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Amy Wagner, MEd, CPC, CHA, ICDCT-CM
Amy brings her experience in education and coding to support course updates and to create new, innovative programs and articles for AIHC. From 2003-2007 Amy served as Adjunct Faculty with Thomas Jefferson University for their undergraduate course in the College of Health Professions: Personal health and Wellness and currently is the Billing Office Manager and Medical Coder for local health care providers in the Medina-Cuyahoga County region of Ohio. She joined the AIHC professional team in 2019. Amy is a Certified Professional Coder (CPC); Certified ICD-10-CM Trainer (ICDCT-CM); and Certified Healthcare Auditor (CHA) and earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Brian Freedman, MS, CISSP, PMP, CHCO
Online Course Consultant - With over 20 years working in IT and Information Assurance, Mr. Freedman has hands-on experience with the public, private, and government sectors of healthcare networks and systems. Working with both covered entities and business associates, he has conducted HIPAA Security Risk Assessments and taught others how to perform them. He was formerly the CIO and Information Technology Director at a large independent medical practice, has served as a HIPAA Compliance Officer, and managed a team of IT specialists in support of electronic medical records and practice management systems. Mr. Freedman earned his Masters of Science in Information Systems through Strayer University and a Bachelor of Science in Communications from The University of Miami with a double-major in Speech Communications and History. He has co-authored a book on PCI Compliance and is the Technical Editor of a handbook on IT Regulatory and Standards Compliance. Mr. Freedman also holds some of the leading industry certifications from Microsoft and Cisco and is also a CISSP and PMP. Mr. Freedman is a Certified HIPAA Compliance Officer (CHCO) through the American Institute of Healthcare Compliance, where he serves as an Online Course Manager for the HIPAA Privacy & Security Program.
Carl Byron ATC (Ret), CCS, CHA, CIFHA, CPC, ICDCT-CM/PCS, OHCC
Subject Matter Expert in Appeals, Auditing and Compliance - With approximately 30 years of clinical, coding and auditing experience in health care, Carl shares his expertise to enhance AIHC courses and training programs. His expertise includes medical record and claims audits, winning difficult appeal cases and training providers to improve clinical documentation. His experience includes conducting Risk Adjustment audits for CMS, working as a consultant, coding and auditing for a large world-wide medical center and currently serves our military as a medical auditor contracted with the United States government.
Joanne Byron, LPN, BS, CCA, CIFHA, CMDP, CHA, CHCO, CHBS, CHCM, OHCC, ICDCT-CM/PCS
As a C-Suite Executive with AIHC, Joanne serves as Program Developer, Instructor, Corporate Trainer, Camp Facilitator. She brings over 35 years of clinical and executive health care experience in areas of compliance, coding, documentation improvement, auditing, privacy, and security. She has over thirty-five years of experience in health care consulting and administration. She has worked in Acquisitions and Mergers in the health care division of an accounting firm, Director of Coding and Reimbursement for a large multi-specialty physician network, served as a senior health care consultant supporting clients in areas of auditing, developing compliance programs and improving accounts receiving performance and cash flow and implementing EHR clinical documentation standards for physician organizations and hospital-owned networks. In addition to AIHC, Joanne is affiliated with AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association), HiMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society), and the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). As a graduate with honors from St. Augustine Technical Center with a diploma in nursing, Joanne continued her education at Lake Erie College in Health Care Administration, obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree through Clayton College, is Certified in Compliance, HIPAA privacy/security, Auditing, Internal Forensic Auditing, ICD-10, Medical Billing, Collections and Clinical Documentation Improvement.
Makema Massey, BSHIM, RHIT, CCS, COCAS, CPC, CPC-I, CPMA, AAPC Approved Instructor
Makema is an experienced medical coder, educator, auditor, and health information management subject matter expert. Her knowledge spans outpatient and extensive inpatient diagnosis coding guideline adherence and application, Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) validation, and ICD-10-PCS coding system usage. Makema is affiliated with the following organizations in addition to AIHC: AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association), AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders), and NSLS (The National Society of Leadership and Success). Makema has worked across multiple health informatics disciplines in both large and small medical coding companies, hospitals, health insurance payers, higher-level educational facilities, and as an individual consultant. She has built and executed thought-provoking leadership representation, healthcare and coding insights, and helped many students reach their goals of obtaining a higher level of education through her lectures and motivating education style. As a graduate with honors from Western Governors University with a Bachelor's degree in Health Information Management, Makema is continuing her education at her Alma Mater to obtain her Executive Master's Degree in Health Leadership, is in the process of obtaining certifications in appeals and revenue cycle management, is certified in healthcare informatics, inpatient and outpatient medical coding, auditing, and education.
Ronda K. Ash, MHLW, CPC, CPMA, CHC, CIFHA
Ronda is president and CEO of RKAsh Consulting Associates, Inc., a national healthcare consulting firm. With more than 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Ronda is an experienced leader with a strong belief in transparency and partnership. Ronda's work involves third-party reimbursement, operations, merger and acquisition coding, and documentation reviews, as well as assisting clients in general compliance issues throughout the United States. Additionally, Ronda provides expert reports and testimony for healthcare-related litigation engagements. Ronda has worked in nearly every medical specialty throughout her career, with both private and hospital-based physicians, delivering holistic coding and management solutions, and her client base includes law firms, physician practices, revenue cycle organizations, and capital investment firms. She is also the National Director of Coding, Documentation, and Education at AdvantEdge Healthcare.
Scott Mertie, CHFP, FHFMA, CMPE, CCRS, CHCO, CIFHA
Camp Instructor and Facilitator and Course Consultant & Advisor - Scott Mertie leads Kraft Healthcare Consulting, LLC, an affiliate of KraftCPAs PLLC. With more than 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Scott consults on various areas involving third-party reimbursement, operations, and compliance for clients throughout the United States. Additionally, Scott provides expert reports and testimony for healthcare-related litigation engagements. His clients include hospitals, long-term care facilities, physicians, and other providers, as well as law firms. Scott is an instructor with the American Institute of Healthcare Compliance to develop and teach the Medicare/Medicaid cost reporting boot camp to train individuals who assist with cost report preparation. His previous experience includes working for a Nashville-based hospital management company, a Nashville hospital system, and other CPA firms.
Sherra Hassig, BS, AAS
Certification Exam Proctor & Online Course Manager - Sherra earned her Associate of Applied Science degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography with a specialty in vascular ultrasound from Cuyahoga Community College in Parma, Ohio. As part of the academic program, she completed extensive clinical rotations at three well-known hospitals in Northeast Ohio. Sherra went on to successfully pass the Sonography Principles & Instrumentation and the Vascular Technology exams in order to earn her Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) credential through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). Sherra has also earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She used knowledge from earning this degree to pursue a career in graphic design. Sherra now provides technical support and guidance to AIHC’s online students as a Certification Exam Proctor and Online Course Manager.