Hospital Access Management 2015-12-01

There's Got To Be A Better Way

Each month, Baptist Health System handles more than 1,500 requests from physician offices to obtain authorizations for scheduled services.

Self-pays cut by 37% for $3.2 million in revenue — Study says almost half are eligible

Converting self-pay patients to some type of coverage is a top priority for Linaka Kain, manager of the Marketplace Exchange and a disability examiner at Unity Point Health System — Rock Island (IL).

62% of self-pays obtain coverage

Self-pay patients are converted to some type of coverage 62% of the time at West Valley Medical Center in Caldwell, ID, reports patient access director Jennifer Bette. The department uses these approaches:

Here’s what keeps patient access leaders up at night

Change. Like many patient access leaders, Ginger Beard, MBA/HCM, CHAM, network director of pre-services at Phoenix-based HonorHealth, sees this area as her biggest challenge. Here, patient access leaders share some of their toughest moments:

Less than half of hospitals comply with charity care rules

Many nonprofit hospitals have room for improvement regarding charity care policies under the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) Section 501(r) rules, according to a recent study.¹ Researchers reviewed Internal Revenue Service forms submitted by more than 1,800 nonprofit hospitals in 2012. Here are key findings:

Big financial burden on self-pays: Access can help

Employers and insurers are “pushing more of the burden of healthcare expenses onto patients,” says Stacy Calvaruso, CHAM, system director of patient access at LCMC Health in New Orleans. “Unfortunately, this is having a negative impact on the healthcare community.”

Patients demanding web-based scheduling

Just as they use online tools to book restaurant reservations or request a cab, patients want the same experience in self-booking a doctor’s appointment, says Kaveh Safavi, MD, global managing director of New York, NY-based Accenture’s health business.

$850,000 saved with electronic signatures — Registration is 3 minutes shorter

Patient access lead Mike Laidlaw estimates $850,000 a year is saved in paper and printing costs as a result of Sacramento, CA-based Sutter Health Systems’ 24 hospitals switching to electronic signatures.

Say these things during financial conversations

Having better financial conversations with patients “is clearly a big priority for us,” reports Laura Semlies, MPH vice president of finance and revenue cycle transformation at Manhasset, NY-based North Shore LIJ. “We’ve modified many of our processes and spent an awful lot of time on education,” Semlies says.

Why don’t more uninsured seek health coverage?

Fewer people need help from free clinics, because of insurance options made possible by the Affordable Care Act. But many still rely on free primary care because they lack health insurance.

Hospital Access Management – December 1, 2015

December 1, 2015