ANDREW WACHLER PRESENTS AT WORLD HEALTH CARE CONGRESS HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SYSTEM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Presentation to Focus on Best Practices in RAC Audits

ROYAL OAK, Mich.—October 6, 2009…Detroit-area lawyer Andrew B. Wachler, a recognized leader in healthcare law topics such as Medicare appeals, Stark and fraud and abuse and HIPAA, was a featured speaker at the World Health Care Congress’ 4th Annual Hospital and Health System Financial Management Congress. The conference was held September 21 – 23, 2009, at the Ambassador East Hotel in Chicago, Ill.
As a presenter on the “Building a RAC Shield: Best Practices in Preparedness & Case Studies of Success” panel, Wachler discussed the appeal process of Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC), a Medicare auditing program that utilizes private firms to examine physician, hospital, DME supplier, nursing home, and other claims. He also examined U.S. best practices and discussed how these capabilities might contribute to reform efforts. Also participating in the panel discussion was Susan Bihler, BS, RN, Director of Utilization Management at Florida Hospital.

Formerly the Leadership Summit on Revenue Cycle Innovations, the Hospital and Health System Financial Management Congress addresses the mission-critical steps that organizations must take in 2009-2010 to ensure their financial health, sustainability and profitability amid the new economic reality and potential for massive health reform. This executive congress is designed to maximize understanding of how current market forces and reform initiatives will impact organizations’ short- and long-term strategic plans, as well as provide them with the tool kits to employ next generation revenue cycle solutions. Attendees of the conference included health system, hospital and provider group practice executives.

For 25 years, Wachler has counseled health care providers and organizations nationwide in a variety of health care legal matters. In 2005, when the Medicare appeals process changed for the first time in more than 25 years, he was called upon to author an article about the revised Medicare appeals process for the American Bar Association Health Law Section publication, The Health Lawyer, a publication distributed to over 11,000 business and health lawyers nationally. And, in 2008, as the RAC demonstration program ended and health care providers and suppliers braced themselves for the permanent RAC program, his law firm was tapped to submit another legal analysis for The Health Lawyer.

In addition, Wachler co-authored an article with Amy Fehn on the emerging Medicaid Integrity Program that was published in the August 2009 edition of The Health Lawyer.

Royal Oak, Mich.-based Wachler & Associates, P.C. has served the legal needs of health care providers nationwide for more than 20 years. The firm specializes in all aspects of health care law, including health care business transactions, stark and fraud and abuse analysis, regulatory compliance, billing and reimbursement issues, third party payor and government audits, provider participation and deselection matters, licensure and staff privilege matters, defense of civil and criminal healthcare fraud issues and Certificates of Need. For more information, please visit www.wachler.com or call 248.544.0888.

Wachler & Associates, P.C.
210 E. Third St., Suite 204
Royal Oak, MI 48067

This release was published on openPR.