PM Squared moves to new San Francisco quarters,reflecting rapid growth; Trauner and Bertko's new...

SAN FRANCISCO--(BW HealthWire)--April 7, 1997--PM Squared, a data analysis service for the managed care industry headed by nationally known health care consultants Joan Trauner, Ph.D., and John Bertko, F.S.A., has moved into larger quarters in downtown San Francisco at 444 Market Street.

This reflects the huge demand by nationwide managed care clients for the company's services and the faster-than-anticipated growth of the data analysis company. PM Squared started doing business in January 1996 and, by the end of 1997, expects to employ 25 people, including actuaries, health care analysts, health services researchers, and an information systems team, plus additional outside physician consultants. What PM Squared offers is a unique combination of data quality audits, actuarial risk assessment, reconciliation of financial data, and normative performance measures.

PM Squared's clients include academic medical centers, hospital systems, medical groups, independent practice associations (IPAs), professional associations, managed care trade groups, and health maintenance organizations (HMOs).

"We have a health care database that comprises nearly a million managed care members," said PM Squared Chief Operating Officer and Senior Actuary John Bertko, who was formerly with Coopers & Lybrand and has represented the American Academy of Actuaries in evaluating the costs associated with various health reform proposals, including the Clinton proposals and the Kassebaum-Kennedy bill.

"We use this database and client-specific data to produce some 30 client reports delivered both electronically and on paper. Called APROPOS -- for Actuarial Profiling and Reporting on Provider Organizations and Services -- these reports give our clients the ability to better negotiate HMO contracts, to determine risk selection between their enrollees and an average HMO population, and to evaluate their performance using standardized measures. These are key matters in this era of capitation and comparative reporting."

Among the APROPOS reports are demographic studies, risk assessment studies, key indicators for managing risk pools, contracting studies, reconciliation studies, productivity and performance studies, reinsurance and utilization management studies, and custom reports.

"We provide our clients with timely data analysis without the cost and delay they would incur by investing in up-to-date information systems," added PM Squared Chief Executive Officer Joan Trauner, Ph.D., who previously headed up Coopers & Lybrand's West Coast managed care practice, where she worked closely with Bertko.

Commented one client, Margaret Jordan, president and chief executive officer of Texas Medical Resource in Dallas, "Data services from PM Squared were invaluable in evaluating our performance and strategic vision. Not only was the data we received accurate and of the highest quality, but the ability of PM Squared to respond so promptly to our data needs was most impressive. I don't know of any other company that can do that."

PM Squared, formerly located at 250 Montgomery Street in downtown San Francisco, is now at 444 Market St., Suite 1000, San Francisco, CA 94111. The phone number is 415/283-2430, the fax number is 415/283-2436, and the e-mail address is info@pmsquared.com . The name "PM Squared" refers to the "per member per month" costs and rates used by most managed care plans.

Reporters - You may find the PM Squared founders to be valuable sources and spokespeople on the topics listed below:

PM Squared Chief Executive Officer Joan Trauner, Ph.D., is an industry expert on changes in health care delivery patterns, medical group mergers, and data for HEDIS and report cards. She can be reached directly at 415/283-2431.

PM Squared Chief Operating Officer John Bertko, F.S.A., is an industry expert on the cost of health care reform provisions, Medicare and Medicaid, HMO mergers/acquisitions, capitation management, and data for HEDIS and report cards. He can be reached directly at 415/283-2432.

CONTACT: PM Squared

Joan Trauner or John Bertko, 415/283-2430

or

Molly Prescott & Associates

Molly Prescott, 510/654-7287