Bay Med outsources billing, lays off 30

PANAMA CITY -- Outsourcing its medical billing has resulted in Bay Medical Center Sacred Heart Hospital laying off 30 employees in the department, according to hospital spokeswoman Christa Davis.

The hospital contracted its billing services to Navigant Healthcare Cymetrix, a leading provider of medical billing, collection and related sources, a BMC statement stated. Although the nationwide company absorbed “the majority” of workers in the department, 30 employees were laid off.

Laid-off employees were offered severance packages according to their years of employment and were encouraged to apply for other jobs at the hospital and at the medical billing company, Davis said. The hospital laid off 3-percent of its staff in November last year.

“Healthcare billing has become increasingly complex and requires a high level of specialization and expertise that most hospitals do not have,” chief financial officer Warren Ladner said. “That’s why most hospitals and physician offices use outside companies to provide these services. We have to be highly efficient and customer-service focused with our billing processes to be financially viable.”

The contract becomes effective July 1.