Financial Counseling

Improved Patient Payments Allow Health System to Reinvest in Growth

In less than a year, Hackensack Meridian Health’s patient loan program has helped patients cover almost $3.5 million in medical costs, cut bad debt from patient pay in half, and achieved an ROI of 380 percent.

Timothy Mattson February 1, 2018

How Providence Health & Services Created Patient-Friendly Statements

Providence Health & Services redesigned its billing statements so they are easier to understand. The change aimed to improve patient satisfaction and reduce calls to the health systems’ customer service contact center.

Lola Butcher January 22, 2018

Ask the Experts: Determining Patient Financial Assistance Eligibility

What household expenses are required to determine financial assistance eligibility? 

HFMA January 15, 2018

The Pros and Cons of Recourse and Nonrecourse Patient Financing

Considerations for outsourced patient financing include evaluating impact on patient experiences and day-to-day plan administration, as well as options that fit hospitals’ patient populations. 

Tammie Coon January 15, 2018

Responsive Payment Support: Finding the Right Balance for Patients With HDHPs

With growing numbers of self-pay patients face difficulties in meeting their payment obligations, healthcare providers can assist them by providing responsive payment support, including offers of tailored payment plans 

John Talaga December 20, 2017

It All Starts with Patient Access

Because patients now face higher out-of-pocket costs, patient access staff play a greater role than ever. These staff members need to be more than information gatherers. They need to be patient advocates, gifted with genuine empathy and know-how—not only to guide patients through the financial experience, but also to set the stage for clean claims downstream. 

Eric Krepfle November 16, 2017

How Providence Health & Services Created Patient-Friendly Statements

Providence Health & Services redesigned its patient statements with the goals of improving patient satisfaction and reducing calls into its customer service center.

Lola Butcher November 15, 2017

Hospital’s Tax-Exempt Status Revoked for Lack of Community Health Needs Assessment

The IRS stated that a rural hospital had failed to conduct a proper community health needs assessment and make it widely available to the public. The hospital’s tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) was revoked retroactively.

J. Stuart Showalter October 16, 2017

NYU Langone Emergency Physicians Connect Patients to Financial Counselors

Emergency physicians use an order in the electronic health record system to request financial counseling for patients who express concern about the cost of emergency care.

Lola Butcher September 14, 2017

TCPA Lawsuits Are Exploding

The TCPA was never intended to prohibit or negatively affect legitimate business-related calls, but that has been the result of court decisions allowing class action lawsuits.

HFMA September 5, 2017
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