For more information, contact:
Beth Fredrickson
Bottom Line Marketing & Public Relations
(414) 270-3000, ext. 224
Former APi Group Leader Brings Extensive Business Management Experience
MILWAUKEE, WI – Paul Grunau has been named executive vice president of Health Payment Systems, Inc. (HPS), a Milwaukee-based healthcare company whose patented proprietary software simplifies the healthcare payment experience for patients, providers and employers. He started at HPS May 2.
Grunau brings years of management experience to HPS. From January 2009 through April 2011, he served as chief operating officer of Minnesota-based APi Group, Inc. Prior to that, he was president of Grunau Company in Milwaukee from 1995 to 2009
At HPS, Grunau will draw on his expertise in developing business strategy and customer relationships to guide all business operations. He also will support provider contracting and sales. He is the second executive to join HPS in two months. Jay Fulkerson, former CEO of United Healthcare’s Midwest region, joined HPS in April.
“Paul’s experience adds depth to our strong senior management team, enhancing our ability to partner with providers to simplify and reduce the cost of health care for Wisconsin employers and employees,” said Eric Butlein, chief executive officer. “He also will help us more rapidly expand the use of our patented monthly Super EOB and further our reputation for outstanding service.”
“I’ve been on the employer side of healthcare for many years,” said Grunau, who has been a HPS board member and investor since 2009. “ I know the challenges and concerns. I am excited to join HPS because I understand the frustration many people have in dealing with the healthcare industry. Engaging payers and consumers in the healthcare experience is one of the best ways to bring clarity, and to improve the overall cost and quality of healthcare.”
Grunau joins HPS as the company is expanding throughout Wisconsin and the U.S. Since its founding in 2006, HPS has grown to 55 employees. It currently processes claims for more than 6,500 contracted providers in Wisconsin. Additionally, for the past three years, total paid health insurance claims processed by HPS have doubled each year.
The HPS Single Payment System, protected by four business method patents granted in 2010, incorporates payment to the provider of both the benefit plan portion and the patient portion of a claim in a single electronic payment. Because providers receive one payment for an entire claim, they virtually eliminate their risk of bad debt and the cost of collections. In return, providers offer more attractive pricing – savings HPS passes on to employers and their employees. The HPS SuperEOB®, a patented monthly billing statement that aggregates all healthcare claims for an individual or a family, simplifies and clarifies costs and insurance coverage.
To learn more about HPS, visit: http://www.hps.md
The mission of HPS is to create and deliver technology-based solutions that provide substantial financial benefits to each healthcare stakeholder, while making the healthcare payment experience easier for the consumer to understand.
