Veteran Health Administration Announces New Consolidated Patient Account Center

L e b a n o n V A 1 7 0 0 S o u t h L i n c o l n A v e n u e M e d i c a l C e n t e r L e b a n o n , P A 1 7 0 4 2 ( 7 1 7 ) 2 2 8 - 6 0 7 9

D e p a r t m e n t o f V e t e r a n s A f f a i r s N e w s R e l e a s e

Contact: Norman S. Faas, Jr., 717-228-6079

For Immediate Release

January 16, 2009

VETERAN HEALTH ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES NEW CONSOLIDATED PATIENT ACCOUNT CENTER

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has selected Lebanon, Pennsylvania, as the host location for its North East Consolidated Patient Account Center (CPAC), as part of an initiative underway within the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve billing and collection activities throughout its network of 170 medical centers and over 1200 clinics across the United States. The North East CPAC will provide traditional hospital business office functions for all VHA treatment locations within the Northeastern corridor, which is represented by Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) 1 through 4.

“We believe Lebanon, PA, is the optimal choice for hosting the North East CPAC in support of the continued expansion of the CPAC program,” said Stephanie Mardon, VHA Deputy Chief Business Officer for Revenue Operations. “The CPAC program has a proven track record in improving the revenue program within VHA. The North East CPAC expansion will allow us to continue improving our business performance and, ultimately enhance the services provided to our Nation’s veterans.”

“Lebanon was selected over other locations within the region based upon a review of several criteria including: availability and condition of existing VA-owned space, construction costs, quality of life, cost of living, local labor market conditions and the ability to recruit professional and technical staff”, said Robert W. Callahan, Director of the Lebanon VA . “The selected site located on the Lebanon VA Medical Center (VAMC) campus, will undergo renovations to create a state-of-the-art facility tailored for the business office”. The renovation project is tentatively scheduled to begin in late 2009, and will be completed in 2011. Once fully operational, the North East CPAC will sustain approximately 450 new full-time jobs within the local economy, resulting in substantial economic growth for the Lebanon area. “This is great news for our veterans who have served our county with honor and also the City of Lebanon,” said Senator Casey. “The announcement today by the Veterans Health Administration means many new jobs and economic growth in an area that has faced tough economic times. It also means that the billing process will be more streamlined and ensure that our veterans will receive effective and efficient care. The tireless efforts of the men and women of the VA, particularly those in VISN 4 and our Pennsylvania hospitals and offices, have made this new Patient Account Center a possibility. I want to thank the VA for their work on this important issue and look forward to working with them in the future to ensure our veterans get the best possible care.”

Congressman Tim Holden, spoke at the announcement. "I am very pleased for the Lebanon VA Medical Center. Not only does the North East Consolidated Patient Account Center mean hundreds of new jobs for the Lebanon VAMC and the Lebanon area, it means better service for our veterans who use VA Medical Centers across the Northeast. From Maine to West Virginia, our new Consolidated Patient Account Center means more efficient revenue services, and increased revenues back into the veterans' community. I am thrilled to join the staff and beneficiaries of the Lebanon VAMC and welcome this opportunity into our community."

CPAC is an industry-modeled approach that regionalizes billing and collection activities under a centralized span of control and incorporates the utilization of industry best practices, intensive training, staff development and extensive use of metrics to measure performance. The CPAC program was created in 2006, with the creation of the Mid-Atlantic CPAC (MACPAC) in Asheville, NC. The pilot project continues to be a resounding success – leading to an 18% rise in collections and setting the benchmark for revenue operations throughout VHA within two years of its inception.

Due to the success of the MACPAC pilot project, VHA plans to implement a total of seven (7) CPACs across the nation by 2012.

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