Pinellas Park, Fla. – March 25, 2026 

Brundage Group, a physician-led leader in revenue cycle management (RCM) advisory and analytics, has again been recognized on Becker’s Hospital Review’s “385+ Revenue Cycle Management Companies to Know” list for 2026, marking the second consecutive year with this honor.

Becker’s publishes this list each year to highlight organizations nationwide that help healthcare providers manage financial challenges, improve operations, and strengthen revenue integrity. Companies are selected through a nomination process and recognized for making a real difference in the revenue cycle.

Furthermore, this recognition shows how Brundage Group stands out by combining physician expertise with advanced analytics to solve financial and operational challenges in healthcare.

“Being recognized by Becker’s for the second year in a row is a meaningful validation of the work our team does every day,” said Dr. Tim Brundage, Founder and CEO of Brundage Group. Hospitals are facing mounting pressure from reimbursement changes, regulatory complexity, and increasing denials. Our mission is to bring clinical credibility and actionable insights to help our partners protect revenue while maintaining the highest standards of patient care.”

Brundage Group’s solutions focus on the mid-revenue cycle, where clinical and financial performance come together. Moreover, the company offers Physician Advisor services, DRG validation, clinical documentation integrity, coding and audit support, and denial management strategies to help hospitals stay compliant, lower risk, and receive proper reimbursement for the care they provide.

Brundage Group takes a different approach from traditional RCM vendors by using a physician-led model that connects clinical teams with revenue cycle operations. As a result, this leads to more accurate documentation, better resource management, and stronger coding practices, which help reduce denials and improve outcomes.

Being included on Becker’s 2026 list confirms Brundage Group as a trusted partner for hospitals and health systems looking for lasting revenue cycle results in today’s complex healthcare environment.

About Brundage Group
Brundage Group is the trusted choice of hospital systems for revenue cycle management solutions. We support hospitals nationwide with customized solutions, including a full suite of physician advisory services, proprietary level of care analytics, and physician-led education to relay quality care. Our programs help hospital organizations break down departmental silos by unifying all departments in the mid-revenue cycle. Learn more at brundagegroup.com.

Media Contact:
Lacey Thompson
Senior Director of Marketing, Brundage Group
lthompson@brundagegroup.com

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Pinellas Park, Fla. – March 4, 2026 

Brundage Group, a physician-led leader in revenue cycle management (RCM) consulting and Physician Advisor services, has been recognized by Healthcare Business Outlook as one of the Top 10 RCM Solution Providers in 2025. Additionally, the recognition highlights the firm’s continued leadership in delivering strategic, data-driven solutions that help hospitals and health systems optimize financial performance and revenue integrity.

This acknowledgement shows Brundage Group’s strength in physician advisory services, clinical documentation integrity, coding and auditing, mid-revenue-cycle optimization, denial management, and analytics. By working closely with healthcare organizations and using forward-thinking strategies, the company helps improve compliance, secure earned revenue for care already provided, and better connect clinical and financial operations.

“In today’s environment, healthcare organizations face mounting pressure from regulatory complexity, reimbursement changes, and increasing financial scrutiny,” said Tim Brundage, MD, Founder and CEO of Brundage Group. “Being named one of the Top 10 RCM Solution Providers for 2025 is a meaningful acknowledgment of our team’s commitment to helping our clients achieve sustainable revenue integrity.”

Brundage Group is physician-led, has strong clinical expertise, and is tech-enabled. Furthermore, this approach helps connect providers, coding professionals, and revenue cycle leaders. For instance, by offering hands-on support and leveraging advanced analytics, Brundage Group delivers practical solutions that drive real results in the mid-revenue cycle.

The Healthcare Business Outlook Top 10 RCM Solution Providers list honors organizations that demonstrate innovation, deliver measurable results, and have a proven track record of helping healthcare providers manage financial and operational challenges in a changing industry.

About Brundage Group
Brundage Group is the trusted choice of hospital systems for revenue cycle management solutions. We support hospitals nationwide with customized solutions, including a full suite of physician advisory services, proprietary level of care analytics, and physician-led education to relay quality care. Our programs help hospital organizations break down departmental silos by unifying all departments in the mid-revenue cycle. Learn more at brundagegroup.com.

Media Contact:
Lacey Thompson
Senior Director of Marketing, Brundage Group
lthompson@brundagegroup.com

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Nationwide revenue cycle solutions provider helps hospitals navigate the complexities of clinical revenue cycle management.  

Tampa, Fla. – January 12, 2026

Brundage Group, a leading physician-led healthcare consulting and revenue cycle solutions provider, remains committed to delivering high-quality service and strategic support to hospitals and healthcare organizations. As part of a market clarity initiative, Brundage Workforce Solutions (BWS) will undergo a brand transformation becoming VelarityHCS in January 2026, establishing a distinct identity separate from Brundage Group. Brundage Group and VelarityHCS will maintain a strategic alliance in the mid revenue cycle.

“This evolution allows Brundage Group to maintain its mission and focus on supporting hospitals’ operational and financial performance without change,” said Tim Brundage, MD, CEO of Brundage Group. “Our leadership, services, and client relationships remain the same, ensuring continuity and consistency for our organizations.”

What This Means for Brundage Group Clients:

• No changes to services, teams, or client relationships
• Continued collaboration with the trusted professionals you know
• More apparent distinction between Brundage Group and BWS to reduce market confusion
• No disruption to operations, delivery, or communication
• A strategic approach that positions Brundage Group for continued growth and client impact

Brundage Group remains fully focused on helping hospitals strengthen documentation, optimize revenue, and sustain long-term viability in the communities they serve.

For Questions or More Information:

Brundage Group

Lacey Thompson, Senior Director of Marketing

lthompson@brundagegroup.com

618.521.2188

Brundage Group appreciates the continued trust of its clients and partners and looks forward to further advancing its mission of supporting hospitals and healthcare organizations nationwide.

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Nationwide revenue cycle solutions provider helps hospitals navigate the complexities of clinical revenue cycle management.  

Tampa, Fla. – November 17, 2025

Hospitals received a brief reprieve from Aetna’s Level of Severity Inpatient Policy that applies to their Medicare Advantage (MA) products for provider contracts paid on Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs) and Medicare Allowable payment methodologies. The implementation date has been moved to January 1, 2026, from November 15, 2025. This is not the update the hospital industry was hoping for as opposition to this policy has been submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) as well as top administration officials.  

Aetna’s Level of Severity Payment Policy 

Under this new policy, Aetna is unilaterally imposing a Five Midnight Rule for contracted providers. Urgent and emergent hospital stays of one (1) midnight and greater with a valid inpatient admission order will be authorized as an inpatient admission; however, some claims may be paid at a reduced rate. This is in direct conflict with the Medicare Two-Midnight Rule that uses a two-midnight threshold to support inpatient admissions. Additionally, severity is already considered within the inpatient payment methodology for traditional Medicare beneficiaries due to the nature of the Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Group (MS-DRG) methodology where additional payments are made for patients with diagnoses classified as complications/comorbidities (CCs) or major complications/comorbidities (MCCs).    

Brundage Group’s Perspective 

Aetna’s unilateral decision to implement a Five-Midnight Rule could have significant financial consequences for hospitals. A rate similar to what is paid for observation services is unlikely to cover hospital expenses associated with an inpatient visit that crosses two or more midnights. MA organizations are reimbursed annually based on the expected resources needed to treat a beneficiary as determined by a variety of factors including billed diagnoses that map to CMS Hierarchical Condition Categories (HCC). CMS may need to restructure their MA payment methods to reflect Aetna’s lower inpatient cost under this new strategy. This marks a major shift from the current reimbursement structure, increasing hospitals’ risk of revenue loss amid the challenges of the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”    

Medicare Regulations Applicable to Medicare Advantage (MA) Plans 

Aetna has made the calculation that referring to this as a “payment policy” will allow them to implement coverage criteria more restrictive than what is allowable under traditional Medicare. Aetna claims their policy is compliant because “while CMS regulates inpatient coverage determinations, it does not dictate payment terms for contracted providers.” Although this statement appears in federal regulations, it is taken out of context and is being misinterpreted by Aetna.  

Key excerpts from the Contract Year 2024 Medicare Program Update and other federal regulations that demonstrate Aetna’s Five Midnight Rule violates federal regulations.  

1. When determining if Traditional Medicare criteria apply in MA, it is irrelevant whether they are classified as coverage or payment rules, both address the scope of items and services for which benefits are available under Parts A and B.  
2. As finalized in § 422.101(b)(2), MA plans must comply with general coverage and benefit conditions included in Traditional Medicare laws, unless superseded by laws applicable to MA plans. 
   • “This includes criteria for determining whether an item or service is a benefit available under Traditional Medicare, such as payment criteria for inpatient admissions at 42 CFR 412.3” 
   • “Services and procedures that the Secretary designates as requiring inpatient care under 42 CFR 419.22(n)” 
   • “MA plans may not use InterQual or MCG criteria, or similar products, to change coverage or payment criteria already established under Traditional Medicare laws.”  
3. We [CMS] acknowledge that 412.3 is a payment rule for Medicare FFS, however, providing payment for an item or service is one way that MA organizations provide coverage for benefits.  
4. CMS plans to codify existing policy at § 422.101(c)(1)(i)(C) that MA organizations consider the enrollee’s medical history (for example, diagnoses, conditions, functional status), physician recommendations, and clinical notes.  

Appeal Rights under Aetna’s Five Midnight Rule  

Under the new process hospitals submit clinical information within 24 hours of notification. Aetna will perform an initial severity review, “the payment level (high or low level of severity) is based on the number of days the patient is in the hospital and not on the days authorized.” Providers will receive written notification of the inpatient authorization for 7 days and the severity decision.  

The new policy does not allow “peer to peer” reviews since they are not issuing an inpatient authorization denial for these claims. Instead, if a hospital disagrees with the severity determination they can:  

1. Request (via fax) within 7 business days of the date of the decision notification and before the claim is submitted that Aetna review the case again with additional supporting clinical information.  
2. Request (by phone) a severity discussion with a medical director within 14 calendar days from the date of the decision and before the claim has been submitted.  
3. Claims impacted by the severity payment policy will receive the following electronic remittance advice from Aetna: Payment based on an appropriate level of care. After the claim is paid, hospitals retain their contractual right to dispute the level of payment.  

Next Steps 

Hospitals and health systems must continue challenging MA plans like Aetna that attempt to unilaterally redefine federal reimbursement methods. Aetna’s policy exemplifies how MA plans seek to bypass Medicare regulations, underscoring the need for vigilance against payers imposing payment requirements inconsistent with federal rules.

Aetna claims their contracts allow them to “introduce and implement payment policies,” and that “providers agree to comply with policies that Aetna may implement from time to time.” Hospitals should review their Aetna contracts, as this may create individual legal considerations unless federal guidance clarifies the issue.

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Nationwide revenue cycle solutions provider helps hospitals navigate the complexities of clinical revenue cycle management.  

Tampa, Fla. – [September 23, 2025] 

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 was designed to reduce the number of uninsured by providing a continuum of affordable coverage options. The ACA increased the volume of low-income adults who qualify for Medicaid coverage beyond those with disabilities through Medicaid expansion to those with incomes 138% of the federal poverty level.  

KFF reports that in 2024, 44 million (16.4%) of the nonelderly U.S. population participated in an ACA program (marketplace, Medicaid expansion or a Basic Health Plan). Enrollment in marketplace plans reached a record high of 21.4 million. Enhanced premiums lower payments for health insurance policies. Some policies are free for those with incomes up to 150% of the federal poverty level.  

Enhanced premium tax credits expire in 2025. If these subsidies are not extended it will increase the volume of uninsured patients beyond projected losses due to changes in Medicaid eligibility.  

• Without the tax credit, healthy people will likely decline health insurance, increasing the uninsured population by an average of 3.8 million annually.  

• Premiums will increase by more than 75% on average for those who remain within the health insurance marketplace, which will contribute to higher levels of bad debt for most hospitals.  

It is estimated that these tax credits allowed 10 million people to gain affordable healthcare coverage through the health insurance marketplace. The American Hospital Association (AHIA) Fact Sheet on Enhanced Premium Tax Credits cite the impacts of these lost subsidies include:  

• An average increase of at least $700 in the price of marketplace health insurance plans.  

• 4.2 million mostly rural and low-income people becoming uninsured by 2034.  

• A reduction in hospital spending of $28 billion over 10 years creating “considerable financial stress on hospitals, health systems and other providers, which will face more uncompensated care and bad debt.”  

What This Means For You: 

The expiration of premium tax credits has the potential to reverse years of progress in reducing the uninsured population, with far-reaching consequences for patients, hospitals, and communities. The financial impact – more uncompensated care, greater bad debt, and reduced hospital resources – will directly affect care delivery, especially in rural and underserved areas.  

Now is the time for healthcare leaders to raise awareness and advocate for policies that preserve access to affordable coverage. Brundage Group encourages Physician Advisors, hospital executives, and clinical leaders to engage in this dialogue to ensure your organization’s voice is heard on an issue that directly impacts patient care and financial sustainability.  

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Nationwide revenue cycle solutions provider helps hospitals navigate the complexities of clinical revenue cycle management.  

Tampa, Fla. – [August 14, 2025] 

Beginning November 15, 2025, Aetna will implement a New Medicare Advantage Inpatient Policy.

What Hospitals Need to Know

What’s Changing

Aetna will implement a “level of severity inpatient payment policy” that changes how urgent and emergent inpatient claims are paid:

Why It Matters

Our Assessment

This policy avoids issuing formal denials by reclassifying coverage decisions as payment adjustments. This will prevent hospitals from appealing through traditional medical necessity review channels — undermining revenue integrity and patient protections.

What Hospitals Should Do Now

Review Aetna Contracts
Examine language around payment adjustments, denials, and severity-based rates.
Amend Contracts
Require payer adherence to CMS regulations as outlined in the CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D Final Rule 4201-F.
Require formal denials for any inpatient stays paid at a reduced rate. Define and limit payer adjustment authority.
Contact Aetna
Reach out to your payer representative and voice your concerns.
Advocate
Work with AHA (American Hospital Association), CMS, and state regulators to equate “severity” with “medical necessity” for regulatory oversight.
Educate Patients
Notify Aetna MA beneficiaries about potential financial impacts and appeal rights.
Encourage Aetna MA beneficiaries to file a complaint with CMS if patient rights are compromised.

Key Takeaway

If left unchallenged, this policy could set a precedent for Medicare Advantage plans to unilaterally reduce payments without transparency, eroding clinical authority and hospital sustainability.

We’ve prepared an overview detailing what this means for your hospital, your contracts, and your patients — and the steps you can take now.

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Nationwide revenue cycle solutions provider helps hospitals navigate the complexities of clinical revenue cycle management.  

Tampa, Fla. – August 4, 2025

Brundage Group is proud to announce that Taylor Smith, Vice President of Business Development, and Keith Fulmer, Chief Technology & Information Officer, have been recognized by Becker’s Healthcare as 2025 Up-and-Comers in Health IT and Revenue Cycle Management.

This prestigious list highlights emerging leaders nationwide who are transforming Healthcare through innovation, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the evolving landscape. These individuals influence organizational growth, financial performance, and the delivery of high-quality care.

This marks the second consecutive year that Keith Fulmer has earned this national recognition, underscoring his ongoing leadership in driving Brundage Group’s digital transformation and commitment to leveraging technology that improves outcomes and operational efficiency.

Becker’s Healthcare develops the list based on editorial research and peer nominations. Honorees represent a new generation of leaders helping shape the future of healthcare.

Brundage Group congratulates Taylor and Keith on this well-deserved recognition and is honored to have such visionary professionals helping lead the organization forward.

About Brundage Group

Brundage Group is the trusted choice of hospital systems for revenue cycle management solutions. We support hospitals nationwide with customized solutions, including a full suite of physician advisory services, proprietary level of care analytics, and physician-led education to relay quality care. Our programs help hospital organizations break down departmental silos by unifying all departments in the mid-revenue cycle. Learn more at brundagegroup.com. 

For media inquiries, please contact:

Lacey Thompson
Marketing Director, Brundage Group
Email: lthompson@brundagegroup.com

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This recognition is more meaningful because the results are based on employee surveys. 

There is no greater honor than knowing that our people, the heart of Brundage Group, feel supported, valued, and connected in our work. 

At Brundage Group, we know that building an exceptional workplace doesn’t happen by accident. It’s intentionally shaped daily by living out our Core Values: 

Accountability, Collaboration, Community, Excellence, Innovation, Integrity, Professional Courage, and Respect.

As our Chief Culture Officer shared so perfectly: 

This award belongs to every member of our team. 

Brundage Group has been ranked among the Best Places to Work by the Tampa Bay Business Journal for three years in a row — and it’s all because of you. 

Here’s to many more years of success together with the collaboration of our employees, clients and partners.

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Nationwide revenue cycle solutions provider helps hospitals navigate the complexities of clinical revenue cycle management.  

Tampa, Fla. – [March 26, 2025] – Brundage Group is proud to be recognized by Becker’s Healthcare among its revenue cycle management companies to know. The revenue cycle solutions provider offers expert physician advisory services and innovative utilization management solutions to streamline complex revenue cycle processes, helping its hospital partners capture earned revenue while staying compliant.

Becker’s curated the list of RCM companies to know in 2025, The recognition reflects the mission of Brundage Group to provide expert physician advisory services, utilization management solutions, and revenue cycle support tailored to hospitals and health systems as they navigate a challenging regulatory and payer landscape.

Brundage Group’s team of Physician Advisors and RCM professionals works diligently to bridge the gap between clinical documentation integrity, financial sustainability, and compliance. The company delivers innovative solutions, such as Certus Radar, a comprehensive utilization management platform that integrates process automation and real-time analytics to optimize patient status verification, reduce revenue leakage and prevent payer denials. With real-time KPI dashboards, hospital leadership gains actionable insights to improve financial performance, optimize staffing and strengthen operational decision-making.

“By identifying escalation needs and streamlining staff workflows, we’re enabling hospitals to focus on the right patients at the right time by the right resources, preventing lost revenue opportunities and helping them stay viable,” said Tim Brundage, CEO and Physician Advisor, Brundage Group. “We appreciate Becker’s Healthcare’s recognition and thank our dedicated team for their commitment to excellence on behalf of our hospital partners.”

About Brundage Group

Brundage Group is the trusted choice of hospital systems for revenue cycle management solutions. We support hospitals nationwide with customized solutions, including a full suite of physician advisory services, proprietary level of care analytics, and physician-led education to relay quality care. Our programs help hospital organizations break down departmental silos by unifying all departments in the mid-revenue cycle. Learn more at brundagegroup.com. 

For media inquiries, please contact:

Lacey Thompson
Marketing Director, Brundage Group
Email: lthompson@brundagegroup.com

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Brundage Group is proud to announce that Keith Fulmer, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer (CTIO), has been recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review in their prestigious 2024 edition of “Health IT and Revenue Cycle Up-and-Comers.”

This list highlights rising stars who drive expansion, transformation, and financial success across hospitals, health systems, and healthcare companies. These leaders are shaping the future of healthcare by optimizing operations through health IT and revenue cycle management. Fulmer’s innovative leadership and dedication to advancing Brundage Group’s services and technology infrastructure have earned him a place among these visionary professionals.

Keith Fulmer’s expertise has been pivotal to Brundage Group’s growth. He helps the company navigate the evolving healthcare landscape and ensures that our clients benefit from cutting-edge technology solutions. His leadership has been instrumental in advancing revenue cycle management initiatives that enable healthcare organizations to improve efficiency and achieve financial success.

“We are incredibly proud of Keith for this well-deserved recognition,” said Dr. Tim Brundage, CEO of Brundage Group. “His dedication to innovation and excellence has been a driving force in our ability to serve healthcare providers with the technology and tools they need to thrive in an ever-changing environment.”

The Becker’s Hospital Review editorial team selected this list from a pool of nominations, highlighting individuals demonstrating remarkable contributions to healthcare IT and revenue cycle operations. Fulmer’s inclusion on the list reflects his exceptional commitment to Brundage Group’s mission of delivering innovative solutions that enhance healthcare performance and patient outcomes.

For more information and to view the complete list, visit Becker’s Hospital Review.

About Brundage Group

Brundage Group is the trusted choice of hospital systems for revenue cycle management solutions. We support hospitals nationwide with customized solutions that include a full suite of physician advisory services, staff augmentation/workforce solutions, proprietary level of care analytics, and physician-led documentation education to relay high-quality care. Our programs help hospital organizations break down departmental silos by unifying all departments in the mid-revenue cycle. Our dedicated staffing division provides seasoned, veteran RN case managers, utilization review nurses, and appeals/denials professionals, all backed by our team of expert physician advisors and documentation and coding experts.

Media Contact

• Lacey Thompson
• Email: lthompson@brundagegroup.com
• https://brundagegroup.com/

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