Ribbon cutting held for EPOCH Group's grand opening

A local medical claims adjudication and call center operation officially opened and became operational Tuesday with nearly 20 employees.

Several Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce members, city officials, company executives and staff and others attended a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the chamber Tuesday afternoon for The EPOCH Group, a subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City.

"On behalf of the chamber, we're glad you're here in this building," FSACC Executive Director Lindsay Madison told company officials prior to the ribbon cutting. "Welcome."

The company, located at 2801 S. Horton in a building owned by Mercy Health Center, became operational with 13 claims examiners and data entry positions to adjudicate claims for its parent company and six management positions.

During the event, EPOCH Group President and Chief Operations Officer Tony Pino introduced some of his colleagues and the company's management team that will head up the business.

"This is a great opportunity for us in Fort Scott," Pino said.

Pino also thanked others in attendance -- including City Manager Dave Martin, Bourbon County Economic Development Council President Steve Buerge, Mercy Health Center President and CEO Reta Baker and Mercy Health Center Vice President of Finance Terri Delchiaro -- for their efforts in bringing the company to Fort Scott.

The company's management jobs were filled by local people and some former employees of CIGNA, which used to be Great West Health Care, were hired to fill other positions. CIGNA vacated the Horton Street building last year.

The company filled positions through a series of job fairs held last month at Fort Scott Community College.

EPOCH Group will be an outsource company for Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance plans across the United States.

Staff at the center will process insurance claims, complete data entry and provide customer service.

The company is leasing space on the second floor of the facility.

The chamber also hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday morning for Sunflower Surplus and H&H Publishing, located in downtown Fort Scott.