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Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD

Accepting New Patients

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Specializes in: Adult Nephrology

University of the West Indies Faculty of Medical Sciences

Professional interests include: acute kidney injury (AKI), creatinine clearance test, electrolyte disorders, and more.

106 Irving Street Nw Po Box South Tower, Suite 422
Washington, DC 20010

(202) 877-0698

Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD is a nephrologist in Washington, DC specializing in adult nephrology. He graduated from University of the West Indies Faculty of Medical Sciences. Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD is affiliated with Holy Cross Health, Luminis Health, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, MedStar Health and MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center.

Office Locations

Luminis Health

106 Irving Street Nw Po Box South Tower, Suite 422
Washington, DC 20010

(202) 877-0698

(202) 877-6959

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106 Irving Street Nw Suite 422
Washington, DC 20010

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110 Irving Street Nw
Washington, DC 20010

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7503 Surratts Road
Clinton, MD 20735

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Some issues Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD can help you with:

Dialysis

Dialysis is a procedure that replicates renal (kidney) function by filtering patients' blood. When kidneys do not work properly, waste can accumulate in the blood and unbalanced chemicals can impair the body's critical functions. In order to stay healthy, a person without proper kidney function must receive dialysis. There are two forms of dialysis treatment: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Both forms of dialysis are recurring treatments that in many cases last throughout the lifetime of the affected patient. Patients who briefly lose renal function may slowly reduce the frequency of dialysis sessions until their kidneys recover. However, most patients who start on dialysis remain on dialysis for the rest of their lives or until they receive a kidney transplant.

A number of conditions can worsen renal function and lead to end-stage or acute kidney failure. When kidneys fail (i.e. nearly 90 percent of their function is lost), dialysis is typically prescribed. Conditions that cause chronic kidney failure (eventually requiring dialysis) include:

Type 1 and 2 Diabetes
Pyelonephritis, recurring kidney infection
Glomerulonephritis, inflammation of the kidney's filtering parts
Polycystic kidney disease
Interstitial nephritis, inflammation of the kidney's tubules
High blood pressure
Vesicoureteral reflux, improper bladder emptying

For hemodialysis (the more common form of dialysis), a patient will visit a hospital or clinic and be connected to a dialysis machine by a needle attached to a tube that draws blood from the arm. The drawn blood is transferred to the dialysis machine, where it is filtered and separated until clean. Waste products from the blood pass into a fluid called dialysate, which is pumped out of the machine into a waste receptacle. The machine also measures and helps ensure the blood has the appropriate level of fluid, electrolytes, and pH. A tube delivers the cleaned blood back into the patient's body. A dialysis session like this will typically last for three to four hours, with a patient undergoing dialysis around three times per week.

A second method of dialysis is known as peritoneal dialysis. Unlike hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis can be performed at home by oneself after an initial surgery. To start, a physician (generally a surgeon) will make a small incision in the lower abdomen and insert and surgically attach a catheter (thin tube). At home, the patient connects a pump to the abdomen catheter, delivering dialysate (dialysis fluid) from a bag hanging on a wheeled stand. This fluid enters the peritoneal cavity (greater abdomen area containing the stomach, liver, and intestines) and collects waste through osmosis, where waste in the blood moves across a membrane and into the dialysate. This process continues for several hours until the fluid concentration is equal between the blood and dialysate, at which point the fluid can be drained. The fluid can then be passed through a machine called a cycler, which removes waste and allows for the dialysate to be reused. This process is repeated about four times per day. Dialysis patients must limit the amount of fluid they consume prior to receiving dialysis and should also avoid eating salty foods. The cycler cannot filter more than a certain amount of waste products from the blood.

Kidneys are important organs, and dialysis treatments are vital for those with renal dysfunction. For many, dialysis is not so much a medical procedure but a part of their normal life.

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are hard deposits that form in the kidneys, made up of minerals that are normally present in urine. They can vary in size, from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a nickel, occasionally even larger. Sometimes they lodge in the kidney, and sometimes they break free and make their way out through the urinary tract, which can be extremely painful.

Kidney stones can be smooth or jagged and are yellow to brown in color. They are mostly comprised of the minerals calcium, oxalate, and phosphorus. Examining the stones to see what they are made of can show what caused the stone to be formed in the first place. For example, a stone made of mostly calcium, which is the most common type, can happen any time the urine becomes too concentrated due to dehydration or a blockage in the kidney. A uric acid stone forms when acid levels in the urine get too high, usually due to excessive consumption of animal protein such as meat and fish. A struvite stone is a sign of certain infections, and a cystine stone can be due to a genetic disorder that raises the risk of kidney stones.

The most common symptom of kidney stones is pain, either in the back or lower abdomen, or severe pain when urinating. There may also be blood in the urine. Treatment for kidney stones depends on how large the stone is. Very small stones can pass out of the body on their own, and they do not require treatment other than drinking adequate water and taking pain killers. Larger stones need to be broken apart and removed. The main treatment options are:

Shock wave lithotripsy, which uses sound wave vibrations to break apart the stone
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy, or the use of a very tiny tool (like a wire inserted through the back) to break apart and remove the stone
Ureteroscopy, a thin tube inserted through the urethra and bladder to the stone, where tiny tools can grasp the stone and remove

People who have had one kidney stone are at risk of developing another. To reduce this risk, patients are given instructions specific to the type of stone they developed. Generally the instructions will include drinking more water to dilute the urine, but it may also involve lowering sodium intake or eating less meat.

Noteworthy Medicare Patient Procedures Performed by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD in 2023

Click on any procedure below to see further details on volume and pricing among Medicare patients.

Top 5%

By Volume:

hemodialysis

inpatient hospital care

In 2023, Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD performed more hemodialysis, and inpatient hospital care (for patient admitted to hospital) procedures for Medicare patients than 95% of providers in related specialties within District of Columbia.

Top 10%

By Affordability:

hospital care

inpatient care

In 2023, Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD had a list price for hospital care, and inpatient care that was lower than the list prices billed to Medicare by 90% of providers in related specialties within District of Columbia. Actual amounts paid by patients can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including insurance coverage. A lower list price, however, might mean lower fees when paying without insurance.

Top 25%

By Affordability:

inpatient hospital care

In 2012, Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD had a list price for inpatient hospital care (for patient admitted to hospital) that was lower than the list prices billed to Medicare by 75% of providers in related specialties within District of Columbia. Actual amounts paid by patients can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including insurance coverage. A lower list price, however, might mean lower fees when paying without insurance.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD treated as a nephrologist in Washington, DC during 2012 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and outpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	241
doctor visit	385
hospital care	1378
inpatient care	1312
outpatient care	34
preventive care	21
vaccines	21

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD treated as a nephrologist in Washington, DC during 2013 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and outpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	157
doctor visit	413
hospital care	870
inpatient care	820
outpatient care	31
preventive care	24
vaccines	24

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD.

**Gender**
Male	128
Female	209

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	29
Black	295
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	122
From 75 to 84	81
85 and over	38
Less than 65	96

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD in 2013

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	15
Ischemic Heart Disease	53
Depression	19
Chronic Kidney Disease	70
Asthma	15
Osteoperosis	4
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	51
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	24
Diabetes	60
Dementia	27
Cancer	9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD treated as a nephrologist in Washington, DC during 2014 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and preventive care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	140
doctor visit	472
hospital care	938
inpatient care	909
outpatient care	29
preventive care	32
vaccines	32

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD.

**Gender**
Male	149
Female	217

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	28
Black	318
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	132
From 75 to 84	93
85 and over	31
Less than 65	110

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD in 2014

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	63
Stroke	18
Ischemic Heart Disease	54
Depression	19
Chronic Kidney Disease	72
Asthma	16
Osteoperosis	4
Atrial Fibrilation	15
Heart Failure	56
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	24
Diabetes	66
Dementia	25
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD treated as a nephrologist in Washington, DC during 2015 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and outpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	181
doctor visit	439
hospital care	746
inpatient care	714
outpatient care	32
preventive care	26
vaccines	26

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD.

**Gender**
Male	290
Female	428

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	56
Black	630
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	234
From 75 to 84	206
85 and over	74
Less than 65	204

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD in 2015

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	55
Stroke	19
Ischemic Heart Disease	54
Depression	23
Chronic Kidney Disease	72
Asthma	21
Osteoperosis	3
Atrial Fibrilation	13
Heart Failure	52
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	27
Diabetes	65
Dementia	28
Cancer	14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD treated as a nephrologist in Washington, DC during 2016 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and preventive care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	360
doctor visit	451
hospital care	823
inpatient care	823
preventive care	34
vaccines	34

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD.

**Gender**
Male	156
Female	222

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	32
Black	331
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	128
From 75 to 84	103
85 and over	29
Less than 65	118

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD in 2016

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	61
Stroke	21
Ischemic Heart Disease	63
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	35
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	15
Heart Failure	62
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	31
Diabetes	69
Dementia	33
Cancer	14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD treated as a nephrologist in Washington, DC during 2017 were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	689
doctor visit	280
hospital care	1315
inpatient care	1315

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD.

**Gender**
Male	234
Female	247

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	39
Black	415
Hispanic	13
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	152
From 75 to 84	121
85 and over	37
Less than 65	171

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD in 2017

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	62
Stroke	19
Ischemic Heart Disease	68
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	14
Osteoperosis	3
Atrial Fibrilation	20
Heart Failure	70
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	29
Diabetes	72
Dementia	34
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD treated as a nephrologist in Washington, DC during 2018 were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	1274
doctor visit	224
hospital care	1948
inpatient care	1948

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD.

**Gender**
Male	241
Female	281

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	32
Black	460
Hispanic	19
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	178
From 75 to 84	109
85 and over	40
Less than 65	195

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD in 2018

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	72
Stroke	20
Ischemic Heart Disease	72
Depression	29
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	6
Atrial Fibrilation	19
Heart Failure	70
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	31
Diabetes	75
Dementia	35
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD treated as a nephrologist in Washington, DC during 2019 were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	794
doctor visit	210
hospital care	1222
inpatient care	1222

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD.

**Gender**
Male	191
Female	258

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	22
Black	405
Hispanic	11
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	142
From 75 to 84	105
85 and over	45
Less than 65	157

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD in 2019

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	73
Stroke	19
Ischemic Heart Disease	68
Depression	32
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	3
Atrial Fibrilation	19
Heart Failure	69
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	28
Diabetes	71
Dementia	39
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD treated as a nephrologist in Washington, DC during 2020 were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	610
doctor visit	187
hospital care	1330
inpatient care	1330

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD.

**Gender**
Male	196
Female	202

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	18
Black	360
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	125
From 75 to 84	92
85 and over	34
Less than 65	147

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD in 2020

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	74
Stroke	20
Ischemic Heart Disease	68
Depression	29
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	18
Heart Failure	64
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	72
Dementia	34
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD treated as a nephrologist in Washington, DC during 2021 were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	110
doctor visit	187
hospital care	1830
inpatient care	1830

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD.

**Gender**
Male	180
Female	176

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	26
Black	309
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	120
From 75 to 84	93
85 and over	25
Less than 65	118

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD in 2021

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	24
Ischemic Heart Disease	71
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	23
Heart Failure	70
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	26
Diabetes	73
Dementia	34
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD treated as a nephrologist in Washington, DC during 2022 were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	103
doctor visit	166
hospital care	1514
inpatient care	1514

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD.

**Gender**
Male	153
Female	155

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	14
Black	275
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	122
From 75 to 84	74
85 and over	22
Less than 65	90

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD in 2022

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	34
Ischemic Heart Disease	58
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	18
Osteoperosis	5
Atrial Fibrilation	36
Heart Failure	65
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	28
Diabetes	75
Dementia	24
Cancer	15

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2023 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD treated as a nephrologist in Washington, DC during 2023 were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	102
doctor visit	136
hospital care	1353
inpatient care	1353

2023 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD.

**Gender**
Male	142
Female	149

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	266
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	94
From 75 to 84	81
85 and over	27
Less than 65	89

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD in 2023

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	30
Ischemic Heart Disease	56
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	16
Osteoperosis	4
Atrial Fibrilation	31
Heart Failure	65
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	32
Diabetes	64
Dementia	24
Cancer	19

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2023

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD treated as a nephrologist in Washington, DC were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and outpatient care.

dialysis	396
doctor visit	295
hospital care	1272
inpatient care	1257
outpatient care	31
preventive care	27
vaccines	27

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2023

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD.

**Gender**
Female	212
Male	171

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	338
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	24
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	3
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	96
85 and over	33
Less than 65	124
65 to 74	129

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD From 2012 - 2023

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD treated were hypertension, chronic kidney disease, diabetes and high cholesterol.

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	61
Stroke	19
Ischemic Heart Disease	57
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	67
Asthma	15
Osteoporosis	2
Heart Failure	57
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	63
Atrial Fibrillation	18
Dementia	28
Cancer	11

Education & Training

Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD graduated from University of the West Indies Faculty of Medical Sciences. He completed residency at Carilion Clinic. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine Subspecialty Nephrology and has a state license in Maryland.

Medical School: University of the West Indies Faculty of Medical Sciences

Residency: Carilion Clinic (1997)

Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine Subspecialty Nephrology (2016)

Licensed In: Maryland

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Holy Cross Health

Luminis Health

MedStar Washington Hospital Center

MedStar Health

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD has a high overall rating with an average of 4.0 out of 5 stars based on 1 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Washington, DC.

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Richard L. Palmer, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Amgen Inc.	$307 Parsabiv $273	Sensipar $34
Fresenius USA Marketing, Inc.	$274 Velphoro $274
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP	$252 FARXIGA $130	LOKELMA $17	$104
OPKO Pharmaceuticals, LLC	$204 Rayaldee $204
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.	$117 Kerendia $117
Other	$629 ZEPATIER $116	JARDIANCE $105	Victoza $80	Freestyle Libre 2 $51	SAMSCA $45	Other $232

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$1,721
Education	$63

Biography

Dr. Richard Palmer is a physician who specializes in adult nephrology. Areas of expertise for Dr. Palmer include lupus nephritis, hypocalcemia (calcium deficiency), and nephrotic syndrome. Dr. Palmer's education and training includes medical school at the University of the West Indies Faculty of Medical Sciences and residency at Carilion Clinic. He is affiliated with Holy Cross Health, MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center, and MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He is not accepting new patients at this time according to Holy Cross Health.