Hospital Access Management – May 1, 2015
May 1, 2015
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Emergency department collections nearly double with price estimates
Rising deductibles and lack of information on out-of-pocket costs make emergency department collections difficult, but patient access departments are succeeding with tools and training. Collections at Genesis Health System nearly doubled with a payment estimate tool, and collections rose by 10% at Cooper Health System because staff ask consistently.
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Use scripting to collect ED copays
Emergency department registrars use this scripting to collect copays at the Cooper Health System in Camden, NJ.
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Collect in ED before or after discharge? Both methods have their challenges
The most daunting challenge of collecting in the emergency department setting involves the simple fact that ill, injured, and tired patients just want to go home, as opposed to having a discussion about how much money they owe.
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$4.8 million gained in self-pay revenue: Identify patients’ ‘hidden’ coverage
Patient access leaders at Unity Point Health System — Rock Island increased revenue by $4.8 million by identifying current coverage and obtaining Medicaid coverage for self-pay patients.
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It’s not just about money: Build trusting relationships
Initially, many self-pay patients have a negative perception of financial counselors.
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Presumptive eligibility is big revenue producer
Patient access staff at Unity Point Health System — Rock Island (IL) occasionally see patients who reside in Iowa. There is a marked difference in how self-pays are handled in the two states. The reason is that Iowa offers a larger eligibility criteria for presumptive eligibility, which “has been a big revenue producer and a godsend for a lot of patients.”
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Department reaches million-dollar milestone
Tips for celebrating successes in the patient access department.
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Look outside your department to move up quickly in patient access
Patient access employees at Riverside Regional Health System in Newport News, VA, are promoted based on a new tier system implemented in December 2014.
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Encourage staff to move within revenue cycle
Patient access employees are alerted to any openings within the entire revenue cycle at Riverside Regional Health System in Newport News, VA. Managers actively encourage them to apply for higher-tier jobs that become available.
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This education is now ‘must-have’ for access reps
Six educational requirements used in revenue cycle areas at the Riverside Health System based in Newport News, VA.
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Access leaders: Telecommuters are more productive
Patient access managers might envision employees working from home getting very little done due to ringing doorbells, kids playing, or housework getting in the way of work.
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Leaders: Telecommuting worries largely unfounded
Common concerns about telecommuting for patient access areas.
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Blue Cross Blue Shield employees charged with taking and sharing data screen shots
Eleven people have been charged after a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) employee allegedly printed and shared screen shots of more than 5,000 subscriber profiles. The 11 people are charged with identity theft and credit card fraud, in what some observers are calling an example of how criminals can get past even the best HIPAA security measures.
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Good computer logs critical to detecting breach
A detailed record of who accessed data, when, and how often might be the only way an organization can trace the source of a HIPAA breach. Ensuring the thoroughness of those logs should be a top priority for any healthcare organization.
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Anthem refuses audit by Office of Inspector General before and after massive HIPAA breach
After all the negative press that Anthem suffered when reporting a HIPAA breach that affected 80 million customers, one might think they would avoid more bad publicity. But the health insurer is under fire for refusing to let the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the agency overseeing the federal employee health benefits program, audit its IT security.
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No date yet for OCR’s HIPAA audits
The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) still has not set a date for when the next round of HIPAA audits, originally planned for fall 2014, will take place.
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Premera Blue Cross says 11 million records breached
Boston-based health insurer Premera Blue Cross announced recently that a cyberattack might have exposed medical data and financial information of 11 million customers.