Sessions & SpeakersThe THAA 2023 Annual Conference, June 23–24 at the Omni Las Colinas in Irving, Texas, will feature sessions covering everything from federal and state/TDLR updates to physician marketing, cerumen management, and more! More session and speaker information coming soon. Find an overview of the full schedule here. Jump to:
Register NowFriday, June 23, 2023Medical Billing for Hearing Instrument Specialists: A Deep Dive Into Compliance In this general session, we will discuss compliance in billing as it relates to hearing instrument specialists in Texas:
About the Speakers  
Christy Farrar is the owner of Farrar Consulting and has been in the healthcare industry for over 25 years. Farrar Consulting provides managed care credentialing, contracting, and full-service medical billing to audiology and dispensing practices nationwide. She received her Bachelor of Science in Health Professions with a major in Health Care Administration from Texas State University. She began her career working in home health, where she hired and supervised a team of over 200 certified nurses' aides and home health attendants throughout Central Texas, among other duties. Christy began her consulting career in 2010 and has successfully built multiple managed care networks for insurance plans across the nation. With a passion for assisting private practice owners, she began Farrar Consulting in April of 2014 and has successfully improved the managed care profile and financial bottom line of many medical practices throughout the nation, while easing their administrative burden and allowing them to focus on patient care. Lacey Ray has worked in the healthcare field for the past 17 years in both insurance and provider’s offices in billing and revenue cycle management. She received her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Houston. As a medical billing specialist for Farrar Consulting, she regularly educates providers by leading workshops on compliance and streamlining billing processes. Having an audiologist as a mom, Lacey grew up playing in sound booths, attending conferences, and “helping” at the office. If You Build It, They Will Come First impressions are everything! The goal for an effective leader is to build a strong foundation for their business so that consistent and intentional messaging is conveyed to perspective clients and referring offices. Most clinics want to jump right to the finish line, but it is necessary to first prepare the clinic, so it stands out in a saturated marketplace. This course is designed specifically for hearing clinic owners at any stage of practice. Dr. Phallon Doss of Doss Audiology Consulting will take owners through the process of identifying community need, assessing an offices’ strengths and weaknesses, and most importantly, viewing their practice through the lens of a prospective client and/or referral source. Once an owner defines the fundamentals of the practice, marketing efforts of all types will be much more fruitful. About the Speaker
Dr. Phallon Doss graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas Woman’s University and received her Doctorate of Audiology from the University of North Texas. Dr. Doss owns two audiology clinics in the greater San Antonio area. She also founded Doss Audiology Consulting in 2017 to help private practice hearing professionals achieve growth in their businesses. Her specialty areas are physician marketing and branding. She was named a San Antonio Business Journal 40 under 40 award winner in 2019 and a Healthcare Hero in 2017. Dr. Doss has also been featured in numerous publications, including O, The Oprah Magazine, Fortune Magazine, and Entrepreneur Magazine. Doss Audiology & Hearing Center has been named the Best Audiology Clinic in San Antonio four times by Senior Resource Guide. Dr. Doss was a 2021 finalist for the Oticon Focus on People Award.
Managing Objections How many times in our industry have you heard “We are the people that sell something that nobody wants”? When potential customers walk through our doors, they are all at a different place on their hearing journey. There are some who already know they have a hearing deficit and are ready to purchase hearing aids; others come in grudgingly and potentially don't think they even have a hearing loss, or that it's not “bad enough” to warrant action. This session will feature a panel of experienced owners, clinicians, and manufacturer representatives that will offer ideas on how to best help people say yes to the help they need. About the Speakers
Chris Bisel, BC-HIS, is board-certified in hearing instrument sciences. He is a third-generation hearing instrument specialist and a native Houstonian. Growing up in the hearing aid business has allowed him to witness many technology changes over his 30 years of fitting hearing aids. He is a former item writer for the National Board Certification Exam, a member of the International Hearing Society and Texas Hearing Aid Association, and the most recent Past President of the Texas Hearing Aid Association. Chris’s father, Gordon Bisel, facilitated the production of all the earmolds for radio communication for the NASA Space Program from the Gemini 5 mission through the first space shuttle mission. After a career in nonprofit leadership and business development, Ron Ragsdale entered the hearing industry through his own hearing loss. Ron has served in large-scale retail operations as clinician, regional director, operations director, and director of training and development. Since 2019 Ron has been helping clinicians and independent owners rethink their business, improve their operations, and win their markets while living into their highest values. Success, healthy team, and make it fun—that's what Ron brings to his clients and to THAA. 
Bryan Taylor, Au.D., is the senior director of audiology for Signia. He is also the editor of Audiology Practices, a quarterly publication of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology, and an adjunct instructor at the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Taylor has been an American Academy of Audiology member since 1991. Monica McNamara is board-certified in hearing instrument sciences and licensed as a hearing instrument specialist in the state of Texas. She is a 20+ year hearing aid wearer and uses her personal experiences to help others on their hearing journeys. Monica is an active member of the International Hearing Society and Texas Hearing Aid Association, and current chair of the 2023 THAA Conference Committee.
Saturday, June 24, 2023
IHS Policy Perspectives and Updates for the Hearing Professional IHS Southwest Governor Wayne Morris, BC-HIS, will provide a review of relevant legislative, regulatory, and other activities being undertaken by the federal government, agencies, work groups, and organizations that seek to address hearing healthcare policy. In the U.S., these will include updates on the application of the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid act, Medicare proposals, veterans’ care, World Health Organization activities, and much more. The representative will also review new resources and news from the International Hearing Society that affects the role and advancement of hearing health professionals in their knowledge, professionalism, and practice. Learning Objectives
About the Speaker 
Wayne Morris, BC-HIS, is a Board-Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist with multi-industry experience in corporate management, business development positions, and hearing healthcare practice ownership. Wayne has been recognized for providing innovative solutions to professional sales and marketing challenges for technical products in competitive environments.
The Insider's Report: THAA Legislative, Regulatory Issues Briefing This do-not-miss session will include important updates and valuable insights from THAA’s Legislative and Regulatory team, as well the Senior Program Specialist Health Professions at Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Former THAA President and current Texas House Member Rep. Tracy King has also been invited to participate on the panel. You'll hear about the impact of bills passed during the 88th Session of the Texas Legislature on the hearing industry along with an overview of TDLR’s proposed legislation.
About the Speakers
Katie Brice is the manager for the Health and Wellness Section of Regulatory Program Management at Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), where she also works with the Hearing Instrument Fitter and Dispenser program. Before starting at TDLR in 2016, Katie was the Executive Director for the State Committee of Examiners in the Fitting and Dispensing of Hearing Instruments. Katie has a degree in economics from the University of Texas and lives in Austin with her husband James, sons Turner and Tait, and stepdaughter Ava. Robert Culley’s legislative experience began over 30 years ago, when he served as Chief of Staff for a State Representative who was later elected State Senator. His long-time service at the Capitol has left him with strong relationships among both members and staff. During his time working for the legislature, Robert oversaw the House Public Education Committee and the Senate Administration Committee. Robert worked at the Texas Capitol for several years before becoming the Director of Governmental Affairs for the Texas Motor Transportation Association in the early 1990s. There, he oversaw public relations, grassroots, and lobbying efforts for the association’s 1,200 members. In 1993, Robert joined Polan Culley (then Polan Ingram Advocacy Group), bringing his extensive Capitol and trade association experience to the firm. He brings his clients a wealth of knowledge in strategy and project management, bill drafting, comprehensive communications programs, and media relations.
Rep. Tracy O. King is a Texas House Member, Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, member of the Energy Resources Committee, and Past President of the Texas Hearing Aid Association. He graduated from Carrizo Springs High School and attended Southwest Texas Junior College and Texas A&M University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in agricultural engineering. In 1983, Rep. King took a job with the Beltone Hearing Aid Center in San Antonio and soon after moved to Uvalde to open a branch office there. He later purchased the Beltone Hearing Aid Center and owned and operated it until 2008 when he sold the business to spend more time with his family.
Creating Your Brand Branding is the bridge between you and your customer. Whether you have a long-established practice or you are just getting started, every practice owner needs to have a clear branding message. Learn how to build brand loyalty in a medical office and the basic branding collateral every practice ought to have in their arsenal. Dr. Phallon Doss of Doss Audiology Consulting will discuss how use of consistent branding, best practices, and creating an amazing patient experience put her practice in a position to thrive and grow year over year.
About the Speaker 
Dr. Phallon Doss graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas Woman’s University and received her Doctorate of Audiology from the University of North Texas. Dr. Doss owns two audiology clinics in the greater San Antonio area. She also founded Doss Audiology Consulting in 2017 to help private practice hearing professionals achieve growth in their businesses. Her specialty areas are physician marketing and branding. She was named a San Antonio Business Journal 40 under 40 award winner in 2019 and a Healthcare Hero in 2017. Dr. Doss has also been featured in numerous publications, including O, The Oprah Magazine, Fortune Magazine, and Entrepreneur Magazine. Doss Audiology & Hearing Center has been named the Best Audiology Clinic in San Antonio four times by Senior Resource Guide. Dr. Doss was a 2021 finalist for the Oticon Focus on People Award.
Wax On, Wax Off: The Art of Cerumen Removal As hearing care providers and hearing aid dispensers, it is part of our duty to take care of the entire hearing system, starting with the ear canal. Cerumen removal is an important and necessary procedure prior to otoscopic examination of the tympanic membrane, diagnostic testing, ear mold impressions, and hearing aid fittings and follow ups. Cerumen impaction is a common problem that affects people of all ages and can occur in up to 10% of children, 5% of healthy adults, and up to 57% of older adults in long-term care facilities, according to a review published in American Family Physician. Given the population that hearing care providers primarily serve, cerumen impaction is something you will regularly see in your practice. Not performing cerumen removal and having to refer out to primary care physicians or Otolaryngologists not only overloads the medical system, but also delays your patients’ ability to have a proper hearing evaluation and treatment. This course will provide an overview of cerumen basics, ear canal anatomy, and proper cerumen removal methods, highlighting the manual, suction, and irrigation techniques. This course will also highlight two irrigation devices with representatives from SafKan Health to discuss the updates to the OtoSet® 2.0 Ear Cleaning System as well as from Nupur Technologies to highlight the Earigator®.
Learning Objectives
About the Speaker
Nicole Denney received her bachelor's degree in speech-language-hearing science and disorders from the University of Kansas in 2013 and her Doctorate in Audiology from the University of Kansas Medical Center in 2017. After graduate school, Nicole worked as a dispensing audiologist in clinical private practice settings in Colorado, Georgia, and Virginia. In April 2023, Nicole joined the SafKan Health team due to her experience in cerumen removal techniques. With her expertise and passion for hearing and ear health, Nicole is committed to providing safe and effective cerumen management solutions for all. How to Find New Event Revenue Streams Community awareness is critical to the success of any hearing care professional’s clinic! Health events are the perfect way to ensure that your business becomes the go-to facility for hearing evaluations, hearing aids, wax removal, etc., in your local community. Most companies do not have a hearing care professional attending their health events, which leaves maximum potential with so little competition in the way. In this course, we will learn how to implement health events into your practice, including how to develop a plan, who to contact, training your team, performing hearing screenings on site, and how to make these health events a new revenue generating stream for many years to come.
About the Speaker
Rachel Garcia is the co-owner of a multi-location hearing and balance clinic in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and has been working in the hearing healthcare industry for over 28 years. She became a certified medical claims and billing specialist after completing a 2-year training program in 2003. She recently began practicing as a licensed hearing instrument specialist and really enjoys patient care. Rachel continues to oversee an in-house billing team that specializes in credentialing, contract negotiations, insurance verification, and billing for hearing care services. She has experience in professional development, marketing, and business management. She also has over 23 years of experience working with commercial insurance, workers compensation carriers, third-party administrators, and direct contracts with TriWest/CCN VA program and Texas Workforce Commission vocational program. Rachel believes in giving back to her community and rallies up enough donations to fit 60+ underprivileged patients with hearing aids at Mission Arlington each year through her project foundation, Hearing the Call North Texas.
Time for a Tune-Up: 10 Checks to Review and Revitalize Your Practice Based on experience, actual clinic outcomes, and sustainability over time, this course brings forward 10 central actions for clinicians and clinic owners to improve their hearing practices, help more people, and create a secure financial future in the midst of today's disrupted hearing care marketplace. This is not a "theoretical" presentation; it is "Here are the 10 actions. Let's get to work on them right now."
About the Speaker
After a career in nonprofit leadership and business development, Ron entered the hearing industry through his own hearing loss. Ron Ragsdale has served in large-scale retail operations as clinician, regional director, operations director, and director of training and development. Since 2019 Ron has been helping clinicians and independent owners rethink their business, improve their operations, and win their markets while living into their highest values. Success, healthy team, and make it fun—that's what Ron brings to his clients and to THAA. Register Now |
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