2. Develop a formal new member program that promotes Chapter involvement.

• This initiative is still being developed in order to ensure we keep developing our membership. Our membership committee is already actively working on new programs for 2006/7.
• We did offer a Chapter Member-Get-a-Member program which provided awards based on number of new members recruited.

3. Develop a formal program to contact inactive HFMA members to increase Chapter participation.

• This initiative is a continuous process. The board obtained inactive membership listings, contacted inactive members, and began to understand what those members are looking for.

4. Offer quality educational programs while increasing overall attendance.

• We continued to offer excellent education programs to our members. In 2006, the program committee analyzed the format of our programs resulting in a number of programs that included panel discussions which provided attendees with a more engaging presentation.
• Overall, we maintained approximately 670 members and nonmembers attending educational sessions.

5. Increased communication to all members

• In addition to the quarterly newsletters that are published, this was the first year we initiated e-mail blasts which kept our members up-to-date on current events.

6. Perform Board self-assessment in May 2006

• While a formal assessment was not completed, through our Board meetings and planning sessions we continuously evaluate the work Board members are doing to ensure we are meeting our charge. We will continue to challenge the benefits of doing a formal self-assessment.
  

Lastly, our historian committee produced and issued the 50 Year History of HFMA. This document is wonderful tribute to our Chapter, its members and all of our accomplishments. I hope everyone has a few minutes to take a look at the Book including many pictures that will spark your memory to the wonderful times you have had.

I wish everyone a wonderful and safe summer. It is a great time to spend with your families. I wish Chris Milligan and his board a successful year in 2006/7. Chris has already kicked off the next Chapter year by attending LTC and having a planning meeting which outlined many exciting goals and events for the upcoming year. I look forward to continuing to work with you in the future and look forward to your continued participation in our Chapter.

New Members - Welcome to NEOHFMA!

By Maureen Campbell

New members are the lifeblood of our organization. In the spirit of "making it personal", please welcome our newest members to HFMA. Look for them at our next meeting and welcome them to our organization.

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Welcoming Eight New Members to Our
NEO HFMA Chapter through the Get-A-Member Campaign

The Get-A-Member campaign, sponsored earlier this year, brought 8 new members to our NEO HFMA chapter! Super kudos go to Geoffrey Allen Himes, Diane Lilko, Maureen Wood, Brian Nestor and Anna Sulewski for actively and successfully participating in our membership drive program. Way to share the HFMA experience!

As a campaign reward (and thank you), each of the above members will receive an American Express Gift Card for their sponsorship in accordance with the campaign rules*.

• 1-2 new members: $25 American Express Gift Certificate
• 3-4 new members: $50 American Express Gift Certificate
• 5 or more new members: $100 American Express Gift Certificate

Please look for our new members at upcoming programs and events.

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Membership Survey

Please help us to plan yet another successful NEOHFMA networking event for you, our membership, new members and prospective members by responding to this super quick survey.

Just click on this link to give us your opinion.

Thank you in advance for your feedback.

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Chapter Leaders Attend 2006 LTC

Our chapter?s newly appointed leadership had the opportunity to attend this year?s HFMA Annual Leadership Training Conference (LTC) in Huntington Beach, California, from May 6^th through May 9^th, 2006. The object of the LTC was to provide incoming chapter leaders with the tools needed to succeed in leadership roles.

Attended this year from our chapter were:

• Jim Hutchinson, 2006/2007 Regional Executive Elect
• Chris Milligan, 2006/2007 President
• Karen Joyce, 2006/2007 President Elect
• Chuck Josey, 2006/2007 Vice President
• Suzanne Tschetter, 2006/2007 Secretary and Membership Co-Chair
• Joyce Gusman, 2006/2007 Newsletter Co-Chair
• Kathy Much, 2006/2007 Chapter Coordinator

We spent three straight days in tailored training sessions specific to the leadership role that each of us will hold this year. In these sessions, we had opportunity to acquire unique ideas from other chapters as well as network with the leadership from chapters all over the country.

Our leadership team also devoted a great deal of time to creating a three-year strategic plan to serve as the purpose statement of our organization through 2009. This document will be shared with our entire membership through a link on our web site.

Although LTC might sound like all work and no play, that is not the case. We enjoyed long walks on the beach and several nights on the town, seeing the sights of Huntington Beach and dining in some great restaurants.

Taking on an HFMA leadership role involves a very serious commitment. However, LTC provides leaders with a good understanding of what is expected from them as well as ongoing support from National to help them be successful in their leadership roles. Plus, leaders get the chance to travel to exciting places such as San Diego, California, the location for next year?s LTC.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a chapter leader and attending LTC, please feel free to contact me. I?ll be happy to share with you what the Leadership Training Conference is "all about."

Chris Milligan

2006-2007 President, Northeast Ohio Chapter HFMA
216.426.3535 Ext. 1135
cmilligan@Human Arc.com

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2006 GHALI - "The Best Yet"

By Steve Rybka

It's always a nerve racking time for the GHALI Committee. They have been meeting on a regular basis for over 10 months to plan and execute the Annual Leadership Institute. Add to that, the pressure of changing the venue to accommodate a larger audience and you can understand the anxiety of the whole committee. But fear not. Between accommodations, speakers, food, service, golf, casino night, Texas hold'em and a fast approaching holiday weekend, ALL WAS PERFERCT!

Congratulations to GHALI Co-Chairs, Chuck Josey, Peter Ryerson and Holly Binkley for a job well done. As I'm sure they would say, it could not have been done without a great committee and it was truly a team effort.

As of this writing, the committee for next years event has already met and the plans are in the works for the 2007 GHALI returning to Quail Hollow in Painesville Ohio. Watch for announcements soon giving the dates for next year's event.

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Upcoming Events

Listed below are the remaining events planned for the 2006/2007 program year. Details and dates are announced as soon as they are available. Check the events calendar section of www.neohfma.org often for updates on events!

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HFMA Certification Overview Session for Interested Members

By Jorie Novacek

Thinking of becoming HFMA Certified? The Certification Review Committee of the North East Ohio Chapter will hold an Overview Review Session for the Accounting and Finance Specialty Exam, (these topics are also in the CORE Exam) presented by Robert S. Matitia, CPA, CHFP, MBA, MAFIS. The topics covered will be: Capital Planning and Financing, Cost Analysis and Management, Strategic Financial Planning and Budgeting, Investments and Cash Management, Employee Benefits, Insurance and Risk Management, Internal Control, Financial Reporting, Accounting Principles and Auditing, and Corporate Compliance. If interested, please email robert.matitia@uhhs.com. A mutually convenient date and time will be set for the Review Session for interested parties.

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Kudos to You!

Congratulations to Cindy Dormo, Director of Operations, Akron Children's Hospital Physician Associates. Cindy received her fellowship letter in June and is now an FHFMA.

After many years in healthcare in Northeast Ohio, Nancy Huber will be relocating to Las Vegas to join Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). Nancy will join HCA as the COO of the Las Vegas Shared Services Organization. Remember to look Nancy up the next time you are in Las Vegas! Congratulations Nancy!

Congratulations to Sue Densmore. Sue is now Assistant Regional Controller of Humility of Mary Health Partners, Youngstown, a region of Catholic Healthcare Partners.

Pamela McFarland, CPAM, has joined Masters Associates Receivables Management. Pam will be a Senior Consultant. Congratulations!

Congratulations to Gigi Umbel - Gigi was recently promoted to Financial Analyst at South Pointe and has earned her MBA from Myers University.

Anthea R. Daniels, Esq., with Calfee Halter & Griswold, LLP was the chair of the American Health Lawyers Association's Annual Meeting which was held in Philadelphia in June 25-28 with over 1200 attendees. At that meeting Anthea was installed as the President of the American Health Lawyers Association. Congratulations!

Congratulations to John Smith. John was recently promoted to Vice President of Operations at Human Arc.

Grace Jen, CPA, MAFIS, and a Fianancial Analyst II at the Cleveland Clinic Eastern Region recently passed both the HFMA Core and the Accounting and Finance Specialty Exams. She took the exam at the Chapter's new HFMA Certification Test Center located at University Hospitals - Parkland Facility and was proctored by Robert Matitia, CPA, CHFP, MBA, MAFIS, Senior Manager of Financial Reporting at UH and Chair of the NorthEast Ohio Chapter's Certification Review Committee and is a Chapter Director. If any members are interested in obtaining more information on HFMA Certification, or are interested in a review course, please contact Robert Matitia at robert.matitia@uhhs.com.

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Northeast Ohio Chapter HFMA Website Has a New Look!

By Jorie Novacek

Have you checked out the NEO HFMA website lately? If not, you might want to check out the new and improved design.

With just a click of your mouse, you can access various features such as the "Program" section which will allow you to register for upcoming events online. The "Our Chapter" section will allow you to find contact information for chapter leaders and committee chairpersons at the click of a button. A click on the "Jobs" section will lead you to postings for positions in and out of the Northeast Ohio area. Other features include the "Events Calendar" for this year's HFMA education/social events as well as "Newsletters" for copies of the current and past newsletters. Check out the "Membership" feature. It will link you right to the National web page where you can update your member profile and more.

To try it out and see more features and improvements go to www.neohfma.org! Feel free to use the Contact Us option at the upper right hand top of the page to contact a member of the Northeast Ohio HFMA Chapter or provide feedback on the website.

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Ohio Proposes More Transparency for Not-for-Profit Hospitals

Ohio's Attorney General Jim Petro is proposing new state rules to make Ohio charitable organizations, including most hospitals, more open and accountable to their donors and the public. The rules are aimed at reducing the potential for problems, such as excessive executive compensation and expense reimbursements by charities and hospitals. The proposal is also intended to foster best practices in billing, collection, and charity care, and to set standard guidelines in Ohio for reporting how charitable organizations benefit the community so the public can make meaningful comparisons of their charitable activities.

Petro's proposal would require larger charitable organizations to either adopt a set of policies prescribed in the rules or publicly disclose their board-approved conflicts of interest, all payments to board members by the charity, insider loans, whether they have allowed insiders to approve their own compensation, and the like. Under the proposal, most hospitals, a few nursing homes, and several charities affiliated with a religious organization would be required to register as a charitable organization and file an annual report with the Attorney General. "We believe this approach will strengthen charitable organizations and hospitals in Ohio without being harsh and burdensome," Petro said. "More transparency will improve public confidence in these organizations, which will make them more effective." Read the proposal.

This article was obtained from the HFMA Website

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Puzzle - Vacation Books

By Jennifer Hahn

Morgan came home from her vacation at Grandma's with 6 books. While she was away she purchased 3 books at the bookstore and received 1 book as a gift. During her stay at Grandma's, she also gave her cousin the 2 books that she finished. How many books did Morgan take with her when she left for her trip?

E-mail your answer to Jennifer Hahn at neohfmacalendar@yahoo.com. All correct entries will be included in a drawing and one lucky entrant will receive a $25 gift certificate to Target.

Previous puzzle: Taking a Test
Answer: 5 wrong answers
Winner: Ruth Homuth of Samaritan Regional Health System won a $25 gift certificate to Giant Eagle.

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