HFMA learner uses revenue cycle certification to raise healthcare finance quality

Dr. Naif Alhakbani, revenue cycle management officer at Kidney Care Company, Saudi Arabia, recently shared with HFMA his enthusiasm for helping healthcare organizations optimize their revenue cycle and improve financial performance. “By improving their finances and clinical integrity, healthcare providers can receive payment for the services they provide, allowing them to continue to provide high-quality care to their patients,” Dr. Alhakbani said. In his revenue cycle role, Dr. Alhakbani reports to the operations manager, which aligns his work to support the patient journey and experience.

To further his revenue cycle knowledge and career, Dr. Alhakbani recently earned HFMA’s Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR) – GCC, a revenue cycle management (RCM) certification targeted to the Middle East region. The certification helped him solidify RCM concepts and further his knowledge to assist clients with revenue cycle challenges and solutions.

“I have learned the RCM best practices and know-how to implement in my current practice. Furthermore, the CRCR-GCC certification has helped me in my professional development by enhancing my understanding of the patient financial journey,” Alhakbani said.

Dr. Alhakbani’s expertise includes patient registration and financial conversations, medical coding, claims submission, accounts receivable management, denials management, clinical documentation and financial reporting. Alhakbani was recognized as the first Saudi certified doctor for RCM from the Council of Health Insurance.

“I have built my own cumulative RCM workflow that addresses the major functions of the revenue cycle. The workflow is basically 300 milestones that cover the RCM cycle to support efficiency, fewer denials and better cash flow,” Alhakbani said.

He also has a clinical background, graduating from King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health and Sciences with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree. Alhakbani’s medical education and five years of experience in the Saudi healthcare private sector supports his ability to understand the procedures and services addressed in RCM and healthcare finance processes.

Dr. Alhakbani also stresses the importance of staying up to date with the latest trends and technologies in the industry, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. He sees these innovative technologies as ways healthcare organizations can improve the efficiency and accuracy of their revenue cycle processes.

Through the knowledge he has gained by becoming CRCR-GCC certified, Dr. Alhakbani has identified new opportunities to achieve the Vision 2030 healthcare transformation journey in Saudi Arabia. “Overall, HFMA certification will help me broaden my horizons and achieve my personal and professional goals,” Dr. Alhakbani said.