The ODP Billing Team

Apr 24, 2012

Dear Dee, Christie, Lori, Dan, and Sam,

In the three or more years leading up to prospective payment system billing for ODP services, I, Rich and other SPIN leaders attended meetings at county and state government designed to prepare providers for what would be needed to transition from program funded to payment for services rendered.  At every meeting over those years, I remember hearing variations of this message; “Get the best, most meticulous, technical, detailed, trustworthy, intelligent and driven people to do your billing because their performance will determine whether or not you will survive in this new system.”  Apparently we heeded this advice extremely well.

You are an incredibly productive and effective team that is responsible for the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) weekly billing and reconciling of payments which represents over $43M in revenue annually; about 83% of SPIN’s total annual revenue.  This includes the billing of every service rendered in: Residential, Day Program, Supported Employment, Transportation, In Home Services and Behavioral Support. The quality of your performance is directly linked to SPIN’s financial well-being. I am happy to say that you are hitting every indicator of high performance.

Carol Rocco and Marcia Giarratana wrote in their nomination letter, “The billing team is committed to sharing information with each other, displaying mutual respect, and exploring innovative ways to increase efficiencies to align with our changing environment.” They went on to describe that as a team, you work professionally and effectively together to keep multiple databases that SPIN needs up to date including Total Record, HCSIS and PROMISe. In addition to communicating with your many colleagues in SPIN direct services in regards to Total Record billing information, you also communicate with outside contacts at ODP, Supports Coordination Organizations, HCSIS, Social Solutions, and PROMISe Provider Enrollment. You meet as a team every Friday to review where SPIN stands with ODP billing and you investigate submitted claims that are unpaid. Together you assure SPIN receives payment for over 99% of submitted claims.

There is truly too much detail in your work to describe sufficiently in this letter everything you manage on SPIN’s behalf. You are highly regarded by your colleagues and supervisors for working with kindness, determination and respect. You keep SPIN’s four pillars at the forefront of your effectiveness.

In challenging financial times, this is the team that is pursuing that no penny is left behind. On behalf of people in SPIN services, your colleagues, SPIN’s management and executive teams and the SPIN Corporate Board, I am proud and privileged to have the opportunity to name the ODP Billing Team of Dee McGowan, Christie McQuiggan, Lori Perks, Dan Whittaker, and Sam Crevling as the January to March 2012 Team of the Quarter. Thank you for all that you do.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Brown McHale 
President & CEO