Author
RPC had perhaps its best year ever in 2021, and I am grateful to our clients, staff, and consulting associates. The numbers tell part of the story:
- RPC staff increased from 24 at the end of 2020 to 32 at the end of 2021.
- New cases increased from 308 in 2019 to 518 in 2020 and to 732 in 2021. Most of the growth was in cases analyzing reasonableness of charges and reasonable value of medical services.
- RPC provided services to 231 different clients in 2021, and 91 were new clients.
But the numbers tell only part of the story. At the request of the State Bar, RPC and Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody (GDHM) presented a webinar on the evolving state law on medical expenses in personal injury cases. The webinar covered several 2021 decisions of the Supreme Court of Texas (SCOT), including Allstate, K&L Auto Crushers, and ExxonMobil, and their effects on discovery and the definition of reasonable value for medical expenses. RPC filed amicus briefs prepared by GDHM in Allstate and K&L Auto Crushers, advocating positions consistent with the SCOT decisions in both cases.
We helped our Certificate of Need clients with 15 applications in Florida, North Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee, and Washington DC. Applications were approved in Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington DC, with applications in Alabama and Kentucky still under consideration.
RPC staff earned important certifications that expanded our capacity to serve clients. Kim Beladi, BSN, RN, LNCC, CNLCP, and Susan Farris, BSN, RN, LNCC, CNLCP, became certified nurse life care planners. Hiral Patel, MHS, CRC, CVE, became a certified vocational evaluator. Athenna Dill, CPC, became a certified professional coder.
Several experienced testifying experts joined RPC in 2021 as consulting associates. They were Gretchen Bakkenson, MA, CRC, CLCP; Misty L. Coffman, RN, CLNC, MSCC, CNLCP; Todd Harden, MA, LPC, CRC, CLCP, ABVE/F; Elizabeth “Liz” Wheeler, MEd, LPC, LRC, CRC, CLCP; and James Stidham, MBA, CASC.
The coming year will be a special one for RPC. The company was founded in 1972, and 2022 is our 50th year in business. Ron Jones founded the company, and I was the third employee in 1972, while still in graduate school. I have been with RPC continuously since 1976 and have been its owner and president since 1979. Several current staff have been with RPC 15 years or more.
While it will be a challenge to match our growth in 2021, we will certainly try to do so. We will also have some special events in recognition of our 50th anniversary. Thanks again to all who have contributed to our long-term success.
Sincerely,
Ron Luke, JD, PhD
President