JACK AHERN

As an experienced consultant and financial manager I bring to the table over 18 years of experience in healthcare finance working with over a hundred healthcare entities ranging from single physician practices to large academic medical centers. My expertise ranges from issues pertaining to physician and hospital billing practices to administrative and strategic planning challenges faced by healthcare providers. Early in my career I gained considerable expertise in renal dialysis reimbursement and continue to work with renal providers throughout the nation. Quite often my projects will be intimately intermingled with regulatory issues.

I have worked both as a consultant as well as Director of Finance at Rush Medical Center, a large academic medical center. Several of my achievements in reimbursement have been nationally recognized. At this point in my career, I carry out the dual role of running my own consulting firm as well as academic duties at Rush Medical Center in Chicago. I have assisted several of the major international accounting firms in issues pertaining to the valuation of healthcare practices and Medicare reimbursement. I continue to publish nationally on healthcare finance issues and frequently have been called upon to testify before a variety of tribunals. Most recently I provided expert testimony in several high profile cases regarding a national hospital chain and its charging practices.

Reimbursement and Financial Consulting Services

· Medicare Cost Report Preparation and Reimbursement Consultant to major healthcare providers.

· Profitability analysis for healthcare entities.

· Valuation of physician practices and healthcare facilities.

· Strategic planning for physician practices and healthcare facilities.

· Renal Dialysis Cost Report, Exception Request, Billing and Revenue generation issues.

· Certificate of Need application assistance.

Education

University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business 2002

Master of Business Administration,
Concentrations in: Finance, Accounting, Strategic Management, Managerial and Organizational Behavior
Vice President, Professional Finance Club

Dalhousie University

Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering 1993
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry 1988

Academic Work

Asst. Professor, Healthcare Finance
Health Systems Management Program
Rush University, Chicago, Illinois

· Teach ten-week graduate level course in healthcare finance with particular emphasis on improving executive level financial decision-making skills.

· Lecture healthcare professionals on financial accounting for healthcare entities, focusing on optimal financial management within the context of health insurance billing and payment systems, reimbursement, cost management and compliance with regulatory mandates.

· Design lectures to sharpen the student’s ability to interpret financial reports and assess the multidimensional impact of financial decisions on the short and long term quality and profitability of healthcare delivery.

· Incorporate into financial coursework professional development sessions requiring students to apply financial analysis skills in live mock negotiation scenarios with HMO’s, shareholders and regulatory auditors.

· Structure each interactive session to require healthcare professionals to understand and employ an effective communication or negotiation skill as well as to encourage a team approach to financial problem solving.