Established in 1985, Eagles, Benefits by Design, Inc. is a Florida-based administrative services firm. Eagles manages Healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Reimbursement Accounts, Health Savings Accounts as well as retiree and consolidated billing.

Need

Eagles, Benefits by Design, Inc. is an administrative services firm based out of Stuart, Florida. While larger firms have more employees and resources at their disposal, Eagles has personally administered self-funded dental plans for several large hospitals in the Florida area. As a result, Eagles’ staff has developed close relationships with many of its customers, but their use of manual processes — like cutting checks — and the changing technology landscape was an element of their business they always wanted to address. It took an impromptu phone call from PNC to get the conversation started.

Solution

PNC called Eagles to inquire about their claim payments and remittances process. Eagles wasn’t actively looking to update their check-based payment process, but, were interested in what PNC had to offer. PNC suggested Eagles consider Claim Payments & Remittances (CPR), a solution that can easily distribute all claim payments and remittances to healthcare providers. All Eagles would need to do is send CPR their payment file, then CPR will deliver payments via EFT, check or virtual credit card, along with the associated remittances. Exception handling, reconciliation, EFT/835 enrollment, training, customer service and 1099 processing would also be managed through the CPR service.

To Eagles, it sounded like a remarkably easy and time-saving solution. With CPR, Eagles wouldn’t have to devote their limited resources to printing and mailing checks after normal working hours. CPR would now keep track of bank reconcilement and help Eagles maintain their cash balances. Eagles could now access all their payment/claims information and reporting inside of CPR’s portal.

Results

Eagles’ customer base was accustomed to receiving checks the same way for over 20 years, but once they started to familiarize themselves with the ease of receiving electronic payments, the transition was seamless. With CPR, over 65 percent of dollars paid settle electronically as check volume has declined by more than 60 Percent.

Giani Biondo, Eagles’ Vice President, Information Technology, commented that the “(CPR portal) reports are great” and CPR’s “Explanation of Benefits look better.” CPR also now processes Eagles’ 1099s, saving them $15,000 annually.

According to Giani, “The team did an amazing job during the implementation and rollout of CPR. It was nice to do a project where everyone did what they said they were going to do, and they did it well. This is rare in my experience.”

During the sales process, PNC explained to Giani that Eagles would reduce the total cost of their claim payments through revenue sharing on certain payments upon implementation of CPR. Giani expressed skepticism — he just wanted to make sure Eagles broke even with current costs during CPR’s rollout. Sure enough, shortly after the August 2020 implementation PNC delivered on its promise — according to Giani, it was a “pleasant surprise.”

The partnership with PNC makes it seamless and simple — and hands-off. It’s great convenience to have CPR and I would recommend PNC to anyone who is looking to outsource the administration of their business. I don’t think I would recommend anyone else.
— Giani Biondo, Eagles’ Vice President, Information Technology

Using CPR has helped Eagles offset expenses and level the playing field against their larger competitors. With resources and staffing no longer tied to cutting checks and the tedious reconciliation process, Eagles is now actively marketing for new clients in the dental space and is ready to grow their business.

“PNC had the process locked down,” says Giani. “I wouldn’t have done anything different, but I wish we would have done it sooner. The partnership with PNC makes it seamless and simple — and hands-off. It’s great convenience to have CPR and I would recommend PNC to anyone who is looking to outsource the administration of their business. I don’t think I would recommend anyone else.”

For more information visit Claim Payments & Remittances (CPR).