September 2023 Newsletter

Presidents Message

We have all heard the phrase: “If it’s FREE, it’s for me.”

AAHAM offers one of the best FREE deals for people looking to start a healthcare career while being an undergraduate or graduate college student. As current members, it is critical for chapter folks to help spread the word about this amazing AAHAM opportunity to any college student on the healthcare career track.

AAHAM is the only national healthcare organization dedicated solely to the revenue cycle. With 29 local chapters across the country and more than 3,500 members who work in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare financial and IT-related businesses, the AAHAM network is vast with lots of mentorship potential.

This brings me to three cornerstones that AAHAM offers to its student members.

Education – the Music City Chapter provides in-person and free monthly webinar educational sessions throughout the year. The healthcare topics cover all the critical, current revenue cycle topics. Upon applying for FREE membership, the Music City Chapter will reach out to welcome the new member to their network.

Certification – Students, like all chapter members, are eligible to take AAHAM’s industry-leading revenue cycle certification exams. Students who pass the exams will make their resumes stand out from the pack when seeking employment in the healthcare industry.

Networking – Student members can make important contacts with hospital and clinic healthcare financial professionals to create a broader network for job placement upon graduation. College students graduating with degrees in business, marketing, finance, IT, accounting, or healthcare administration can all find careers in the healthcare revenue cycle working for a hospital, clinic, or healthcare business partner. Typical job titles include Revenue Cycle Manager, Patient Accounts Manager, Patient Access Manager, Compliance Director, Controller, Accounting, IT Analyst, and Vice President of Marketing/Sales.

This is critical when knowing that students graduating with a healthcare degree find jobs ranking in the top 10 percent of salaries. Many healthcare administrative jobs offer the opportunity to choose where you want to live and work. It is important to know that AAHAM membership is FREE to students taking at least 12 credit hours.

Students may apply for the FREE AHAM membership at www.aaham.org/membership.aspx.

~Chuck

Save the Date!

Webinar:
Join AAHAM Tennessee Music City Chapter for the webinar “Empowering Patients: Navigating Healthcare Financing Challenges with Confidence” with CarePayment and the Tennessee Chapter of HFMA. Stay tuned for more details to come via email as well as the chapter website!
Date: September 19, 2023
Time: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. CST (Noon to 1 p.m. EST)

The AAHAM ANI is the only industry event dedicated to patient financial service professionals. The AAHAM ANI enables you to learn from diverse perspectives, exchange ideas, and foster connections and collaborations. Get the targeted strategies and practical takeaways to achieve your goals.

Think of all the great things you will accomplish by attending the AAHAM ANI; learning from other Revenue Cycle professionals about their expertise and resources, learning about hot new topics, major networking with your peers, learning problem-solving ideas, and earning 20 AAHAM CEUs.

AAHAM offers networking opportunities you can’t miss. You will be able to interact with leaders in the field, learn from each other’s challenges and successes, and create lasting connections. More information can be found here. We hope to see you there!

Board Member Spotlight: George Buck

Meet George. George has been very involved in AAHAM for many years. He is happily retired and still does healthcare consulting. George enjoys traveling, yard work, vegetable gardening, running, and working out. People describe George as a good listener and a person who looks to find common ground and solutions. He is a husband, father, and grandfather who puts others first and gives back to those who have helped him be successful in his life and career.

George’s personal mantra is “You may be bigger, stronger, younger, faster, and smarter, but you’re not going to outwork me.” He also enjoys the sense of accomplishment that he feels by doing things that he’s told he can’t do.

AAHAM’s New Partnership

AAHAM’s Executive Committee identified the need to explore additional partnership opportunities with an association management company that will provide a strategic pathway to success. An RFP Task Force was formed in 2022 to accomplish this initiative. The Task Force identified five areas of focus in the selection of a management partner. They were cultural fit, operational excellence, chapter relations, certification experience, and leadership. After an extensive search and approval by our Board of Directors, we are delighted to introduce our new association management company partner, Association Headquarters (AH).

AH has been providing association management services for over 40 years and is the most credentialed AMC in the world. You can learn more about their breadth of experience here.

AAHAM’s information and data was transitioned from our current partner, STAT Association Management to AH. We look forward to introducing the new members of the AH team to our full membership!

AAHAM Legislative Currents

Interested in learning about the Legislative Currents? A full list can be downloaded here.

Certification

Thinking about getting your AAHAM certification? Do you know any colleagues or staff that are ready to become certified?

If you need assistance with the CRCE, CRCP, or CRIP examinations, please contact Matthew Hundley at 703.281.4043 x 3.

If you need assistance with the CRCS or CCT examinations, your study guide order, or recertification, please contact Kristen Reamy at 703.281.4043 x 7.

Call for Committee Chairs

Our chapter is still looking for those interested in chairing committees. Chairs and co-chair spots for our committees are now open. Please reach out to Chuck at (843) 325-2447 or cacquito@sacfirm.com if interested. He will be more than happy to discuss the possibilities with you. If looking to make a mark and improve your resume, AAHAM leadership positions are a fast track to achieving those goals.

AAHAM Job Board

Looking for your next role? Visit the AAHAM Career Center.

Volunteer Opportunities

Learn more about our chapter’s leadership positions and volunteer opportunities by reaching out to Chuck at cacquisto@sacfirm.com. After all, Tennessee is the Volunteer State.

Our Mission

To be the premier professional organization in healthcare administrative services. Through a national organization and local chapters, we provide quality member services and leadership in the areas of education, communication, representation, professional standards and certification.