Chamberlin Edmonds Announces New Contract with Knapp Medical Center in Texas

Business Wire, June 09, 2009

Increase in Self-Pay Patients Prompts Hospital to Seek out Eligibility Service to Generate Revenue and Help Patients Navigate Complex Federal Benefit Programs

ATLANTA -- Chamberlin Edmonds and Associates, Inc., a leading provider of comprehensive patient eligibility services to hospitals, today announced that it was selected by Knapp Medical Center, located in Weslaco, TX, to help obtain reimbursement for under- and uninsured patients. Chamberlin Edmonds’ eligibility specialists will work onsite at the hospital to guide patients through complex application processes to secure federal and state reimbursement for uncompensated medical care.

Chamberlin Edmonds was chosen to provide a thorough review of account information and ensure the hospital’s rural patient population does not miss opportunities to obtain coverage, thereby reducing their own financial burden.

“Over the past six months we have noticed an influx of patients presenting as self-pay,” says Tony Castillo, Patient Accounts Director for Knapp Medical Center. “We began evaluating vendors, but none had the national experience that Chamberlin Edmonds does. Our patients come to us from a variety of surrounding areas, so we also needed a partner that was an expert on how Medicaid works in other states, not just Texas.”

In addition, Chamberlin Edmonds’ reputation as specialists in federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) eligibility determination programs was a key factor in Knapp’s selection. “Although representatives from government agencies are already stationed in our hospital, they are unable to devote the time necessary to uncover this type of coverage. We require a third party that understands the intricacies of SSI to maximize eligibility offered to patients and generate additional incremental revenue for our hospital,” Castillo adds.

“Partnering with Knapp Medical Center is an exciting opportunity, allowing us to help obtain coverage for greater numbers of qualified patients through government and state programs,” says Kirk Reid, Executive Vice President at Chamberlin Edmonds. “Our goal is to provide remedies to boost eligibility rates and increasing cash flow by capturing revenue that otherwise would have fallen through the cracks.”

Chamberlin Edmonds’ patient-centric eligibility services include Medicaid, SSI, Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits (SSDIB), Medicare, state disability and charity care, as well as many community programs. The firm’s professional guidance, from application through follow-up, is offered at no cost to patients.

About Knapp Medical Center

Knapp Medical Center is a not-for-profit, acute care hospital in South Texas providing quality healthcare services to citizens in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley. The hospital offers 233-private rooms and is rated one of the top South Texas hospitals in the country for clinical excellence in pulmonary services. More than 220 physicians, all independent professional practitioners, serve on the medical staff. Knapp employs approximately 1,000 people and provides volunteer opportunities for more than 250 people. For more information about Knapp Medical Center, please visit http://www.knappmed.org.

About Chamberlin Edmonds

Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., Chamberlin Edmonds serves as patient advocates and provides comprehensive eligibility services to hospitals, government and managed care organizations nationwide. The company guides patients through complex application processes to secure government and community reimbursement for uncompensated medical care expenses. Chamberlin Edmonds has more than 23 years of experience with six regional offices in the U.S. and over 800 employees. Please visit www.chamberlinedmonds.com to learn more.