Presentation Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Transform Your Healthcare Appeal Writing! Dive into our dynamic webinar and uncover the secrets to mastering emergency department level of care appeals and validating acute heart failure in TAVR patients. Elevate your skills, boost your confidence, and make a real difference in patient outcomes. Don’t miss out—register today and become a standout appeal writer!
About the Presenters:
Kendall Smith, MD, SFHM, ACPA-C
Chief Physician Advisor | PayerWatch – AppealMasters
Dr. Kendall Smith is a Senior Fellow in Hospital Medicine (SFHM) and currently acts as Chief Physician Advisor for PayerWatch – AppealMasters, a leading appeal educator and appeal services firm for hospitals and health systems. He’s been deeply involved in denial and appeals management throughout his hospitalist career. He has served as a physician leader on hospital revenue cycle management teams while also serving as the Physician Advisor for Clinical Resource Management. Dr. Smith is also an AHIMA ICD-CM/PCS approved trainer/ambassador.
Reggie Allen, MBA RN ACM
Principal Consultant, PayerWatch
Reggie has more than 35 years of experience in a variety of healthcare positions, including staff nurse, nurse manager, Chief Nursing Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Vice President, Clinical/Business Operations Transformation. He has been recognized nationally as an expert in care management and clinical operations. He is a results-driven leader who emphasizes operational transformation by integrating clinical and financial care aspects. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. He is a member of the American Case Management Association (ACMA) and the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Reggie possesses comprehensive knowledge and experience in all facets of care management, including case management, utilization management, disease management, quality management, and resource management. He has designed and implemented an enterprise-wide Clinical Appeals Unit and a clinical documentation program with success. Using six sigma and Lean principles, he is an expert in clinical and operational efficiencies that enhance clinical outcomes and financial performance through a variety of methodologies.
About the Moderator:
Karla Hiravi, BSN, RN
Senior Vice President Clinical Resources, PayerWatch
President, AHDAM
Karla is a registered nurse and holds a BSN from the University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown. She has over forty years of varied experiences in healthcare, culminating with Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI), management of a CDI department, followed by development of a successful hospital-based denial and appeal program, authoring of thousands of varied healthcare related appeals between her positions at her local hospital and then at PayerWatch/AppealMasters, presentations at the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) level, and direct management of thousands of appeals at every level, up to post ALJ appeals. She has served in many capacities from contracted appeal writer up to and including Senior Vice President of Clinical Resource Management for PayerWatch/AppealMasters, a leading appeal educator and appeal services firm for hospitals and health systems. She serves as President of AHDAM (Association for Healthcare Denial and Appeals Management), the nation’s only association dedicated to healthcare denial and appeal management.
