As a DRG validator, Torey provided coder education, and interacted with physicians for clinical reviews. Torey’s experience writing appeals and working clinical & coding denials is one of her professional highlights. Torey is also a specialist in web-based appeal technology for forensic coding review and appeal response management for a myriad of health care entities.

Torey proudly holds an MBA from Webster University. She also proudly holds the AHIMA CCS and the AAPC CPC credentials. Torey is an AAPC Approved Coding Instructor and considers coder education a professional passion.

Amber Chaploney, ABA, COC, CHONC, CPMA, CRC, is a Senior Quality Assurance Auditor, working in HIM for 13 years. She is proficient at Professional Fee, Surgery and Facility charge capture. Amber has worked directly with outpatient clinics, facilities, physicians, and surgeons educating on best practices, for auditing, coding, and billing compliance.

Amber has worked in various outpatient settings, coding and auditing for Emergency Department, Recurring Account services, Same Day Surgery, Observation and Professional Fee Services. She has extensive experience in coding and auditing for Hematology/Oncology and Radiation Oncology services working with large Cancer Treatment Facilities across the US, capturing data for research in cancer treatment and documentation compliance. As part of client services for a large Cancer Hospital, Amber trains new coders for Outpatient Facility services in Hematology and Oncology with specific coding Guidelines working with them until they code at a 95% or greater quality and productivity level.

Amber has recently received her CRC for Risk Adjustment Coding utilizing this in special projects for quality audits and Outpatient CDI. She has utilized this knowledge to assist Primary Care offices to properly document for capturing all HCC’s ensuring appropriate payments to facilities and providers.

Amber is passionate about HIM and educating and training other coders and is a member of the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). She became interested in coding and billing after beginning her career as a Veterinary Technician working with large and small animals. She has owned and trained her own horses and loves her two Dachshunds. In her spare time, she loves to read, continues to make various needlepoint and crochet craft projects, and spends time every summer on her pontoon at the lake with her family.

Cheryl has 12 years of HIM experience in the Professional Fee, Surgery, Facility and Revenue Cycle charge capture and reimbursement arenas. She is an expert in coding, auditing, education, including Outpatient CDI and risk adjustment coding. Cheryl worked directly with outpatient clinics for day-to-day operations with physicians and surgeons, revenue cycle process and implementation of suggestions for revenue enhancement. Prior to joining the ComforceHealth team, Cheryl worked with both onshore and offshore coding and auditing teams to ensure performance quality as a subject matter expertise. She developed professional fee denials management and appeal letters for new surgical interventions with a 96% reimbursement rate from third-party payors. She also created a series of webinar learning courses in evaluation and management, various HIM and surgical topics for internal and global clients. She has been involved directly with one-on-one coding and documentation education with physicians and other health care professionals.

Cheryl has been involved in the implementation of EPIC software and multiple-module(s) installation for specialty charge capture and revenue optimization. She is well versed in triage and problem solving for revenue cycle issues occurring with physicians and outpatient facilities in multiple States. She was been involved in training of physicians and other health care staff in the use of EPIC for documentation and charge capture functionality, adhering to interoperability and compliance guidelines.

Cheryl has a multi-faceted education, beginning by graduating from Henry Ford College in Paralegal Studies, working in medical malpractice and toxic tort litigation. She obtained her Bachelors’ Degree from the University of Michigan, graduating Cum Laude in Behavioral Science. She went on to return to school at Schoolcraft College, becoming President of the student HIT Club, winning multiple scholarships along with the Yvonne Harbert Achievement Award for student excellence. She obtained her Associate of Science Degree, gaining her certifications as a Registered Health Information Technician. Cheryl believes that continued education and knowledge are the keys to success. Therefore, Cheryl went on to obtain additional training and certifications as a Certified Professional Medical Auditor, Certified Documentation Expert for Outpatient Services and a Certified Risk Adjustment Coder.  She is member of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the Michigan Health Information Association (MHIMA), Southeastern Michigan Health Information Management Association (SEMHIMA), the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the National Association of Medical Auditing Specialists (NAMAS).

Erin Cassady, RHIT, CCS is the Quality Assurance Team Lead at Comforcehealth. In this role, she is responsible for daily QA, education and training of new coding staff in addition to external audit and educational services

Erin has over 10 years of experience in the HIM profession with senior consulting and Inpatient subject matter expertise along with clinical documentation improvement, education, auditing, compliance and coding mentorship.

Erins professional highlights include having been instrumental in the training of newly graduated HIM professionals in a large hospital system. This included development of a tailored training program that allowed new professionals entering the field to quickly adapt and learn in their new roles. Erin also provided educational services to both CDI and coding staff in specialized areas including Mortality reviews, PSI/HAC reviews along with query validation. Erin was a Medical Coding and Billing Instructor at Lincoln College of Technology. Erin quickly discovered through her role as an instructor her love of education! While teaching, Erin received multiple recognitions from both teaching staff and students, being recognized by many students as being influential in starting their career paths whether it be in coding, medical assisting or nursing. Erin’s subject matter expertise spans both Inpatient and Outpatient facility coding having began as Observation Facility Coder.

Erin has an Associate degree in Health Information Management from Owens Community College along with her Registered Health Information Technician and Certified Coding Specialist certification. She is a member of AHIMA and Ohio Health Information Association (OHIMA). Erin believes in a strong educational foundation in coding and truly believes that anyone can become a successful coder with the right resources.

Christina Jacobson, CCS is an IP QA Auditor with almost 10 years of coding and training experience. She has served on an ICD 10 implementation team which assisted facilities across the country in readying themselves for the ICD 10 transition. This included physician training and education. She has also served as an ICD 10 training manager. In this role, she was responsible for education and compliance training for 60+ beginner coders in anticipation for ICD 10. She, along with the education manager, created education power points, training modules and testing material to ensure a thorough understanding of the requirements needed to transition to coding in ICD 10.  Her pass/success rate was 96%.

Christina has also worked with Medicare Audits, outpatient coding and auditing, medical records, insurance verification and hospital collections. She is well-rounded in all aspects of the HIM field.

As a coder, auditor, educator, and manager, her professional goal is making sure that coders have a firm understanding of coding principals and the resources needed to keep learning.

A passionate HIM professional, Christina is proud of her professional and academic accomplishments. She holds a Certificate of Completion in Medical Coding from an AHIMA-approved university and completed the AHIMA Train the Trainer program including attaining ICD 10 Trainer designation.

Tina R. Smith, COC, CPC, CHONC-OP is an Oncology QA Auditor with over 12 years of outpatient coding & revenue cycle experience. Tina’s career in revenue cycle began as a Revenue Cycle Manager for a neurology practice and has since transitioned into coding quality assurance and revenue integrity. Tina’s concentration is oncology coding and education.

Tina is passionate about her role as a designated specialized ONC auditor at ComforceHealth.  Her focused oncology expertise began while working 7 years on site at a large cancer center in Florida Having earned the specialty credential of Certified Hematology /Oncology Coder to supplement her CPC and COC core credentials is a professional highlight.  Tina enjoys the oncology coding complexity because it gives her the opportunity  to learn hands-on and extensively about Pathology & Laboratory, Radiology & Hematology in addition to Oncology alone. Tina’s professional expertise also includes  Emergency Department, physician pro-fee and facility outpatient coding.

Tina holds the COC, CPC and CHONC from the AAPC and is currently enrolled in the certified medical auditor training course through AAPC and will sit for the CPMA exam in the summer of 2020.

She has an extensive background in coding and auditing, as well as all phases of the reimbursement cycle. Additionally, she has worked with predictive analytics technology to perform pre and post bill auditing for several large hospital systems nationwide. She also has experience in commercial insurance, conducting DRG audits for payment recovery opportunities.

Her previous position was Outpatient Coding Manager for the University of Louisville Hospital; a teaching level 1 trauma facility. Other notable experience includes Corporate Compliance Coordinator for Baptist Health Kentucky and Surgical Coding Auditor for the Cleveland Clinic.

She has been a featured speaker at the Kentuckiana Chapter of the Association of Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialists (ACDIS) conference, educating nurses and other clinical professionals on coding changes and challenges.

Amy holds both an Associate and Baccalaureate degree from Bowling Green State University, located in her native state of Ohio. She is credentialed by both the AHIMA and HFMA; with an RHIT and CRCR, respectively.

Christina Perkins is a Senior Clinical Documentation Improvement Services Consultant at ComforceHealth. She is a dedicated revenue cycle professional with over 11 years of experience. During her career, Christina has had the unique opportunity to travel across the country as a senior consultant, curating her skills to include analyzing, implementing, and improving CDI departments at various healthcare facilities. Christina has experience across a wide range of facility types, from large teaching hospitals and university health systems to a multi-hospital heath system with critical access and community net facilities. She has significant experience in developing CDI departments from the ground up and re-vamping previously established departments to assess opportunities for clinical and financial improvements in DRG, SOI, and ROM.

Christina is also an expert in denials management, recovery audit review and appeals. She has successfully implemented and managed denials management teams and processes with exceptional results.

Prior to joining ComforceHealth, Christina flourished as a revenue cycle and coding leader by significantly improving DNFB totals and denial overturn rates. Christina has successfully engaged and earned the trust of healthcare professionals across the revenue cycle spectrum, including clinicians.

Christina’s experience allows her to offer wholistic, expert guidance with respect to the revenue cycle while understanding the unique challenges down to the facility level. Christina is passionate about continuing education and is a proud CDI professional.