About the Speaker: The purpose of medical practice improvement is to develop a model for the delivery of high quality medical care in a cost effective and efficient manner. This model, driven by the physicians and staff, is designed to meet the needs of the patient (first and foremost), physicians, staff, and the healthcare payers. Through my years as a medical and business student, medical practitioner, practice management business owner, and finally as a partner in a large podiatric medical specialty group, I have had considerable insight as to the simplicity, but at the same time significant challenges, in getting better collaboration internally to best influence patient clinical and physician financial outcomes. As with all environments, this is best achieved when all interested parties (in this case, the physician, staff, and patient) work together to deliver the best product or outcome possible. I have been fortunate in my career to work with a variety of practitioners, managers, owners, and patients from around the country. This has given me the opportunity to look to pursue a value driven practice with the knowledge that by producing value for the patient, the practice will flourish.

About the Speaker: Michael G. Warshaw, DPM, CSFAC, CPC, CPODCS, COCS, CMSCS is a practicing podiatrist and a Certified Professional Coder with over 25 years of successful coding, management, and training experience for podiatric practices. His local and national views come from active participation as a practicing podiatrist, having the distinction of being a Certified Professional Coder, and years of serving as a national lecturer concerning coding issues. Dr. Warshaw's experience is unique and comprehensive. He has had the additional advantage of participating in all facets of the Medicare Appeals Process, including Redeterminations, Reconsiderations, and Administrative Law Judge Hearings, as well as the appeals processes of most commercial insurance companies and state Medicaid programs. Dr. Warshaw has also served as an expert witness in the actual court system, at both the federal and state levels. Dr. Warshaw is also the author of THE Podiatry Coding Manual, a comprehensive coding manual specific for podiatry that is updated on an annual basis. This unique prospective provides Dr. Warshaw with the ability to provide solutions to insurance and coding problems from 'real world' experience. Dr. Warshaw is committed to assist practices in learning to code appropriately, obtain the proper reimbursement, and to avoid the wrath of the carriers by coding and billing in an appropriate fashion.