57 percent of Americans have received a surprise bill, and 38 percent of Americans delay care for fear of the bill. Meanwhile, the cost of a healthcare service can vary by hundreds of dollars across providers with no difference in quality.
“Even with good health insurance, both my cofounder and I have received unexpected medical bills for thousands of dollars over the years,” said Kevin Chiu, Co-founder and CEO. “These personal experiences are at the core of our mission to empower healthcare consumers to book health providers without fear of the bill.”
Certainly Health is the only marketplace for booking medical and cosmetic care with upfront prices. Patients can compare costs and avoid surprise bills while using health insurance to book thousands of providers in NYC. Certainly also makes it easy to compare prices, provider reviews, and appointment availability across medspas for cosmetic procedures, including Botox and microneedling.
Media Contact
Kristen Mondshein, KMM Communications, 1 3058773293, [email protected]
Kodiak Revenue Cycle Analytics (RCA) software monitors every patient financial transaction from more than 1,800 hospitals and 200,000 physicians nationwide. Kodiak analyzes data gathered from RCA clients to monitor payor behaviors and provide actionable insights to support targeted performance discussions with payors.
Initial denials up nearly 20%
Kodiak RCA data analysis shows that the leading driver of accounts aged more than 90 days is the surge in initially denied claims: According to the report, the initial claim denial rate as a percentage of claim value in 2020 was 10.15% and rose to 11.99% through the third quarter of 2023, an 18.1% increase.
“Resolving these payor denials requires a significant investment of time, resources and management attention from revenue cycle departments,” said Colleen Hall, senior vice president and Revenue Cycle leader at Kodiak Solutions.
“The initial denials cause delays sending bills to patients, and the longer patient billing is delayed after a procedure or hospital stay, the lower the collection rate for providers,” Hall said. “This amplifies the financial impact on provider organizations at a time when they are already under tremendous financial pressure.”
The quarterly benchmarking report also revealed:
Through the third quarter of 2023, commercially insured patients are responsible for about 23% of their medical bills, including both inpatient and outpatient care.
Aged accounts receivable (AR) greater than 90 days as a percentage of claim value for patients with commercial insurance reached 36% for 2023 through the end of the third quarter compared with 27% for 2020. The percentage for MA-insured patients rose to 27% through the end of the third quarter of 2023 compared with 19% in 2020.
Through the third quarter of 2023, self-pay after insurance collection rate for commercially insured patients as a percentage of claim value was 36.1%.
“Health systems that want to mitigate these challenges can enhance their communication with patients from the date of service to the billing date,” Hall said. “When patients receive clear and prompt updates from providers, it reduces the possibility of overlooked medical bills and can increase the likelihood of on-time payment.”
About Kodiak Revenue Cycle Analytics benchmarking data
Over 1,800 hospitals and more than 200,000 physicians use the Kodiak RCA solution to capture every patient transaction for purposes of automating hindsight, providing accounts receivable valuations, and analyzing net revenue. This proprietary benchmarking solution that monitors revenue cycle performance through normalized key performance indicators at healthcare organizations across 47 states and tracks more than $800 billion in combined annual gross revenue.
About Kodiak Solutions
Kodiak Solutions is a leading technology and tech-enabled services company that simplifies complex business problems for healthcare provider organizations. For nearly two decades as a part of Crowe LLP, Kodiak created and developed our proprietary net revenue reporting solution, Revenue Cycle Analytics. Kodiak also provides a broad suite of software and services in support of CFOs looking for solutions in financial reporting, revenue cycle, risk and compliance, and unclaimed property. Kodiak’s 400 employees engage with more than 1,800 hospitals and 200,000 practice-based physicians, across all 50 states, and serve as the unclaimed property outsourcing provider of choice for more than 2,000 companies. To learn more, visit our website.
The Fresno Mission (originally The Fresno Rescue Mission) was founded in 1949 with the purpose of meeting the needs of the community. The new City Center brings together more than 20 different organizations and ministries focused on meeting peoples’ emergency needs and will include housing, a medical clinic, a free grocery store, support services for youth, a coffee shop, and a dinosaur-themed playground.
The George and Melodie Rogers Foundation’s generous donation is a testament to the Rogers family’s commitment to helping their community. “Uncle George devoted his personal and professional life to helping people,” said Casey Rogers, George and Melodie Rogers’ nephew and CFO of the Foundation. “We’re happy to partner with the Fresno Mission to support their City Center, a welcoming haven for Fresno’s homeless.
“The Rogers family is proud to aid those in critical need of housing and emergency services,” continued Rogers. “We’re thankful for this opportunity to help create a pathway and keep my uncle’s legacy alive.”
“The George and Melodie Rogers Foundation’s $1.5 million gift to the Fresno Mission and City Center continues the Rogers family’s generosity,” said PrideStaff Co-CEO Tammi Heaton. “Helping people in the city we serve is a big part of the PrideStaff culture. This gift to help build the City Center is an impactful way to help those in need, strengthen the community, and offer hope to people in their darkest hours while honoring the memory of a man deeply committed to helping others.”
About PrideStaff PrideStaff was founded in the 1970s as 100% company-owned units and began staffing franchising in 1995. They operate over 80 offices in North America to serve more than 5,000 clients and are headquartered in Fresno, CA. With 40 plus years in the staffing business, PrideStaff offers the resources and expertise of a national firm, with the spirit, dedication and personal service of smaller, entrepreneurial firms. PrideStaff is the only nationwide, commercial staffing firm in the U.S. and Canada with over $100 million in annual revenue to earn ClearlyRated’s prestigious Best of Staffing 10-Year Diamond Awards five years in a row, highlighting exceptional client and talent service quality.
For more information on our services, or for staffing franchise information, visit our website.
Both organizations are poised for continued innovation, growth, and excellence in the healthcare space.
NEEDHAM, Mass., Dec. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The Healthcare Innovation Company (thINc) and Validation Institute announce the appointment of Craig Sharpe as their new Chief Operating Officer, effective January 2, 2024. With a portfolio of more than 20 years in leadership roles within the events and technology sectors, Mr. Sharpe brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of fostering growth through innovative strategies and operational excellence.
During Sharpe’s tenure at Emerald, where he served as Group Vice President of the CPMG division, he was instrumental in achieving a remarkable 104% increase in annual revenue. He also spearheaded the adoption of connected business systems, revolutionizing the group’s operations while significantly enhancing reporting and efficiency.
“Joining the thINc and VI team is an amazing opportunity to build upon an exceptional foundation,” says Sharpe. “I am eager to collaborate with this talented team to drive growth and lead us to new heights.”
Prior to Emerald, Sharpe spent a decade at Informa Connect as the Vice President of Audience and Customer Solutions, helping to grow more than 100 annual events. Sharpe’s career also includes a distinguished 12-year tenure at Avid Technology, a global leader in digital media creation tools.
As COO, Sharpe will work closely with Vidar Jorgensen, who will continue to serve as Chairperson and CEO of thINc and Validation Institute.
“We are thrilled to welcome Craig Sharpe to our leadership team,” says Mr. Jorgensen. “His wealth of experience and demonstrated success in driving growth aligns perfectly with our vision for the future of The Healthcare Innovation Company and Validation Institute.
With Sharpe’s appointment, thINc and Validation Institute are poised for continued innovation, growth, and excellence in the healthcare space.
About The Healthcare Innovation Company The Healthcare Innovation Company (thINc) develops content that keeps executives at health plans, hospitals and health systems, and pharma and life sciences organizations engaged and informed. By delivering timely information through its live events, webinars, and additional digital offerings, thINc is a catalyst for change for today’s leading organizations, providing them with insights and recommendations to make better business decisions, contain costs, and deliver better outcomes for the populations and markets they serve.
About Validation Institute Validation Institute provides unbiased, data-driven insights on healthcare solutions and services by validating performance claims made by solution providers and educating purchasers to drive transparency in the marketplace and maximize cost-savings. Visit https://www.ValidationInstitute.com for more information.
With their newly branded name, patients of Interstate can expect to receive the same high-quality care from the familiar faces they know and trust. However, with the integration into the IncreMedical family, the clinical team gains access to parent company, Confluent Health, along with their ecosystem of management services, education, and musculoskeletal health resources. These resources include efficient community outreach, digital innovations, value-based care pathway models, and marketing and finance tools. IncreMedical also offers partnerships with leading physical therapy networks such as PTPN network, continuing education programs, and staff development opportunities through Evidence in Motion and Fit For Work.
Greg Cooper, Managing Partner of IncreMedical, shares his excitement about the partnership, stating, “Since opening our doors, our vision has been to bridge the continuum of care delivery with health care systems, providers, employers, and patients through technology and value-added management services. We are delighted that this partnership will allow us to continue this vision but now with further hospital expansion on the west coast.”
Kristi Henderson, FAAN, CEO of Confluent Health, adds, “We are proud to partner with IncreMedical and are excited to welcome Interstate into the Confluent Health family. Beth and Jim’s team is made up of pre-eminent leaders in their respective fields, and bringing in Interstate is going to add significant value as we grow together. Our partnership has endless possibilities.”
Larry Benz, DPT, Founder and Executive Chairman of Confluent Health, who led this initiative with members of the Confluent Health partnership team, added, “Combining Interstate with IncreMedical solidifies our continued commitment in California. Jim and Beth are well known physical therapy providers and we welcome them and their tremendous organization to our growing musculoskeletal platform.”
Synergy Advisors, a healthcare-focused middle marketing M&A firm, played a pivotal role in facilitating this collaboration, serving as the exclusive financial advisor to Interstate in this transaction, along with the assistance of Carlo Mendoza of Mendoza Mazza and Associates.
About IncreMedical Therapy Solutions: IncreMedical Therapy Solutions provides post-acute management services for accountable care organizations, hospitals, and physician practices to include physical therapy, risk stratification and patient engagement strategies with a focus on preventable hospital re-admissions.
About Confluent Health: Confluent Health is a musculoskeletal company consisting of physical and occupational therapy, employer safety and health, health system partnerships, education, and digital innovations, all of which improve the quality of care for patients as well as lower the cost for employers. For more information, visit goconfluent.com or find us on Facebook at @confluenthealth.
“As in years past, the judges had a challenging task ahead of them, as determining winners in some categories was a matter of selecting the very best from among the very good and came down to the smallest details,” said Best in Biz Awards staff. “Each year, the judges stress how impressed they are by the innovations, growth, and change emanating from the winning companies and successfully permeating across layers of society, from their employees through clients to local and global communities.”
Since the program’s inception in 2011, winners in Best in Biz Awards have been determined by independent judging panels assembled each year from some of the most respected national and local newspapers, TV and radio outlets, and business, consumer, technology and trade publications in North America. Thanks to the unparalleled expertise and experience of the editors and reporters serving as judges and the impressive diversity of outlets they represent, Best in Biz Awards judging panels are uniquely suited to objectively determine the best of the best from among the hundreds of competitive entries. The 2023 judging panel included, among others, writers and contributors to Ad Age, Computerworld, Fast Company, Forbes, Inc., Portland Tribune, and Washington Post.
Gold and multiple award winners in the 13th annual program include: AlmaLinux, Ameresco, Anaptyss, Applied Systems, AudienceView, Beekeeper’s Naturals, Best Version Media, Big Bass Lake Community Association, Inc., BillingPlatform, Bloomberg, BluShark Digital, Calder Capital, LLC, cbdMD, Inc., Deloitte Consulting, Demandbase, DTS AutoStage, e.l.f. Beauty, EngageSmart, Everyware, Fidelity Investments, First American Financial Corporation, First Horizon Corp., FluentStream, Fountain, FreeWire Technologies, FundamentalVR, Gardyn, Innovation Refunds, Koncert, Lantheus, Lexipol, Medifast®, Merchants Fleet, M-Files, ModMed, Monarch Distributing, Moody’s, Nativo, Nearsure, Nu Skin, OCC, Octane, Osa Commerce, Piece of Cake Moving & Storage, Planet DDS, Qapital, Quality Custom Distribution, Quility, Radio Flyer, RealCall, REV Capital, RideCo, RingCentral, Salt Security, Scientific Games, Securiti, Sotheby’s International Realty, Stericycle, TELUS International, The Goulet Pen Company, Thorne HealthTech, U-Haul International, Inc., Verifone, Verizon, Wavelo, Wolters Kluwer. For a full list of gold, silver and bronze award winners in Best in Biz Awards 2023, see: https://www.bestinbizawards.com/2023-winners.
Once again, Best in Biz Awards recognized the most awarded companies in this year’s competition using a weighted-medal point system. The top spot went to Innovation Refunds, Sotheby’s International Realty came in second place, with Wolters Kluwer, Applied Systems, ModMed, Moody’s Corporation and U-Haul International, Inc. rounding out this year’s top group. For the complete list of the Most Awarded companies, visit: https://www.bestinbizawards.com/2023-most-awarded/.
Best in Biz Awards 2023 honors were conferred in 100 different categories, including Company of the Year, Fastest-Growing Company, Most Innovative Company, Best Place to Work, Customer Service Department, Executive of the Year, PR Executive, Most Innovative Product, Enterprise Product, Small/Medium Business Service, Best New Product, App, CSR Program, Environmental Program, Website and Film/Video of the Year.
About Best in Biz Awards
Since 2011, Best in Biz Awards has been the only independent business awards program judged by a who’s who of prominent reporters and editors from top-tier publications from North America and around the world. Over the years, judges in the prestigious awards program have ranged from Associated Press to the Wall Street Journal and winners have spanned the spectrum, from blue-chip companies that form the bedrock of the global economy to some of the world’s most innovative start-ups and nimble local companies. Each year, Best in Biz Awards honors are conferred in two separate programs: North America and International, and in 100 categories, including company, team, executive, product, and CSR, media, PR and other categories. Entries in the 12th annual Best in Biz Awards International are now being accepted until the final deadline on April 19, 2024. For more information, visit: http://www.bestinbizawards.com.
The Top Workplace award is a testament to Insightin Health’s dedication to creating a workplace culture that values collaboration, innovation, and employee well-being. The accolade is based on an assessment that evaluates workplace factors such as company leadership, employee engagement, career development, and overall workplace satisfaction.
Insightin Health stood out in the assessment process due to several key factors:
An 86% overall workplace experience score
92% closely aligned belief in the direction and values
93% reported feeling respected and supported
As Insightin Health celebrates this remarkable achievement, the company remains dedicated to raising the bar for employee satisfaction and development. The Top Workplace award catalyzes new initiatives focused on workplace inclusion, cross-collaboration, professional growth opportunities, and more.
Insightin Health is thankful for its outstanding team that makes this innovative culture possible. We look forward to building on our award-winning workplace and maintaining best-in-class standards for our employees now and in the future.
About Insightin Health
Insightin Health helps healthcare payers eliminate data silos and deliver highly satisfying consumer-centric experiences. inGAGE™ – our software as a service (SaaS) platform – is the industry-leading solution for quickly creating a connected data ecosystem. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques, inGAGE™ leverages the totality of the connected data, in real-time, to produce insights that drive Next Best Action (NBA) recommendations to solve pressing healthcare challenges. inGAGE™ allows healthcare payers to deliver lifetime member value, driving growth and increasing overall plan profitability. For more information, visit www.insightinhealth.com.
In her latest publication, “Speak to My Healing,” author Habakkuk Cooper delves into the depths of psychological healing. Drawing on both the positive and negative aspects of her life experiences, Cooper offers insights into the healing process, regardless of the hardships and pain encountered. She stresses the potential to free oneself from emotional and mental encumbrances, leading to personal improvement in spite of life’s challenges.
Cooper’s inspiration for this book comes from her own path of self-healing, having contended with deep-seated trauma that significantly affected her mental health and interpersonal relationships. She aspires to motivate women and others to better themselves by releasing past hurts, pain, and resentment. The book encourages women to discover and express their individual truths and to seek help for their trauma without feeling embarrassed. Cooper advocates for the creation of a compassionate, supportive community, ready to listen to those in need. She highlights the criticality of seeking help for healing and asserts that one’s history should not determine their future. Cooper advises clearing mental clutter to open up space for more enriching experiences and suggests approaching potentially triggering situations with caution until full healing is achieved. She urges women to courageously share their experiences and inspire others to release their past and trust in a higher power to overcome the lingering effects of trauma.
Habakkuk Cooper is a serial entrepreneur and former mental health therapist who dedicated her life to promoting good health, self-love, and healing. She loves helping others by becoming more educated on herbal remedies that can help heal others. Her selfless acts have changed the lives of many people who have suffered from mental health issues. Her motto is Live, Love, Pray, Heal.
Habakkuk earned her B. A. degree in Political Science as she dreamed of becoming the best criminal defense attorney alive, then later, a Judge until God redirected her toward earning her master’s degree in professional counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Although this was not her plan, she obeyed God’s plan by entering the mental health field. She also obtained a second master’s degree in criminal justice from the same University; practicing law had always been her first love.
Habakkuk, a prophetic Biblical name that means “One who embraces God,” was given to her by her mother and father. As a child and a young adult, she hated her name until she discovered what it meant as an adult. She has lived up to her name by becoming a steward of God and accepting her gift and purpose. She knew that she was meant for the task of helping others after strangers would often approach her to tell her their life stories while she patiently listened. Their responses would always be, “I needed that. Thank you for listening”. These words always made her smile. Habakkuk loves singing, listening to music, writing, and spending quality time with her loved ones. She is very passionate about helping people.
“Our vision is bold,” declared Lisa Johnson, CEO of BioForward. “We are resolute in creating a thriving and interconnected statewide network that fuels innovation, supports burgeoning startups, enables company expansions, and cultivates an agile, skilled workforce to drive the future of biohealth in Wisconsin and personalized medicine worldwide.”
At the helm of BioForward’s Eau Claire endeavor stands Maci Camara, appointed as both Eau Claire Office Director and BioForward’s Member Engagement Manager. Camara’s remarkable expertise, backed by a Bachelor of Science in Genetics and Genomics coupled with Life Sciences Communication from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, position her as an exceptional leader poised to drive initiatives in these critical regions.
To ensure accessibility and engagement within the community, BioForward will soon introduce open office hours at multiple locations throughout the Northwest region. This initiative will provide an opportunity for direct interaction, fostering collaborations, and offering guidance to biohealth enthusiasts. Visit the BioForward website to learn more.
The opening of the Eau Claire office signifies BioForward’s dedication to nurturing innovation, collaboration, and growth within the biohealth sector. By providing localized support and resources, BioForward seeks to catalyze advancements, drive economic development, and propel Wisconsin to the forefront of personalized medicine technology.
As we gear up for the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub designation Phase II application in February, our expansion into these regions underscores the pivotal role they play in the future of biohealth and personalized medicine in Wisconsin. The synergy between Eau Claire, Stout, La Crosse, and the broader western-northwest region amplifies our potential to shape the biohealth landscape, marking an exciting chapter in our mission to transform possibilities into realities.
About BioForward
BioForward Wisconsin represents more than 230 member organizations across an integrated network of health solution leaders, including research institutions, biotech and biopharma, digital health, healthcare systems, and medical device, and diagnostics. It is an action-oriented association that focuses on initiatives to strengthen the state’s biohealth industry. BioForward was the lead consortium member on Wisconsin’s successful Phase I Tech Hub Designation Application. Learn more about BioForward Wisconsin at www.bioforward.org.
As healthcare systems face financial challenges, Tom Siemers, Chief Executive Officer of Wilbarger General Hospital, recognized the need for an accessible, standardized, and automated solution. Lack of data accessibility and the time-consuming nature of manual analyses were hindering the hospital’s ability to discover critical opportunities for financial optimization.
SMaRT Analytics™ empowers Wilbarger General Hospital to address these challenges with user-friendly dashboards, streamlined and automated processes, and more. By leveraging this transformative platform, internal analysts can redirect their focus to higher-level tasks, unburdened by data accessibility challenges and manual reporting issues.
Siemers emphasized the importance of growth and has introduced internal processes to support this effort, with Sixth Sense playing a significant role in facilitating it.
“We are always looking for ways to improve revenue and decrease costs,” stated Tom Siemers, CEO of Wilbarger General Hospital. “I am excited to transform our analytics capabilities and for the new insights we will quickly gain working with Sixth Sense and the SMaRT Analytics platform.”
By collaborating with Sixth Sense Intelligence, Wilbarger General Hospital joins a growing list of healthcare organizations experiencing rapid ROI with SMaRT Analytics™. For a firsthand look at how SMaRT Analytics can bring automation, accuracy, and agility to your organization, contact Sixth Sense Intelligence for a demonstration.
About Sixth Sense Intelligence
Sixth Sense Intelligence provides actionable operational intelligence, enabling quick answers to the most pressing problems facing healthcare organizations today. The company’s software-as-a-service (SaaS) SMaRT Analytics™ platform and expert consulting services help healthcare executives quickly standardize and streamline data to identify substantial revenue and cost savings.
About Wilbarger General Hospital
Wilbarger General Hospital is a rural, short-term acute care hospital located in Vernon, Texas. WGH is committed to sustaining and improving the lives of patients and employees by providing quality healthcare and inspiring wellness in their community by combining the science of healing with the art of caring.
Media Contact
Les Rescorl, Sixth Sense Intelligence, 1 847-471-4819, [email protected], 6intelligence.com
