Out-of-network provider charges can cost your health plan hundreds of thousands of dollars in extra medical fees. Join us for a jam-packed hour to talk about how to protect yourself and your employees from this all-to-common issue by learning:
- What to look for in your contracts to help your patients avoid surprise bills
- How to effectively educate your employees on this issue
- Who (and when) to contact if you experience an out-of-network claim
Deb Kunferman, Vice President of Network Development and Provider Relations at The Alliance, will also provide attendees with the tools they need to successfully educate their employees before – and to guide them after – they become an out-of-network claimant.
| 10:00am – 10:05am CST | Welcome & Opening Remarks |
| Melina Kambitsi Ph.D., The Alliance | |
| 10:05am – 10:55am CST | Keynote & Questions |
| Deb Kunferman, Vice President of Network Development and Provider Relations, The Alliance | |
| 10:55am – 11:00am CST | Closing Remarks |
| Melina Kambitsi Ph.D., The Alliance |
HRCI and SHRM Credits have been approved.
Vice President of Network Development and Provider Relations The Alliance
Deb Kunferman joined The Alliance in 2013 and now serves as Vice President of Network Development and Provider Relations. Kunferman leads the team responsible for constructing a provider network that brings value to employer health care purchasing by providing direction and oversight of provider network development strategies, including maintaining and growing provider partnerships.
Kunferman previously served as CEO at Cumberland Memorial Hospital where she oversaw the fiscal budget, 26 departments, and 285 employees. Other prior roles include CEO at Oakleaf Surgical Hospital and Executive Director for Valley Health Plan, an insurance plan in Eau Claire, WI.
Kunferman earned her Master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and has served on several Boards in the Eau Claire community over the course of her career, including United Way and Children’s Service Society, and she was elected as the first female president of Kiwanis Club in the organization’s 42-year history.
Senior VP, Business Development and Strategic Marketing The Alliance
Dr. Melina Kambitsi joined The Alliance in 2017 and leads the team responsible for membership growth and retention of the cooperative. Dr. Kambitsi comes to The Alliance from Network Health in Milwaukee and Menasha, Wisconsin. where she was chief sales and strategy officer. In this role, she was responsible for sales and underwriting, strategic planning, product development and risk-based contract analytics. Earlier she was senior vice president of sales at Blue Cross Blue Shield in Honolulu, Hawaii and the vice president of sales, marketing and product development at Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Dr. Kambitsi received her bachelor’s in international studies and her master’s and doctorate degrees in economic geography at The Ohio State University. She speaks Greek fluently as well as four other languages (Spanish, French, Romanian and Russian).
