Patient Access

Screening and Coding for Homelessness

Health systems are recognizing that homelessness is a root cause of high healthcare utilization, but most systems do not screen and code for homelessness. Revenue cycle, patient access, and coding staff can play a role to improve homeless patient outcomes and reduce avoidable utilization by screening for and documenting homelessness.

Lola Butcher June 29, 2017

Ensuring Proper Payments for Substance Abuse Services

Substance abuse treatment providers can maximize payments through contract negotiations and eligibility verification and precertification processes.

Divya Annasingh June 5, 2017

Why Health Plans Are Easing Preauthorization

In an attempt to build cooperative working relationships with physicians, some health plans are trying to reduce the burden of preauthorization.

Lola Butcher April 11, 2017

Tackling Preservice Pricing Plans

Despite evidence that patient demand for preservice pricing is growing, only 30 percent of patients are being offered pre-treatment cost estimates. 

Tom Yoesle April 6, 2017

Revenue Cycle Department Gives Beyond Its Patient Access Services

MetroHealth’s revenue cycle staff work together to assist the local community with basic needs as well as healthcare access and financing.

Bragging Rights April 6, 2017

Personalizing Statements to Enhance Patient Engagement

UPMC embeds QR codes in its patient statements to enable consumers to use their smartphones to pay their bills.

Lola Butcher March 17, 2017

Case Study: Physician Revenue Cycle Improvements in an Integrated Health System

Benefis Health System undertook a physician revenue cycle improvement initiative in part to ensure patients would have a consistently positive billing and payment experience across its delivery system.

Greg Tierney March 3, 2017

Registration Academy Improves Performance

St. Joseph Health’s homegrown training program reduced the average training time for new hires by 25 percent and decreased training costs per trainee by $1,400.

training: Karen Wagner February 28, 2017

Using Palm Vein Technology to Accurately Identify Patients

“If a person gives five different names over a five month period, we are still able to get the correct patient medical record to the treating provider, regardless of the patient’s name,” says Kandy Swanson, BayCare Health System.When patients present

Lola Butcher January 31, 2017

Building Patient Relationships Through the Revenue Cycle

Empowering call center staff to take each patient’s circumstances into consideration reduces the financial burden on patients and helps Providence Health & Services collect the money it is owed.

Lola Butcher January 20, 2017
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