PM Squared moves to new San Francisco quarters, reflecting rapid growth; Trauner and Bertko's new data analysis service for the managed care industry takes off.SAN FRANCISCO--(BW HealthWire)--April 7, 1997--PM Squared, a data analysis service for the managed care industry headed by nationally known health care consultants Joan Trauner, Ph.D., and John Bertko, F.S.A., has moved into larger quarters in downtown San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden at 444 Market Street. This reflects the huge demand by nationwide managed care clients for the company's services and the faster-than-anticipated growth of the data analysis company. PM Squared started doing business in January 1996 and, by the end of 1997, expects to employ 25 people, including actuaries, health care analysts, health services health services Managed care The benefits covered under a health contract researchers, and an information systems team, plus additional outside physician consultants. What PM Squared offers is a unique combination of data quality audits, actuarial risk assessment, reconciliation of financial data, and normative performance measures. PM Squared's clients include academic medical centers, hospital systems, medical groups, independent practice associations (IPAs), professional associations, managed care trade groups, and health maintenance organizations (HMOs). "We have a health care database that comprises nearly a million managed care members," said PM Squared Chief Operating Officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. and Senior Actuary John Bertko, who was formerly with Coopers & Lybrand and has represented the American Academy of Actuaries The The American Academy of Actuaries, also known as the “Academy” or the AAA, is the body that represents and unites United States actuaries in all practice areas. in evaluating the costs associated with various health reform proposals, including the Clinton proposals and the Kassebaum-Kennedy bill Kassebaum-Kennedy bill Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996, see there . "We use this database and client-specific data to produce some 30 client reports delivered both electronically and on paper. Called APROPOS -- for Actuarial Profiling and Reporting on Provider Organizations and Services -- these reports give our clients the ability to better negotiate HMO HMO health maintenance organization. HMO n. A corporation that is financed by insurance premiums and has member physicians and professional staff who provide curative and preventive medicine within certain financial, contracts, to determine risk selection between their enrollees and an average HMO population, and to evaluate their performance using standardized measures. These are key matters in this era of capitation and comparative reporting." Among the APROPOS reports are demographic studies, risk assessment studies, key indicators for managing risk pools, contracting studies, reconciliation studies, productivity and performance studies, reinsurance The contract made between an insurance company and a third party to protect the insurance company from losses. The contract provides for the third party to pay for the loss sustained by the insurance company when the company makes a payment on the original contract. and utilization management Utilization management is the evaluation of the appropriateness, medical need and efficiency of health care services procedures and facilities according to established criteria or guidelines and under the provisions of an applicable health benefits plan. studies, and custom reports. "We provide our clients with timely data analysis without the cost and delay they would incur by investing in up-to-date information systems," added PM Squared Chief Executive Officer Joan Trauner, Ph.D., who previously headed up Coopers & Lybrand's West Coast managed care practice, where she worked closely with Bertko. Commented one client, Margaret Jordan, president and chief executive officer of Texas Medical Resource in Dallas, "Data services from PM Squared were invaluable in evaluating our performance and strategic vision. Not only was the data we received accurate and of the highest quality, but the ability of PM Squared to respond so promptly to our data needs was most impressive. I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. of any other company that can do that." PM Squared, formerly located at 250 Montgomery Street in downtown San Francisco, is now at 444 Market St., Suite 1000, San Francisco, CA 94111. The phone number is 415/283-2430, the fax number is 415/283-2436, and the e-mail address is info@pmsquared.com . The name "PM Squared" refers to the "per member per month" costs and rates used by most managed care plans. Reporters - You may find the PM Squared founders to be valuable sources and spokespeople on the topics listed below: PM Squared Chief Executive Officer Joan Trauner, Ph.D., is an industry expert on changes in health care delivery patterns, medical group mergers, and data for HEDIS HEDIS Health Plan Employer Data & Information Set Managed care An initiative by the National Committee on Quality Assurance to develop, collect, standardize, and report measures of health plan performances. and report cards. She can be reached directly at 415/283-2431. PM Squared Chief Operating Officer John Bertko, F.S.A., is an industry expert on the cost of health care reform provisions, Medicare and Medicaid Medicare and Medicaid U.S. government programs in effect since 1966. Medicare covers most people 65 or older and those with long-term disabilities. Part A, a hospital insurance plan, also pays for home health visits and hospice care. , HMO mergers/acquisitions, capitation management, and data for HEDIS and report cards. He can be reached directly at 415/283-2432. CONTACT: PM Squared Joan Trauner or John Bertko, 415/283-2430 or Molly Prescott & Associates Molly Prescott, 510/654-7287 |
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