Some of us dream of being able to say, “Thank you for Coming to my Ted Talk.” Others wilt at the thought of getting on stage to deliver not just a lecture on a complicated or sensitive topic, but a performance.

My guest today Dr. Chris Petrilli has delivered. My first Ted Talk alumni on Off the Record (of which I’m aware) recently presented How AI could help doctors detect patterns before a Ted Talk audience.

This show delves behind the scenes of a Ted Talk. But it does a lot more: We get deeply into the subject of Chris’ talk itself, one I think about all the time—artificial intelligence, how we interact with it, what it means for the future of the mid-revenue cycle (and our humanity), and how AI and humanity can be reconciled. Chris practices internal medicine at NYU Langone where he is also tasked for developing AI solutions for the health system. This is his second appearance on the podcast.

On this show we cover:

• Ted Talk details: How it came about, preparation, and delivery: How many dry runs? Coaching, nerves, and tech assistance

• Impact of the talk.

• Humor and entertainment as a teaching tool and effecting change at work (including physician buy-in)

• How can humanity coexist with this powerful new technology—is Chris an optimist or pessimist or some blend of the two?

• Pattern recognition: Similarities and differences between humans and machines

• AI as an overcaffeinated intern, powerful and full of energy but with no idea what’s happening...

• Emerging clinical and mid-revenue cycle applications

Watch Chris’ Ted Talk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0qIyowPr0E

I don’t know this with certainty, but I probably have more than one listener dreaming of starting their own business, in the mid-revenue or elsewhere. Others might be content in their current roles as CDI, coding, or mid-revenue cycle professionals, but are also looking forward to their big trip in August.

Today’s guest is living the best of both worlds.

Melanie Kiss started Chicas Abroad in 2021 with a small group of friends who shared a joint love for travel and adventure. Prior to that she had been a longtime HIM professional with stops ranging from the hospital setting to college classrooms to consulting, and even a long stint with AHIMA.

Today she’s leading worldwide curated travel. How does one go from HIM to Havanna, coding to Cebu? Listen to Off the Record as we discuss:

• Chicas Abroad: How it started and when Melanie realized it was time to go all in

• Melanie’s innovative marketing strategy (I learned a thing or two that I will adopt!)

• Entrepreneurship: Melanie’s words of wisdom and what learned about herself while taking risks and launching a business

• Following your bliss: When do you know it’s time to pursue something new?

• The coolest place she's ever been

• Off the beaten path experiences with difficult clients and other fun stuff. With a little HIM/coding talk, too, because this is a serious mid-revenue cycle podcast...

For this week’s episode I’m bringing you something a little different, but of such importance that I had to share it with my Off the Record audience: The massive audit expansion of Medicare Advantage announced by CMS.

In case you missed it, CMS in May rocked the mid-revenue cycle industry with the unveiling of a startling mandate. It will hire 2000 medical coders, beef up its audit technology, and expand its current limited auditing scope from 60 Medicare Advantage Plans to some 550 plans nationwide in an attempt to check widespread allegations of HCC upcoding.

My colleague Jason Jobes has been closely following the news and presented this topic in June—the most attended webinar Norwood has ever hosted. This is a replay of that very well-received show. It covers:

• The evolving risk adjustment landscape and the rise of Medicare Advantage

• CMS broad and bold audit scope and strategy

• Best practice techniques to survive in risk adjustment and avoid potential risks

Jason refers to several slides during the presentation, which you don’t necessarily need, but if you’d like to follow along or see the exact references and data we’ve posted them to the Norwood website with a link in the show notes.

Enjoy the show!

Show notes and resources

• View the webinar slides here (free; requires registration)

• Read the full CMS audit announcement.