With as many as 283 hospitals on the verge of closure, hospital financial officers have to make substantial changes.

(USA Today)
 

According to Bruce Vladeck, senior adviser at Nexera,

NYC, “Hospitals…are trying harder to collect deductible and

co-payment amounts from patients.

 

In the hospital financial management community, prepayment

is now generally defined as a 'best practice'."
 

Hospital executives say collecting bills before a patient arrives

or before they go home has proven to be more successful and

far less expensive than sending a bill after the fact.

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Success Stories

• Since June of 2013 a small, hospital in rural north central Oklahoma has been using a Patient Estimator toll from Medical Recovery Services. Their up-front cash reimbursements are now averaging about 70% of patient liabilities. ($12,386 per month…a total of $148,632 for 2014).

 

• In September 2014, a multi-specialty surgery center in St. Louis began using the Patient Estimator. In the first 3 months, up-front cash payments (which started from virtually zero) averaged $57,920 per month. If this trend continues, a conservative estimate calculates their collections for fiscal year 2015 will be in excess of $600,000.

 

How they did it - Solutions

1. Install Point of Service Software (patient liability estimator) and focus on training workers at the counter to be assertive in discussing the costs of care.

2. Routinely verify coverage electronically before scheduling tests, radiology screenings, and other services.

3. Inform patients on the spot how much they'll need to pay in advance before scheduling tests, radiology screenings, etc. or what they'll be expected to pay during their visit.

4. Communicate payment responsibility through multiple channels.

5. When confirming appointments, schedulers and receptionists should be urged to remind patients of their payment obligations at the time of their visit.

6. Many hospitals offer a pre-payment discount incentive if the patient agrees to pay the full amount in advance.

7. When patients say they don't have the money, ask for the amount they can remit and offer a financing program at reasonable interest rates. (Some facilities use a sliding scale to set fees based on the level of need and other factors.)

8. Develop self-pay policies for elective procedures that require an upfront partial or even full payment.

9. Clarify policies for uninsured patients…i.e. the charity care policy; implement it consistently, and ensure the accuracy of the community service adjustment.

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