NAAC®, the nation’s leading source for education and certification programs in ambulance compliance, announces the nation’s first and only Certified Ambulance Financial Officer™
(CAFO™) program. Limited registration is anticipated for the premiere offering of the new CAFO™ course in Las Vegas on March 5-6, 2023, at Planet Hollywood’s Conference Center.
The Certified Ambulance Financial Officer™ program was developed to meet a long-existing need in the ambulance industry the need to enhance fundamental skills and knowledge of best
practices in EMS finance accounting, and reporting. Recently, the requirements for accounting for federal funding released during the Public Health Emergency, and CMS’s mandated cost data
collection has highlighted the need for EMS administrators to have a better understanding of basic accounting and financial principles. According to healthcare attorney Doug Wolfberg, partner at the National EMS Industry Law Firm of Page, Wolfberg & Wirth, “Financial literacy is also necessary to ensure ambulance agencies’ compliance. For example, discounts below ‘fully loaded costs’ can raise possible anti-kickback problems. A proper understanding of ambulance organization’s costs and finances can also help them justify the need for local subsidies, persuade insurers and arbitrators to pay reasonable amounts under balance billing laws, and help them navigate a host of other critical financial issues.”
“Whether you are the Controller, Biller, Finance or Accounting Manager, Treasurer, Bookkeeper, CFO or another administrator involved in who handles the finances and reporting for your
organization, or if you are involved only in the receipt and posting of income, this course will teach you what you need to know about being accountable and transparent to your agency, your
community, your funding sources, and your patients.”, said Page, Wolfberg & Wirth partner, Steve Wirth.
Certified Ambulance Financial Officers will learn basic principles of accounting that apply to calculating your costs, developing a budget, justifying a subsidy, complying with contractual obligations, meeting grant expectations, and communicating these numbers to administrators, the public, and state, local, and federal oversight agencies such as the IRS and CMS.
The CAFO™ course features two days of classroom instruction and examination, taught by National EMS attorneys and industry finance experts. The course will feature interactive workshops
where candidates get a chance to apply what they’ve learned to real-life scenarios. Students must then demonstrate proficiency in the material by successfully completing a written examination at
the conclusion of the course. The CAFO™ course covers key areas such as principles of accounting, budgeting, internal controls, revenue cycle, and many other topics. The course was developed by the EMS attorneys and Certified Public Accountants from the law firm Page, Wolfberg & Wirth, and outside industry experts. Certified Ambulance Financial Officers™ must maintain their certification by obtaining annual Continuing Education hours in approved topic areas.
NAAC® – The National Academy of Ambulance Compliance™ – was formed in 2008 to provide education and certification programs to ambulance billing and compliance professionals. In addition to the new CAFO™ program, NAAC® also offers the Certified Ambulance Coder® (CAC®), Certified Ambulance Compliance Officer™ (CACO™) Certified Ambulance Privacy Officer™ (CAPO™), Certified Ambulance Documentation Specialist™ (CADS™) programs, which have trained thousands of ambulance professionals in proper billing, compliance, and
documentation practices. NAAC® courses are also offered in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh, and NAAC® has entered into a continuing education relationship with the CMS Medicare Learning Network, with several Medicare Administrative Contractors, and numerous statewide ambulance associations. NAAC® is recognized as the “gold standard” in EMS billing and compliance education. Registration information for the NAAC programs can be found at: www.AmbulanceCompliance.com.
