Yakima Regional outsources its billing operations

YAKIMA -- Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center has outsourced the billing operations of its nine medical clinics in a cost-saving move that officials say will not involve layoffs.

Central Washington Medical Group, the Regional affiliate that owns the clinics, hired a division of NextGen Healthcare of Horsham, Pa., to handle the billing, said Tom Jones, executive director of the medical group.

"We're not anticipating layoffs," Jones said. "We do expect a restructuring, a realignment of jobs." He said he doesn't know yet how many people will be affected.

Jones said the outsourcing became necessary because the separate billing functions weren't being performed efficiently, causing late collections.

The hospital's move is part of a corporate decision. Last May, Regional's parent company, Health Management Associates, signed an agreement with NextGen's Practice Solutions division to manage its collections, accounts receivable, billing, scheduling and other practice functions.

-- Leah Beth Ward