PRESIDENT’S message we prepare to gather in Orlando’s Disney World to celebrate the 20th anniversary of our association, I have begun to think about two very positive themes. One is the joy of anniversary celebrations and the other is how easy it is to get caught up in the magic of dreams that come to life at Disney and the surrounding attractions. anniversaries are historically a time to look back and think about the good times. as thus we will. We will thank all the people who helped create hbma and who freely gave their contributions to form and grow our organization for third party billing professionals to promote education, advocacy, and communication. We will reminisce about a group who first came together in chicago to find a way to develop relationships, share common concerns, and help each other work in a complicated and challenging healthcare environment. We will talk about the “good old” days and how it was so much easier, so much less complicated, and so much more fun. as human nature goes, we probably won’t talk about the tough times or discuss the past in negative terms. in november, several of us had dinner with hbma past President Vic glorioso. he shared stories about hbma during a very difficult time. as i listened and watched him, i saw him reminiscing with a smile on his face. how rewarding it was to work through those periods with both our members and fellow leaders. it’s funny how we laugh about tough times in the past and how there is joy in working through challenges and coming out on the other side. anniversaries are like that. there are many good things to remember, and even the difficult situations don’t seem as arduous as time goes by. just ask Vic and the dozen other past presidents who will join us in orlando to share the roots of our association. Vic told us he loves our association and would truly enjoy assisting at any time, in any way, anywhere. What a wonderful attitude! so what about the future? it was no accident that the land of magic and dreams at disney World was chosen as the site to kick off the next 20 years. it is a positive, fun, and exciting place to make dreams come true through magic. We do know that magic is about using supernatural powers over natural forces. in reality, natural forces really win out once the illusion is revealed. hard work and focus are how we succeed. dreams are wonderful things. usually they are about greatness within us and around us, but it is often said that a dream without a plan is but a dream. hopefully as you partake in our many educational opportunities at the conference or in other venues, you can learn both from each other and from program presenters. the information that you learn can make a difference in your margins. don’t expect a big ah-ha moment. i’ve found after many years that just isn’t likely to happen. however, if it does, it will happen in a class at just the right time or with a fellow member as you talk in between formal training sessions. it may even happen when you are sitting through a seemingly old, worn out session that you have heard a dozen times before, when a comment is made that turns on a light bulb and motivates you to take action. these sort of unexpected jewels of knowledge and opportunity are hidden throughout each hbma national conference. so come and join us in celebration of our 20 years and plan to actively participate as we educate, advocate, and communicate. these three words represent the value of the hbma. today’s challenges are many and significant; they may even seem insurmountable, but i believe they are all manageable. as another old saying goes, these will be the “good old” days 20 years from now. it is about knowledge. it is about skills. but it is most important to focus on commitment! See you in Orlando to celebrate the past and build for the future. Jud Neal, CHBME, HBMA President jsneal@pbnmed.com As Happy 20th Anniversary! the journal of the healthcare billing and management association 3
Billing_MA13
To see the actual publication please follow the link above