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.