Apria Cuts 90 at Billing Facility

LAKE FOREST, Calif. — Apria Healthcare announced last week the giant
provider will eliminate 90 jobs at its billing office in Machesney
Park, Ill.

Citing consolidation due to Medicare cuts, Apria Executive Vice
President Lisa Getson told Business Rockford that seven billing
centers nationwide will be affected over the next 12 months.

“Oxygen therapy took a 27 percent reduction in reimbursement
compared to 2008,” Getson said in an interview. “That’s a severe
reduction for all companies that provide respiratory care, and we
had to reduce our nonpatient care costs while continuing to provide
direct patient care services, such as in-home delivery, clinical
visits and 24/7 on-call services through our branch network.
Billing is something that can be done anywhere.”

Billing work from the Machesney Park center will be transferred
to centers in Phoenix, Kansas City, Kan., and Jackson, Tenn.,
Business Rockford reported, although Apria will maintain a presence
in the area. Seventy-one employees bill for the company’s home
infusion therapy division at the Machesney Park billing office, and
23 workers at another office provide direct care to area
residents.

Apria, which has approximately 550 locations in all 50 states,
was purchased by private equity firm Blackstone Group in a $1.7
billion deal last year.