Priority Management Group – CHC Billing Experts

Since its founding in 1976, Optimus Health Care has been serving the health care needs of the community. The organization has been true to its mission of improving the overall health of the many communities it serves by providing culturally sensitive services regardless of ones ability to pay.  The community health center offers a wide range of services including medical, dental, behavioral health care as well as HIV, OB/GYN and Health care for the Homeless.  Optimus has experienced significant growth in the past few years resulting in over 2000,000 annual patient encounters generated at over 12 clinics.  

Several months ago, administrators of the organization realized the need for an outside view of their revenue cycle to assess its health and ways to improve efficiency with a focus on increasing revenue.  Thomas Hill, Chief Operating Officer of Optimus was tasked to find a firm with solid CHC experience and a track record of helping organizations in similar situations.  After researching the market and contacting NACHC and the Connecticut Primary Care Association for ideas, Mr. Hill talked to several firms.  Finally, Optimus decided PMG Consulting was the best choice.  PMG has been helping community health centers and look-a-like organizations for more than 10 years. Its PMG’s core business.  

The review occurred over several days both in the health centers and in meeting at the CHCs administrative offices.  PMG consultants interviewed staff across the organization, from front desk staff through the C level staff.  Upon the completion of this phase, PMG staff conducted an in-depth review of the revenue cycle including benchmarks of both staffing levels and financial results.  The project culminated in a comprehensive written report and project plan offering a step by step improvement plan for Optimus.  The results were well received by the organization. 

Ludwig Spinelli, Chief Executive Officer of Optimus offered the following to summarize the project:  “As a veteran FQHC CEO, I was pleased with the depth and method used by PMG to complete a revenue analysis. I believe every FQHC should undertake one as we face mounting numbers of uninsured and wish to serve as many patients while keeping a positive bottom line. PMG knew what to look for and produced as meaningful report that can be tied with action steps leading to enhanced revenue.”

About Optimus Health Care

Optimus Health Care, formerly Bridgeport Community Health Center, Inc., is the largest provider of primary health care services in Southwestern CT. With 12 service delivery sites located in the Cities of Bridgeport and Stamford, and the Town of Stratford, we provide comprehensive health care services to everyone, regardless of race, income and insurance status. We will provide you and your family the best quality of care.  For more information please visit http://www.optimushealthcare.org/.

About PMG

PMG is an industry-leading third-party medical billing company offering services to Federally Qualified Community Health Centers and look-alike organizations since 2000.  PMG speaks the CHC language (e.g., UDS reports, cost-based reimbursement, sliding fee scales, etc.) and has dramatically increased revenues, with flat patient growth, at each of its CHC clients.  For more info please visit www.chcbilling.com or call Robert Skeffington (401-616-2020).

Denials were rising, cash flow was up and down and staff turnover was increasing. What was the true problem, and could it be fixed?

In late 2002, Peter Gerondeau was appointed the senior vice president of finance & administration at Dimock Community Health Center (CHC) in Boston. After completing his initial round of staff meetings, he compiled a list of concerns. Heading the list was the billing department. Gerondeau’s over 20 years of experience in nonprofit health care was steeped with billing department and IT challenges. But while facing an issue in the billing department was no surprise, the pervasiveness of this problem was most unsettling.

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Pawtucket, RI and Washington, NC – May 22, 2007

PMG, the leading supplier of outsourced billing services for Federally Qualified Community Health Centers announced today that Metropolitan Health Centers entered into an agreement to provide medical and dental billing services.

Metropolitan is a 330-funded Community Health Center located at the heart of North Carolina’s Inner Banks in Washington, NC. The organization was incorporated in 1999 and provides healthcare to individuals regardless of their age, race or faith or ability to pay. The organization serves the health care needs of patients in Beaufort, Hyde, Pamlico and Martin Counties. The corporation recently celebrated the opening of its newest clinic offering family centered primary care medicine, diagnostic imaging, pharmaceutical and dental services to answer the needs of its rapidly expanding patient base. Metropolitan also provides chronic disease case management and outreach services to the regions Diabetic and HIV patients through grants from the State Office of Minority Health.

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