AAPC National Advisory Board

The role of the National Advisory Board (NAB) is to advise AAPC leadership on coding issues, trends, and member needs and enthusiastically promote and support the mission of AAPC and the coding profession. The NAB works with the national office for the betterment of the entire membership and the medical coding community through active participation in nationally sponsored conferences, events, publications, educational programs, and activities. The NAB writes articles and speaks at local chapters, conferences, and other health care-related conferences on coding subjects. Each NAB representative becomes an ambassador for AAPC and its members.

A position on the NAB is a voluntary appointment for a period of two years commencing at the end of AAPC's national conference in odd number years and ending two years later at the next odd year national conference. The NAB includes 16 members appointed by AAPC representing eight geographical regions of the U.S. and four officers elected by the NAB including president, president elect, member relations, and secretary. The CEO and a liaison represent AAPC.

NAB Responsibilities Contract

 

President:
Cyndi Stewart CPC, CPC-H, CPMA, CPC-I — Zionsville, IN
Revenue Cycle Systems Manager, St. Vincent Health

Cynthia Stewart has been a member of AAPC since 1998 and a longtime advocate. She was the 2006 president of the Central Indiana chapter prior to serving as an AAPC NAB member in 2007. She has more than 25 years of experience in the medical profession. In the past 15 years, she has applied her knowledge and skills in several capacities including billing supervisor, practice manager, senior coding specialist, coding and reimbursement consultant, and director of medical billing, coding specialist, and health care management programs. Stewart also is an AAPC workshop presenter and provides instruction as a reviewer, contributing author, and research assistant for various coding and billing text.

 

President-elect:
David B. Dunn, MD, FACS, CPC-H, CIRCC, CCC, CCS, RCC — Nashville, TN
Vice President, ZHealth

Dr. David Dunn, vice president of ZHealth, oversees physician coding and manages ZHealth operations. In 2002, he joined his longtime colleague, Dr. Z, at ZHealth and is a regular instructor for ZHealth educational programs and a contributor to Dr. Z's Medical Coding Series reference books. A graduate of Texas A&M University, he completed his Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Texas in San Antonio, his surgical residency at Scott & White Hospital in Temple, Texas, and his vascular surgery fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. A diplomat of the American Board of Surgery, Dunn is also certified in vascular surgery. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Southern Association for Vascular Surgery.

 

Secretary:
Kerin Draak, MS, WHNP-BC, CPC, CPC-I, CEMC, COBGC — Greenbay, WI
Coding Educator, Prevea Health

Kerin Draak has been involved in the health care field for more than 18 years. She earned her undergraduate degree from University of Wisconsin (UW) Oshkosh in 1991, and then worked as a labor and delivery nurse in the hospital. After earning her graduate degree from UW Madison in 1995, she began a nurse practitioner career. She has over 11 years of clinical experience in women's health. Her coding career started in 2004. Since then, she has been the coding educator for a 220+ multi-specialty clinic, has been involved in the development of the internal chart audit program, and has developed educational tools, guides, and policies for the clinic. Draak has spoken at both regional and national conferences for AAPC.

 

Member Relations Officer:
Melody S. Irvine, CPC, CPMA, CPC-I, CEMC, CCS-P, CMRS — Loveland, CO
CEO and Founder, Career Coders, LLC

Melody Irvine has over 30 years of experience in the medical profession. She specializes in physician auditing, education, curriculum development, and consulting services. She is the CEO and founder of Career Coders online medical billing and coding school. Irvine is an approved Professional Medical Coding Curriculum (PMCC) instructor with AAPC. She is also employed as an instructor for National Alliance for Medical Auditing Specialists (NAMAS)/DoctorsManagement, LLC, and is co-author of AAPC's Certified Professional Medical Auditor (CPMA) study guide and curriculum. Her extensive background includes director of coding/auditing, compliance/Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and urgent care for a 48 multi-specialty physician practice. She spends most of her time speaking nationally. Irvine is founder and past president of AAPC's Loveland, CO chapter. She was appointed to AAPC's NAB for 2009-2011. Her true passion is teaching and she is motivated by career challenges.

 

AAPC Liaison:
Rhonda Buckholtz, CPC, CPMA, CPC-I, CENTC, CGSC, COBGC, CPEDC — Pittsburg, PA
Vice President of ICD-10 Education and Training

Rhonda Buckholtz is vice president of ICD-10 education and training at AAPC. She has more than 20 years experience in health care, working in the reimbursement, billing and coding sector. Before joining the AAPC, she was the administrator for a five-location practice in Pennsylvania as well as being an instructor for Venango Campus, Clarion University for coding and billing. She is a lead member of the AAPC’s ICD-10 training and education team, which is charged with the development and training of curriculum on ICD-10 implementation and preparation for providers, facilities and health plans. She has developed training modules for ICD-10-CM for all specialties for the AAPC and is responsible for all ICD-10 training and curriculum development for the AAPC and the new Certified Professional Medical Auditor Credential for AAPC. She has authored many articles for health care publications and has spoken at conferences across the country. She is a PMCC approved instructor.

 

Reed Pew
Chairman and CEO — Salt Lake City, UT

Reed is Chairman and CEO of AAPC. He is excited about the changes in AAPC and the NAB, and looks forward to getting to know the members.

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Angela Boynton, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CPC-I, RHIT, CCS, CCS-P, CPhT — Shrewsbury, MA
Director 5010/ICD-10 Communication, Adoption & Training, UnitedHealth Group

Angela "Annie" Boynton has served in the health information management field for over 10 years in provider, payer, and educational capacities. She is the director of 5010/ICD-10 communication/adoption and training at UnitedHealth Group, where she helps lead their overall ICD-10 transition. Boynton also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Massachusetts Bay Community College, where she develops curriculum and teaches medical coding, billing, administrative procedures, and medical law and ethics. As a member of AAPC's ICD-10 curriculum development team, she helped develop the curriculum payers will use to facilitate successful 5010 and ICD-10 implementation. Boynton holds an associate's degree in health information technology, a bachelor's degree in health care management from Fisher College, and is pursuing a master’s degree in health informatics.

 

Terry Streit, BSN, RN, LNCC, CPC — Clinton, NY
Medical Investigator, Special Investigations Units, Excellus Health Plan, Inc.

Terry Streit is a medical investigator with Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), in Utica, NY. Her responsibilities include investigation and auditing of medical fraud, waste, and abuse. She is privileged to work with Frank Dubeck, MD, FACP, CPE, who is a member of the American Medical Association's (AMA's) CPT^® Editorial Panel. Prior to becoming a medical investigator, Streit served in medical records review and utilization management. She has spoken at the National Healthcare Anti-fraud and Abuse (NHCAA) Symposium. Streit also serves as president of her AAPC local chapter.

 

Nancy Clark, CPC, CPC-I — Elberon, NJ
Director, Healthcare Business Resource Center

Nancy Clark is director of the Healthcare Business Resource Center, where she coordinates and instructs PMCC and manages coding and reimbursement for several specialty providers. Clark also is a senior health care consultant for a premier accounting and business advisory firm in the northeast. She serves as a coding and documentation specialist and performs audits for both physician and hospital clients. She is a member of the Highmark Medicare Provider Outreach and Education Advisory Group. Clark is a proud co-founder of the successful New Jersey Coders' Day Medical Coding and Billing Conference. She enjoys volunteering for the Monmouth, NJ chapter and looks forward to contributing to AAPC and working with its members.

 

Maria Rita Genovese, CPC, PCS — Philadelphia, PA
Director of Operations, Department of Medical Oncology and Jefferson Infusion Centers Thomas Jefferson University

Maria Rita (Rita) Genovese has been a member of AAPC since 2003. She is president of the Greater Philadelphia chapter. She also served as chapter president in 2008 and as new member development officer in 2009. Genovese has over 20 years experience in billing and practice management, most recently in the areas of family medicine and medical oncology. As director of operations, she manages a practice of 37 physicians, two outpatient infusion centers, and a support staff of 190. Genovese actively educates physicians and staff in medical coding and compliance regulations.

 

Jaci Johnson, CPC, CPC-H, CPMA, CPC-I, CEMC — Richmond, VA
President, Practice Integrity, LLC

Jaci Johnson has been working in the field of medical coding and auditing for 22 years and has been a CPC^® since 1994. She teaches PMCC and manages a national client list, providing compliance monitoring for provider documentation. Johnson was recognized as Coder of the Year for the State of Virginia in 2006. She is the past president of her local AAPC chapter.

 

Marianne Durling, BS, CPC — Oxford, NC
Instructor, Health Care Management Technology/Medical Coding

Marianne Durling has been involved in health care or health insurance for 30 years. She teaches health care management and medical coding programs at Piedmont Community College. She developed a successful medical coding program that has a 90 percent pass rate on the CPC^® exam. Durling has owned a successful medical bill auditing company for 13 years. She provides expert witness and case review services to attorneys nationwide, as well as textbook review and editing for multiple publishers. She has a bachelor's degree in health care management and is completing her master's degree in health care administration. She is president elect of the Roxboro, NC chapter.

 

Karen Collins, CPC, CPMCS – Juliette, GA
Billing Director, Healthcare Management Services, LLC

Karen Collins has over 13 years of medical coding experience. She began working in the medical field in 1999 as a billing and collections specialist. She has experience as billing manager of pediatrics, family practice and internal medicine and most recently billing director for Healthcare Management Services, LLC. Her expertise is in denial management, compliance, and reimbursement. Collins is a member of AAPC, PAHCS, AHIMA, HCCA, and HFMA. She is certifying in physician compliance and finishing her bachelor of science in business and information technology at Macon State College, Ga. Collins has served on the PAHCS Specialty Board for Pain Management, as education officer for AAPC's Macon Chapter, as co-chair for Certified Financial Counselor for HFMA, and is on the Editorial Board for BC Advantage magazine.

 

Maryann C. Palmeter, CPC, CENTC — Orange Park, FL
Director of Physician Billing Compliance, University of Florida Jacksonville Healthcare, Inc.

Maryann C. Palmeter has over 27 years of extensive health care experience in both government contracting and physician billing. She is the director of physician billing compliance at the University of Florida Jacksonville Healthcare, Inc. and provides professional direction and oversight to the billing compliance program at the University of Florida College of Medicine Jacksonville. She is the education officer and two-time past president of the Jacksonville, FL chapter. Palmeter is AAPC's 2010 Member of the Year.

 

Stephen C. Spain, MD, FAAFP, CPC — Tyler, TX
Founder, Doc-U-Chart

Dr. Stephen Spain has been engaged in the full-time practice of family medicine for over 25 years. In 1998, he founded Doc-U-Chart, a consulting firm specializing in charting documentation and medical auditing. He is president elect of AAPC's Tyler, TX chapter and teaches coding for Tyler Junior College. Spain frequently speaks and writes on proper coding, coding ethics, and regulatory compliance.

Lillie K. Washington, BSN, RN, MSM, CPC, CMSCS — San Antonio, TX
President/CEO, Washington Medical Services

Lillie Washington has 26 years of health care experience in the areas of med-surg, urology, pediatrics, rehabilitation, emergency services, quality and utilization management, medical policy development, data analysis, local provider education and training, auditing, appeals, compliance, population, and care management. She spent 16 combined years with a Medicare intermediary, Medicare carrier, Medicaid fiscal agent, and BCBS. She has served as an expert witness for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). She has presented at local, state, and national conferences. Washington holds a bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Southern Mississippi and a master's in science management from Belhaven University.

 

Amy S. McCreight, CPC, CPMA, CEMC — Delaware, OH
Coder Trainer, HealthProviders at Mount Carmel

Amy McCreight has 18 years of experience in the health care administrative and coding arena, including seven years as a CPC^®. She has been a medical billing and coding instructor for the past 10 years. Most recently, she instructs at the Delaware Area Career Center and is passionate in training new coders. She is a coder trainer for HealthProviders at Mount Carmel, where she performs chart audits and provides education for billers, coders, and providers of numerous specialties. Since 2003, she has been an active member of AAPC's Columbus chapter and founded the Delaware chapter in 2006. McCreight has served as treasurer of the Columbus chapter and president, president elect, and education officer for the Delaware chapter.

 

Debbie Senarighi, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CPMA — Duluth, MN
Physician Coder, Essentia Health

Debbie Senarighi has more than 28 years of experience in the health care industry, working as a physician coder, hospital coder, denial and appeals specialist, and she has also worked in the claims area of the insurance industry. She has an associate degree in supervisory management and human resources. Senarighi has served as the president and education officer of the Duluth, MN chapter. She is employed at Essentia Health, a large multi-specialty clinic as a physician coder. She strives to "always do the right thing" and to "keep learning for a lifetime."

 

 

Doris Davis, CPC — Helena, MT
CEO - Practice Insight Medical Consulting

Doris Davis is CEO of Practice Insight Medical Consulting. She was credentialed through the AAPC in 1991 and is a former PMCC instructor and founder and PAST-president of AAPC local chapters in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. As a practice administrator, consultant, forensic auditor, seminar leader (McVey Seminars), guest lecturer at medical schools and universities, patient advocate and passionate educator, she has introduced the AAPC to thousands of coders nationwide. In 2009, Davis moved to Helena, MT and was instrumental in founding AAPC's Helena local chapter where she held the offices of treasurer, education officer and is the 2011 President-elect.

 

Kate Tierney, CPC, CPC-P, CPMA, CEDC, CEMC, CGSC, COBGC, CEHRS, CCS-P, CHI, CPhT, CBCS, CMAA — Littleton, CO
Coding Hub Supervisor, Centura Health Systems

Kate Tierney has over 25 years of experience in the health care industry at many levels. She served as the education director for AAPC's Englewood, CO chapter during 2008 and 2009, and taught coding and billing classes for five years. In addition to supervising the Coding Hub for Centura Health Systems in Colorado, she is the coding consultant for MES Solutions, an independent medical peer review company. She also helps develop coder testing materials for many Denver medical personnel services. When she is not coding, Tierney is involved with her church and on the board of the Colorado United Irish Societies.

 

Cindy Cox, CPC, CPMA — La Habra, CA
Behavioral Health and HIV Medical Coder, County of Orange

Cindy Cox has been a CPC^® since 2006 and a CPMA^® since 2009. Her experience includes 20 years in the medical field. As a medical coder/auditor for Orange County, CA, she specializes in the departments of Behavioral Health, HIV, and Integrity Agreement (IA)/Office of Inspector General (OIG) compliance audits. She has coordinated local coding development seminars for her local chapter, trained staff within Orange County and San Bernardino County compliance. Cox served as president elect in 2009 and president in 2010 for AAPC's Orange, CA chapter.

 

Toni Slocum, CPC, CPC-P — Portland, OR
Health Care Fraud Investigator III, Regence BCBS

Toni Slocum holds dual coding credentials and has been involved in the health care industry for the last 17 years. She was the program director for the Medical Insurance Billing and Coding program at a Portland area college, and a coding teacher at other venues. Slocum is past president of the Columbia River Coders chapter, and was instrumental in starting a successful, annual, two-day coding conference. She also served as chair of the local advisory board and as lead conference co-coordinator.