Engaging With the Executive: Robert Stansell, Vice President of Systems and Support for CGS Administrators

Each issue of Communiqué will highlight an executive in one of our lines of business. We hope readers will get to know the executives a little better, both professionally and personally.

This month, we would like to introduce you to Robert Stansell. He is vice president of systems and support for CGS® Administrators. He has been with the company for 24 years.

Tell us about your first job.

My first job was when I enlisted in the U.S. Army at 17 years old. My mother was a bit surprised on that cold, early Saturday morning when I asked her to sign my enlistment paperwork. I had always known that at some point I was going to spend a few years serving my country. I never let anyone else know about that plan. As a private in the infantry, your responsibilities are bipolar. One minute, you only have to do what you are told. The next, you’re making decisions that affect lives. I really enjoyed the fact that the Army allowed me to continuously grow and improve.

Describe some of your hobbies or interests outside of work.

I have no idea why I get so obsessed with professional football. I stopped playing the sport after my freshman year in high school. I also enjoy theme parks and am on a quest to visit all the Disney parks in the world. Five down, one to go (Hong Kong).

What’s your favorite food? If it’s from a restaurant, which one?

This is the easiest question of the bunch: the hot dog. Whether it’s from home, a stand on the corner, a gourmet restaurant or even a sketchy gas station, it’s the perfect food.

What’s your favorite movie, and why?

I have to list two: “Braveheart” because it’s the perfect love story and “McLintock!” because it’s about John Wayne doing the right thing.

What’s your favorite book, and why?

“Calvin and Hobbes.” When I need to recharge, I open it to a random page, read a few cartoons and can’t help but feel better.

Tell us about your favorite sports team.

The St. Louis Battlehawks in the United Football League, formerly the XFL. Here’s a bunch of guys playing their hearts out for just a chance at the National Football League.

Describe one or more of your pet peeves.

Social media. I wish it would go away.

Based on your experience, what are three keys to success for employees early in their careers?

First, figure out the type of person you want to be before you start your career. Understand how your home life fits into that. You must have a balance that works for you. Next, learn about loyalty. It’s an overlooked but important concept. Finally, keep learning. Keep building your foundation. You can do that through formal education, reading, practicing and networking — just not social media!

Whom do you admire most, and why?

George Washington. It might seem a bit old school, but the guy was far ahead of his time. We could use someone like that today.

Tell us about your greatest achievement.

I have two great kids who are now young adults. They are on track to do wonderful things with their lives and make the world a little better than it was.

Celebrating Excellence at the 2024 Palmetto GBA Annual Awards

There was reason to celebrate on the evening of Thursday, May 1. Palmetto GBA hosted its 22nd annual awards banquet to highlight the achievements of both teams and individuals over the past year. Awards were presented to recognize the hard work, innovation, teamwork and excellent service of its employees.

In 2024, Palmetto GBA associates submitted 536 process improvements across the company. These innovations produced more than $666 million in cost savings and resulted in more than $54 million in efficiency savings and more than an 87 percent increase in quality improvement.

Each award had multiple criteria, such as performance metrics, cost reduction, process improvement and efficiency ratings, that employees needed to meet to be considered for the award.

Here are the winners of this year’s awards:

• Associate of the Year — Rebecca Wagner
• Team of the Year — Debt Management System Collaboration Team
  Team members: Vishnu Boochireddy, Melissa Cash, Ray Dailey, Carol Harper, Heather Hastings, Reetu Joshi, Derek Roberts, Thomas Sorrells, Danian Taylor
• Coach of the Year — Lori Holsinger
• Process Improvement of the Year — Home Health Computer-Assisted Review of Documentation
  Team Members: Ken Arenz, Amy Bailey, Mary Alice Barth, John Chambers, Clinton Griffin, Jim Goodwin, Mieorka Lites, Eric Meadows, Amanda Moye, Lillian Pais, Amy Rhodus, Sruthi Sagi, William Simmons, Leigh Tedder, Reginald Tolbert, Karl Welch, Yubo Zou

“As you can see from the program, our nominees demonstrate a range of outstanding qualities. We are fortunate to be supported by proactive problem solvers, dynamic leaders, supportive mentors and a host of exceptional team players. Each nominee has unique characteristics, but all share a commitment to this company and its success,” said Neal Burkhead, chief operating officer and president of Palmetto GBA.

Check out pictures from the event here.

Congratulations to all the award winners!

Shining Stars: CGS Presents Annual Wall of Fame Awards

CGS® Administrators LLC (CGS) recognized the winners of its 2024 Wall of Fame Awards at its annual luncheon in March. CGS established the Wall of Fame recognition program in 2012 to honor employees who have gone above and beyond to exemplify CGS’ values and mission statement: We IMPACT Lives!

Each quarter, the company recognizes one award recipient in each of the following categories: Associate, Leader, Compliance Idol and Team. The executive leadership team then reviews the quarterly recipients to select the annual CGS Wall of Fame awardee for each category.

CGS proudly announces the 2024 Wall of Fame Award recipients.

2024 Associate of the Year 
Donya Parker
Lead Accounting Technician
Jurisdiction B/Jurisdiction C Overpayment Recovery, Finance
Donya Parker led a project to resolve a major provider issue, which demanded thorough attention to detail to manage many moving parts. The provider recognized Donya’s priority on customer focus, thanking her for her exceptional work.

2024 Leader of the Year
Emily Diehl
Manager, Customer Service 
Jurisdiction B/Jurisdiction C DME MAC 
Emily embraced a bold change by transferring from managing the J15 A/B MAC Contact Center to managing the JB/JC DME MAC Contact Center. Emily leveraged best practices in workload management and staff development while implementing several process improvement initiatives to achieve operational excellence in several key performance areas. Emily’s leadership makes a difference by inspiring others to share knowledge and experience across contracts.

2024 Compliance Idol of the Year
Travis Wenmoth
Senior Analyst, Data Analytics
CGS Systems and Support 
Travis demonstrated a passion for excellence through his involvement in a long-running project to relocate file storage from one CGS office to a data center. Travis oversaw the project with great efficiency, ensuring smooth operations and compliant hardware disposal. Travis demonstrated his integrity and dedication to the CGS compliance program by effectively managing potential risks, leading to a successful outcome.

2024 Team of the Year 

Jurisdiction C DME Health Care Disparities Research Team
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved a two-year study for CGS to determine the existence of disparities among beneficiaries served in the JC DME service area. The team established the focus, collected and organized the data, and after 14 months of review, presented findings and recommendations to CMS. The team’s passion for excellence drove them to deliver a meaningful outcome that has the potential to affect the lives of many Medicare beneficiaries.

Team members: 

Not Pictured:

Hunter Bowles
Graphic Designer
CGS Communications

Phil Colmenares, M.D., DPH
Associate Medical Director
JC/JB DME MAC    

Ramanjaneyulu Garevidi
Statistical Programming Analyst IV 
CGS Systems and Support    
        
         

Betty Hawkins
Manager, Data Analysis
JB/JC DME Medical Review    

Kristin McGovern
Data Analyst III
JC/JB Program Management Office    
  
 

Left to Right: 
Back Row: Emily Diehl, Phil Colmenares, Robert Stansell, Mike Logan, Travis Wenmoth, John Kimball
Front Row: Donya Parker, Kristin McGovern, Steve Smith, Betty Hawkins, Melissa Kirchenbauer

Congratulations to all 2024 CGS Wall of Fame Award winners!

June Is PTSD Awareness Month

Every year in June, we bring awareness to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a mental health condition that can affect any person of any age after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. While it was once something only associated with returning combat veterans, the condition is also diagnosed in those who have experienced or witnessed abuse or an accident and those who have lived through catastrophic events. 

According to the National Center for PTSD, about 6 of every 100 people will experience PTSD at some point.
The goal of PTSD Awareness Month is to educate the public, eliminate the stigma associated with the condition and encourage those who may be suffering to get help. Many of those with PTSD don't seek treatment because they fear the labels attached to it. However, with support and understanding, we can all understand the signs and provide better care for those in need.

After any traumatic event, it is normal to have stress reactions, including having upsetting memories, feeling on edge or having trouble sleeping. If symptoms persist for longer than a few months, a person may have PTSD. For some people, symptoms may start later, or they may even come and go over time.

Effective treatment is available. While individual needs vary, there are different talk therapies and medications that are proven to help people with PTSD. To help regain a sense of control, use treatment plans with the support of health care professionals experienced in treating the condition. 

If you or someone you know may be dealing with the effects of PTSD, the following resources are available:
•    First Sun EAP*
•    National Institutes of Health (NIH)*
•    Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration* 
•    VA National Center for PTSD* (for veterans)

*These links lead to third-party websites. Those organizations are solely responsible for the content and privacy policies on their sites.

The National Center for PTSD, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, First Sun EAP, and National Institutes of Health are independent organizations that provide health information you may find helpful.

From the BlueCross Blog: Improving Maternal Child Health In South Carolina: A Collaborative Effort

South Carolina faces serious maternal and child health challenges.  Programs supported by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation are improving outcomes for moms and babies through better care, access and support. 

Read the full blog post here.

Monthly Health:  Cancer Screenings: A Tune Up for Your Health

When life gets busy, we can neglect our health without thinking about it. No matter how hectic your schedule becomes, it’s vital to keep getting routine health screenings.

Take Charge of Your Health

Even if you’re not having any health problems, you should still see your doctor for routine checkups. Many of the top risk factors for serious health problems are within your control. That’s why it’s key to stay on track through routine screenings. 

Get Your Yearly Checkup

At your yearly physical, you can talk to your doctor about your wellness goals and any concerns you may have. 
Your doctor can make sure you’re caught up on your vaccines. Blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose checks can warn of health problems. 

You may need to think about other types of health screenings. An early diagnosis can lead to improved treatment outcomes. 

Colon Cancer Screenings

Experts say adults ages 45 to 75 should get colon cancer screenings. If you are older than 75, talk to your doctor about getting screened. 

Screening methods include stool tests and colonoscopies. During a colonoscopy, a thin, lighted tube is used to look for cancer or polyps in the patient’s rectum and colon. Your doctor can choose the right test for you based on your risk factors and health.

Breast Cancer Screenings

Mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer. A mammogram is an X-ray image taken of the breast as it’s pressed between two plates. The United States Preventive Services Task Force says women ages 40 to 74 should get a mammogram every other year. 

Cervical and Lung Cancer Screenings

Experts advise screening for cervical and lung cancer. Women should get routine Pap tests starting at age 21. These exams can detect abnormal cells in the cervix that could turn into cancer. 

If you are or have been a heavy smoker and are between ages 50 and 80, experts advise a yearly lung cancer screening. 

Talk to your doctor about which health screenings are right for you.

Skin Cancer Screenings

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S. You are at a higher risk of getting skin cancer if you have a history of sunburns or tanning. 

You should conduct routine self-exams to look for growths or changes on your skin. You also should think about setting up a routine skin exam with a dermatologist. These screenings can catch skin cancer early, before it spreads. 
Invest in Your Long-Term Health

You take your car in for routine upkeep to ensure it keeps running smoothly. You might even decide to tune up your car before a long road trip. These measures can find small problems before they become major issues. The same is true for your health. Contact your doctor today to see what screenings are right for you.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force is an independent organization that offers health information you may find helpful.