DEBBIE PALUMBO
Seattle
Summary
Results-driven Revenue Cycle Leader with 25 years in healthcare operations across hospitals and clinics. Specializes in claims resolution, payer contract compliance, and leading large, multi-disciplinary teams. Known for enhancing performance through strategic oversight, implementing system-wide upgrades, and fostering cross-functional collaboration.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Supervisor, Revenue Cycle
Seamar
11.2024 - Current
- Directed and supervised team of 8 employees in daily operations.
- Monitored employee productivity levels regularly to pinpoint areas for improvement.
- Identified and implemented process improvements to enhance operational efficiency.
- Conducted weekly meetings with team members to discuss upcoming tasks and project deadlines.
- Resolved customer complaints and issues promptly, ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Addressed and resolved interpersonal conflicts within the team, maintaining a harmonious work environment.
- Remained calm and professional in stressful circumstances and effectively diffused tense situations.
Manager, A/R Government and Non-Government payers
Conifer Health Solutions
01.2015 - 01.2024
- Coordinated departmental workflows, resulting in improved productivity and efficiency.
- Oversaw daily operations to ensure compliance with healthcare billing regulations.
- Implemented process improvements to optimize patient care services.
- Analyzed operational data to identify trends and areas for improvement.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to advance strategic organizational initiatives.
- Provided leadership during times of organizational change or crisis situations.
- Developed streamlined procedures to enhance workflow efficiency.
- Ensured compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.
Director, Denials Management and Prevention (Central Market)
Conifer Health Solutions
01.2015 - 01.2024
- Provide and present detail analysis of denials trends and root causes to the Denial Prevention team and Sr. Leadership.
- Provided direction and oversight of concurrent denial prevention findings and solutions for a 850 bed hospital.
- Developed and implemented denial action plans with interventions across all facility departments.
- Identified strategies for prevention and initiated processes for denial avoidance.
- Coordinated weekly denial prevention meetings to foster collaboration among departments and align on strategies.
- Identified health plan or medical group issues then work with health plans provider rep to resolve.
- Work closely with facility CFO, Case Management Director, A/R Team, and various other leadership teams throughout the organization.
Sr. Manager, A/R (California Market)
Conifer Health Solutions
01.2015 - 01.2024
- Managed day-to-day A/R operations of 11 hospitals including clinics for the business office with staff of 35.
- Provide oversight and monitoring of Billing, Collections, Cash Posting and Customer Service areas.
- Monitored and evaluated management KPIs to inform decision-making and drive performance.
- Collaborate with management team to provide strategic goals to the Revenue Cycle Department.
- Report results with revenue cycle leadership team.
- Maintained effective relationships with co-workers, management, and internal and external resources to standardize processes and policies.
- Coached and mentored staff, fostering an innovative and team-oriented work environment.
Sr. Manager Patient Financial Services (NW Region)
Conifer Health Solutions
01.2015 - 01.2024
- Oversaw daily operations of hospital billing office, guiding a team of 30 to ensure efficiency and accuracy.
- Manage the charge master to ensure charges were updated per contracts and that the revenue cycle team was charging and services were in line with organizational goals and policies.
- Achieved and maintained A/R days below organizational targets.
- Streamlined unbilled report process, proactively identifying and resolving outstanding charges.
- Research and resolving credit balance report, insurance/patient refund requests, insurance payment take-backs, underpayments and denied claims.
- Oversight of electronic billing system including building and maintaining specific payer bill edits.
- Executed HR duties by interviewing and hiring staff, training employees, and conducting yearly evaluations.
- Develop departmental goals, objectives, standards of performance, policies and procedures.
Sr. Manager, Business Office
Providence Health Services
01.2015 - 01.2024
- Managed day-to-day operations of 9 hospitals and clinics for business office with team of 51, ensuring efficient workflow and service delivery.
- Monitor and evaluate management KPI’s daily, weekly, and monthly.
- Report results with revenue cycle leadership team.
- Collaborated with management team to establish strategic goals for Revenue Cycle Department, aligning objectives with organizational priorities.
- Maintained effective working relationships with co-workers and stakeholders to standardize processes, policies, and vendor relations, enhancing operational consistency.
- Provide oversight and monitoring of Billing, Collections, Cash Posting and Customer Service areas.
- Coach and mentor staff. Foster an innovative and team-oriented work environment.
Manager, Business Office
Providence Health Services
01.2015 - 01.2024
- Managed daily operations of business office for 11 clinics with 25 staff, ensuring efficient workflow and service delivery.
- Oversaw Billing, Collections, Cash Posting, and Customer Service, ensuring compliance and operational effectiveness.
- Monitor and evaluate management KPIs daily, weekly and monthly.
- Report results with revenue cycle leadership team.
- Collaborate with management team to provide strategic goals to the Revenue Cycle Department.
- Maintained working relationships with co-workers, management, and internal/external resources to standardize processes and policies.
- Coach and mentor staff. Foster an innovative and team-oriented work environment.
A/R Manager, Government Payers
Providence Health Services
01.2015 - 01.2024
- Managed all aspects of Medicare and Medicaid collection and billing activities for eleven hospitals with an average of 150-400 beds and 50 caregivers.
- Managed collections, cash applications, and clerical staff to optimize processes using SSI, CCSM, and MedeAnalytics.
- Led team through EPIC transition, emphasizing training, communication, and documentation while reporting daily go-live issues and resolutions to leadership.
- Provided monthly collection updates to leadership, highlighting trends and performance metrics.
- Implement several improvements through weekly and monthly trend analysis.
Manager, Patient Financial Services (Valley Medical Center)
Perot Systems
01.2015 - 01.2024
- Managed daily operations of hospital billing office, overseeing team of 45.
- Executed accounts receivable collections for government and non-government health plans, including worker compensation and self-pay.
- Monitor Billing of patient claims to government and non-government payers.
- Managed unbilled report to identify outstanding charges and maintain accurate billing records.
- Ensure A/R days exceeded expectations.
- Oversight of electronic billing system including building and maintaining specific payer bill edits.
- Researched and resolved credit balance reports and insurance refund requests.
- All cashiering and banking duties including monthly general ledger balancing.
- HR duties including interview and hiring staff, staff training, yearly evaluations, goals and objectives, disciplinary actions.
- Developed departmental goals, objectives, and policies to enhance performance standards.
Medicare System Analyst
Premera Blue Cross
08.2000 - 09.2005
- Collaborated as project team member for Medicare FI on CMS initiatives to integrate local and national claims processing systems into a unified platform.
- Conducted ongoing quality assurance to ensure accuracy and consistency of Medicare system outputs, enhancing data reliability.
- Conduct user acceptance testing and data validation of web applications used to present benefit information.
- Load and maintain CMS claims processing edits and payment transactions.
- Participate on the build from APASS CMS application to FISS CMS application.
- Traveled to hospitals in Washington, Alaska, and Oregon to educate facilities on quarterly CMS transmittals and updates.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Management
University of Phoenix
Tempe, AZ05-2026
Associates Degree - Paralegal Studies
Edmonds Community College
Skills
- Revenue cycle management
- Claims processing
- Compliance monitoring
- Regulatory compliance
- Project management
- Project planning
- Process improvement
- Data analysis
- Healthcare software
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Budget management
- Priority management
- Problem resolution
- Team leadership
- Customer service
- Analytical thinking
Affiliations
- Former AAHAM Second Vice President of Evergreen Chapter, 4 years
- Former active participant HFMA, Washington Chapter, 4 years
Timeline
Supervisor, Revenue Cycle
Seamar
11.2024 - Current
Manager, A/R Government and Non-Government payers
Conifer Health Solutions
01.2015 - 01.2024
Director, Denials Management and Prevention (Central Market)
Conifer Health Solutions
01.2015 - 01.2024
Sr. Manager, A/R (California Market)
Conifer Health Solutions
01.2015 - 01.2024
Sr. Manager Patient Financial Services (NW Region)
Conifer Health Solutions
01.2015 - 01.2024
Sr. Manager, Business Office
Providence Health Services
01.2015 - 01.2024
Manager, Business Office
Providence Health Services
01.2015 - 01.2024
A/R Manager, Government Payers
Providence Health Services
01.2015 - 01.2024
Manager, Patient Financial Services (Valley Medical Center)
Perot Systems
01.2015 - 01.2024
Medicare System Analyst
Premera Blue Cross
08.2000 - 09.2005
Bachelor of Science - Business Management
University of Phoenix
Associates Degree - Paralegal Studies
Edmonds Community College