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Engage with quick, interactive demos from emerging vendors as they present new and innovative payment integrity and RCM solutions. A panel of judges will award the "Innovator of the Year" to the vendor with the most promising technology or approach. Apply here to showcase your solution or sign up here to join the judging panel.

Medical Cost Containment

Payer-provider abrasion remains one of the biggest barriers to efficient payment, timely care, and operational success. Too often, denials, delayed payments, and prior authorization disputes stem from misaligned expectations, incomplete data, and unclear communication—not true disagreement. This session will offer a candid, solutions-focused discussion on what payers really need from providers, what providers can do upfront to reduce friction, and how both sides can work together to minimize rework, prevent avoidable denials, and create shared wins.


Learning Objectives:

  • Gain clear insights into how providers can proactively align documentation, coding, and authorization workflows to meet payer requirements and reduce denials and appeals.
  • Learn practical approaches to improve data sharing, reduce ambiguity in clinical and billing documentation, and foster payer-provider partnerships that lead to faster resolutions and fewer administrative burdens.
  • Explore strategies to move beyond transactional interactions and build trust-based partnerships between payers and providers—focusing on shared goals like timely care, accurate payment, and operational efficiency.
Medical Cost Containment
Moderator

Author:

Sarah Armstrong

CEO
Trend Health Partners

Sarah is, above all else, a passionate leader of people. With a career spanning over two decades, her journey began as a financial analyst at a small community hospital in Kentucky, where she developed a profound appreciation for the pivotal role of people in healthcare, both in the clinic and in the back office. This early experience ignited her passion for enhancing Revenue Cycle performance and fostering leadership talents that resonate with the values of collaboration and efficiency.

Her leadership at TREND is deeply influenced by her comprehensive background, championing a culture of inclusivity and collaboration. By valuing each team member's contribution, Sarah drives innovations that not only challenge the conventional adversarial healthcare models but also promote a cooperative and efficient environment that benefits all stakeholders.

She leads with a commitment to transparency, cooperation over competition, and a deep-seated belief in empowering her team. Under her leadership, TREND is pioneering a new era of healthcare solutions that prioritize accuracy, fairness, and collaborative problem-solving, all aimed at improving outcomes for patients and providers alike.

Sarah's leadership is characterized by her ability to bridge traditional divides within the industry, advocating for a paradigm shift from adversarial dynamics to cooperative partnerships. Her strategic vision is supported by her unwavering dedication to TREND's  ideals, both internally and externally, driving TREND Health Partners to challenge the status quo and lead American healthcare into a more efficient and equitable future.

 

... read more

Sarah Armstrong

CEO
Trend Health Partners

Sarah is, above all else, a passionate leader of people. With a career spanning over two decades, her journey began as a financial analyst at a small community hospital in Kentucky, where she developed a profound appreciation for the pivotal role of people in healthcare, both in the clinic and in the back office. This early experience ignited her passion for enhancing Revenue Cycle performance and fostering leadership talents that resonate with the values of collaboration and efficiency.

Her leadership at TREND is deeply influenced by her comprehensive background, championing a culture of inclusivity and collaboration. By valuing each team member's contribution, Sarah drives innovations that not only challenge the conventional adversarial healthcare models but also promote a cooperative and efficient environment that benefits all stakeholders.

She leads with a commitment to transparency, cooperation over competition, and a deep-seated belief in empowering her team. Under her leadership, TREND is pioneering a new era of healthcare solutions that prioritize accuracy, fairness, and collaborative problem-solving, all aimed at improving outcomes for patients and providers alike.

Sarah's leadership is characterized by her ability to bridge traditional divides within the industry, advocating for a paradigm shift from adversarial dynamics to cooperative partnerships. Her strategic vision is supported by her unwavering dedication to TREND's  ideals, both internally and externally, driving TREND Health Partners to challenge the status quo and lead American healthcare into a more efficient and equitable future.

 

Panelists

Author:

Jonique Dietzen

Payment Integrity Director
CareOregon

With over 18 years of experience in healthcare billing and finance, I am a certified professional coder dedicated to ensuring accurate claims and proper reimbursement for providers. Having worked extensively on the provider side in finance and revenue cycle, I bring wealth of knowledge to the table, particularly in processing and payment integrity.
Throughout my career, I have gained a comprehensive understanding of billing challenges from both perspectives. This unique insight drives my commitment to improving billing practices and advocating for provider education. I continue to leverage my expertise to enhance billing processes and support providers in navigating the complexities of healthcare finance.

... read more

Jonique Dietzen

Payment Integrity Director
CareOregon

With over 18 years of experience in healthcare billing and finance, I am a certified professional coder dedicated to ensuring accurate claims and proper reimbursement for providers. Having worked extensively on the provider side in finance and revenue cycle, I bring wealth of knowledge to the table, particularly in processing and payment integrity.
Throughout my career, I have gained a comprehensive understanding of billing challenges from both perspectives. This unique insight drives my commitment to improving billing practices and advocating for provider education. I continue to leverage my expertise to enhance billing processes and support providers in navigating the complexities of healthcare finance.

Author:

Mandi Heiple

Director of Payment Integrity
Medica

Mandi Heiple is the Director of Payment Integrity at Medica, where she leads a high-performing team dedicated to ensuring accurate, compliant, and efficient claims payment across commercial and government lines of business. She oversees end-to-end payment integrity strategy – from prospective editing and coding validation to retrospective audits. Her teams drive measurable savings while protecting provider relationships and improving member experiences.

With over 20 years in healthcare operations and payment integrity, Mandi has focused on designing and implementing solutions that close process gaps, reduce improper payments, and strengthen compliance frameworks.

... read more

Mandi Heiple

Director of Payment Integrity
Medica

Mandi Heiple is the Director of Payment Integrity at Medica, where she leads a high-performing team dedicated to ensuring accurate, compliant, and efficient claims payment across commercial and government lines of business. She oversees end-to-end payment integrity strategy – from prospective editing and coding validation to retrospective audits. Her teams drive measurable savings while protecting provider relationships and improving member experiences.

With over 20 years in healthcare operations and payment integrity, Mandi has focused on designing and implementing solutions that close process gaps, reduce improper payments, and strengthen compliance frameworks.

Author:

Dr. Ahmad Kilani MD, MBA, MLS, MSIT, CHCQM-PHYADV, FABQAURP, FACP, FACHE

Medical Director
Cleveland Clinic

Dr. Kilani is currently serving as Associate Medical Director for Cleveland Clinic Revenue Cycle Management and Medical Director of Throughput for Cleveland Clinic West Submarket. Nationally, he serves as Vice President of Operations for the American College of Physician Advisors. Dr. Kilani is board certified in Internal Medicine. Additionally, he has a Master of Business in Healthcare from Baldwin Wallace University, a Master of Legal Studies from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, and a Master of Science in Information Technology from the University of Cincinnati. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and board-certified in Healthcare Quality Management through the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians.”

... read more

Dr. Ahmad Kilani MD, MBA, MLS, MSIT, CHCQM-PHYADV, FABQAURP, FACP, FACHE

Medical Director
Cleveland Clinic

Dr. Kilani is currently serving as Associate Medical Director for Cleveland Clinic Revenue Cycle Management and Medical Director of Throughput for Cleveland Clinic West Submarket. Nationally, he serves as Vice President of Operations for the American College of Physician Advisors. Dr. Kilani is board certified in Internal Medicine. Additionally, he has a Master of Business in Healthcare from Baldwin Wallace University, a Master of Legal Studies from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, and a Master of Science in Information Technology from the University of Cincinnati. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and board-certified in Healthcare Quality Management through the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians.”

Author:

Heather Wilson

Vice President and Chief Revenue Cycle Officer
The Christ Hospital Health Network
... read more

Heather Wilson

Vice President and Chief Revenue Cycle Officer
The Christ Hospital Health Network
Engage in focused, small-group discussions where payers and providers connect over specific topics, share perspectives, and explore solutions from both sides—offering a balanced, holistic view of key challenges and opportunities.
  • Price Transparency 4 Years In: Navigating Compliance, Challenges, and Opportunities for Providers and Payers
    Join us for a dynamic roundtable at the Healthcare Payment and Revenue Integrity Congress, where providers and payers will explore the impact of price transparency. Led by Dave Cardelle (SIIA Price Transparency Committee), the session will examine key challenges and strategies around the CMS Final Rule on Hospital Price Transparency and TiC MRFs, four years on. Discussion topics include compliance, penalties, costs, rate setting, contract negotiations, and using transparency data for analysis. Don’t miss this chance to share insights and shape the future of price transparency.
    Dave Cardelle, Chief Strategy Officer, AMS
  • Payment Integrity 101
    Join us for Payment Integrity 101 at the Healthcare Payment and Revenue Integrity Congress, a foundational session designed for those new to or expanding their role in payment integrity. This session will break down the key components of payment integrity, from pre-pay to post-pay strategies, common fraud, waste, and abuse (FWA) schemes, to how plans and providers can align on reducing improper payments. Whether you're building a team, refining your approach, or just starting out, this session offers a practical roadmap and terminology primer to help you navigate the space with confidence.
    Charlie Jensen, Head of Payment Integrity Strategy, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Illinois
Medical Cost Containment

Author:

Maya Turner

Owner/Executive Managing Director
Turner Expert Consulting
... read more

Maya Turner

Owner/Executive Managing Director
Turner Expert Consulting

Author:

Dave Cardelle

Chief Strategy Officer
AMS
... read more

Dave Cardelle

Chief Strategy Officer
AMS

Author:

Charlie Jensen

Head of Payment Integrity Strategy
Blue Cross Blue Shield, Illinois
... read more

Charlie Jensen

Head of Payment Integrity Strategy
Blue Cross Blue Shield, Illinois