Standing up for fairness in rural healthcare
Presentations are delivered by our founder, Mark, who has over 20 years of experience helping rural providers fight back against exploitative insurance practices. Most organizations who hire Mark find that one of the below topics is well-suited to their needs. Of course, all presentations are tailored to your organizational goals and the unique needs of your audience.
Mark didn’t pull any punches. As a Revenue Cycle Director, I’ve lived the nightmare of fighting denials, getting underpaid, and watching services erode. What stood out about Mark’s session was how clearly he laid out the patterns we’re all experiencing and more importantly, what we can do about it. His strategies for pushing back are already in motion here, and we are seeing real results. His was easily one of the most relevant and actionable sessions I’ve attended in years.
60-Minute Keynote
Drawing from insights gathered from rural hospital leaders across the country, along with new research into viable legislative proposals and innovative methods for rural hospital leaders to improve their bottom lines, this presentation underscores the dire situation facing rural hospitals, and what can be done to start fixing it.
Attendees will learn:
This was a refreshing and inspiring change from your typical conference talk. Mark had the room fully engaged from the start, and the energy never dropped. People walked out talking about how they could implement his strategies right away. If you’re looking for a speaker who can truly make a positive and practical impact on your team, Mark is the one to call.
Across the country, independent rural hospitals are hurting – forced to close units, eliminate services, and postpone upgrades to aging facilities. The main culprit? An unfair payment system that effectively bleeds these community institutions dry, all while lining the pockets of greedier-than-ever insurance companies. But there is hope! In this inspiring session, Mark focuses the bulk of his presentation time on the critical, immediately-actionable steps that rural hospitals can take right now to help them stay independent, grow stronger, and preserve their role as pillars of healthy communities.
Medicare Advantage was introduced as an alternative to Medicare, promising better care at lower costs, but its history tells a different story. Over time, policy changes and unchecked corporate influence have transformed it into a profit engine for insurance companies, exploiting loopholes to the detriment of rural hospitals and taxpayers. In this eye-opening session, Mark explores the origins of Medicare Advantage, its evolution into a system rife with inequities, and its devastating impact on rural healthcare. Attendees will leave armed with the knowledge needed to join the fight for greater accountability, policy reform, and a future where rural hospitals can thrive.
Mark’s session really stood out. Not only does he have top-tier subject matter expertise, he delivers it clearly and engagingly. He brought a level of insight into insurance payer behavior that most of our attendees had never seen laid out so directly. His examples were sharp and the data was damning; the whole room listened intently, and I saw almost everyone taking pictures of his slides. His policy strategies sparked real conversations, and many attendees mapped out next steps before they even left the event. It was the most talked-about session of the entire weekend.
Mark Craig is a nationally recognized healthcare advocate, author, and revenue cycle expert with over 20 years of experience helping hospitals navigate the financial maze created by insurers. He is the CEO and co-founder of Revenue Cycle Associates and Write-Off Warrior Inc., where he works with hospitals across the country to recover lost revenue and strengthen financial sustainability. After decades of witnessing and fighting exploitative insurance tactics firsthand, his mission is to ensure providers have the tools, strategies, and support they need to thrive in today’s payer-dominated landscape.
Mark is the author of the investigative report Preyed On: How Insurance Corporations Are Bleeding Rural Hospitals and Communities to Death. His policy perspectives have been published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and he regularly collaborates with lawmakers and advocacy groups to advance targeted oversight reforms that expose and dismantle predatory insurer practices.
From the moment Mark began speaking, you could tell the room was locked in! He brings a unique blend of firsthand experience and deep insight into the challenges healthcare revenue cycle professionals face every day. On top of that, he delivers practical, strategic, immediately-actionable content that truly helps maximize revenue and reduce administrative burden. His approachable and personable style makes him equally effective in casual conversations and formal training settings, creating a connection with every audience.
Mark brought real substance and spoke directly to the insurance company frustrations our attendees are dealing with. Beyond his engaging presentation, he was also a dream to work with. He’s professional, well-prepared, and generous with his time. We’re already laying the groundwork to bring him back.
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