Event Registration

Maximizing Reimbursement

Live Access Only

The virtual program will not be recorded.

Program Description

Financial success in today’s long-term care environment requires more than understanding one reimbursement system — it demands a comprehensive approach to Medicaid, Medicare and revenue cycle management.

Join reimbursement and financial experts for a practical conference focused on the strategies that have the greatest impact on your organization’s financial performance. Gain a clearer understanding of Iowa Medicaid reimbursement, from accurately completing the cost report to understanding how your Medicaid rate is calculated and preparing for future rebasing opportunities. Learn how the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) and Quality Reporting Program (QRP) influence Medicare reimbursement beyond the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), and discover ways to improve quality performance while protecting revenue. The conference concludes with practical guidance on strengthening collections processes, reducing outstanding resident balances and navigating legal and financial challenges throughout the revenue cycle.

Whether you oversee reimbursement, finance or facility operations, you’ll leave with actionable strategies to maximize reimbursement accuracy, strengthen financial performance and protect your organization’s bottom line.

Schedule

August 26, 2026
10:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Session Descriptions

Understanding Iowa Medicaid Reimbursement From Cost Report to Rate Calculation – Alex Keller
Gain a comprehensive understanding of how Iowa Medicaid reimbursement is determined — from the cost report you submit to the rate you ultimately receive. This session walks attendees through the Iowa Medicaid cost report, highlighting key schedules, common reporting errors and practical review tips before submission. Participants will then explore how cost report data flows into the state’s rate-setting methodology and learn how to interpret their Medicaid rate with confidence. The session concludes with a discussion of the key reimbursement metrics every provider should monitor throughout the year to identify trends, improve accuracy and stay prepared for future rebasing opportunities.

Protecting Revenue Through Effective Collections – Jay Helton
Unpaid resident balances can quickly become one of a provider’s biggest financial challenges. This session walks attendees through the collections process from start to finish, including best practices for securing financial responsibility at admission, working with powers of attorney, addressing situations where a POA is unavailable or uncooperative, and understanding legal collection tools such as liens, judgments and other enforcement options. Attendees will gain practical strategies to strengthen their revenue cycle while remaining compliant and protecting resident relationships.

Beyond PDPM: How SNF VBP and QRP Impact Medicare Revenue – Melinda Renshaw
PDPM is only one piece of the Medicare reimbursement puzzle. This session explores how the SNF VBP program and SNF QRP directly affect your Medicare revenue through payment incentives, penalties and compliance requirements. Learn how these programs work together, which quality measures have the greatest financial impact and what your organization can do to protect reimbursement while improving performance. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how quality outcomes translate into dollars — and how to avoid leaving Medicare revenue on the table.

Advancing Olmstead in Iowa’s LTSS Medicaid Program – Andrea Maher
As Iowa’s long-term services and supports (LTSS) system continues to evolve, providers play a critical role in supporting person-centered care and community integration. This session will provide an overview of the LTSS Community Integration Manager’s role within Iowa Medicaid and examine how nursing facilities can partner with state resources to advance the goals of the Olmstead decision. Attendees will gain insight into future initiatives, available supports and opportunities to strengthen care transitions and resident choice.

Continuing Education Credit

This program is approved for 4.5 contact hours for:

• NF administrators

Registration Fees

Members:     $95 per person
Non-members:        $285 per person

Speakers

Alexandrea (Alex) Keller, CPA began her journey with Williams & Company in 2015 as a staff accountant in the Onawa office. She advanced to senior accountant in 2016, manager in 2019, and was named shareholder in 2025. Over her career, she has developed expertise in long-term care, audits and data analytics, serving clients with a strong commitment to accuracy and insight. Inspired by encouragement from an accounting professor during college, Alexandrea switched her major to accounting and found a profession that offers problem-solving and versatility across industries. She appreciates that accounting is often described as the language of business. At Williams & Company, Alexandrea values the firm’s culture — accepting, caring, challenging and motivating — and the leadership’s dedication to helping everyone reach their full potential. 

J. Campbell Helton is the founding member of Helton Law Firm, P.L.L.C. After being a member of the Des Moines firm Whitfield & Eddy, P.L.C. for over 20 years, he ventured out on his own in April 2017. Jay is an experienced trial attorney with a history of excellent results for his clients. Jay has tried cases of all sizes for clients of all types. Jay is a proud graduate of the University of Utah and Drake University.

Melinda Renshaw, RN, RAC-CT Advanced, is owner of Renshaw Reimbursement and Consulting and brings more than 28 years of nursing experience, primarily in long-term care. With expertise in MDS, Medicaid Case Mix Index (CMI), PDPM and reimbursement, she helps providers strengthen documentation, improve reimbursement accuracy and reduce regulatory risk. Drawing on experience as a clinician, MDS coordinator and corporate reimbursement specialist, Melinda provides practical guidance to facilities across multiple states and is a sought-after speaker on reimbursement strategies, compliance and MDS best practices. 

Andrea Maher is a health leader with more than 20 years of experience improving long-term care systems, advancing quality initiatives, and supporting people with complex needs. As Bureau Chief for LLTS at Iowa Medicaid, she leads strategy, operations and policy for HCBS waivers, the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program, and long-term care facilities. Andrea works closely with managed care organizations, stakeholders and interagency partners to strengthen community integration, uphold Olmstead commitments and improve experiences across the LTSS continuum. This includes supervising the Community Integration Managers that help individuals have the support they need to thrive in the community. Her career spans leadership in quality management, direct clinical practice and consulting across long-term care, reflecting a long-standing dedication to improving outcomes for Iowa’s most vulnerable populations.

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