Happenings
Meet Q2 Standouts from Division 6M
Associate of the Month — April
Zyricq Rufus
Division 6M has recognized Zyricq Rufus, an accountant I in the Medicare Reimbursement Department, as the April Associate of the Month. Selected for his willingness to take on additional work to help others on his team, he assisted with training staff on new subjects during the department reorganization. Zyricq effectively explained the new information in an easy-to-understand manner and answered questions. His approachable demeanor and willingness to take on additional responsibilities made it easy for staff to use him as a resource.
Associate of the Month — May
Michelle Muller
The May Associate of the Month is Michelle Muller, an accountant III in the Medicare Reimbursement Department. Michelle exemplifies excellence through her deep expertise, unwavering patience, and compassionate approach to both providers and colleagues. She consistently delivers high-quality work with precision and dedication, while also volunteering across the company to support initiatives like United Way, Toys for Tots, and local drives. Michelle’s commitment to improving processes and helping others makes her a true asset to Palmetto GBA and a shining example of our core values in action.
Associate of the Month — June
Soni Rai
Soni Rai, the June Associate of the Month, is an accounting technician III in Audit Appeals. Selected for her dedication, professionalism and strong commitment to quality, her team-first attitude and willingness to assist her colleagues ensures a seamless workflow. Soni takes the initiative to learn and refine her skills and contribute to process improvements, demonstrating her drive to elevate team performance. Her consistent efforts and eagerness to grow make her a standout member of the team and a valued asset to Palmetto GBA.
Coach of the Quarter
Michelle Anderson
For the second quarter of 2025, Michelle Anderson, a lead auditor for the Reopenings team in the Provider Audit and Reimbursement Department, has been named Coach of the Quarter. Valued for her leadership skills, Michelle regularly demonstrates her unwavering commitment to mentorship, quality and innovation. She has guided new team members with patience and expertise, while serving as a trusted resource across departments. Michelle’s contributions to 14 process improvement initiatives and her impressive Excel skills have streamlined workflows, have saved thousands of dollars and elevated her team’s performance. Her dedication to excellence, proactive coaching and ability to identify and correct errors make her an indispensable leader and a driving force behind the success of the Reopenings team.
Team of the Quarter
Settlement Team
Team members: Taylor Barlow, Amanda Canizares, Daniel Dinkins, Larry Harris, Crystal Medley, Madison Miller, Grace Mukendi, Mary Oliver, Melita Stroud, Jackson Warren, Kayla Waterson
The Settlement Team earned Team of the Quarter for their outstanding dedication, teamwork and performance during a challenging year-long project. In addition to their regular workload, they successfully completed more than 3,000 complex settlements and more than 16,000 cost reports, while supporting multiple departments and meeting tight deadlines. Their ability to respond quickly to last-minute requests, maintain clear communication and adapt to shifting priorities made a significant impact. They also helped improve internal processes, showing a strong commitment to efficiency and collaboration. Their hard work and positive attitude truly set them apart.
Process Improvement of the Quarter
SSI Realignment Template
Team members: Michelle Anderson, Meredith Cate, Robert Sanford, Sharon Wood
The Process Improvement of the Quarter created the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Realignment Template because it transformed a complex and time-consuming task into a streamlined, efficient process. This new template combines four forms into one automated workbook, reducing manual data entry and minimizing errors. The team created it in response to The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service’s Change Request 13413, which requires hospitals to update how they report the number of Medicare Part C days for older cost reporting periods, an important part of calculating Medicare payments to hospitals that serve many low-income patients. By automatically importing cost report data and simplifying the reopening process, the template saves time, improves accuracy and supports all levels of the reopening team. This smart, user-focused innovation helps several departments.
