Dear ELFHCC patients and friends,
The East Liberty Family Health Care Center’s Mission is:
To witness to God’s love, known in Jesus Christ, by empowering our patients through community centered, whole-person quality health care for all, which includes those who are uninsured, underinsured and underserved.
As you are aware, it has been approximately nine months since we reported that we uncovered financial issues that resulted in a severe depletion of ELFHCC funds. Every day we witness God working to strengthen and move the Health Center forward. Many of you have been standing with us since August of 2022 during this financial crisis. The Lord has been so gracious to us during this time. Though things looked very dire many times, we have persevered. We can now see a path forward and we are very thankful! Thank you for standing with us in encouragement and prayer!
The financial crisis was caused by financial mismanagement and deficiencies in our credentialing and billing processes. With the financial assistance and guidance of an anonymous Foundation located here in Pittsburgh we hired the firm Cohn Reznick, a financial advisory company, to assist ELFHCC in implementing the rigorous financial, credentialing, and billing controls as well as identifying untapped potential in finance and billing. Cohn Reznick has been helpful in providing ELFHCC leadership with the knowledge and direction to implement changes that is helping to strengthen the organization going forward through our recovery plan.
A full-time Chief Financial Officer was hired in December. He has been working diligently to correct the deficiencies that in some cases have gone on for years. He completed the paperwork needed to get ELFHCC’s PTAN number needed for billing. All Medicare cost reports and HRSA reports are up-to-date. Due to the support of Pittsburgh medical and insurance leaders over the past four months we have been able to resubmit tens of thousands to claims that were not billed by the previous administration. We will continue resubmit these claims over the next 90-120 days.
Many things that we have been working toward are now being completed. This is encouraging in many ways. We continue to make strides forward, yet we are still very much in need of the Lord’s gracious hand.
Psalm 127:1a; “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” We continue in this posture as we rebuild our mission, finances, and vision of ELFHCC.
We are asking you for your continued support. Please consider using the ELFHCC pharmacies for your medication needs. This can help a lot. Please also consider signing up to use our patient portal if you have not already. This helps communication with your healthcare team. For help signing up for the patient portal please call 412-661-2802 press 4.
ELFHCC was founded 40 years ago with a vision to provide health care to people in the Pittsburgh region. We ask for your continued prayers and support that ELFHCC would continue to perform our Mission and serve the community here in Pittsburgh.
Thank you for standing with us in prayer, your continued confidence in ELFHCC, and your providers.
Blessings,
David Hall, MD, Chief Medical Officer
Gregory C. Anderson, MD, Interim CEO
