from this episode:
Learn more about Eric: https://bit.ly/3Hvz5YB
Learn more about talent solutions: https://bit.ly/3Hvzudz
View our free on-demand webinars on this topic: https://bit.ly/3JVWjIK
Follow us on social media!
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3RR6KPy
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3DAXiM
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3LrB40Q

You’re listening to SimiTree Health 360. This episode is brought to you by SimiTree Talent Solutions, the industry-leading healthcare recruitment and executive search firm dedicated solely to Home Health, Hospice, and Behavioral Health. Today's episode is hosted by Eric Scharber, Managing Principal, and SVP Talent Solutions, alongside Wayne Regan, Director, Interim Management. Join them for this episode, “Creative Solutions for Healthcare Leadership Shortages Part 1.”
About Our Hosts:
Eric Scharber, Managing Principal, SVP Talent Solutions at SimiTree, leads talent acquisition and retention efforts for the post-acute and behavioral healthcare industries. He is passionate about surpassing client expectations and has become a sought-after speaker on topics such as Employee Retention and Recruitment, Building Culture, Leadership Development, and Strategic Planning.
Wayne Regan, Director, Interim Management is a seasoned home healthcare, hospice, and palliative care leader with operations, business development, and growth experience.
Links from this episode:
Learn more about Eric: https://bit.ly/3Hvz5YB
Learn more about talent solutions: https://bit.ly/3Hvzudz
View our free on-demand webinars on this topic: https://bit.ly/3JVWjIK
Follow us on social media!
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3RR6KPy
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3DAXiM
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3LrB40Q

Lynn Labarta and Jess Stover discuss the importance of payment trend analysis and payment collection posting for hospice care facilities. They explore how these two practices go hand in hand, and why it is crucial for administration to have a good understanding of payment trends to be able to manage their agencies effectively. Payment trends can help hospice care facilities identify any red flags, such as significant drops in revenue, giving them time to investigate the reasons behind such drops and make necessary corrections. Lynn and Jess also delve into denial trends and how monitoring them closely can help facilities make proactive decisions on certain payers to avoid significant revenue losses.
They also emphasize the importance of posting daily to help maintain clean AR reports and speed up cash flow. Jess and Lynn also go through the domino effect of poor upstream processes on billing, making it a challenging role that demands careful attention to detail. Join us for this episode of Simitree Health 360, "Payment Trends and Payment Collection Posting."
 
Jess Stover, Principal, SVP, Post-Acute RCM
Jess Stover is a healthcare consultant specializing in revenue cycle and operational assessments for home health and hospice organizations. With a focus on project management and leadership, she enjoys supporting and developing her consulting team to serve as strong contributors to their clients.
Lynn Labarta, VP of Post-Acute RCM
Lynn Labarta, VP of Post Acute RCM and the founder of Imark Billing (now SimiTree) has a wealth of experience in the healthcare industry. Lynn provides comprehensive billing services for home health and hospice agencies, streamlining their revenue cycle management process while supporting and managing billing challenges and evolving policy changes.

Home health and hospice agencies continuously seek strategies to increase their cash flow but it’s not always easy to find a simple solution. Please join Jess Stover, Principal, SVP, Post-Acute RCM and Lynn Labarta, VP of Post Acute RCM at SimiTree, experts in home health and hospice billing, to discuss opportunities that agencies have at their fingertips to increase cash flow, that you may have not considered before. This episode is packed with action items that home health and hospice agencies won’t want to miss! Join us for this episode, "The Return of ‘Cash is Queen’ expert advice on how to increase cash flow to your home health and hospice agency!"
 
Jess Stover, Principal, SVP, Post-Acute RCM
Jess Stover is a healthcare consultant specializing in revenue cycle and operational assessments for home health and hospice organizations. With a focus on project management and leadership, she enjoys supporting and developing her consulting team to serve as strong contributors to their clients.
Lynn Labarta, VP of Post-Acute RCM
Lynn Labarta, VP of Post Acute RCM and the founder of Imark Billing (now SimiTree) has a wealth of experience in the healthcare industry. Lynn provides comprehensive billing services for home health and hospice agencies, streamlining their revenue cycle management process while supporting and managing billing challenges and evolving policy changes.