2023 Health Care Conference Bundle

Dr. Chris Kuehl is a Managing Director of Armada Corporate Intelligence. He provides forecasts and strategic guidance for a wide variety of corporate clients around the world. He is the chief economist for several national and international organizations, Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, National Association of Credit Management, Finance, Credit and International Business and the Business Information Industry Association. He is also the economic analyst for several state accounting societies – Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Kansas.

Prior to starting Armada in 1999 he was a professor of economics and finance for 15 years – teaching in the US, Hungary, Russia, Estonia, Singapore and Taiwan. He holds advanced degrees in economics, Soviet studies and East Asian studies.

Chris is the author of Business Intelligence Briefs and Executive Intelligence Briefs - both publications from Armada. He is also responsible for the Credit Manager's Index from NACM and Fabrinomics from the FMA.

Jim is Managing Director at Graham Healthcare Capital and has been with the company since inception. He has twenty years of experience as an investor, investment banker, and financial consultant. At Graham, he is responsible for overseeing the deal process from sourcing to close and for post-transaction portfolio support.

His experience also includes membership at 2nd Generation Capital, LLC, where he spent much of his time advising small enterprises on financial strategy, helping clients raise debt or equity capital, and developing relationships with private equity, mezzanine, and debt capital providers throughout the country.

Jim also founded Southeast Acquisition Capital, a company designed to facilitate business ownership transition in the Southeast. Previously, Jim worked for Mars in its Financial Management Development Program and at Fannie Mae in a data analytics role during the housing market downturn and government conservatorship.

He is currently Treasurer of the Association of Corporate Growth (ACG) Tennessee. Jim graduated cum laude from Princeton University and received his M.B.A. from the Owen Graduate School of Management, where he was Beta Gamma Sigma with concentrations in Finance, Accounting, and Strategy.

Barry has nearly three decades of experience in the information technology (IT) and healthcare industries as a CIO, CTO, senior IT audit manager, and IT risk management consultant. He has performed and managed complicated HIPAA security reviews and audits for some of the most sophisticated hospital systems in the country.

Barry is a visionary, creative, results-oriented senior-level healthcare executive with demonstrated experience in planning, developing, and implementing complex information-technology solutions to address business opportunities, while reducing IT risk and exposure. He is adept at project and crisis management, troubleshooting, problem solving, and negotiating.

Barry has strong technical capabilities combined with outstanding presentation skills and professional pride. He is a prudent risk taker with proficiency in IT risk management, physician relations, strategic development, and employee team building.

Matt is a director and senior health care analyst with RSM's national health care practice. He has 10 years of business valuation experience and leads the national health care business valuation consulting team. His senior analyst responsibilities include advising the firm's health care clients and client servers as they work to navigate the rapidly changing industry environment. Matt regularly writes, presents and advises on regulatory changes, digital transformation, consumerism and other issues transforming health care.

With respect to business valuation, Matt and his team have provided valuation advisory services for a variety of purposes, including buy and sell-side management planning, financial reporting, such as FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topics 350, 360, 718, 805, 820 and 958-805, and physician compensation.

Michael J. Sacopulos is the CEO of Medical Risk Institute (MRI). Medical Risk Institute provides proactive counsel to the healthcare community to identify where liability risks originate, and to reduce or remove these risks. He was selected as the 2016 "Lawyer of the Year" in the practice area of Medical Malpractice Law for Indiana by "Best Lawyers." Michael won the 2012 Edward B. Stevens Article of the Year Award for MGMA. Michael serves as the Executive Vice President of the Aesthetic Stem Cell Society. He has written for Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Bloomberg and many publications for the medical profession. He is a frequent national speaker. In 2018, Michael published Tweets, Likes, and Liabilities: Online and Electronic Risk to the Healthcare Professional. Michael also serves as co-host of Greenbranch Publishing’s "SoundPractice" podcast which focuses on the business of medicine. He attended Harvard College, London School of Economics and Indiana University/Purdue University School of Law.

Zack Buck is an Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee College of Law, where he teaches courses in health law and torts. His research focuses on the Affordable Care Act, rules that govern overtreatment and medical necessity, and the regulation of health care and pharmaceutical prices. He is the author of over 15 law review articles and has been quoted in national outlets such as the New Yorker, CNN, USA Today and the Los Angeles Times.

Over his first seven years at Tennessee, Buck has been honored for his teaching, research, and service. Professor Buck was recognized as UT Law's teacher of the year with the 2019 Harold Warner Outstanding Teacher Award, has had his scholarship awarded through the Marilyn V. Yarbrough Faculty Award for Writing Excellence, the Wilkinson Junior Research Professorship, and the John Reginald Hill Faculty Scholar Award, and has won the Forrest W. Lacy Award for outstanding contributions to the UT Law moot court program.

Professor Buck holds a BA from Miami University (OH), and a Masters in Bioethics and J.D., both from the University of Pennsylvania. He formerly practiced at Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago.

Michael Haas is a technology management consulting manager in RSM’s health care industry practice. In 2022, he was selected for the firm’s cutting-edge Industry Eminence Program as a senior analyst covering the health care industry, working alongside the firm’s chief economist and other program participants to analyze the trends and themes affecting the nonprofit and education industry and shaping middle market businesses. Michael is based out of the RSM New York City office.

Michael's focus is on improving operational and financial performance for clients in the RSM health care consulting practice. Delivering innovative solutions in areas of technology, process improvement, revenue cycle, client software application trainings and project management, he works primarily with large, integrated delivery health systems, behavioral health and community organizations, community hospitals, FQHCs, clinics and physician practices. He brings a deep understanding of the industry’s complexities and constraints that are faced while delivering solutions to his clients.

Michael has a strong record of implementation and delivery in health care technology solutions and services. His decade-long professional work history includes managerial positions within the hospital revenue cycle at NYU Langone Medical Center and has evolved into Electronic Health Records (EHR) technology solution implementations at RSM.

Michael is an active member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the New York and New Jersey Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) chapters.

Ben Middleton is the Regional Chief Executive Officer for Centerstone, a nonprofit health system specializing in mental health and substance use disorder treatments. As Regional Chief Executive Officer, Middleton is responsible for the leadership and operational oversight of Centerstone’s clinical service lines in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia, as well as strategic business development, fiscal performance and accountability, and the organization’s philanthropic fund development efforts.

Middleton has worked in behavioral health care since 1979, specializing in substance use treatment and the continuum of services for those with mental illnesses. He began his career as an alcohol and drug treatment therapist in Alabama. As a consultant for the Tennessee Department of Mental Health, he led an advisory committee to develop a statewide culturally competent system of care for children and youth. He first joined Centerstone in 1985 and was named Director of Program Development for Alcohol & Drug Services at Centerstone in 1990. Middleton later advanced to Vice President for Core Services and Regional Chief Operating Officer before becoming Regional Chief Executive Officer.

Middleton is an active volunteer board member with the King’s Daughters Home and the Madison Kiwanis. His professional memberships include the Nashville Substance Abuse Forum, Licensed Alcohol and Other Drugs of Abuse Counselor, and National Certified Addiction Counselor II.

Middleton graduated from Oakwood University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and from Alabama A&M University with a Master of Science degree in clinical psychology.

Laurie Powell serves as CEO with Alliance Healthcare Services (AHS), which provides behavioral health and addiction services to over 22,000 individuals and families at 19 locations throughout Shelby County in Tennessee. 2023 marks 30 years of employment at Alliance where Ms. Powell has previously served in the roles of Vice President of Clinical Services, Deputy Director, and Clinical Director.

Ms. Powell is a member of the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations and currently serves on their Board of Directors and Legislative Committees. She has also served on Mayor Strickland's Community Health Steering Committee, Shelby County Covid-19 task force representing behavioral health, the Shelby County non-profit committee, and the Healing Center's Wellness Clinic Board of Directors. She is dedicated to partnering with the community to "promote wellness", the mission of Alliance Healthcare Services.

Ms. Powell received a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Memphis, a master's in sociology from the University of Memphis, and an MSSW from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Alysia Smith Knight is the Executive Director for the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations. TAMHO is the statewide trade association representing Community Mental Health Centers and other nonprofits who provide mental health, addiction, and co-occurring care to Tennesseans across their lifespan. Ms. Smith Knight believes that every individual facing behavioral health challenges can experience hope and healing, and live their best lives when they have timely access to the right services and supports. This is why she is passionate about her role in bringing together providers, state departments, advocacy organizations, and other partners to help resolve some of the most complex issues facing Community Mental Health and the individuals they serve.

In her pervious role as TAMHO’s Director of Policy and Advocacy, Ms. Smith Knight led several successful legislative campaigns that has not only improved state laws, but also infused additional resources in a system that has been woefully underfunded. Ms. Smith Knight serves as an Ambassador with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing where she cultivates partnerships with members of congress.

Ms. Smith Knight earned her Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Xavier University in New Orleans and has Masters in Non-Profit Organization Management from Lipscomb University in Nashville.

Lane is a shareholder at LBMC and is responsible for overseeing the health care revenue cycle service line. He has served health care provider clients exclusively for the last 29 years. Prior to joining LBMC Lane was a partner and Health Care Commercial Advisory practice lead for a large Firm with over 7,000 domestic employees. Lane continues to work exclusively in health care and leads complex revenue cycle transformation, compliance, integration, restructuring and electronic medical record (EMR) implementation engagements. He has extensive experience serving health care provider systems, academic medical centers, large physician groups and other specialty providers.

Jeff Nahley is a 30+ year investment banker who started his career in the New York Corporate Finance Group with Bankers Trust Company (BT) in 1986. During his seven years with BT, Jeff completed a variety of Debt financing, High Yield, M&A and Advisory assignments. Before moving to Nashville, TN in 1993, Jeff was a Vice President in BT’s New York Mergers & Acquisitions group. Since moving to Nashville, Jeff has been a Partner/Shareholder and senior Managing Director with three middle market boutique investment banks, Equitable Securities, Avondale Partners and Signal Hill Capital. His investment banking experience includes completion of more than 100 transactions in the Debt Capital Markets, Equity Capital Markets, and Mergers & Acquisitions arena. Jeff joined BoA Securities' Investment Banking Group in July 2019, and is based in Nashville. His practice efforts within BoA primarily focus on Healthcare Services clients and transactions throughout the US.

He is a graduate of Middlebury College and Columbia Business School.

Tammy Wolcott is the President and CEO of LBMC Procurement Solutions, LLC.

LBMC Procurement Solutions is a spin-off of W Squared that provides clients with an opportunity to participate in a boutique GPO (group purchasing organization) for shared savings and to utilize a fractional procurement team who garner better pricing, better spend control and better customer service in purchasing goods and services for their individual client companies.

Tammy co-founded W Squared in 2005 and became a part of the LBMC family of companies with the acquisition of W Squared in 2017. W Squared leveraged scalable systems, people, and processes typically in place for large companies in a fractional outsourced model for small to medium-sized businesses. Acting first as Chief Operating Officer and then Chief Executive Officer, she grew the company across all lines of business: Finance & Accounting, Technology, Human Resources and Procurement. W Squared acted as the corporate back office for many businesses in the Nashville community and across the country. Currently W Squared provides outsourced Accounting services, and Tammy serves in an advisory role for the organization.

Prior to founding W Squared, Tammy was Vice President, Corporate Controller, and Treasurer of I-Trax, Inc., formerly CHD Meridian Healthcare. During her six years with the company, she was responsible for all aspects of the corporate finance function, including consolidation of 36 legal entities, management of all required reporting for senior lenders, oversight of centralized payroll for 1,800 employees, and management of the company’s cash concentration and investment strategies. Tammy was also responsible for establishing both internal management reports and external public reports to comply with SEC guidelines and a review of internal controls and processes to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Prior to joining CHD Meridian Healthcare, Tammy was employed as National Director of Human Resources and as Assistant Controller for Surgical Care Affiliates, Inc. As part of the early management team, she assisted in growing the company from 3 to 60 surgery centers. During her nine-year tenure, she provided standardization of the accounting process and training for business managers, developed a consolidated cash management program through a major bank, and created a national benefits program for 1,500 employees.

A Nashville native, Tammy graduated from the Harpeth Hall School, attended the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill and received her BS in Accounting from the University of Tennessee. She has served on the Board of the Nashville Healthcare Council, the Board of Visitors for the Lipscomb University College of Business, the Harpeth Hall School Board of Trustees and has been a presenter/panelist at business and start-up company forums with the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, Smart Business Dealmakers, the Social Enterprise Alliance, Baker Donelson, Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management and Lipscomb University College of Business.

Rick is a Health Care Partner at RSM. He has years of experience providing professional services to organizations in the health care ecosystem. He has served a wide variety services for organizations ranging from large organizations with more than $16 billion in annual revenue to small, standalone entities with less than $1 million in annual revenue. Rick has served clients across the health care continuum including integrated health systems, physician groups, safety-net hospitals, health insurance clients, and other various health care related entities. Rick has experience in governmental, not for profit, and statutory accounting standards. .

In January 2018, Rick was selected as a fellow in RSM's cutting edge Industry Eminence Program, which positions its fellows to understand, predict and communicate economic, business and technology trends shaping the industries RSM serves. Eminence fellows advise clients on conditions impacting their business.

Rick also lead RSM’s COVID-19 Client Response team which was organized in March of 2020. Since that time he as advised hundreds of clients on issues related to the Provider Relief Fund and other components that were included in the CARES Act.

Ross White is a Director in the Center for Healthcare Regulatory Insight (Center) at KPMG, where he conducts research and provides strategic guidance on regulatory and policy matters impacting healthcare system transformation, particularly related to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) initiatives. Mr. White has an MA in Public Policy from The George Washington University and 13+ years of experience analyzing and writing about healthcare and life sciences policies.

Mr. White provides analysis for internal and external audiences on legislative, regulatory, and other policy developments impacting providers, payers, and life sciences companies. He leads research for the Center on high-priority, dynamic issues related to healthcare change in the public and private sector, including monitoring healthcare-related legislation, regulations and guidance, and business developments for synthesis in issue briefs, presentations, and client discussions.

Mr. White collaborates with Center and firm leadership on thought leadership and stakeholder strategy on a wide range of healthcare and life sciences issues, including payment and delivery reform; federal COVID-19 response; health IT and data interoperability; drug pricing policy reform; and other healthcare policy priorities in Congress and federal agencies.

Mr. White also writes a weekly publication on healthcare policy, regulatory, legal, and business developments, Around the World of US Healthcare in 360 Words or Less; supports management with new business development; and coordinates efforts of the Center with relevant advisory, audit, and tax functions across the firm.

Previously as a Senior Project Manager at The Brookings Institution, he managed the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Learning Network and other projects on US healthcare system reform efforts. He provided health care providers, payers, and other industry stakeholders with insights necessary to implement new payment and delivery models, and led a team of researchers analyzing trends, performance data, and emerging policies for ACOs. Mr. White was also a Research Assistant and Public Policy Associate at The Hastings Center, a bioethics research and policy institute, where he examined pressing policy issues, including health system reform, emerging biotechnologies, and personalized medicine. He has also conducted research at the President’s Council on Bioethics and the Institute of Human Values in Health Care at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Marc is the Director of Population Health Services at LBMC. Marc's expertise is generally in the areas of population health, physician practice management, payor contracting, and interim management.

Marc is a highly accomplished and nationally recognized Population Health Executive and Practice Management CEO, and Contracting Consultant. His responsibilities included multi-state leadership of health system physician enterprises, Accountable Care Organizations, Clinically Integrated Networks, and other healthcare services organizations in the non-profit, for-profit, and private equity backed environments. He was recently awarded "2018 Senior Healthcare Executive of the Year" by the American College of Healthcare Executives Alabama chapter.

He is one of a few healthcare executives with the credentials of an MBA, and a Fellowship in the American College of Medical Practice Executives (FACMPE), and a Fellowship in the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). He has led practice management, value-based strategy, payor contracting reimbursement, and population health management for multi-billion dollar health systems. In addition, he has experience in managing though private equity backed healthcare transactions.

Mr. Miller has a successful track record in developing physician practices, ACOs and CINs in five different states, and is an expert in forming strategic coalitions among health systems, physicians, payors, employers, and post-acute facilities. He has a reputation for discerning future environments, and capitalizing on emerging trends.

His payor contracting expertise includes Commercial, Direct to Employer, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Standard, and Medicaid contracts involving fee for fee for service, and value-based, and ACO/CIN advanced payment models. He is also a contracting expert for Physician Practices, Accountable Care Organizations and Clinically Integrated Networks including formation, operating agreements, medical staff, by-laws, physician participation agreements, incentive distribution models, etc.

He previously served as the CEO of Southeast Health Statera Network, a physician practice and ACO/CIN in Dothan Alabama. Prior to joining Statera Network, he served as the business development executive at Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network in Nashville, Tennessee, one of the largest ACO/CIN organizations in the Southeastern US with over 4,500 physicians and 59 health systems across a five state region.

Prior to joining Vanderbilt, Mr. Miller was the Corporate Vice President, Physician Services, at Ardent Health Services in Nashville, Tennessee, a private equity backed $4 billion health system representing 31 hospitals across an eight state region. He has also held senior executive healthcare positions with other major health systems in Ocala, Fla., and Asheville, N.C.

He earned his undergraduate degree in general business with a concentration in marketing from Stetson University in Deland, Fla. And he completed his MBA in marketing at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.

Lisa is a member at Bass Berry & Sims. She is a former federal prosecutor and current chair of the firm’s Compliance & Government Investigations Practice Group, Lisa’s practice focuses on advising healthcare providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, medical device companies and other clients on matters related to civil and criminal healthcare fraud and abuse, as well as government investigations and enforcement. Lisa has significant experience handling matters arising under the False Claims Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute, the Stark law, and various other federal and state healthcare statutes and regulations, and counsels clients on fraud and abuse matters, internal investigations and compliance issues.

For 10 years, Lisa served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, where she served as Civil and Criminal Healthcare Fraud Coordinator and was responsible for the intake, review and coordination of all criminal and civil healthcare fraud investigations and claims.

As a senior manager within PYA's valuation services group, Matt provides business valuation and related advisory services for a variety of entities, including physician practice groups, joint ventures, hospitals, and health systems. He has significant experience evaluating compensation and service arrangements between health facilities and physicians. Additionally, he provides litigation consulting services related to lost profits, merger-and-acquisition transactions, wrongful termination, and marital dissolution matters.

Jason Lay is the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the McNabb Center located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The McNabb Center is the region's leading nonprofit provider of mental health, substance use, social, and victim services.

In the Center's 74-year history, Jason is the first person to hold the CFO position. He is a Licensed CPA in the State of Tennessee, and his career specializes in Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting. Jason is an active volunteer in both professional and community areas where he currently participates on the TSCPA Health Care Conference Planning Committee, the TSCPA Governmental & Not-For-Profit Conference Planning Committee and serves as the Treasurer of the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations.

Jason leads PYA’s Business Intelligence and Analytics service line and has been with the firm for more than 13 years. A certified public accountant, Jason leverages his strong foundation in accounting and finance to translate data into custom business intelligence solutions for clients. Jason has extensive experience in healthcare claims analytics, financial modeling/analysis, and dashboard development. Jason implements analytics to provide litigation support on a variety of complex cases related to payment disputes between payers and providers, Certificate of Need applications, and Civil Investigative Demands.

Randy has been a top-rated speaker in the technology industry for over 40 years. Inducted into the Accounting Hall of Fame in 2011, Randy is listed as a Top 25 Thought Leader in Accounting from 2011-2023. His influence throughout the accounting profession is highlighted once again this year by being a recipient of the 2022 Accounting Today Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting award for the eighteenth consecutive year. Among his many other awards, he holds the honor of being one of nine technology stars in the U.S. by Accounting Technology Magazine.

In addition, Randy writes a monthly column and produces a weekly podcast for The CPA Practice Advisor, features for the Journal of Accountancy, creates articles for accounting and technology publications, and is the author of numerous books. He has started and owns multiple businesses, including K2 Enterprises in Hammond, Louisiana, and Network Management Group, Inc. in Hutchinson, Kansas. NMGI has supported CPA firms for 30+ years and is the largest managed service provider serving the CPA profession in North America. His wife and four children enjoy many experiences together, including theatre, music, travel, golf, skiing, snorkeling, and model trains. His experience as a college instructor, management and technology consultant, and advisor to the profession will be evident to you in today's presentation.

Joey Peay is Chief Executive Officer of Murfreesboro Medical Clinic, a position which he has held since 2003. Prior to 2003, he served as the Clinic's Chief Financial Officer for more than four years.

Joey graduated with honors from Middle Tennessee State University with a bachelor's degree in Accounting. He passed the Uniform CPA Exam in 1988. He spent the first ten years of his career with KPMG, an international public accounting finn, leaving in 1998 as a Senior Manager.

Joey is a member of the Jones College of Business Dean's Advisory Council, the MTSU Accounting Advisory Board, the Endowment Committee of Special Kids, and the Murfreesboro Advisory Board for Alive Hospice. He is an Elder and Clerk of Session at Cripple Creek Presbyterian Church. Joey is also a graduate of the Leadership Rutherford Program, a member of the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants, a member of the Medical Group Management Association, and a Ce11ified Medical Practice Executive by the American College of Medical Practice Executives. Previously, Joey has served in leadership roles for the Kittrell Volunteer Fire Depaitment, American Heai1 Association, March of Dimes, and the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross. In 2014, Joey was recognized by the Rutherford County Chainber of Commerce as its Businessperson of the Year.