Procode Hires Optum RCM Innovation CIO Blair Baker to Scale Its AI-Powered Billing Platform

Veteran RCM operator who helped lead AccuReg to its acquisition by Optum will unify Procode's acquired billing companies and embed its AI across every client account

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Procode Inc., an AI-powered revenue cycle management (RCM) company serving private practice surgeons, today announced that Blair Baker has joined as Chief Operating Officer. Baker joins Procode directly from Optum, where he served as Chief Information Officer, RCM Innovation, leading a product organization focused on an AI-and automation-first approach to hospital and health system revenue cycle.

Baker brings more than 35 years of revenue cycle experience, from running patient access and patient accounting departments at hospitals to leading product, operations and delivery at high-growth RCM software companies, including companies he led through acquisitions by Optum and RelayHealth.

Unifying Operations and Scaling Procode AI

Baker will lead two priorities:

1. Building unified, end-to-end RCM operations. Baker will consolidate the operations of Procode's acquired billing companies, beginning with The Auctus Group, into a single operating model spanning coding, billing, collections and client service.
2. Infusing Procode's in-house AI across operations. Baker will embed Procode's AI products — including Procode AI coding and Procollect, its operating system for billing teams — into every workflow to drive productivity and superior financial outcomes for clients.

"Blair has done the exact job we need done, more than once," said Jeff Cripe, CEO of Procode. "He has taken early-stage RCM companies to successful exits, and he just spent the last few years at Optum building AI-first revenue cycle products at enterprise scale. Our strategy is to acquire the best surgical billing companies and make them better with AI. Blair is the operator who will turn those companies into one platform and make sure our AI shows up in our clients' collections."

"I've spent my career on both sides of the revenue cycle — running hospital business offices and building the software they rely on," said Blair Baker, Chief Operating Officer of Procode. "Large health systems have seen real progress from AI and automation. Private practice surgeons deserve the same. Procode has the rare combination of specialty expertise and AI built for the nuances of surgical coding. My job is to bring that together into one operation that fully captures reimbursements for our clients."

About Procode Inc. Procode is an AI-powered RCM company for surgeons in private practice. Founded in 2024, Procode builds intelligent billing infrastructure that removes administrative burden and maximizes reimbursement, giving surgeons the freedom to focus on patient care. The company has raised $14 million in total venture funding, led most recently by Health Velocity Capital, and serves more than 350 plastic surgery and dermatology providers through its acquisition of The Auctus Group.

About Blair Baker Blair Baker is Chief Operating Officer of Procode, where he leads operations across the company's acquired billing businesses and the rollout of Procode's AI across them. He has spent more than 35 years in healthcare revenue cycle — first running hospital business offices, then building and operating the RCM technology companies that serve them.

Baker joins Procode from Optum, where he was Chief Information Officer, RCM Innovation, leading a product organization delivering AI- and automation-first revenue cycle capabilities to hospitals and health systems. Before Optum, he was Chief Operating Officer and Chief Product Officer of AccuReg from 2020 until its acquisition by Optum in 2023, leading implementations, customer support, tech-enabled services, product management, engineering, AI, UX and IT. AccuReg's Patient Access suite was named Best in KLAS in 2021, 2023 and 2024, and Baker directed the company's acquisition and integration of a digital patient engagement company.

Earlier in his career, Baker led product and operations at Concert Genetics, MEDHOST — where he ran a portfolio generating $220 million in annual recurring revenue — and Emdeon, where he directed end-to-end RCM product for hospitals and physicians across a $52 million P&L. He also held operating roles at RelayHealth, HTP, Inc. and CareMedic, and began his career running hospital business offices as Director of Patient Accounting and Patient Access Manager at BayCare (FL) and St. Joseph's Health System (IN).

Media Contact: Jeff Cripe | CEO, Procode AI | [email protected] | www.tryprocode.com

SOURCE ProCode Inc.