Collection is "more than just asking."
The total amount of patients' out-of-pocket responsibility is about $140 million annually at Cincinnati (OH) Children's Hospital Medical Center, but less than half of this amount is collected upfront.
A dermatology practice recently settled allegations of privacy law violations for $150,000. The fine and other sanctions appear to be the result of systematic failures in the compliance program rather than the breach itself.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is enforcing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) vigorously, and the push is likely to continue.
Patient access leaders at Ochsner Medical Center increased monthly collections by $22,000 after implementing a price estimation tool.
