Matrix Medical Network Acquires Ascender for Healthcare Information Technology

Matrix Medical Network, a provider of prospective medical assessment services, revealed today that it has acquired Ascender, a provider of integrated, advanced information technology to healthcare clients, allowing them to report and manage clinical measures in an all-cash transaction, according to a statement.

A prospective medical assessment is a study in which the groups of individuals selected are done so on the basis of factors that are to be examined for possible effects on some outcome. 

Matrix Medical provides prospective medical assessments through its nationwide network of employee nurse practitioners, the statement noted. Matrix Medical and Ascender, working together since March 2009, benefit from each other’s talents. Ascender provides “Medicare Hierarchical Condition stratification, a risk adjustment payment model; member identification for assessments, and assessment financial impact and ROI studies,” it elaborated.

Ascender also provides organizations with the ability to warehouse data, create analytics to measure and improve performance, and improve patient care, according to the statement.

“The strategic combination of Ascender and Matrix will increase the range of services and solutions that we can provide to our clients,” said Randy Dobbs, CEO of Matrix Medical Network. “Ascender also represents an area of the Matrix business where we have previously relied on outside contracted services. This acquisition brings these critical data analytic and management functions in house.”

Before Medicare, only 56 percent of the elderly had hospital insurance, according to the Center for Medicare Advocacy. In 2006, it was projected that by 2008, 37.6 million people were projected to be on Medicare. Total health expenditures were $2.5 trillion in 2009.

Medicare expenditures are also estimated to have grown 6.3 percent in 2011 (totaling $557.8 billion), up from a five percent growth in 2010, mostly because due to increased payment rates for skilled nursing facilities, as well as a rebound in Medicare Advantage payment rates.

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