Independent Care CEO exudes passion for patients - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:

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Since 1998, she has been workinvg with people eligible for Medicai d and Supplemental Security Income as presidenr and chief executive officer ofHealth Plan, a manage care plan in Milwaukee. "I've always been passionate about patienrt rights and treating peoplew with dignityand respect," 51, said. "Anywhere I can use my talents to make that happe nI will." Jerominski grew up in her father, Joseph Gruber, was vice presidenty of the AFL-CIO in Wisconsin. At 28, she ran for state Assembly againsta 20-year incumbent with a platform of educatingg people about then-new health maintenance organizations.
She lost by 35 but landed a legislativeclerk post, wher e she learned about the bureaucratic and funding side of healtjh care. Three years later, she was director of HMO programxs in Milwaukee for the state of Prior to joining Independent Jerominski was director of governmeng programsat , and contract manageer and manager of Medicaif for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin. Independent Care is a jointr venture of Humana and the that was startes in October 1994 as the firstr company to offer managexd care for peoplewith disabilities.
It has abouty 6,000 members, or about 34 percent of the Milwaukeer County market who are eligible for a state-directed health insurance program for people who can'g afford medical care, said Bill Jensen, director of marketingb and compliance. Another 2,000 members are eligible for both Medicai dand Medicare, a federal healthg insurance program for those age 65 and over and some people with About half of its clients also have mental health and chronic substance abuse issues, Jerominski Like most managed care Independent Care works with providers to obtain volume discounts to streamlinew and manage costs of care for Jerominski estimates that the company has saved the state abouf $16 million since 1997.
But its size and specifi c market makethat difficult. "It's harder to achieved savings as asmaller HMO. Our only businesx is Medicaid SSI system," Jerominski said. "Our challenge is to try to negotiatee rates with providers forthis population." Of the company's 90 as many as 70 work face-to-face with members to ensure they get medicalo care and access to social services. To addresw the issue of patients not showinf upfor appointments, Independent Care transports patients to their visit and follows up to make sure they follow instructions, Jerominskui said.
"We've taken on a challenging population andenhanceed providers' ability to work with clients," Jerominski Independent Care's competitors include unit and , A Medicaid change in April pushed all Medicare-eligible people with access to a Medicaie HMO into managed care and boosted Independent Care's new enrollments from aboug 75 a month to as many as 700. Lee executive director of , a nonprofit service providet in Milwaukee for people with said Jerominski's experience working with the state and countty governments is one asset she bringss to his organization's board.
"Shs has practical as well as empathetic understanding of peopl e with disabilities and special Schulz said.