The best word to describe life as a patient access manager this year is uncertain.

There seems to be increasing uncertainty regarding many facets of the patient access manager’s job, such as Medicare’s Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program, which collected more than $900 million in overpayments from providers during its three-year demonstration project, and the nation’s economic crisis, which is causing some patients to feel the pinch and not pay their hospital bills.

We heard your concerns at the May 3–6 National Association of Healthcare Access Management conference in Dallas. However, no matter how big the cloud of uncertainty is above revenue cycles nationwide, this year was not without its successes for patient access teams.

We feel there is no better time to celebrate those successes than in the December PAA. A few managers told us the following about their triumphs this year and what they look forward to in 2009.