Medical Debt Collection Association Holds Annual Meeting, Honors Two

The 73-year-old Medical-Dental-Hospital Business Associates, an association of healthcare accounts receivable management professionals, met earlier this month in Las Vegas and honored two of its own.

The Robert T. Hellrung Award was presented to Lauren Immonen of General Credit Service  in Medford, Ore. The Hellrung award recognizes individuals for their contributions to the medical economics profession and to MDHBA. Immonen also was elected secretary/treasurer of the association. John H. Bedard, Jr. of Bedard Law Group in Duluth, Ga.,  received the President’s Award. The President’s Award is presented annually by the current MDHBA President to recognize an individual or individuals who did the most to advance MDHBA’s interests during his or her tenure as president.

In addition to Immomen, other officers elected included MDHBA president, Andrew Hartweg of CBJ Credit Recovery in Jamestown, N.Y.; MDHBA president-elect Mary Inscore of Credit Services of Oregon in Roseburg, Ore. Todd Gillis of Medical Business Bureau in Park Ridge, Ill., will serve as immediate past president. Patrick Collins of H P Sears in Bakersfield, Calif., was elected to his first term on the Board. Terri Boettcher of BC Services in Longmont, Colo. also serves on the MDHBA Board.

Medical-Dental-Hospital Business Associates is the healthcare ARM community for accreditation and networking. Formed in 1939, MDHBA and its members set a tone of collaboration and continuous improvement within the demanding and competitive world of healthcare financial services. MDHBA provides a nationwide forum for idea exchange, continuing education and certification.