KIMBERLY RUSS-MCKENZIE
Spring,TX
Summary
Healthcare operations leader with 20+ years of experience improving operational efficiency and revenue performance across diverse care settings. Increased revenue by 25% and recovered $1.2M+ in bad debt through optimized billing workflows. Expertise in revenue cycle management, payer contracting, staff development, and regulatory compliance.
Overview
1
1
Certification
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Revenue Collections & Provider Enrollment Manager
The Harris Center for Mental Health & IDD
Houston, TX
05.2024 - Current
- Spearheaded appeal and provider enrollment teams aimed at minimizing denials while optimizing KPIs such as days in accounts receivable.
- Executed end-to-end financial operations encompassing billing resubmissions, reconsiderations, appeals, and collections for mental health services.
- Investigated and rectified billing discrepancies and denied claims to drive revenue maximization.
- Managed payer contracts ensuring adherence to behavioral health coding (CPT/ICD-10) compliance.
- Tracked key performance indicators and produced reports on trends in accounts receivable and financial performance metrics to inform strategic decisions.
- Ensured strict compliance with HIPAA regulations and payer requirements across operations.
- Handled complete enrollment processes for providers with commercial insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare plans.
- Managed enrollment processes for mental health and IDD services.
- Developed enrollment workflows along with credentialing policies compatible with accreditation standards.
- Analyzed enrollment data to identify trends and improve service delivery.
- Provided training and support for staff on enrollment policies and tools.
- Oversaw implementation of new enrollment software systems to improve operational workflows and support accurate provider enrollment.
- Analyzed collection data to identify trends and optimize recovery efforts.
- Conducted regular performance reviews and provided feedback to team members.
- Monitored team performance metrics such as conversion rate, average time to collect payment.
- Managed daily operations to ensure smooth workflow and productivity.
- Oversaw revenue cycle operations to ensure timely billing and collections.
- Participated in revenue cycle processes, working to maximize profitability and increase revenue.
- Generated reports detailing key metrics such as days in accounts receivable, denial rate.
- Evaluated revenue cycle processes and established actionable methods to increase productivity and efficiency.
- Monitored daily cash flow activity, ensuring timely filing of claims and proper reimbursement for services rendered.
- Developed strategies to reduce denials, improve accounts receivable, and enhance revenue cycle performance.
Clinic Director
Rejuv Medical
Waite Park, MN
06.2023 - 05.2024
- Lead multidisciplinary teams across Non-Surgical Orthopedics, Functional Medicine, and Physical Therapy, ensuring high-quality patient care and regulatory compliance.
- Oversee clinic budgeting, payroll approval, and vendor selection for medical supplies and equipment, patient access, billing, collection and clinical staff.
- Partner with Finance to review clinic financials, develop reports, and implement cost-saving strategies.
- Directed hiring, onboarding, staff evaluations, and compensation recommendations based on KPIs, MP’s, and objective performance metrics to build a high-performing team.
- Implement operational and service line enhancements resulting in a 25% revenue increase by Q4.
- Drive continuous improvement through EMR optimization, workflow redesign, and adoption of new clinical services.
- Annually review payer contracts and fee schedules to identify revenue opportunities and minimize losses.
- Secured and re-negotiated Payor Government, Managed Care Organization (MCO) and commercial insurance contracts. Define reimbursement rates, coverage rules, payment timelines, and quality standards for patient care.
- Oversaw daily clinic operations, optimizing patient flow and enhancing staff efficiency to improve overall service delivery.
- Developed clinic policies and procedures to enhance patient care standards.
- Implemented quality assurance measures to maintain compliance with healthcare regulations.
- Evaluated clinic performance metrics to identify areas for operational improvement.
- Verified that providers met licensing and quality standards to maintain high care levels. to ensure providers continuously meet compliance and quality of-of-care standards.
- Expertise in Regulatory Guidelines with CMS, DHS, FDCPA, EMTALA, and NCCI Coding Guidelines to ensure compliant billing and collection follow-up.
- Resolved conflicts between personnel while maintaining positive working relationships.
- Assisted with marketing efforts such as creating brochures or designing promotional materials.
- Maintained current knowledge of industry trends, new technologies, treatments, medications and best practices.
- Developed relationships with healthcare providers to strengthen referral pipeline and enhance collaboration.
- Managed clinical budgets, billing systems and insurance negotiations.
- Implemented technology solutions to improve clinic operations and patient care.
- Maintained awareness of government regulations, health insurance changes and financing options.
Practice Director
Gentle Ears Counseling
Houston, TX
05.2020 - Current
- Oversaw daily clinic operations, including patient services scheduling, payroll, and financial management.
- Led hiring, training, coaching, and performance management for administrative and clinical staff.
- Managed revenue cycle operations to enhance cash flow and meet accounts receivable benchmarks.
- Ensured accurate scheduling and insurance verification to enhance patient access.
- Developed KPIs and scorecards to track and drive productivity and revenue targets.
- Analyzed transactional trends to pinpoint inefficiencies and implemented targeted process enhancements.
- Facilitated onboarding for new hires to ensure smooth integration into clinic operations.
- Managed budgeting processes to align resources with organizational goals.
- Collaborated with community partners to expand access to mental health services.
- Created and implemented policies and procedures for effective practice management.
- Managed daily operations and staff of the practice, including hiring, training, and mentoring.
- Complied with OSHA and HIPAA regulations.
Business Office Manager
Crystal Outpatient Surgery Center
Houston, TX
02.2019 - 05.2023
- Increased revenue by $350K through account cost analysis and reimbursement optimization.
- Implemented a delinquent accounts recovery program, recovering $1.2M in bad debt.
- Established a Prior Authorization Department, reducing pre- and post-service denials by 40%.
- Conducted annual payer fee schedule reviews to identify underpayments and renegotiation opportunities.
- Oversaw daily operations of business office for surgical center, enhancing workflow and service delivery.
- Managed daily operations for an ambulatory surgery center, including scheduling, billing, and collections.
- Coordinated patient scheduling and billing processes, streamlining operations to improve patient experience.
- Supervised and trained staff, ensuring accurate scheduling and billing processes to maintain operational integrity.
- Oversaw financial management of office budget, ensuring accurate tracking of expenses. Ensured accurate financial records were kept.
- Reviewed invoices for accuracy to identify cost savings.
- Maintained employee records, including payroll, vacation time and benefits information.
- Assisted with HR activities such as recruitment, interviewing candidates and onboarding new hires.
- Performed human resources functions by conducting new hire orientation and administering benefits.
- Directed and oversaw office personnel activities.
Accounts Analyst Consultant/New Facility Onboarding Manager
Tyvan Medical Billing & Coding
Houston, TX
08.2016 - 02.2019
- Negotiated global reimbursement agreements covering 90% of total billed charges for 14+ hospitalist programs.
- Developed and enforced RCM policies to maximize reimbursement and optimize cash flow.
- Directed billing department operations, increasing productivity and ensuring compliance with industry standards.
- Prepared executive dashboards and weekly reports on collection activities, providing senior leadership with actionable insights.
- Facilitated communication among facilities, registrars, and leadership, promoting adherence to compliance practices.
- Managed credentialing, re-credentialing, and licensing of providers for compliance with care standards.
- Conducted regular evaluations of employee performance and implemented corrective actions.
Supervisor – Neurology & Neurosurgery / Safety Coordinator
University Hospitals of Cleveland
Highland Hills, OH
11.2012 - 06.2016
- Coordinated patient registration, insurance verification, billing collections, and data processing to streamline administrative operations.
- Directed inpatient and outpatient coding efforts to maintain accuracy and compliance with regulatory standards.
- Implemented processes that reduced billing errors by 20%.
- Monitored department workflow and staff productivity, adjusting assignments for optimal performance.
- Facilitated coding appeals and verification processes while monitoring performance metrics for inpatient and outpatient services.
Assistant Administrator / Patient Access Manager
Balance Solutions Physical Therapy
Mayfield Heights, OH
02.2009 - 11.2012
- Improved collections of delinquent accounts from third-party payers and patients, contributing to revenue recovery.
- Conducted billing audits ensuring compliance with authorization and precertification requirements, reducing potential discrepancies.
- Managed patient scheduling and appointment coordination for physical therapy sessions.
- Communicated with insurance companies regarding patient coverage and billing inquiries.
- Maintained patient records, ensuring data accuracy within the system.
- Provided administrative oversight, including complaint resolution and operational planning.
- Supported development of budgeting policies, staff hiring, training, and performance management to enhance operational effectiveness.
- Conducted performance evaluations and recommended training programs for staff development.
- Coordinated office supplies and inventory to support daily operations.
Education
Doctoral Degree - Psychology
Sheffield University College
Sheffield, OH05-2014
Master of Business Administration (MBA) -
Indiana Wesleyan University
Independence, OHBachelor of Science - Biology & Chemistry
Texas Christian University
Arlington, TxSkills
- Revenue cycle management
- Talent Acquisition
- Claims resolution
- Denials management
- Payer contracting
- Medical coding
- Regulatory compliance
- KPI management
- KPI tracking
- Financial forecasting
- Financial analysis
- Financial Reporting
- Financial Oversight
- Financial Management Software
- Cost Reduction
- Lean Process Improvement
- EMR systems
- EMR Optimization
- Data Analysis Tools
- Operations management
- Healthcare Management
- Practice Management
- Talent Acquisition
- Staff leadership
- Staff development
- Patient Engagement
- Analytical skills
- Process improvement
- Analytical skills
- Staff development
Certification
- Six Sigma White Belt (2023–2026), BLS Certification, CPR & First Aid Certification, Accounting Certificate, CBCS Medical Billing and Coding, Project Management Certification
Timeline
Revenue Collections & Provider Enrollment Manager
The Harris Center for Mental Health & IDD
05.2024 - Current
Clinic Director
Rejuv Medical
06.2023 - 05.2024
Practice Director
Gentle Ears Counseling
05.2020 - Current
Business Office Manager
Crystal Outpatient Surgery Center
02.2019 - 05.2023
Accounts Analyst Consultant/New Facility Onboarding Manager
Tyvan Medical Billing & Coding
08.2016 - 02.2019
Supervisor – Neurology & Neurosurgery / Safety Coordinator
University Hospitals of Cleveland
11.2012 - 06.2016
Assistant Administrator / Patient Access Manager
Balance Solutions Physical Therapy
02.2009 - 11.2012
Doctoral Degree - Psychology
Sheffield University College
Master of Business Administration (MBA) -
Indiana Wesleyan University
Bachelor of Science - Biology & Chemistry
Texas Christian University