John C. Cummings is a former manager with the Federal Reserve and a consultant for many high-profile firms. But Cummings saw a chance to create his own corporation last year and opened Mediprise Management Group in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

 

  Already, five practices have hired Cummings, whose five staffers includes two sporting more than 20 years experience each in medical claims. Clients range from internal medicine to physical therapy. But that's just the start. Cummings seeks another 50 clients in his region before opening offices nationwide.

 

  It's OK to dream, and dream big. Cummings takes a page right out of Donald Trump's style -- take care of your customers using the gold standard of excellence.

 

  "My No. 1 deal is hiring experienced staff who are properly trained and know all the bases to be covered," he said. "It's important to go about it the right way. Stay on top of everything in industry."

 

  Four clients were referrals. Cummings says learning what doctors want most is paramount to pleasing them. Pleasing them means referrals.

 

  "It's become clear that the No. 1 way to grow the business is through referrals," Cummings said. "It's not so much your marketing as getting those clients happy and the word spread. I understand what they need for their bottom line. what numbers they need to pay attention to. I'm able to select reports from that office to what's most interesting to them."

 

  Cummings starts with cleaning up the mess he inherits. Often, doctors have six-figures owed in accounts receivables.

 

  "Some of them were mishandled [previously]," Cummings said. "It's such a dramatic improvement in such a short period of time it makes us look that much better."

 

  Software is critical to creating a company. Cummings researched different companies before settling on ClaimTek Systems. Conversations with president Kyle Farhat impressed Cummings to align with ClaimTek because its software was so easy for coders to use. 

 

  "I knew from my experience dealing with other software that the ClaimTek software was very easy to use," Cummings said. "It has logical screen selections, something most people could pick up without much problem. [My staff has] worked with other billing software in the past and ClaimTek's was real easy to pick up."

 

  Cummings is expanding his company's services to include compliance reviews, practice management and office training. He said those wanting to enter electronic medical claims should educate themselves beforehand and regularly afterwards.

 

 "They need to realize it's very technical," he said. "The rules and regulations with the coding and different insurance requirements changes constantly and you have to stay on top of it. If you read everything you can on the industry and commit yourself to stay on top of the changes, you can be successful. It's important for someone who has no experience to talk to people who have some experience in billing. Talk to doctors on their opinion on what type of company they would feel comfortable doing business with."