About Us

2. About Us • Ascendant Broker Partners is an independent consulting and audit firm focused on providing cost saving solutions and benefit administration platforms to employee benefit professionals, employers and administrators. The ABP management team has over 55 years of experience in employee benefits, cost containment, and the medical device industry. • We offer most of our services on a contingency basis, providing a no risk opportunity to uncover savings, recover overpayments and develop long term solutions for efficiency and financial health.

3. Catastrophic Implantable Devices… • 2009 Non-Government Spend >$40 Billion • 15% Annual Increase • Increased device utilization • New technology • Wide price variations • Direct consumer marketing • Why are the cost so high? • Orthopedic and cardiac procedures: cost of device represents 50-70% of total cost • Coding and billing process insufficient • Staff constraints • Expertise

4. Implantable Device Audit • ABP specializes in identifying, validating and recovering overcharges related to Catastrophic Implantable Device claims • Ensures appropriate and reasonable payment to facility providers • Helps gain improved understanding of complex implantable device market to support contracting efforts • ABP can provide services Pre or Post Payment* *Prepaid, post adjudicated

5. In-Depth Analysis • ABP utilizes multiple sources to perform the implantable device review • Provider claim • Explanation of Benefits • Contract terms for implantable device reimbursement • Provider operative notes • Manufacturer invoice • Surgical implant log • Proprietary device and provider cost comparison tool

6. Value • Savings Opportunities, Pre and Post Payment • Contract compliance • Billing and coding errors • Verification of actual and appropriate implant • Billed pricing validation • Supplies billed as implants • Device FDA approval review • Coverage policy compliance • Device recall review • Stop-loss exceptions

7. The Process

8. The Process

9. Ascendant Broker Partners implantable device review produces $68,000 of average savings across four categories of claims Adjustment Reasons Operative records indicated different quantity implanted Devices not approved by FDA for listed procedure / diagnosis Payment exceeded contracted rate Items not classified as implantable device (disposables / supplies) Post Payment Audit Results

10. Case Study #1 Client: • Regional Healthcare Network Service Provider: • Large West Coast Teaching Hospital Date of Procedure: • 12/04/09-12/05/09 Claim Overview: • Defibrillator Lead Replacement Procedure

11. Case Study #1 • Defibrillator Leads-- Amount Charged: $19,200.00 • Item Specific Usual and Customary Price: $4,991.00 • Billed at 384% of Item Specific Usual and Customary Price • Overcharge: $14,209.00

12. Case Study #1 • Defibrillator-- Amount Charged: $65,400.00 • Item Specific Usual and Customary Price: $19,002.00 • Billed at 344% of Item Specific Usual and Customary Price • Overcharge: $46,398.00

13. Case Study #1 • Amount Charged: $32,008.00 • Billed at a 500% markup! • Several duplicate items clearly not implanted • Overcharge: $30,450.17

14. Case Study #1

15. Savings Opportunity