This summer, Medical Revenue Cycle Specialists (MRCS) welcomed Kamarre Lawrence as a Project Coordinator & Summer Intern, providing him with the opportunity to gain firsthand experience while supporting projects across the organization. Kamarre attends Hood College, where he is studying Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. He is also one class away from completing a minor in Economics. He was interested in interning with MRCS because of the company's missi

Sort the work before hiring: Kem Tolliver and Taya Gordon share a revenue cycle playbook for stressed practices. When a single resignation can tip an understaffed revenue cycle department into crisis, the instinct is to post a job opening. Two practice consultants used an MGMA Summit session to argue that hiring is usually the wrong first move. Before adding a single position, they said, leaders should take the work apart: sort it by complexity, match each task to staff by sk

Kem Tolliver breaks down how to build a strategic revenue cycle work plan, control payer friction, and stop hidden leaks draining cash flow. Most practices manage their revenue cycle reactively — putting out fires instead of preventing them. In this episode, Kem Tolliver, FACMPE, CPC, CMOM, CEO of Medical Revenue Cycle Specialists, joins Physicians Practice Managing Editor Keith A. Reynolds to explain what a truly strategic revenue cycle work plan looks like and how to build

Kem Tolliver is President and CEO of Medical Revenue Cycle Specialists. She is a nationally recognized revenue cycle and practice management expert with more than 25 years of leadership experience across primary care, behavioral health, and multi-specialty organizations. Kem is an MGMA-published author, educator, and frequent speaker on medical practice operations, compliance, and financial strategy. The CMS 2026 Final Rule presents a familiar challenge for medical practice l

Many healthcare organizations are still managing their revenue cycle by reacting to problems as they arise. A denial spikes. Payments slow down. A payer issue surfaces. Teams jump in to fix it. But without a structured plan, those same issues continue to repeat. In a recent feature with Physicians Practice, MRCS CEO Kem Tolliver, BS, FACMPE, CPC, CMOM highlights a critical shift organizations need to make — moving from reactive workflows to a strategic revenue cycle work plan

Revenue cycle consultant Kem Tolliver says practices that bring frustration instead of data to payer disputes will keep losing ground. Claim denials are getting worse. Data from Kodiak Solutions shows payers initially denied 11.8% of claims in 2024, up 15.7% from 2020, and the Medical Group Management Association’s 2024 benchmarking report on denials and appeals found more than half of U.S. health care organizations now report denial rates exceeding 10%. Kem Tolliver, CEO of

30 days to fix payer friction? Kem Tolliver breaks down the three moves revenue cycle leaders should make first; and why waiting in a queue isn't a strategy. Payer friction rarely announces itself all at once. It builds quietly in aging buckets, unworked denials, and escalation processes that no one has thought through until a crisis forces the issue. Kem Tolliver, CEO of Medical Revenue Cycle Specialists, breaks the 30-day intervention down into three concrete moves: underst

Stop reacting to denials: proactive, data-driven tactics to cut payer friction, prevent revenue leakage, and improve cash flow. Revenue cycle management has a reactive problem. Denials spike, cash flow tightens, and practices find themselves chasing issues that could have been prevented weeks earlier. Kem Tolliver, CEO of Medical Revenue Cycle Specialists, works with physician practices and health care organizations to build proactive revenue cycle strategies grounded in data

Revenue cycle and business strategy shouldn't operate in silos. Kem Tolliver explains how to align the two, quarter by quarter. For most medical practices, the business plan and the revenue cycle operate in separate silos. One gets updated regularly; the other runs on autopilot until something breaks. Kem Tolliver, CEO of Medical Revenue Cycle Specialists, wants to change that. Tolliver works with health care organizations to build strategic revenue cycle work plans that are

Please join us in welcoming Sasha Chavez, MS , as MRCS’s Community Health & Equity Program Specialist! Currently a doctoral student in Kinesiology at the University of Maryland, Sasha brings strong experience in exercise physiology, community engagement, and qualitative research focused on health equity and access. Her work centers on understanding the social and environmental factors that shape health outcomes, with a particular focus on children’s activity, wellness, and co

🎉 Please join us in welcoming Janelle Dennis, M.D. as MRCS’s new Physician Advisor! With more than a decade of experience delivering comprehensive primary care, Dr. Dennis brings deep clinical expertise across acute and chronic care, care coordination, preventive medicine, and patient-centered communication. Her background spans both in-person and telehealth settings, with a strong focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, quality-driven workflows, and effective use of EHRs

Please join us in welcoming Charletta Washington, MHA as MRCS’s new Senior Revenue Cycle Integrity Advisor. With more than 25 years of leadership across hospital operations, public health, and strategic advisory services, Charletta brings deep expertise in revenue cycle integrity, workforce development, and operational improvement. Her career reflects a commitment to practical, sustainable solutions that strengthen healthcare organizations and the professionals who power the

Medical Revenue Cycle Specialists (MRCS) is proud to announce that our CEO, Kem Tolliver, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Cultural Academy for Excellence (CAFE). This appointment reflects Kem’s lifelong commitment to education, cultural empowerment, and service to the next generation. For Kem, this role carries deep personal significance. As a first-generation American born to parents who immigrated from Trinidad and Tobago, she understands firsthand the p

Join us on January 21, 2026 as MRCS President & CEO Kem Tolliver presents CMS Final Rule Roadmap: Operationalizing Key Updates in Your Practice for the HealthCare Leaders Association (HCLA). This session will focus on what the CMS 2026 Final Rule changes mean in real practice — and how to apply them without disrupting operations, billing, or compliance. We’re proud to support education that helps healthcare leaders turn regulation into action. 👉 Hosted by HCLA | Live webinar

Reflecting on an Inspiring Day at the HCLA Virginia Fall Conference! On Monday, October 6th, healthcare leaders from across Virginia gathered in Williamsburg for the HealthCare Leaders Association of Virginia Fall Conference (HCLA VA), a morning filled with insight, collaboration, and forward-thinking strategy. Our very own Kem Tolliver, FACMPE, CPC, CMOM, led both the keynote and breakout sessions, inspiring attendees with “From Insight to Impact: Empowering Healthcare Leade

Kem Tolliver, CEO of Medical Revenue Cycle Specialists, discusses patient engagement and what she gleaned from the MGMA Leaders Conference 2025. Physicians Practice What do you see as the most pressing issues facing primary care practices right now, and how do they differ across specialties like family medicine, pediatrics, and urgent care? Kem Tolliver Well, I think some of the most pressing issues are going to be patient engagement and technology adoption. Part of the reaso

At the MGMA Leaders Conference 2025, Kem Tolliver, CEO of Medical Revenue Cycle Specialists, highlighted patient engagement and technology adoption as the top challenges for primary care. At the MGMA Leaders Conference 2025, practice leaders were urged to reimagine patient engagement strategies and embrace technology adoption to sustain financial and clinical success. Kem Tolliver, CEO of Medical Revenue Cycle Specialists, told Physicians Practice that diverse patient populat

A big congratulations to Billy Green, MPA , Senior Healthcare Operations, and the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) on their...

The MGMA 2025 Medical Practice Excellence: Leadership Conference is underway in Orlando, FL, bringing together innovators, changemakers, and leaders in medical practice management. This year, we’re proud to recognize the Black Healthcare Leaders Resource Group, which continues to create meaningful spaces for impactful conversations, authentic connection, and collaboration across the healthcare industry. The group’s work helps elevate diverse voices, foster inclusive leadershi

Kem Tolliver, CEO of Medical Revenue Cycle Specialists and opening keynote speaker at HCLA Virginia 2025, explains how to turn strategic plans into action. Physicians Practice: Many organizations are struggling to turn their strategy into actual execution. Can you share any examples of actionable framework that you've used or seen used effectively that could help these teams implement strategic initiatives? Kem Tolliver: The one initiative that comes to mind is readmission re