In this edition of SimiTree’s Employee Spotlight, we are happy to introduce Jennifer Malpica, Revenue Cycle Operations Manager, and Carlos Vasquez, Assistant Operations Manager, from SimiTree's Revenue Cycle Management team. Jennifer and Carlos play pivotal roles in ensuring the financial stability and success of our organization. Join us for an insightful and inspiring conversation about Jennifer and Carlos's career journeys, and the passions that drive their exceptional work.
To stay up to date on all things SimiTree, and get to know our exceptional team members better, be sure to connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. If you've missed any of our previous spotlights, you can visit our blog to catch up on the inspiring stories and experiences of our team.
Can you tell us about your role, and how your role contributes to our solutions?
Jennifer: I am a Revenue Cycle Operations Manager, I work closely with Lynn Labarta, the Assistant Vice President of Post-Acute RCM, and Carlos Vasquez, Assistant Operations Manager. My role plays a crucial part in ensuring the financial stability and success of the organization. Streamlining and improving the revenue cycle workflow. I analyze each step of the process, identify bottlenecks or inefficiencies, and implement strategies to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. Encouraging the collaboration of various departments, such as billing, collections, and posting, helps to ensure seamless coordination and communication.
Carlos: I am an Assistant Operations Manager at Simitree, I contribute to the company's daily operations by overseeing and coordinating various aspects of Revenue Cycle Management operations. This includes developing new processes, standard operations procedures, and training material and manuals, monitoring the team’s performance, and ensuring that the company maintains high standards of quality and customer service. My role also has a financial aspect to it, as I help ensure we meet our financial goals by identifying key performance indicators (KPIs) that are most relevant to the company's financial objectives.
What inspired you to pursue a career in your field, and how did you get started in this industry?
Jennifer: My inspiration into this field would be my excessive analytical and problem-solving abilities with a passion for analyzing data, identifying trends, and implementing process improvements, a career in revenue cycle operations management was the opportunity to leverage these skills. It all started in the year 2007 when I realized I had an interest in healthcare and a genuine concern for patient-client billing improving the overall outcome of the industry. For me, improving the overall outcome of the home health and hospice industry gives me personal fulfillment in my work.
Carlos: I was initially drawn to the Revenue Cycle Management field by a friend of mine who would later become my mentor. Then, I fell in love with medical billing and the Revenue Cycle Management process because of my passion for numbers, innovation, and attention to detail. I also saw the potential for career advancement and a strong job outlook.
Can you share some of your most memorable revenue cycle or billing experiences, and how they have shaped your approach to solving problems in the home health and hospice field?
Jennifer: Before I joined the team here at SimiTree, I was lucky to have the supervision of an influential leader. Every day he stressed the significance of accuracy in the meticulous details behind intake, billing, and collections. This includes ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements to achieve the end goal of maximizing reimbursement. I’ve implemented the same approach, by prioritizing accuracy in my work to avoid revenue losses due to billing errors or incomplete documentation. Including identifying the importance of evaluating and improving existing processes.
Carlos: There was an instance when I was working with a healthcare provider that had multiple balances in the older buckets of their aging report. The team and I were able to identify trends and the root causes of why this provider was not getting paid for specific claims. Soon after we initiated an investigation with that insurance company and were able to get that provider paid for more than 90% of the claims that were pending in their older aging buckets. We also provided education to the provider’s office on what was triggering those denials, so that they could fix it on the clinical side to prevent this from happening in the future. It felt amazing to see how happy our team was after the money was recouped for the agency- It was a victory for us and for the provider! Situations like this have helped me understand the big impact that helping providers overcome these types of issues has and how it also helps them continue to keep their doors open, serving their communities.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering a career in your field, but isn't sure where to start?
Jennifer: I would suggest looking for entry-level positions in healthcare organizations that specialize in revenue cycle management. Consider roles such as revenue cycle analyst, billing coordinator, or financial counselor to start building your skills. This will allow you to gain practical experience and familiarize yourself with the various aspects of revenue cycle operations, including billing, coding, claims processing, and collections and foster a continuous learning mindset.
Carlos: I would recommend learning about the field of medical billing by reading articles, attending seminars, and speaking with professionals in the field. Enrolling in training programs that provide an in-depth understanding of Revenue Cycle Management are also great. There are many online and in-person programs available that can help you gain the knowledge and skills you need to succeed.
Gaining experience is also important. Consider internships or entry-level positions in Revenue Cycle Management to gain practical experience and demonstrate your skills to potential employers. Most importantly, stay motivated and continue to learn as you acquire more experience.
What are some of the most important qualities for success in your field, and how can individuals develop these traits?
Jennifer: The most important qualities in revenue cycle operations management are leadership, analytical, problem-solving, and communication. To develop these traits, I would suggest enhancing your problem-solving abilities by practicing critical thinking and collaborating with cross-functional teams to gain diverse perspectives and insights.
Carlos: To be successful in Medical Billing and Revenue Cycle Management, I believe you need to possess strong analytical skills, attention to detail, knowledge of healthcare regulations, great communication skills, and leadership skills. Proficiency in different healthcare technologies such as EMR/EHR systems, clearinghouses, payer portals, and other technology tools to streamline operations and improve efficiency are important as well. Most importantly, I believe you must be open to change and have the ability to master new technological tools to streamline operations and improve efficiency.
What do you love to do outside of work?
Jennifer: On my time off from work, as a wife and mother to a 6-year-old and 2-year-old, I love to indulge in some peaceful moments of solitude, savoring a cup of hot coffee. Currently, I really enjoy getting lost in the pages of the various novels by Colleen Hoover.
Carlos: If there's one thing that brings me joy and relaxation, it's going to the beach or visiting new places. There's just something about being near the water that soothes my soul and makes me feel at peace. Lounging on the sand, reading a good book, or taking a dip in the ocean- I always feel refreshed and rejuvenated after a day at the beach.
But it's not just the beach that I love, I also enjoy exploring new places and soaking up the local culture. Whether it's a bustling city or a quaint small town, I always find something that fascinates me.
Want to learn more about SimiTree's Revenue Cycle Management solutions?
Experience accelerated revenue and faster payment turnaround with our ultra-specific revenue cycle management experts. Our team goes beyond mere management and maintenance – we specialize in optimization. Whether it's home health billing or hospice billing, we excel at refining the claims processing system, ensuring meticulous verification and documentation, identifying operational shortcomings, and streamlining your processes for enhanced cash flow. To access free resources and learning materials on this topic, visit our webinars page to explore on-demand expert insights.
Missed a Consultant Spotlight?
Meet Claudia Baker, a Senior Manager literally wrote the book on OASIS-E – and the new HCS-O study guide.
Meet Apryl Swafford, a QA manager who brings a down-to-earth approach clients, clinicians, and coders find refreshing.
Meet Mike Simione, Director of Cost Reporting, who shares a three-pronged approach to success that will work anytime, anywhere, for any agency.
Meet Pam Wandrie, Coding and OASIS QA Specialist, shares how her clinical experience and professional service bring a unique perspective to problem-solving for agencies.