From Nashville Medical News, November 2002

New Company Helps Medical Practices Battle Third Party Payors

The nation's first — and largest — urology physician practice management company has learned that it's possible to fight back against predatory practices of insurance companies and other third party payors.

As a result, Urology Healthcare Group has become CIMplify, the nation's first physician advocacy organization. Like it's name, its mission is simple: to help U.S. medical practices collect what is rightfully owed to them, especially from third party payors.

The “fight back” message is resonating with the national medical community. The new company has been deluged with calls from medical practices across the country — all eager to know how they can turn the tables on third party payors who frequently withhold payment for services provided.

The key is focusing on the basics of information management and cash flow, according to CIMplify CEO Stryker Warren Jr.

“Providing superior information technology has been a central tenet of Urology Healthcare Group's business model since its founding in March 1997,” Warren said. “We have proven that integrating state-of-the-art practice management software with central billing office functions improves cash collections as it enhances practice management. This success generated interest among non-equity practices — including those outside the specialty of urology — which led to the creation of CIMplify. It is quite apparent that providing quality management information and improving cash flow will be hallmarks of the successful physician practice management company (PPMC) of the future — and we are excited about taking advantage of these opportunities.

“We found that this level of commitment pays unexpected dividends, because it leads to an intense focus on the basics, like cash flow, where, if you're observant enough, you find out where the money is really going. For instance, one of our practices has filed a lawsuit against an insurance company because our billings and collections staff noticed a pattern of claim denials and other contract violations. Thanks to the integrated IT system and central billing office function we had in place, we were also able to compile the extensive data and analysis needed to prove our case.”

Helping medical practices stand up to the often-questionable practices of health insurance companies is a key benefit CIMplify offers its customers.

“We are the physician's advocate,” Warren said, “something that further differentiates our company from the traditional PPM, which you might characterize as the physician's boss. The contest between physician practices and insurance companies is really not a fair fight right now. The insurance company has a distinct advantage. Someone has to be on the physician's side, and we are what payors fear most — a company with advanced information technology and seasoned professionals who know how to play the game better than they do.”

An intense commitment to “industrial strength” information technology is what distinguishes CIMplify, according to Chief Information Officer Jeffrey Heyer.

“CIMplify is translated as `Computerized Information Management made easy.' But, when it comes to information management, we've learned that technology is just a vehicle, not the destination. The destination is control of information critical to a medical practice's success, which is why we don't just flip a switch and walk away. The real secret to CIMplify is depth of resources and commitment — which means `industrial strength' IT solutions, staff that works side-by-side with practices and 24/7 technical support,” Heyer said.

“Probably the most valuable lesson we learned through is that, when it comes to information technology, you must make a serious commitment in hardware, software and people. It's not something you can do half-way in this business.”