MED Group separates services

LUBBOCK, Texas - Carving out MED Professional Services as a parallel business offering to MED GPO Services allows the company to expand its overall offerings to HME providers, says Rhonda Hines.

“We will now be able to focus on the growing needs of our members,” said Hines, division vice president at MED, who will oversee MED Professional Services. “Separating our divisions in this manner will allow us to continue to grow and meet those needs.”

MED Professional Services will continue to offer a payer network, credentialing services, clinical education and clinical network programs, and marketing services, but it will also offer additional consulting, outcomes-based programs and CEU opportunities.

Hines sees consulting, in particular, increasingly in demand—and not only for the HME industry.

“We also anticipate offering our services more broadly to other healthcare markets, expanding our consulting services,” she said.

Hines noted that any new or expanded services will incorporate feedback from MED's members, much like the MED Clinical Pathways Program, which was introduced last year and which was developed in consultation with members and HealthCall, a vendor of a patient-centric care coordination platform.

“Our offerings have and will always be tailored to meet the needs of our members,” she said.

Hines says the parallel businesses and additional services haven't required MED to expand its staff—yet.

“MED was already staffed to offer our payer and clinical networks, credentialing services, education and marketing services,” she said. “We would anticipate adding resources as the MED Professional Services organization grows.”