Management 

Principal / ceo

Joseph M Antonell

Mr. Antonell’s health cost expertise comes from his earlier background in medical billing and finance with more than 15 years of progressive experience in finance, accounting and senior management positions with three, prominent hospital systems in the Miami area; two private hospitals (University of Miami Hospital and Clinics and South Miami Health Systems) and a large, public health institution (Jackson Memorial Hospital/Public Health Trust).

While working on the payer side of the health care industry, Mr. Antonell developed a program for clinical bill review and negotiation of higher dollar, complex medical bills for John Alden Life Insurance Company’s Employer Excess Loss Division (Alden Risk Management Services-ARMS). Upon the sale of JALIC in 1999, Mr. Antonell formed his own company, Asert Benefit Services, in order to continue providing medical bill review and audit services to the subsequent owner and other insurance client companies, including: Fortis, Swiss Re, Lincoln Re, Munich Re, The Hartford, Symetra, and other major health insurance and stop-loss companies for the self- insurance health industry.

Mr. Antonell earned an MBA from the University of Miami. He is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), earning the highest level of certification “FHFMA” fellow of the HFMA. He is also a long standing member of the Self-Insurance Institute of America (SIIA) and serves as member of the Board of Directors, international committee and has served on the Health Care committee, including speaking and moderating roles at numerous national and international conferences. Previous Board positions include: South Florida Leukemia Society of America and advisory positions to the Boards of Public Health Trust, University of Miami Hospital and Clinics and South Miami-Homestead Hospitals.

Mr. Antonell splits his time between Miami, Florida and Beech Mountain, North Carolina. He is happily married to Mercedes Caridad Antonell and has two adult children, Cristina and Christopher.

consulting Partner-President IMAS

Suzanne Schlernitzauer, HIA,FLMI,ACS,ARA,AIAA,AIRC

Suzanne has been in the patient account and health insurance field since 1973.  She has extensive experience in hospital business office management from her many years at Cedars Medical Center in Miami, Florida (now University of Miami Hospital).  Additionally, Suzanne was an integral part of the start-up and management of all facets of a third party administration (TPA) and medical referral service that specialized in international insurance products and services.

With extensive experience in the claims administration arena in the areas of processing, repricing contract interpretation and application, reinsurance administration, fraud detection and prevention, systems implementation and loss ratio management, she brings a wide array of knowledge in the insurance industry.

With a focus on continuing education and commitment to knowledge of the business of insurance, Suzanne has earned the following designations:

• From Health Insurance Association of American (currently AHIP)
  • Health Insurance Associate (HIA)
  • Health Care Abuse and Fraud Associate (in process)
• From Life Office Management Association (LOMA)
  • Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI)
  • Associate, Customer Service (ACS)
  • Associate, Reinsurance Administration (ARA)
  • Associate, Insurance Agency Administration (AIAA)
  • Associate, Insurance Regulatory Compliance (AIRC)

Suzanne is a member of Florida Medical Auditors Association (FMAA) and has served in Board positions with the organization since 2003 – Treasurer (5 years), Vice President (2009), President (2010) and Board Member at Large (2011and 2015), Vice-President (2012), and President for 2013, 2014 and 2017.