Imperium Resolutions, LLC is a Tennessee-based advisory firm founded by Valerie Payne, a former Medicare contractor Subject Matter Expert. The firm specializes in healthcare audit defense, denial management, and regulatory strategy, representing providers nationwide.
Experienced leadership grounded in Medicare contractor-side knowledge and complex audit defense work.
The Advantage of Knowing Both Sides
OUR DIFFERENCE
Most audit defense consultants learn the process from the outside looking in. Our team spent years inside Medicare contractor organizations — reviewing claims, conducting audits, and making the very decisions that now affect your practice. We bring that institutional knowledge directly to your defense.
Valerie Payne is a former CMS contractor Subject Matter Expert with experience across Zone Program Integrity Contractor (ZPIC - now UPIC), Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC), and Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) environments and more than 20 years in Medicare payment integrity. She specializes in Part B, with a strong background in Durable Medical Equipment (DME), and focuses on complex audits, denials involving significant financial exposure, and claims data analysis. Her contractor-side experience includes selecting claims for audit, collaborating with statisticians on sampling and extrapolation, authoring CMS-approved RAC review guidelines, and training auditors on medical review and appeal support.
Valerie founded Imperium Resolutions to address the gap between Medicare policy requirements and their practical application. Her work is focused on applying contractor-level audit methodologies to challenge unsupported determinations, defend against extrapolated overpayments, and position providers to respond effectively to audit scrutiny and align with Medicare enforcement standards.
Chad is a Certified Wound Specialist (CWS) and Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years of healthcare experience, including more than a decade focused on complex wound management. His clinical background spans inpatient, outpatient, and mobile settings, with experience in advanced wound care modalities, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
He is relied upon for his ability to interpret complex clinical presentations and translate the medical record into clear medical necessity analysis.
He is relied upon for his ability to interpret complex clinical presentations and translate the medical record into clear medical necessity analysis.
At Imperium Resolutions, Chad serves as a Clinical Subject Matter Expert, providing medical necessity review and litigation support in Medicare audit and appeals, including participation in Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) proceedings.
Joshua Bush Payne serves as a Compliance Analyst at Imperium Resolutions, where he supports operational workflows and audit preparation across Medicare engagements. He assists with medical record organization, document management, and case file preparation to ensure materials are complete, accessible, and ready for review.
Joshua plays a key role in maintaining internal organization throughout the audit process, helping coordinate records and support materials used in audit responses and appeals. His attention to detail and consistency contribute to the firm’s ability to manage complex, document-intensive matters efficiently