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ruralMED Health COOP's 5th Annual CAH Conference: Rural Health Aligned

Thursday, Apr 30, 2026 at 9:00 AM to Friday, May 1, 2026 at 12:00 PM CDT

Younes Conference Center SOUTH, 416 Talmadge St, Kearney, NE, 68845, United States

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2. Review and Proceed

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Event Information

Thursday, Apr 30, 2026 at 9:00 AM to Friday, May 1, 2026 at 12:00 PM CDT

Younes Conference Center SOUTH, 416 Talmadge St, Kearney, NE, 68845, United States.

Please join us for the ruralMED Health Cooperative’s 5th Annual Critical Access Hospital Conference: Rural Health Aligned for a day and a half of interactive breakouts, engaged education, and networking with other CAHs around the state. 

LOCATION: Younes Conference Center South, Kearney, NE

DATE: Thursday, April 30th & Friday, May 1st, 2026

REGISTER BY: April 10th, 2026!

 

 

Cancellation Policy:

Conference registration cancellations made prior to April 10th, 2026 are subject to a cancellation fee equal to 50% of the registration costs. We are unable to accommodate registration cancellations after April 10th, 2026.

Event Location

About Organizer

RuralMED Organizer name

https://www.ruralmed.net

RuralMED Health Cooperative, LCA is a health services organization committed to supporting Critical Access Hospitals in providing quality, cost-effective care, and increasing rural access to care through partnership and collaboration.

Contact the Organizer View other events

Speakers

About Cathy Turner
Chief Marketing and Nurse Executive
MEDITECH
No Sessions Available
About Allison Pallatroni
Product Manager
MEDITECH
Apr 30, 2026
11:00 AM

MEDITECH: Advancing Healthcare Interoperability with Traverse Exchange

11:00 AM - 11:50 AM

Yvette is originally from Creston, Nebraska. She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and resides in Omaha. She speaks to hundreds of professionals every year for Southwestern Consulting. 

Yvette began her own sales career at 19 years old when she was a freshman at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. She excelled in the Southwestern Advantage college sales program as a top producer. She currently holds the #19 spot as a Lifetime Sales Producer out of 125,000+ salespeople spanning the company’s 

165-year history. As part of her tenure at SWA, she has knocked on more than 30,000 cold doors and led her alma mater University of Nebraska – Lincoln to be #1 in the world in 2001 (and, for 15 years in a row, rank in the top 25). 

Because of her excellence in following sales systems and principles for success, Yvette went on to manage organizations of over 100 salespeople. Building teams and leading people continues to be one of her lifelong passions. She enjoys making an impact on the lives of others and knows that by helping people achieve their goals, a ripple effect of joy and success continues onto the subsequent lives they touch.

About Yvette Morehouse
Professional Sales and Leadership Coach, Certified Trainer
Southwestern Consulting
Apr 30, 2026
09:00 AM

KEYNOTE: Navigating Behavioral Based Communication Strategies

09:00 AM - 10:30 AM
About John Kuehn
Founding Member
Sand Creek Strategy Group
Apr 30, 2026
11:00 AM

Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)

11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
May 01, 2026
10:15 AM

CEO Session with Federal and State Representatives

10:15 AM - 11:05 AM
11:15 AM

CEO Roundtable

11:15 AM - 12:05 PM
About Randy Hoffman, CPA
Partner
Eide Bailly LLP
May 01, 2026
11:15 AM

Government Payment Reforms: Get Ready for Audit!

11:15 AM - 12:05 PM
About Pedro Bossio
Senior Product Manager
Hyve Health
Apr 30, 2026
01:45 PM

Utilizing Payer Performance Data for Results

01:45 PM - 02:35 PM
About Josette McConville, BSN,RN,CIC
Infection Preventionist, NE ICAP Program
Nebraska Medical Center
Apr 30, 2026
01:45 PM

Updates for Inpatient: Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA)

01:45 PM - 02:35 PM
About Rebecca Martinez, BSN, BA, RN, CIC
Infection Preventionist, NE ICAP Program
Nebraska Medical Center
Apr 30, 2026
02:50 PM

SOS: Safe Orthopedic Surgeries for Critical Access Hospitals

02:50 PM - 03:40 PM
03:55 PM

Sterilization and High-Level Disinfection: Strategic Planning / Continual Support

03:55 PM - 04:45 PM
About Kristine Wolff, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, LCC
Chief Clinical Officer
Ovation Healthcare
Apr 30, 2026
11:00 AM

Clinical Leadership, Quality and Experience of Care

11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
01:45 PM

Performance Management and Accountability

01:45 PM - 02:35 PM
03:55 PM

Leadership Styles and Communication

03:55 PM - 04:45 PM
May 01, 2026
10:15 AM

Creating a Successful Utilization Management Program

10:15 AM - 11:05 AM
11:15 AM

Performance Management and Accountability - In case you missed it

11:15 AM - 12:05 PM
About Kelly Vroom
Sr. Vice President, Client Engagement
Ovation Healthcare
Apr 30, 2026
02:50 PM

Navigating Technology Transformation in an Era of Margin Pressure

02:50 PM - 03:40 PM
03:55 PM

Knowledge is Power: Understanding the Pertinence of the Security Risk Assessment (SRA)

03:55 PM - 04:45 PM
About Patrick Nudo
Associate Vice President, Healthcare Finance & Reimbursement
Ovation Healthcare
Apr 30, 2026
02:50 PM

Every Dollar Matters: Fix Your Cost Report Before It Costs You

02:50 PM - 03:40 PM
About Ryan Nestrick
Executive Strategic Advisor
Ovation Healthcare
Apr 30, 2026
11:00 AM

Spend Management Strategies and Best Practices

11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
About Phillip Stubblefield
Director, Compliance Advisory
Ovation Healthcare
May 01, 2026
10:15 AM

Compliance Risk Assessment Best Practices

10:15 AM - 11:05 AM
11:15 AM

AI and Compliance

11:15 AM - 12:05 PM
About Ginnie Berg
Managing Consultant Leader, Strategy Solutions
Ovation Healthcare
Apr 30, 2026
02:50 PM

Strategic Planning 101 and Best Practices

02:50 PM - 03:40 PM
03:55 PM

Turning Strategy into Impact

03:55 PM - 04:45 PM
About Amber Ackerson, J.D.
Executive Director
ruralMED Health Cooperative
Apr 30, 2026
11:00 AM

Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)

11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
May 01, 2026
11:15 AM

CEO Roundtable

11:15 AM - 12:05 PM
About Bryce Betke
CFO
ruralMED
Apr 30, 2026
03:55 PM

CFO Panel/Finance Roundtable

03:55 PM - 04:45 PM
About Shelly Cassidy
Vice President of Revenue Cycle Services
ruralMED
Apr 30, 2026
11:00 AM

Denials to Dollars: Real Strategies That Work

11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
02:50 PM

Revenue Cycle Hot Topics

02:50 PM - 03:40 PM
03:55 PM

CAH Reimbursement 101: A Revenue Cycle Perspective

03:55 PM - 04:45 PM
May 01, 2026
10:15 AM

The Magic of Revenue Cycle KPIs

10:15 AM - 11:05 AM
11:15 AM

You Asked, We Answered: Everyday Revenue Cycle Questions

11:15 AM - 12:05 PM
About Hayley Prosser
Executive Director of Revenue Cycle Services
ruralMED
Apr 30, 2026
11:00 AM

Denials to Dollars: Real Strategies That Work

11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
02:50 PM

Revenue Cycle Hot Topics

02:50 PM - 03:40 PM
03:55 PM

Prior Authorization and Utilization Review Challenges: A Revenue Cycle Approach

03:55 PM - 04:45 PM
May 01, 2026
11:15 AM

You Asked, We Answered: Everyday Revenue Cycle Questions

11:15 AM - 12:05 PM
About Bill Evans
Director of Healthcare Finance
ruralMED
May 01, 2026
10:15 AM

Financial Analysis Tools for Decision Making

10:15 AM - 11:05 AM
About Samantha Monahan, COC, CAH-CBS
Certified Coding Auditor & Educator
ruralMED
Apr 30, 2026
11:00 AM

Wound Up about Wound Care? Documentation that Defends Reimbursement

11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
01:45 PM

HCC Coding Strategies for ACO Success

01:45 PM - 02:35 PM
02:50 PM

AI in Documentation: The Impact on Code Accuracy

02:50 PM - 03:40 PM
03:55 PM

Cracking the HIM Productivity Code

03:55 PM - 04:45 PM
May 01, 2026
10:15 AM

Coding Curveballs and Quick Hits

10:15 AM - 11:05 AM
11:15 AM

Audit Insights: Real-World Coding and Compliance Lessons

11:15 AM - 12:05 PM
About Jennifer Harris, RHIT
Director of Revenue Integrity
ruralMED
Apr 30, 2026
02:50 PM

Credentialing and Privileging: The Basics That Matter

02:50 PM - 03:40 PM
03:55 PM

Prior Authorization and Utilization Review Challenges: A Revenue Cycle Approach

03:55 PM - 04:45 PM
May 01, 2026
11:15 AM

You Asked, We Answered: Everyday Revenue Cycle Questions

11:15 AM - 12:05 PM
About Dana Allen
Billing / Reimbursement Manager
ruralMED
May 01, 2026
10:15 AM

Billing Hacks

10:15 AM - 11:05 AM
About Whitney Sanders, COC, CAH-CBS
Coding Compliance Auditor
ruralMED
Apr 30, 2026
11:00 AM

Wound Up about Wound Care? Documentation that Defends Reimbursement

11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
01:45 PM

HCC Coding Strategies for ACO Success

01:45 PM - 02:35 PM
02:50 PM

AI in Documentation: The Impact on Code Accuracy

02:50 PM - 03:40 PM
May 01, 2026
10:15 AM

Coding Curveballs and Quick Hits

10:15 AM - 11:05 AM
11:15 AM

Audit Insights: Real-World Coding and Compliance Lessons

11:15 AM - 12:05 PM
About Jordan Wagner, CPC
Cerner Optimization Lead
ruralMED
No Sessions Available
About Michelle Dick, RN
Clinical Nurse Informatics
ruralMED
No Sessions Available

Event Sponsors

Event Schedule

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Clear all ×

Sessions on Apr 30, 2026

09:00 AM
    speaker

    Yvette Morehouse

    Professional Sales and Leadership Coach, Certified TrainerSouthwestern Consulting

    Yvette is originally from Creston, Nebraska. She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and resides in Omaha. She speaks to hundreds of professionals every year for Southwestern Consulting. 

    Yvette began her own sales career at 19 years old when she was a freshman at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. She excelled in the Southwestern Advantage college sales program as a top producer. She currently holds the #19 spot as a Lifetime Sales Producer out of 125,000+ salespeople spanning the company’s 

    165-year history. As part of her tenure at SWA, she has knocked on more than 30,000 cold doors and led her alma mater University of Nebraska – Lincoln to be #1 in the world in 2001 (and, for 15 years in a row, rank in the top 25). 

    Because of her excellence in following sales systems and principles for success, Yvette went on to manage organizations of over 100 salespeople. Building teams and leading people continues to be one of her lifelong passions. She enjoys making an impact on the lives of others and knows that by helping people achieve their goals, a ripple effect of joy and success continues onto the subsequent lives they touch.

    SocialLink
    11:00 AM
    Finance

    Spend Management Strategies and Best Practices

    11:00 AM - 11:50 AMFinance
      speaker

      Ryan Nestrick

      Executive Strategic AdvisorOvation Healthcare
      SocialLink
        speaker

        Samantha Monahan, COC, CAH-CBS

        Certified Coding Auditor & EducatorruralMED
        SocialLink
        speaker

        Whitney Sanders, COC, CAH-CBS

        Coding Compliance AuditorruralMED
        SocialLink
        Revenue Cycle

        Denials to Dollars: Real Strategies That Work

        11:00 AM - 11:50 AMRevenue Cycle
          speaker

          Shelly Cassidy

          Vice President of Revenue Cycle ServicesruralMED
          SocialLink
          speaker

          Hayley Prosser

          Executive Director of Revenue Cycle ServicesruralMED
          SocialLink
          CEO

          Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)

          11:00 AM - 11:50 AMCEO and BoardCFO
            speaker

            Amber Ackerson, J.D.

            Executive DirectorruralMED Health Cooperative
            SocialLink
            speaker

            John Kuehn

            Founding MemberSand Creek Strategy Group
            SocialLink
              speaker

              Allison Pallatroni

              Product ManagerMEDITECH
              SocialLink
              Sponsors
              Roundtable

              Therapy Roundtable - Part 1

              11:00 AM - 11:50 AMTherapyRoundtable
              Clinical

              Clinical Leadership, Quality and Experience of Care

              11:00 AM - 11:50 AMClinicalLeadership
                speaker

                Kristine Wolff, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, LCC

                Chief Clinical OfficerOvation Healthcare
                SocialLink
                12:00 PM

                Lunch

                12:00 PM - 01:30 PM
                Sponsors
                01:45 PM
                Finance

                Utilizing Payer Performance Data for Results

                01:45 PM - 02:35 PMFinance
                  speaker

                  Pedro Bossio

                  Senior Product ManagerHyve Health
                  SocialLink
                  Coding / HIM

                  HCC Coding Strategies for ACO Success

                  01:45 PM - 02:35 PMCodingHIM
                    speaker

                    Samantha Monahan, COC, CAH-CBS

                    Certified Coding Auditor & EducatorruralMED
                    SocialLink
                    speaker

                    Whitney Sanders, COC, CAH-CBS

                    Coding Compliance AuditorruralMED
                    SocialLink
                    CEO

                    UNMC Connection - Part 1

                    01:45 PM - 02:35 PMCEO
                    Roundtable

                    Therapy Roundtable - Part 2

                    01:45 PM - 02:35 PMTherapyRoundtable
                      speaker

                      Josette McConville, BSN,RN,CIC

                      Infection Preventionist, NE ICAP ProgramNebraska Medical Center
                      SocialLink
                      Leader

                      Performance Management and Accountability

                      01:45 PM - 02:35 PMLeadership
                        speaker

                        Kristine Wolff, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, LCC

                        Chief Clinical OfficerOvation Healthcare
                        SocialLink
                        02:50 PM
                          speaker

                          Patrick Nudo

                          Associate Vice President, Healthcare Finance & ReimbursementOvation Healthcare
                          SocialLink
                          Coding / HIM

                          AI in Documentation: The Impact on Code Accuracy

                          02:50 PM - 03:40 PMCodingHIM
                            speaker

                            Samantha Monahan, COC, CAH-CBS

                            Certified Coding Auditor & EducatorruralMED
                            SocialLink
                            speaker

                            Whitney Sanders, COC, CAH-CBS

                            Coding Compliance AuditorruralMED
                            SocialLink
                            Revenue Cycle

                            Revenue Cycle Hot Topics

                            02:50 PM - 03:40 PMRevenue Cycle
                              speaker

                              Shelly Cassidy

                              Vice President of Revenue Cycle ServicesruralMED
                              SocialLink
                              speaker

                              Hayley Prosser

                              Executive Director of Revenue Cycle ServicesruralMED
                              SocialLink
                              CEO

                              UNMC Connection - Part 2

                              02:50 PM - 03:40 PMCEO
                                speaker

                                Rebecca Martinez, BSN, BA, RN, CIC

                                Infection Preventionist, NE ICAP ProgramNebraska Medical Center
                                SocialLink
                                Leader

                                Strategic Planning 101 and Best Practices

                                02:50 PM - 03:40 PMLeadershipStrategy
                                  speaker

                                  Ginnie Berg

                                  Managing Consultant Leader, Strategy SolutionsOvation Healthcare
                                  SocialLink
                                  Compliance

                                  Credentialing and Privileging: The Basics That Matter

                                  02:50 PM - 03:40 PMCompliance
                                    speaker

                                    Jennifer Harris, RHIT

                                    Director of Revenue IntegrityruralMED
                                    SocialLink
                                      speaker

                                      Kelly Vroom

                                      Sr. Vice President, Client EngagementOvation Healthcare
                                      SocialLink
                                      03:55 PM
                                      Finance

                                      CFO Panel/Finance Roundtable

                                      03:55 PM - 04:45 PMFinanceRoundtablePanel
                                        speaker

                                        Bryce Betke

                                        CFOruralMED
                                        SocialLink
                                        Coding / HIM

                                        Cracking the HIM Productivity Code

                                        03:55 PM - 04:45 PMCodingHIM
                                          speaker

                                          Samantha Monahan, COC, CAH-CBS

                                          Certified Coding Auditor & EducatorruralMED
                                          SocialLink
                                            speaker

                                            Hayley Prosser

                                            Executive Director of Revenue Cycle ServicesruralMED
                                            SocialLink
                                            speaker

                                            Jennifer Harris, RHIT

                                            Director of Revenue IntegrityruralMED
                                            SocialLink
                                            Revenue Cycle

                                            CAH Reimbursement 101: A Revenue Cycle Perspective

                                            03:55 PM - 04:45 PMRevenue Cycle
                                              speaker

                                              Shelly Cassidy

                                              Vice President of Revenue Cycle ServicesruralMED
                                              SocialLink
                                              General

                                              Working in Rural CAH Hospitals

                                              03:55 PM - 04:45 PMStudentsHRPanel
                                                speaker

                                                Rebecca Martinez, BSN, BA, RN, CIC

                                                Infection Preventionist, NE ICAP ProgramNebraska Medical Center
                                                SocialLink
                                                Leader

                                                Turning Strategy into Impact

                                                03:55 PM - 04:45 PMStrategyLeadership
                                                  speaker

                                                  Ginnie Berg

                                                  Managing Consultant Leader, Strategy SolutionsOvation Healthcare
                                                  SocialLink
                                                  Leader

                                                  Leadership Styles and Communication

                                                  03:55 PM - 04:45 PMLeadership
                                                    speaker

                                                    Kristine Wolff, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, LCC

                                                    Chief Clinical OfficerOvation Healthcare
                                                    SocialLink
                                                      speaker

                                                      Kelly Vroom

                                                      Sr. Vice President, Client EngagementOvation Healthcare
                                                      SocialLink
                                                      05:00 PM

                                                      Sessions on May 01, 2026

                                                      10:15 AM
                                                      Finance

                                                      Financial Analysis Tools for Decision Making

                                                      10:15 AM - 11:05 AMFinance
                                                        speaker

                                                        Bill Evans

                                                        Director of Healthcare FinanceruralMED
                                                        SocialLink
                                                        Coding / HIM

                                                        Coding Curveballs and Quick Hits

                                                        10:15 AM - 11:05 AMCodingHIM
                                                          speaker

                                                          Samantha Monahan, COC, CAH-CBS

                                                          Certified Coding Auditor & EducatorruralMED
                                                          SocialLink
                                                          speaker

                                                          Whitney Sanders, COC, CAH-CBS

                                                          Coding Compliance AuditorruralMED
                                                          SocialLink
                                                          Revenue Cycle

                                                          The Magic of Revenue Cycle KPIs

                                                          10:15 AM - 11:05 AMRevenue Cycle
                                                            speaker

                                                            Shelly Cassidy

                                                            Vice President of Revenue Cycle ServicesruralMED
                                                            SocialLink
                                                            Revenue Cycle

                                                            Billing Hacks

                                                            10:15 AM - 11:05 AMRevenue Cycle
                                                              speaker

                                                              Dana Allen

                                                              Billing / Reimbursement ManagerruralMED
                                                              SocialLink
                                                                speaker

                                                                John Kuehn

                                                                Founding MemberSand Creek Strategy Group
                                                                SocialLink
                                                                Roundtable

                                                                Clinical Informatics Roundtable

                                                                10:15 AM - 11:05 AMEHRNurse InformaticsITClinical
                                                                Clinical

                                                                Creating a Successful Utilization Management Program

                                                                10:15 AM - 11:05 AMLeadership
                                                                  speaker

                                                                  Kristine Wolff, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, LCC

                                                                  Chief Clinical OfficerOvation Healthcare
                                                                  SocialLink
                                                                  Compliance

                                                                  Compliance Risk Assessment Best Practices

                                                                  10:15 AM - 11:05 AMCompliance
                                                                    speaker

                                                                    Phillip Stubblefield

                                                                    Director, Compliance AdvisoryOvation Healthcare
                                                                    SocialLink
                                                                    11:15 AM
                                                                    Finance

                                                                    Government Payment Reforms: Get Ready for Audit!

                                                                    11:15 AM - 12:05 PMFinance
                                                                      speaker

                                                                      Randy Hoffman, CPA

                                                                      PartnerEide Bailly LLP
                                                                      SocialLink
                                                                      Coding / HIM

                                                                      Audit Insights: Real-World Coding and Compliance Lessons

                                                                      11:15 AM - 12:05 PMCodingHIM
                                                                        speaker

                                                                        Samantha Monahan, COC, CAH-CBS

                                                                        Certified Coding Auditor & EducatorruralMED
                                                                        SocialLink
                                                                        speaker

                                                                        Whitney Sanders, COC, CAH-CBS

                                                                        Coding Compliance AuditorruralMED
                                                                        SocialLink
                                                                        Revenue Cycle

                                                                        You Asked, We Answered: Everyday Revenue Cycle Questions

                                                                        11:15 AM - 12:05 PMRevenue Cycle
                                                                          speaker

                                                                          Shelly Cassidy

                                                                          Vice President of Revenue Cycle ServicesruralMED
                                                                          SocialLink
                                                                          speaker

                                                                          Hayley Prosser

                                                                          Executive Director of Revenue Cycle ServicesruralMED
                                                                          SocialLink
                                                                          speaker

                                                                          Jennifer Harris, RHIT

                                                                          Director of Revenue IntegrityruralMED
                                                                          SocialLink
                                                                          CEO

                                                                          CEO Roundtable

                                                                          11:15 AM - 12:05 PMCEORoundtable
                                                                            speaker

                                                                            Amber Ackerson, J.D.

                                                                            Executive DirectorruralMED Health Cooperative
                                                                            SocialLink
                                                                            speaker

                                                                            John Kuehn

                                                                            Founding MemberSand Creek Strategy Group
                                                                            SocialLink
                                                                            Roundtable

                                                                            Human Resources Roundtable

                                                                            11:15 AM - 12:05 PMHuman ResourcesRoundtable
                                                                            Compliance

                                                                            AI and Compliance

                                                                            11:15 AM - 12:05 PMCompliance
                                                                              speaker

                                                                              Phillip Stubblefield

                                                                              Director, Compliance AdvisoryOvation Healthcare
                                                                              SocialLink
                                                                                speaker

                                                                                Kristine Wolff, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, LCC

                                                                                Chief Clinical OfficerOvation Healthcare
                                                                                SocialLink