Let’s Make A Deal

1. Let’s Make A Deal Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division Milwaukee WIser Choice November 2010 – July 2011

2. The Convener Team • David Moore - Coach • Janet Fleege – WIser Choice Project Director/Convener • WIser Choice Providers: • ARCW -Benedict Center • Brighter Days -Empowerment Clinic • Guest House -Harambee/IMANI • Horizon, Inc. -Meta House • Recovery Network -United Community Center

3. Project Description • This collaborative supported the work of preparing 10 providers for healthcare reform in 2014 • Medicaid track (5) • Aim was to become Medicaid certified • Increasing billing revenues track (4) • Aim was to increase already existing revenue sources • One wasn’t able to complete (1)

4. Activities • 2 Face to Face meetings • Outside of Kick Off meeting • Coach was able to attend due to close geographic proximity • Project conference calls • 2 tracks, focused on unique needs of each group • Ended with group call to support the work accomplished by each provider and to share lessons learned

5. Activities cont. • One-on-One Coaching Calls • Providers benefited from individually identified support from coach and/or convener • Change project charter forms used to monitor progress and keep on track • Focused training provided • Medicaid 101 • An introduction to CPT & ICD-9 codes • Medicaid modifiers and fee schedules • Overview of Forward Health portal • Claims processing

6. Activities cont. • One-on-one meetings with Agency Directors (when requested) • Help ‘ask’ the right questions to further project progress • Remove internal agency barriers • Support, encourage, validate work being done on behalf of fee for service initiative

7. Medicaid Track • Medicaid Track • Start from beginning • Searching to see if they had an NPI #, obtain one if they didn’t • 4 of 5 obtained Medicaid certification • One agency had several staff enroll in college to pursue degrees in Social Work/Human Services • One project experienced a 62% increase in billable revenue

8. Increasing Billing Revenues Track • Of the 4 providers • All had at least 2 contracts outside of Medicaid • All in various stages of billing • Searching to see if they had an NPI #, obtain one if they didn’t • Created new internal audit sheet to capture and monitor collection

9. Lessons Learned • As a convener • Strong relationships with providers • Much to learn about medicaid certification and billing as well as 3rd party revenue sources • Providers weren’t aware of their own bottom line • Heavy emphasis on county funding • Need to decrease dependency of county funding and increase 3rd party billing • More hopeful • We can do this!

10. Lessons Learned, cont. • Strong group of providers who can mentor others • Strong value in working with other providers and learning from each other, to encourage other providers • Cross pollination • There is no competition • The need will always be there, but we may not be • Not necessary to recreate the wheel

11. Lessons Learned, cont. • Existing relationships needed strengthening • Providers did not have strong relationships w/contractors • Marketing, Marketing, Marketing • We’ve been around, people know about us • Changing world, changing climate, changing field • Need to respond to change

12. No longer one door! Door 1-WIser Choice/County Door 2-Medicaid Door 3-UBH Door 4-Icare > # of Doors – greater choice