The Financial Unit functions to provide a comprehensive mechanism for institutional review of clinical research budgets, Medicare coverage analysis, and training for clinical researchers who need assistance developing budgets. By adopting a greater role in assisting investigators with budget preparation and negotiation, especially for industry-sponsored studies, the Financial Unit aims to shorten the time required for the review and approval process. The group performs a Medicare coverage analysis when necessary to assist investigators and the hospital with identifying those procedures that can be billed to Medicare and/or other third party payers and those that must be billed to a research account.

Financial Unit Staff:

• Julia Washam, Financial Unit Manager, 501-686-8572

• Cynthia Spinks, Budget Developer/Negotiator, 501-526-4619

• Sharon Sandra, Budget Developer/Negotiator, 501-686-8567

• Jennifer O’Brien, Budget Developer/Negotiator, 501-686-8542

• Lisa Richardson, Budget Developer/Negotiator, 501-686-8539

• Barbara Adams, Medicare Coverage Analyst, 501-686-8187

• M’tonya Hunter-Lewis, Medicare Coverage Analyst, 501-686-8184