Collection & Credit Insights
May 2003
Volume 11.5
"HIP" Already!
As health care providers, by now you surely recognize and probably steer
clear of any discussions on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act or HIPAA. This is the privacy standard that former President Bill
Clinton and the U.S. Congress, who recognized the need for national patient
record privacy standards, passed in 1996. It too should be no surprise
that the privacy standard compliance deadline has come and gone. Rest
assured, as your professional third-party collection agency our office
is HIPAA ready.
While our compliance task force, that was established in the fall of
2000, may not have had as exhausting or as costly a journey as you primary
healthcare providers have had over the last two years, we hold the responsibilities
of compliance just as important. Due to our involvement in healthcare
receivables management we would be encompassed as a Business Associate
(BA) as defined under HIPAA compliance. This involvement is interpreted
as possibly having access to clinical, financial healthcare data and protected
health information (PHI) and for that reason we have taken the provisions
and standards set forth by this act with full accountability in mind.
With our own needs assessments that included compliance training, certification,
Business Associate agreements with our vendors and software enhancements
we feel confident we are HIPAA ready. Keep in mind we are no strangers
to Federal guidelines; we have enacted accounting for strict compliance
over consumer's rights, as required by the Fair Debt Collections Practices
Act (FDCPA). We recognize and understand the challenges both to you our
healthcare client and our organization. All together our HIPAA compliance
team, our software provider, our vendors and every associate with CBI,
we are HIPAA ready. Our own systems coordinator, Gail, the infamous data
wrangler, summarized it notably when she wrote on our team organizational
board " Yes, we are HIP already." Tom Oldani, General Manager
I was pleasantly surprised recently as I watched one of my favorite
TV shows, CBS Sunday Morning. A commentator was reporting about the National
Towing Museum located in Tennessee.
I was interested in the episode because we have a large client base of
tow companies to which we provide services. As the reporter and curator
toured the museum they ran into some visitors. The reporter inquired why
they were there-"we own a tow service company"-and where is
it located-at which the visitor turned around to reveal his embroidered
jacket that said, "John's Towing Service, Coopersville, Michigan".
And my granddaddy always said,………………………..it
's a small world.
On Monday morning I checked the list of Michigan Towing Association Members
to discover that we have yet to bring them on as a client. Now I am motivated
to meet with John's Towing, not only to sell them, but also so that I
can say I met a TV Star ! Tina S. Walther, Client Consultant
*UPDATE* Deb beat me to it, she met with John's son this week about placing
accounts--although she didn't get to meet the TV star!
Our Offices
Adrian Credit Bureau
(517) 265-8161
Ann Arbor Credit Bureau
(734) 665-6173
(800) 710-4821
Jackson Credit Bureau
(517) 787-5333
(877) 787-6273
Upcoming Events
Collection Skills Seminar
May 2, 2003
Michigan Dental Association
May 15-17, 2003
Towing Rodeo
August 7-9, 2003
Detroit Dental Society
November 23, 2002
Welcome to Our New Clients
- Village Towing
- Monaghan's Towing
- Mercy Amicare Homecare & Hospice-GRR
- Techstreet
- Montague & Sons Towing
- Advanced Equine Dentistry
- Woody's Towing
- Joyce Sorapo
- WMXE
- Tom Johnson
- Benefit Source
People don't care how much you know,
until they know how much you...
collect Website Upgraded...
Email Customized
We're excited about the sleek new look of our website! The product of
a collaboration with Mike Gould of MondoDyne Web Works debuted recently.
New to our site is a link to Experian, where web-surfers can obtain a
copy of their consumer credit report at a very reasonable fee. Visit the
new site at www.a2cb.com.
In addition, we've shed the ubiquitous 'aol.com' email address for one
of our very own! Now you can reach us at a2cb.com. Our website includes
several links to our general email accounts, but you might prefer to
address your email to one of our gracious and helpful sales staff:
Nikki nikkis@a2cb.com
Deb debh@a2cb.com
Tina twalther@a2cb.com
- Gail Christopherson, Data Wrangler
Quotations Board
Wisdom is the power to put our time and our knowledge to proper use.
- Thomas J. Watson
The man who knows only one subject is almost as tiresome as the man who
knows no subject.
- Charles Dickens
Credit Bureau, Inc.
Offices will be closed Saturday, May 24 and
Monday, May 26, 2003
for Memorial weekend.
All offices will reopen Tuesday, May 27, 2003.
Calling all Dental Clients (and you know who you are!!!)
It's that time again, to get out the polish, chrome cleaner, tire shiner
and Windex. Yes, "Harley" the motorcycle is getting ready for
his big weekend at the annual MDA show May 15-17, 2003 at The Grand Center
in Grand Rapids, Michigan . What, you have not met "Harley"
yet? Well then, you need to stop by booth # 1902 and say hello. "Harley"
is quite a showstopper!!! Debbie Hundersmarck
Client Consultant
Credit Professionals of Ann Arbor
will meet at 7:30 on Tuesday, April 8, 2003. Featured speaker, Jeff Hudson,
Loan & Marketing Manager for Huron River Area Credit Union. Topic
of discussion will be the "Smart Start Student Loan Program".
Meeting fee is $10, please contact Rebecca Burk at (734) 994-6928.
Meet our new Sales Assistant-Nikki
Deb and I are pleased to welcome Nikki into our circle of sales and support-some
of you might have already encountered Nikki because she started in our
front office and did such a good job with customer service that we stole
her for our department. One of her greatest attributes is her wonderful
attitude and the constant smile that she is always ready to share with
others.
College: Pending
Age: 19
Most Recent Book: A Boy Called It
Favorite Movie: Pretty Woman
Hometown: Chelsea, MI
High School: Chelsea High School
Position: Sales Support
Length of Time in Current Position:
4 months
Length of Time with Company:
1 year
Primary Job Responsibilities:
-Courtesy calls to clients
-Checking in new business
-Mailing out monthly statements
-Sales projections
-Helping out others when needed
Previous Experience:
-Reception
-Customer service
Favorite Aspect of the Job: Being able to help clients when needed
and working with my co-workers.
Least Favorite: Having fake nails and having to type so much.
(haha)
Personal Goals: To go to college and get my degree in business/marketing.
Favorite Food: Chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.
Greatest Success: Being very close to getting my cosmetology license.
Best Business Advice: You're only one person-do the best you can.
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