Complete Story
02/03/2026
First Billing Buzz of 2026 and updates!!
Happy 2026, MMBA Members!
We are happy and proud to announce this year is MMBA’s 36 Year anniversary!
MMBA was founded in 1990 by a small group of medical billers from Genesee County. Thank you to those ladies for having a vision that we have been able to carry on for 36 years! To our members, THANK YOU for supporting MMBA and for making yourself a priority. Your commitment to learning and professional development is a wonderful New Year’s goal, and MMBA truly appreciates your continued support.
As we step into 2026, we encourage you to continue to be a part of MMBA our goal is to continue to bring learning opportunities and Fresh ideas to our members! That is why 2026 is coming to you with opportunity for all of us to experience Growth and Opportunities through- out this new year!
After much discussion we opted for a slight name revision as outlined below:
The first change is our organization’s name. Michigan Medical Billers Association is now the Michigan Medical Billing Association.
The objective of this change is simple: our organization supports all individuals involved in the revenue cycle management process, not just medical billers. Over time, we encountered many professionals working in compliance and other areas who assumed MMBA focused only on “medical billing.” Our educational mission encompasses the entire billing cycle, from patient scheduling, maintaining the integrity of the medical record, medical coding, to claim submission, payment, and post-payment review.
MMBA’s goal is to educate on all aspects of medical billing, medical coding, compliance, collections, and auditing. We chose Michigan Medical Billing Association because, in practice, “billing” represents the entire claim lifecycle, while still honoring the historical value of our organization.
Our next 2026 transition is moving from Chapters to Zones throughout Michigan: How does this look
This change is designed to strengthen connections among members across the state and encourage broader networking, including within our MMBA Board. MMBA was founded on the principle of networking and working together for the betterment of medical billing as a profession.
In the past, MMBA consisted of six regional chapters, each led by two officers from the same territorial area. Beginning in 2026, we are transitioning from chapters to Zones. This change allows members and board leaders from different regions to network, collaborate, and learn from one another.
This fall, I personally attended an in-person meeting in the Cadillac area, even though I am from Mid-Michigan area. The meeting was filled with knowledgeable professionals I had never met before. We created an email group called “Where My Billers At” to share issues, ask questions, and collaborate on solutions. This is exactly why MMBA was created in 1990!
Since MMBA is a volunteer-based organization, this new model also provides more “womanpower” to each zone. There will be three zones:
- Zone 1: Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan
- Zone 2: Greater Bay Region and West Michigan
- Zone 3: Detroit, Lansing, and parts of Grand Rapids
You may be wondering how this change will affect you on a daily basis, the answer is, it really won’t. You may still attend any zone’s webinars or in-person meetings, all of which are included with your MMBA membership.
Bringing back the Insurance Liaison:
In keeping true to our MMBA roots and history, the third change we are excited to reintroduce is our Insurance Liaison role. This is a position MMBA previously had and decided to bring back because we know just how valuable it is to our members. Sometimes, going “old school” is exactly what’s needed.
The Insurance Liaison is dedicated to assisting practices with payer denials, insurance-related challenges, and ongoing payer issues, serving as a direct support resource for our members. This role strengthens MMBA’s mission of collaboration, advocacy, and real-world problem solving.
Members may reach out for assistance through the Members-Only Forum on our website or by emailing their issues to info@mmbaonline.com
As President and Vice President, we are incredibly proud to have had the opportunity to lead this organization over the past four years. It has been an honor to serve alongside such a dedicated board and membership who continuously support, educate, and uplift one another. MMBA’s strength has always come from its volunteers, its members, and its shared commitment to excellence in medical billing and the entire revenue cycle.
As we look ahead to 2026 and beyond, we are excited about the growth, collaboration, and innovation these changes will bring, while staying true to the roots and values on which MMBA was founded. Thank you for your trust, your engagement, and your continued support. Together, we will continue to move MMBA forward and strengthen our profession across the state of Michigan.
With gratitude and pride,
Connie Demeulenaere, President
Christy O’Dell, Vice President
Michigan Medical Billing Association
