Why Work with The Partners Group?
The Partners Group is a benefit consulting and advisory firm serving
the dynamic needs of hospitals, medical groups and physicians
throughout the Pacific Northwest.
With more than 25 years of experience serving the health care
industry, we are no stranger to the challenges of strategic planning:
rising health care costs, appropriate plan design and funding,
and the resource demands for effectively communicating and managing
your benefit program. Our firm brings a wealth of medical community
expertise, as well as a knowledgeable team of consultants, underwriters,
actuaries and legal counsel who have crafted successful health
insurance plans and benefits for more than 400 Pacific Northwest
employers/plan sponsors.
Who We Are
The Partners Group is the largest provider
of health and welfare programs within the medical
field in Oregon, serving the dynamic needs of health
care groups, physicians and hospitals throughout
the Pacific Northwest.
Locally Owned and Operated
With more than 25 years of experience in the health
care industry, we bring a unique perspective and
innovative approach to meeting the diverse health,
welfare, retirement and property casualty needs
of the healthcare communities.
Diverse Talent
With a broad range of talent at hand, our clients
enjoy the convenience and benefits of accessible
expertise from one central resource. Together,
we are diligent in our efforts to design and manage
the most efficient and effective programs possible
for all of our clients.
Technical Expertise
Our team includes 29 seasoned professionals with
a broad range of experience - knowledgeable human
resource consultants, insurance underwriters, actuaries
and legal counsel, all with expertise in the medical
community.
Company Culture
The Partners Group inspires a non-corporate environment
that fosters independence, rewards performance
and encourages work-life balance. Many of our consultants
began their careers at Fortune 500 insurance companies,
but have chosen The Partners Group because our
culture enables us to move quickly, evaluate, and
respond to the many challenges in the marketplace
Recognition
The Business Journal has recognized The Partners
Group as one of the fastest growing 100 privately
held companies in Oregon for five years running.
TPG has been recognized by Oregon Business
Magazine twice as one of the top 100 employers
to work for in Oregon. Kerr·Cruickshank, Inc.,
one of The Partners Group member companies,
is endorsed by the Oregon Medical Association
and is proud to insure more than 1,500 physicians
and 300 medical clinics.
What We Do
The Partners Group develops effective programs
designed specifically for hospitals and medical
centers. What's more, our medical community
expertise is bolstered by our work with some of
Oregon 's largest employers, which gives us a thorough
understanding of the challenges faced by your organization.
Program Design
• Assist with formalizing company benefit plan objectives
• Analyze plan design, recommend changes to meet goals
and objectives
• Compare program competitiveness with similar/competitor
employer's plans
• Present new benefit plan design, funding and delivery
concepts for consideration
• Advise on industry consolidations, mergers, and
acquisitions
• Review all contracts for possible gaps and omissions
Financial Services
• Track and report benefit plan experience
• Market/RFP benefit plan insurance and services with
Market Survey analysis
• Negotiate price and benefit competitive renewals
• Review funding alternatives
• Project costs, recommend reserving, and price options
for consideration
• Prepare annual retrospective plan reviews
• Analyze claims utilization and patterns and recommend
cost containment options
Managed Care Delivery Systems
• Assist in selecting alternative delivery systems
(HMO, PPO, POS plans)
• Assist with coordination and communication of alternative
plans
• Evaluate adequacy of network access, disruption
analysis
• Analyze and evaluate provider fee discounts/savings
Work-Life and Wellness Programs
• Design and market Employee Assistance
Programs (EAP) and Wellness programs
• Health risk appraisals
• Stress management
• Design and marketing of Elder Care and Dependent
Care programs
• Paid time-off (PTO) program design
• Information on nutritional training, weight control,
exercise, smoking cessation programs
Employee Communications
• Edit employee booklets/Summary Plan Descriptions
• Prepare enrollment materials (BenEase plan summaries
and visual aids)
• Organize and assist with employee enrollment meetings
Government Compliance
• Assist with mandated IRC nondiscrimination requirements
• Assist with ERISA reporting and disclosure requirements
(draft IRS Series Form 5500 Return/Report and Summary Annual
Report)
• Assist with COBRA notification requirements, COBRA
service vendor selection
• Revise plans to comply with mandated benefits (e.g.,
FMLA, Mental Health Parity Act, HIPAA, Newborns' and Mothers'
Health Protection Act, Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act),
including other human resources-related issues
• Assist in the development of human resources policies
and procedures as they relate to employee benefits
Website Services
•
Client Community , our website that provides
a one-stop resource for the latest in employee benefit news,
laws, rules and regulations, articles, and sample forms, documents
and checklists for benefit plan compliance and administration
•
Individual websites we tailor for our
clients that provide their employees with an on-line description
of their benefit program, forms and helpful Web links
Other Standard Services
• Monthly newsletter with Benefits Focus bulletins
on special topics of interest
• Assist in resolving claim disputes
• Verify and process contracts and amendments
• Assist with eligibility problems and contract interpretation
• Review employer administrative procedures and make
recommendations
• Assist in collective bargaining negotiations
• Manage the insurer or service provider in the areas
of cost control, timely service, claim issues, performance guarantees
Other The Partners Group Services
• Provider Excess Loss Reinsurance
• Executive Benefit Planning
• Voluntary Benefit offerings
• Experienced, focused resources
to protect your property, premises and professional
liability, management liability (E&O, D&O) automobile, crime, workers's compensation, marine, aviation and bonds.
• Structured, collaborative review of client's
operations and objectives.
• Market analysis to find the most competitive and comprehensive solutions.
• Ongoing communication and coordinated service by a professional, friendly team.
• On-line rating and electronic issuance for many types of policies.
• Claims advocacy and management assistance.
• Home, automobile, umbrella, boats and misc property
• Financially stable companies with competitive rates
• Dedicated service team.
Our Team
Bruce Kerr, CEO
Bruce is an industry veteran with more
than 29 years of experience helping businesses
and individuals with their insurance
needs.
Under Bruce's leadership, The Partners
Group has been named to The Business
Journal 's top 100 fastest growing companies
in Oregon for five consecutive years
and he is the only CEO in Oregon with
two businesses,
on the list at the same time.
Bruce is an active community leader,
having received the Portland Mayor's
Spirit of Light Award, as well as the
Rotary's Ken Bement Award in both 1995
and 1998. Bruce is the past President
of the Rotary Club of Portland and serves
on the Board of Directors for: Portland
Parks Foundation, Cascade Pacific Council
Boy Scouts, National Council Community
and Justice, Rose Festival Association
Foundation and the Guardian Life Executive
Committee.
Bruce is a native Oregonian, and lives
in Lake Oswego with his wife and three
children.
|
| 
Rod Cruickshank, RHU,
President
Rod got his start in insurance 20 years
ago as a sales Consultant for one of the
nation's largest employee benefit brokerage
firms. After 10 years as a Consultant,
Manager, and Product and Marketing Advisor,
Rod returned to Portland, Oregon where
he joined Bruce Kerr in forming Kerr·Cruickshank,
Inc. (KCI).
KCI is a member company of The Partners
Group, of which Rod is President and
managing shareholder. He oversees a team
of staff members, leading new business
efforts, client relations and program
development.
He is a Board Member of The Portland
Children's Museum, the Leukemia & Lymphoma
Society and the OHSU Medical Group. Rod
sits on the advisory board for two of
the state's largest health plans.
Rod graduated with a degree in Political
Science from Oregon State University
. He earned his Registered Health Underwriter
(RHU) advanced degree from The American
College in 1996.
A long time Oregonian, Rod lives in
West Linn with his wife and four children
.
|
|  Gary
Alton, V.P. of Employee Benefits
Division
With more than 13 years in the insurance
industry, Gary brings a wealth of experience
to The Partners Group. Before joining the
team in 2000, he invested 10 years of his
career gaining valuable expertise as an
Employee Benefit Consultant for a Fortune
500 Insurance Company.
Gary is a graduate of Oregon State University
with a degree in Business Administration.
Gary has a Life and Health Insurance Consultant
license and both his Series 6 and Series
63 license.
Gary is a native Oregonian, and lives
in Portland with his wife and two children.
 Patty
Borst, Benefit Consultant
Patty has over 20 years of experience
in the employee benefits field. Prior to
joining The Partners Group, Patty was employed
as a Senior Sales Consultant with a Fortune
500 employee benefits firm. During her
employment, she was responsible for design
and implementation of employer benefit
programs for large groups.
Patty is a graduate of Oregon State University
with a degree in Finance. She is a licensed
Life and Health Insurance Consultant.
A native Oregonian, Patty lives in Portland
with her husband and two children. |
|  Mark
Mills, Benefit Consultant
Mark entered the insurance business in
1988 as a Sales Consultant for one of the
nation's largest insurance brokerage firms.
He spent 15 years as an Employee Benefit
Consultant and Manager of two different
Fortune 500 Insurance Companies before
joining The Partners Group.
Mark is a graduate of Oregon State University
with a degree in Business Administration.
He is a licensed Life and Health Insurance
Consultant.
A native Oregonian, Mark lives in Portland
with his wife and two children |
|  Leslie
Weaver, Benefit Consultant
Leslie consults clients in Bend and the greater
Central Oregon Region. Prior to joining The
Partners Group, Leslie represented the Clear
Choice Health Plan, a Bend-based insurance
company, as a health plan Consultant. An
industry veteran with 18 years of experience
in health care, she has held sales and consultant
positions with Kaiser Permanente and Providence
Health Plans.
Leslie currently serves on the Board of
Directors for the Central Oregon Council
on Aging. She also is a member of the Health
Care subcommittee for the Bend Chamber
of Commerce Government Affairs Council
and serves on the Program Committee for
The Central Oregon Society of Human Resource
Managers.
Leslie graduated with a degree in Social
Sciences from Portland State University
. She is a licensed Life and Health Insurance
Consultant.
Leslie is an Oregon native and Bend resident. |
| 
Kim Seely, Benefits
Service Specialist
As the primary point of contact for
our larger premier clients, Kim manages
and facilitates routine client services.
She works with our clients on issues
of implementation, carrier/vendor management,
renewal, enrollment, contracts, compliance,
billing and claims dispute assistance.
Kim graduated from Willamette University
in 1995 with a degree in Business Economics.
Kim is a licensed life and health insurance
agent, and in 2001, she earned for Certified
Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation.
Kim lives with her husband and daughter
Anna in Lake Oswego .
|
External Resources:
|
Thomas Kramer
Attorney at Law, Bullard Smith Jernstedt
Wilson
Tom Kramer joined Bullard Smith Jernstedt
Wilson mid-2004. Since 1983, Tom has represented
employers who sponsor employee benefit
plans, service providers who consult with
such employers regarding their plans, and
insurance and banking institutions that
provide funding to employers with respect
to their plans. Tom's practice covers both
tax-qualified and nonqualified retirement
plans, including pension, profit sharing
and other deferred compensation plans.
He also advises regarding health and welfare
benefit plans. Tom also works with other
welfare benefit plans, including dependent
care assistance plans, educational assistance
plans, adoption assistance plans, disability
plans, life insurance plans and severance
pay plans. Tom's work includes plan drafting,
problem solving and representing employers
and others in disputes with regulators,
such as the Internal Revenue Service, U.S.
Department of Labor, Oregon Insurance Division
and Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries.
Tom is the co-author of Employee Health
Benefits and Health Insurance and Health
Plans, for the Oregon State Bar, and Welfare
Benefits Under the Tax Reform Act of 1986
for the American Law Institute?American
Bar Association. |
| Kevin McCartin
McCartin Analytical Services
Kevin McCartin and his Portland , Oregon
firm McCartin Analytical Services ,
is another external resource providing
actuarial, rating and underwriting advice
to brokers and plan sponsors, and health
plan service providers. Kevin has over
25 years of combined experience in the
financing, rating and reserving of employee
health plans. He held management positions
with several health plans, including Blue
Cross/Blue Shield and Kaiser, and has developed
various provider reimbursement methodologies
including capitation, fee for service,
RBRVS and shared risk arrangements.
He is active in Oregon's health care reform
serving as a member of the Insurance Pool
Governing Board, and formerly on the: Health
Insurance Reform Advisory Committee, the
Insurance Department's Advisory Committee,
the Oregon Medical Insurance Pool Board,
and as past President of the Oregon Association
of Health Underwriters, where he remains
active.
Kevin has a degree in Mathematics from
Providence College and lives in Portland
, Oregon .
|
