Q3 2020 Newsletter
From the Office of the CEO
Hello all!
This is our first newsletter since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. After the long and difficult slog of the past 6 months, we finally feel that we are returning to some semblance of normality. No, we’ve not come back to working in the office. But we’re largely back to full capacity and growing. Our staff has learned the fine art of working from home, and we figured out how to have the call center staff field live calls without the sophisticated software parsing out calls. It has been a challenge!
This strange time we’re in has provided us with a steep and demanding learning curve. We’re confident that going through this process has made us a better company. We are grateful for our corporate bank, First Republic, that worked with us quickly and effectively to insure we received PPP money from the government when it was first available. This kept us afloat during the massive downturn of April, May and June. Having a great banking relationship makes a world of difference!
I also want to express our deep appreciation and gratitude for you, our clients. We know that for most of you, times were tough, and yet, across the board, you all stayed in communication with us, were patient with us as we learned to work in this world and you took care to prioritize your payments to us. This all meant that we were able to keep our entire staff that was on board with us April 1 fully employed with all the benefits we provide. This meant the world to them – knowing they had secure employment, health insurance, disability, etc.
A few things to note.
PMRG move office locations. See Donna’s note as well as some pictures of our new space.
We have done a major upgrade of our website, which has been long overdue. You can visit us at medicalpmrg.com or www.ophthalmologybilling.com (this is new domain name for us!).
Make sure to read the credentialing update from Paula. This process has been severely impacted by the pandemic.
If you have questions, thoughts on how to make things better or general feedback, please do not hesitate to get to me.
Best,
Curt
PMRG is on the Move!
From Donna Connolly, PMRG’s VP of Operations
In August, PMRG moved our offices to 18670 Graphics Drive in Tinley Park. This location is only a few blocks from where we were located previously, but the new office provides us with a more up-to-date space and room from growth. The layout is also more open, which will allow for increased collaboration within our teams. We look forward to when our staff come back to the office to enjoy this space!
Meet the PMRG Staff: Richard Kasden, Data Specialist
Richard came to PMRG on the recommendation of his sister Dana when she left PMRG in its fledgling years to become a full-time mom.
Richard’s official title is Data Specialist, but he is mostly known as “The Reports Guy.” When Richard started, PMRG only had 10 clients. As PMRG has grown to over 80 clients, so have its expansive reporting needs. Over time, Richard has turned the reporting process into a well-oiled machine, providing countless reports for our ever-growing needs.
The remote-work lifestyle works well for Richard – for the last 3.5 years, he has lived in a 35ft Toy Hauler Travel Trailer, typically spending summers in Montana and winters in Phoenix. In 2011-12, Richard traveled the world for 8 months, visiting Bali, Thailand, Burma, Nepal & India, all while getting his work done. He loves having a job and a lifestyle where he can follow his heart when it hears the call.
Richard has been with PMRG for 14 years and characterizes it as “an unlikely pairing.”
“I’m fiercely independent and do not suffer fools,” he says about himself and working at PMRG. “There are many common traits, values and ideals of most businesses in this country that I would choose to have nothing to do with. I stay with PMRG because it’s run with heart. Its leaders value the soul of the company as much as the bottom line. That’s what keeps me here: knowing that I am working for and with authentic, heart-driven people.”
We at PMRG are grateful that Richard has found a home here and that he continues to bring his magic and data mastery to our growing base of ophthalmology clients. We value his wonderful sense of humor and adventure.
The Credentialing Corner
–By Paula Muhlenbruch
As we entered 2020, the credentialing world was already challenging. It was near impossible to speak with a live person at the majority of the commercial insurance carriers across the country. Most application processes were taking the full 120+ days from start to finish. Adding in a global pandemic to the equation forced the majority of the nation to cut their workforce and move the remaining workers to working remotely created a credentialing monster. It is now taking a minimum of 180 days to get applications completed. If it’s a new practice, new provider or new product line you’re credentialing with, you also have to factor in contract processing time. This can add another 60-90 days to the process for some carriers.
If you are planning to make any changes and/or additions to your practice locations and/or medical staff, don’t wait until the last minute to start the process. Given the current turnaround times, as soon as you decide to make a change, get the process started!
