About Us

Claudia Amortegui received her Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina located in Columbia, South Carolina. She then joined Palmetto Government Benefits Administrators (DMERC Region C), as an ombudsman. She worked with Palmetto for 3 years assisting DME providers in learning medical policies and proper claims submission. Claudia then became a sales representative for Quickie Designs, a division of Sunrise Medical, with responsibility for the sale of wheelchairs and seating systems in the Northern Florida and Southern Georgia territory. Shortly thereafter, Claudia moved to Chicago, Illinois to become the Director of Reimbursement for American Pharmaceutical Services, a national long-term care supplier. In early 1998, Claudia returned to Sunrise Medical to begin a new venture for the company as Director of Consulting Services. In this role, she was responsible for the management of a national consulting group specializing in Medicare reimbursement. She has presented at state and national meetings, and has worked with local and national DME providers in improving their overall Medicare business. Claudia has been on a member of the MedTrade Educational Board. She has also been published several times in national industry publications. In addition, she writes her own monthly feature for Mobility Management magazine. In November 2002 she purchased Sunrise Consulting and formed The Orion Group. Claudia’s experience comes from having worked on all sides of the industry, including – Medicare/DMERC, supplier, manufacturer, and consultant. This rare combination of industry experience enables Claudia and her team at the Orion Group to assist people in understanding the reimbursement process and to teach them how they cannot only be successful, but also be above others in the industry.

Kim is a 1990 graduate of the University Of South Carolina School Of Nursing and is a licensed Registered Nurse. Kim has seven years of clinical and hospital based nursing. This includes medical/surgical nursing, intensive care, surgical intensive care, and cardiac care telemetry at both the staff nurse level and later as an Assistant Nurse Manager.

In 1993, Kim accepted a position as a Medical Review Nurse with Palmetto Government Benefits Administrators in the Medical Review Division for the Region C DMERC. In this role, Kim took the lead in developing medical review criteria for the several medical policies. She was also responsible for the medical review of Medicare claims for all durable medical equipment and was a team leader of the pre-pay claim review staff.

In 1996, Kim began her career as a Medicare Reimbursement Consultant with Sunrise Medical, which is now The Orion Group, a stand-alone company. As a consultant, Kim assists suppliers in evaluating if Medicare coverage criterion has been met by reviewing the documentation they obtain for the prescribed durable medical equipment for their specified client. This process is known to our customers as the Pre-Screen Program. Kim also provides proper equipment codes, modifiers, allowables, and other billing instructions necessary for filing a “clean claim” to Medicare. This ensures that the provider will be reimbursed in a correct and timely manner. Kim is the Senior Consultant for The Orion Group.

Kim is single and resides in her home state of Columbia, South Carolina. She enjoys traveling to the coast and to the mountains, is an avid and faithful South Carolina Gamecock football fan, and enjoys spending as much fun-time as possible with her little nephew Turner.




Caroline Houck graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1991, where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise Science. She then attended the Medical University of South Carolina where she completed a dual degree program receiving a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy and a Master’s Degree in Health Sciences in 1994. After graduation, she was self-employed as a “traveling” therapist working throughout the southeast region in multiple rehab facilities.

Caroline worked for The Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg, South Carolina for three years as an acute care physical therapist, and also worked in their outpatient orthopedic setting. She added to her experience by working at Life Care Center, an assisted living facility, once per month. Caroline then joined Magnolia Manor Nursing Home and served them for two years in the capacity of Head Physical Therapist.

In January 2002, Caroline joined The Orion Group (formerly Sunrise Medical Consulting) as a consultant. She is responsible for reviewing documentation under the Pre-Screen Program. Because of her diverse experience, Caroline brings a fresh perspective to the Orion Group, benefiting our clients directly.

Caroline was married in 1995 to Ward Houck. She has two beautiful daughters, Megan and Klara and Isabel. She currently resides with her family in Los Angeles, California.

Patti McDonnell joined Orion Reimbursement in July 2003. She comes to Orion with an extensive background in DME reimbursement.

She started her career in the industry in June of 1988, joining the former Abbey Medical as a reimbursement specialist. Patti had a one-year stint with Metro Rehab Services in Chicago in the same capacity in 1991, then rejoined Abbey in 1992 as a Field Services Coordinator.

That assignment was followed by a position as a Medicaid Reimbursement Supervisor. In that role, Patti was responsible for training both Medicaid billers and collectors, as well as overseeing the entire Medicaid Department.

In 1993, Patti moved into the Abbey Rehab division and remained with Rehab after the merger of Abbey and Homedco formed Apria Healthcare, and was appointed Billing Center Manager for Apria Healthcare Rehab Division. As the business grew, so did her responsibility, ultimately having responsibility for the reimbursement for 30+ Rehab locations throughout the entire United States. In this capacity, she implemented a Medicare pre-screen process for all high-end Rehab equipment, and worked closely with the Apria Government Compliance Department to ensure clean claims and prompt payment.

Patti was married in 1996 to Kevin McDonnell, and has two beautiful children, Elizabeth and Matthew. She and Kevin reside in Downer’s Grove, IL.

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