Committees

All AMRPA committees are comprised of active AMRPA members and an AMRPA staff liaison. The primary goals of AMRPA’s Committees are to research, develop, and support activities and resources that enhance member participation, information, and communication by other AMRPA committees and the legislative policies in support of the AMRPA mission and objectives.

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Policy & Advocacy Committees

Legislative & PAC Strategy Committee

The Legislative & PAC Strategy Committee works with AMRPA staff and counsel to develop and pursue implementation of AMRPA’s legislative agenda on Capitol Hill. The Committee identifies proactive legislative opportunities to advance the needs of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals through federal law and leads AMRPA’s response to developments in Congress that could impact the IRF field. The Committee also sets strategic goals for and oversees the management of AMRPA’s Political Action Committee, focused on supporting rehabilitation champions in Congress on a bipartisan basis
Co-Chair: Pat Tuer, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Encompass Health
Co-Chair: Anthony Cuzzola, Vice President & Administrator, Hackensack Meridian Health JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute
Staff Liaison: Kate Beller

Regulatory Strategy Committee

The Regulatory Strategy Committee works with AMRPA staff and counsel to develop and pursue implementation of AMRPA’s federal regulatory agenda, including priorities and engagement with the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, and other federal agencies. The Committee strategically leads AMRPA’s response to annual payment rules, such as the IRF Prospective Payment System rule, and other current policy and emerging proposals issued by the Administration impacting IRFs nationwide (e.g., the new Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM)). It also oversees the work of AMRPA’s other issue-specific regulatory committees.
Chair: Robert Larrison, FACHE, Enterprise Group Vice President & President, Atrium Health Carolinas Rehabilitation
Staff Liaison: Kate Beller

Denials Management

The Denials Management Committee serves as a forum for inpatient rehabilitation professionals to share and achieve common goals specific to care denials, including prior authorization, medical necessity justification, and technical audits and reviews. Committee members also support AMRPA’s advocacy agenda on Medicare Advantage, prior authorization, and other denials-related issues in front of Congress and the federal government. 
Chair: Tracey Nixon, MS, CHC, Chief Compliance Officer, Nobis Rehabilitation Partners
Staff Liaison: Joe Nahra

Quality of Care

The Quality of Care Committee guides AMRPA’s positions on the definitions, development, and use of the quality measures and indicators used in the IRF Quality Reporting Program, defines principles pertaining to quality care in IRFs, and adopts frameworks for analyzing measures. The Committee also analyzes strategic considerations for promoting such measures in various forums, including the Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM).
Chair: Karl Sandin, MD, MPH, AMRPA Chief Clinical Officer
Vice Chair: Janet Herbold, PT, PhD, MPH, Senior Vice President of Post Acute Operations, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital
Staff Liaison: Troy Hillman

Rankings Committee

The Rankings Committee leads AMRPA’s engagement with and recommendations to U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek relating to IRF rankings efforts. The Committee identifies ways that the current ranking methodologies can be improved and how to modernize rankings approaches through longer-term recommendations. The Committee may engage with other rankings entities in the future as approved by the AMRPA Board of Directors.
Chair & Staff Liaison: Troy Hillman

IRF Review Choice Demonstration Workgroup

The IRF Review Choice Demonstration Workgroup leads AMRPA’s response to the IRF Review Choice Demonstration (RCD), a program impacting all Fee-for-Service IRF admissions in select states. The Workgroup develops and implements AMRPA’s advocacy strategy on the RCD before Congress and the Administration, and serves as a conduit for troubleshooting, information sharing, and operational support provided to AMRPA members subject to the demonstration.
Co-Chair: Rhonda Abbott, PT, FACHE, Senior Vice President & Chief Executive Officer, TIRR Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation & Research
Co-Chair: Andrew Baird, JD, Senior Vice President of Public Policy, Legislation, & Regulations, Encompass Health
Staff Liaison: Joe Nahra

Education & Research Committees

Education Committee

The Education Committee plays a leadership role in planning the annual AMRPA Fall Educational Conference & Expo by reviewing abstract submissions and selecting speakers. The Committee also assists with the planning of other educational training initiatives, such as webinars and Members Only calls.
Chair: Kent Riddle, President & Chief Executive Officer, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital
Staff Liaison: Melanie Hein

Certification Subcommittee

The Certification Subcommittee is responsible for the development and maintenance of the Medical Rehabilitation Management Certification (MRMC), including exam and policy review and revision. The Subcommittee also oversees the development of exam preparation materials and additional education activities to support potential exam candidates.
Chair: Natasha Woolery, PT, MBA, MRMC, Director of Business Development for Post-Acute Services, HCA Healthcare
Staff Liaison: Melanie Hein

Clinical Subcommittee

The Clinical Subcommittee is focused on enhancing the quality of inpatient rehabilitation through the development of educational programming and resources. The Subcommittee plays a pivotal role in the planning and implementation of the annual Summit for Transforming Inpatient Rehabilitation (STIR), where medical professionals collaborate to share knowledge and best practices on rehabilitation management and strategies.
Chair: Karl Sandin, MD, MPH, AMRPA Chief Clinical Officer
Staff Liaison: Melanie Hein

Research Committee

The Research Committee works to spur innovation, demonstrate value, and define impact in rehabilitation medicine through research. The Committee works to develop, foster, and disseminate research that supports AMRPA’s policy and advocacy agenda and promote the effectiveness of inpatient rehabilitation care.
Co-Chair: Kelly Linden, MBA, President & Chief Executive Officer, Casa Colina Hospital & Centers for Healthcare
Co-Chair: Emily Rosario, PhD, Executive Director, Casa Colina Research Institute
Staff Liaison: Joe Nahra

Organizational & Financial Governance Committees

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee provides financial oversight for the Association, including budgeting and financial planning, financial reporting, creation and monitoring of internal controls, and reviewing AMRPA’s annual outside audit statement.
Chair: Kent Riddle, President & Chief Executive Officer, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital
Staff Liaison: John Ferraro

Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee sources new Board member candidates and makes recommendations to the full AMRPA Board for approval. The Committee also provides recommendations to the Board regarding recipients of the annual Chairman’s Award, Leadership Excellence Awards, and Edward A. Eckenhoff Memorial Award & Lecture.
Chair: Chris Lee, MSPT, FACHE, Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals
Staff Liaisons: John Ferraro & Kate Beller

eRehabData Steering Committee

The eRehabData Steering Committee provides oversight and assistance to eRehabData (R), increases the visibility and awareness of eRehabData among the membership and the broader medical rehabilitation field, ensures key audiences are well-informed about the value of eRehabData, and works to support overall product enhancements and value proposition. This Committee is limited to AMRPA Board members (or, in limited cases, their designees) who are current eRehabData subscribers.
Chair: Doug Baer, President & Chief Executive Officer, Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital
Staff Liaison: Troy Hillman

Governance & Bylaws Committee

The Governance & Bylaws Committee develops proactive reforms to improve and modernize AMRPA’s structure, processes, and operations, which are presented to the AMRPA Board of Directors for approval and implementation. This group also interprets the AMRPA bylaws, identifies any issues related to the bylaws, drafts amendments and revisions to the bylaws as necessary, and implements solutions to bylaws-related problems.
Chair: Anthony Cuzzola, Vice President & Administrator, Hackensack Meridian Health JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute
Staff Liaison: John Ferraro

AMRPA Committees

If you are interested in becoming active with one of the AMRPA committees, please email AMRPA Headquarters.

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