Cascade365 Pulse – $1.5 billion in patient debt relief, team news and this month’s Elevate Wellness article

Healthcare extends beyond the point of care. For many patients and families, medical debt continues to create financial pressure long after treatment ends.

Since 2018, the Cascade365 Family of Companies has partnered with ApolloMD and Undue Medical Debt to identify qualifying patient accounts for debt forgiveness, supporting individuals and families who fall below income thresholds or are experiencing significant financial hardship. That partnership has now relieved more than $1.5 billion in patient medical debt.

This milestone reflects what becomes possible when operational excellence is aligned with compassion and patient-centered outcomes.

To read the full announcement, click here.

How much time have you spent outside lately?

As Summer arrives, longer days and warmer weather offer a natural opportunity to step away from screens, slow down and reconnect with the outdoors. Yet for many of us, busy schedules and constant connectivity make it easy to spend the majority of the day indoors.

This month’s ELEVATE Wellness Article explores the health benefits of time outside and why small, consistent moments in nature can have a meaningful impact on mood, focus, stress levels and overall energy throughout the Summer season.

Jeff Howell, Mary Sand and CEO, Lee Brockett recently attended the Emergency Department Practice Management Association (EDPMA) Solutions Summit in Isle of Palms, SC.

One theme ran through every session and conversation at the event: the financial model for emergency medicine is under significant pressure. Out-of-network reimbursement is down 47.7% and in-network down 10.9% since 2018. Nearly two-thirds of revenue cycle management leaders now cite payer denials and underpayments as their single biggest barrier to revenue growth. AI-driven downcoding and IDR administration are adding further complexity, and revenue cycle management teams are feeling it.

It was a valuable few days of industry conversation and we look forward to continuing these discussions as the landscape evolves.

Congratulations to Sean Ebeling on his promotion to Director of Vendor Performance and Recovery. We sat down with Sean to learn more about his new role, what he brings to it and what he is up to when off the clock.

Pulse: Sean, congratulations on your promotion. Please share what your new position will involve and what has prepared you for this role.

Sean: Thank you, I appreciate the congratulations. In my new role as Director 

of Vendor Performance and Recovery, I’ll be overseeing our vendor network, ensuring performance standards are met and driving strategies that strengthen recovery results. My experience working directly with vendors, managing performance processes and leading operational improvements has prepared me well for this next step.

Pulse: You have both a Sales and an Operational background. How will each of those experiences shape your approach in this role?

Sean: Having both Sales and Operational experience gives me a balanced perspective that I believe will be valuable in leading Vendor Performance and Recovery. My Sales background helps me build strong relationships, communicate expectations clearly and align goals in a way that supports our partners to perform. It also gives me insight into how vendor performance directly impacts Cascade365’s overall business growth. On the Operations side, I’ve gained a deep understanding of workflows, compliance, performance metrics and the day-to-day challenges that vendors face. That experience allows me to identify root-cause issues, offer practical solutions and drive consistent, measurable improvement. Both perspectives come together in my approach. I plan to unify them by focusing on strong communication, data-driven decision-making and collaborative problem-solving to support vendors while holding them to high performance standards.

Pulse: Vendor Performance and Recovery is vital to Cascade365’s success once AR has been acquired. What will you bring to ensure our agency partners are aligned with Cascade365’s vision?

Sean: My focus will be on creating alignment, transparency and consistency across our agency network. The nuances I bring include a relationship-driven approach, clear communication of expectations and a strong emphasis on data-supported performance management. I plan to work closely with our partners to ensure they understand not just the what but the why behind our standards, and to collaborate with them on solutions that improve outcomes. By combining accountability with partnership, I’ll help ensure our agencies are aligned with Cascade365’s vision and positioned to contribute to our long-term success.

Pulse: What is the importance of having a strong team around you to be successful in this role?

Sean: A strong team is essential because Vendor Performance and Recovery rely on collaboration, shared insight and consistent execution. Having knowledgeable and reliable support around me ensures we can move quickly, address challenges effectively and maintain alignment across departments.

Pulse: Final question, and we’ll make it a fun one. What do you do off the clock to decompress and recharge?

Sean: I make it a priority to unwind and reset – whether that’s attending my favorite concerts, visiting local wineries across Missouri or hunting down new bourbons to try. I enjoy experiencing new dining spots, relaxing with a good cigar and maintaining my Hollywood tan whenever the weather cooperates. Staying active is important to me as well, so I make time to work out and spend quality time with friends. All of these things help me decompress, recharge and come back ready to tackle the next challenge with a clear mind and fresh energy. 

I’d also like to personally thank Jeff Howell for believing in me and supporting my growth. His guidance has meant a great deal and I’ll carry what I’ve learned into every part of my professional journey.

Shaun Ertischek, Esq., Cascade365’s Chief Compliance Officer and General
Counsel, attended the ACA Washington Insights Fly-In event from May 19-21,
2026, in Washington, D.C. The event brought together industry leaders to
participate in conference sessions with speakers that included Members of
Congress and industry insiders, meetings with congressional offices and lobbying efforts. Topics that were discussed included the pending credit reporting litigation pertaining to medical debt, FCC activities related to offshore call centers and call labeling/blocking, state-level legislative updates and the CFPB and its complaint portal. Attendees also had appointments on Capitol Hill to meet with congressional staff members to lobby for issues that are both important to our industry and impactful to our clients. It was a great opportunity for Cascade365 to stay on the front line of these issues, continue collaborating with ACA leadership and foster relationships on Capitol Hill.   

June is a busy month on the conference circuit for Cascade365. As conversations around receivables strategy, liquidity and portfolio performance continue to gain momentum across the industries we serve, Jeff Howell will be attending these key events to connect with industry leaders and hear firsthand what AR challenges organizations are navigating right now.

Michigan Credit Union Annual Convention
Grand Rapids, MI | June 2 to 4 

HFMA Annual Conference
National Harbor, MD | June 7 to 10

If you or a colleague will be attending any of these events, we’d welcome the opportunity to connect.

The Cascade365 Family of Companies provides accounts receivable liquidity solutions to the consumer finance and healthcare industries through its innovative suite of services encompassing AR debt purchase, third-party collection and master servicing. Cascade365 is committed to promoting financial accountability while treating consumers in a fair, dignified, and lawful manner. Cascade365’s consumer friendly focus includes income-based settlements and debt forgiveness. To learn more, please visit Cascade365.com