AAPACN 2024 Quality Conference Recording Bundle

Stacy is the Director of Reimbursement Operations. She has more than 19 years' experience in long-term care and is recognized for her expertise in the RAI process, audits, appeals, clinical processes and clinical reimbursement. Many of the nurses she has trained have gone on to become trainers, regional consultants, company leaders and experts in the field. She assisted in forming an MDS Council in Utah to help troubleshoot issues and educate MDS nurses. Stacy loves the RAI process and the MDS. She finds great joy in teaching others the value of the MDS nurse role and how it can impact the lives of the residents they serve. Stacy has served on the AAPACN Expert Advisory Panel since August 2019 and has been instrumental in continuing innovation and quality in the long-term care industry. She has a passion for caring for the elderly and improving the quality of care. 

Carol Maher is a Board Certified Gerontological Registered Nurse who has worked with the MDS since its inception. Carol is an AAPACN Master Teacher for the RAC-CT and RAC-CTA certification classes. She is also a Certified Professional Coder (CPC) who has maintained her certification with continuing education and provides ICD-10-CM training to SNF clients across the country. Ms. Maher has authored and recorded the AAPACN ICD-10-CM Coding Certificate Program for SNFs Plus ICD-10-CM for PDPM and HCPRO’s MDS 3.0 Field Guide. Ms. Maher is the Director of Education for Hansen Hunter, providing MDS and Medicare classes across the country, presenting monthly educational webinars and completing compliance audits.

Jennifer is a curriculum development specialist with AAPACN. She has been involved in the RAI process since 1997 and has been in the post-acute care arena since 1991 serving in a variety of capacities including CNA, charge nurse, MDS coordinator, and regional corporate clinical reimbursement specialist. Jennifer has considerable expertise in the MDS 3.0 and RAI process, the prospective payment system (PPS), and ICD-10, including the clinical and financial aspects.

Tammy Cassidy is a registered nurse with over 30 years of experience in long term care, specializing in MDS and clinical quality. She is also a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator and former CMS DAVE2 reviewer. She is a nationally recognized speaker, providing education for many organizations such as AAPACN and state associations. She is proud to be serving the members of the Ohio Health Care Association as the Regulatory Director.  

Judy Brandt brings over thirty-five years’ combined experience to the long-term care industry, with over twenty years in positions of increasing responsibility in nursing facilities as a nurse manager, executive, and consultant. She has been a State surveyor and RAI manager for the Commonwealth of Virginia. She has assisted providers and the United States government as a legal expert in Medicare and Medicaid fraud cases, and other various government initiatives. She often serves on Independent Review Organization (IRO) teams for corporate integrity agreements (CIA) for skilled nursing facilities.

Judy is a past Chair and founding member of the Nurse Assessment Coordination Expert Advisory Panel, and professional coder, competent in assigning CPT, HCPCS, and ICD-10. She is a certified director of nursing services (DNS-CT) and a quality assurance performance improvement (QAPI) certified professional (QCP). She is also the principal for Wilhide Consulting, Inc. and serves as an advisor, auditor, and trainer for multiple providers from standalone communities to multi-state chains across the country.

Joel is the EVP of PAC Regulatory Affairs and Education for Broad River Rehab. He began his career in LTC as an MDS coordinator and worked for many years as the Director of Clinical Reimbursement and RAI for a group of nursing facilities across the southeast. Joel contributes regularly to McKnight’s LTC News and Skilled nursing News. He has also contributed to the AAPACN Leader for the NAC, Skilled Nursing News Rethink podcast, AAPACN NAC Chat podcast and ASHA VOICES podcast. He also currently serves on the AAPACN Expert Advisory Panel and as Vice President of the AAPACN Education Foundation board of directors. Joel presents regularly on all subjects related to state and federal regulation, the MDS, and clinical reimbursement.

Robin is the president and owner of RLH Consulting, which has provided reimbursement, operational, and accounting consulting to long-term care providers since 1998. She is also co-owner of Lake Pointe Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Conneaut, Ohio, and Quality Life Services, a home healthcare agency in southwestern Ohio. She is a certified public accountant, a state-tested nurse aide, a licensed nursing home administrator, and Resident Assessment Coordinator-Certified and a Master Trainer through AAPACN. She is a member of the AAPACN Expert Advisory Panel.

Robin has almost 30 years’ experience in cost reporting, rate setting review and analysis, and reimbursement consulting and representation for skilled nursing facilities and ID/DD providers. Prior to starting her ownbusinesses, Robin worked for several multi-facility long-term care provider sand regional accounting and consulting firms. She held a variety of positions in accounting, reimbursement, finance, and operations.

Robin received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (BSBA) with a major in Accounting from Bowling Green State University in 1986 and has worked exclusively in long-term care throughout her career. She is a member of the Ohio Health Care Association, the American Health Care Association, the American Health Lawyer’s Association, the American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators, the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts, and the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Jessie is a senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN. Previously Jessie worked as the director of clinical reimbursement for a large long-term care organization overseeing 17 clinical reimbursement consultants across 21 states including nearly 300 living centers. She has more than 17 years of long-term care experience including restorative nurse, MDS coordinator, regional clinical reimbursement specialists, clinical reimbursement trainer, and director of clinical reimbursement. Jessie is passionate about developing the skills of nurse assessment coordinators, restorative nursing, and improving residents’ quality of life and care.

Maureen is the President and CEO of Celtic Consulting, LLC. A nationally recognized expert in long-term care reimbursement, regulatory compliance, and clinical operations, Maureen brings over 20 years of nursing and leadership experience. She serves on multiple national committees, including with AHCA, AAPACN, and CMS, and frequently presents for major industry associations. A Master Teacher in MDS, QAPI, and DON leadership, Maureen has educated thousands across the long-term care continuum.

Beckie has over 25 years of long-term care experience and she has served in many roles in long-term care, including Clinical Reimbursement Specialist, wound team leader, staff education coordinator, and as a past member of the Clinical Committee of the American Health Care Association for two years. Beckie is passionate about Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) and believes in teaching the principles of the process to foster positive patient outcomes, not just paper compliance. Beckie has worked the RAI process since 1997, and is able to use her knowledge and experience to teach students how this process, when worked correctly, will foster resident-specific care planning. Beckie has taught the AAPACN MDS 3.0 RAC-CT course across the United States for over ten years. She has also been a speaker for a number of prestigious associations, including the New England Alliance and Association of Rehab Nurses (ARN), Florida Association Directors of Nursing Administration/LTC (FADONA), and Maine Health Care Association (MEHCA), the AAPACN Annual Conference.