Shanna Howard, MBA, RHIA, CCS, CEDC, CHC

I graduated with a B.S. in Health Information Management from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. My career began as a Coder for a physician services company. Over time, my focus shifted from coding to Documentation Improvement, and I became a physician trainer, educating healthcare providers on proper documentation practices and electronic health record (EHR) usage. I also served as a Compliance Liaison, assisting with investigations, audits, and the release of Protected Health Information (PHI) for our legal and other departments. This role sparked my passion for compliance. I transitioned to a consulting position where I conducted audits and client assessments, helping develop policies and procedures, staff training, coding consolidation programs, and monitoring plans. After several years of travel, I sought a more stable role and joined Lifepoint Health in 2017 as an Outpatient Coding Compliance Manager. I currently serve as the Director of Compliance Monitoring and Regulatory Support. In this position, I utilize my knowledge of coding and the revenue cycle to establish compliance oversight that maintains reimbursement integrity for the company. I truly enjoy collaborating with and advising our leaders and departments on ethical and compliant practices. I plan to continue expanding my expertise as regulatory changes occur, enabling me to provide valuable subject matter knowledge to our healthcare system, hospitals, and providers.