It hasn’t been 2010 very long, but the year’s already feeling less than new for professional practices that have yet to hone their patient access and cash flow processes.
The first of the year brings changes to benefits plans and renewed deductibles, and though this happens predictably every year, some practices have not learned practical solutions to welcome such changes with preparedness and ease. And beyond those expected annual changes, the healthcare system is in constant flux as Consumer-driven Health Plans (CDHPs) gain prominence and patients take on more payment responsibilities for their healthcare. For busy practices, being unprepared for changes of any kind can ultimately add “wait” to patient access processes and make the bottom line less than fit. That’s no way to start the new year!
Where does your practice stand? Is your patient check-in process sputtering in the wake of changes and slowing your cash flow?
It’s not too late to make amends for twenty-ten. Make a resolution to incorporate new solutions for optimum processes and greater success and you won’t even be spending more money because you will be saving money on the back end. Here’s a starter list:
• Incorporate affordable, interactive technology to guide frontline staff to success in the check-in process, saving time and money. Not only will such tools help capture accurate patient contact information, leading edge technology automates the entire access process and ensures all changes to benefits plans are accounted for in the system. This makes patient verifications quick and accurate and the registration process less stressful for patients and staff alike. Less wait time all around!
• Prioritize patients’ need for clear communications regarding payment responsibility and collections. As more patients are required to participate in payment for their care, it’s imperative that practices ease them into this new role. Upfront estimates, easy-to-read statements and collections alternatives empower patients, encourage point-of-service collections and ultimately improve both patient experience and cash flow.
• Invest in frontline staff, training them to treat patient access as a pivotal point of contact rather than a passive administrative function. When your practice obtains the best, most complete patient data during check-in, long term communications, patient interactions, collections and cash flow are improved.
Emdeon’s Patient Access Management Solutions incorporate leading edge technology for fast, accurate eligibility verifications and integrated patient data acquisition. Learn more about Emdeon Office– a web-based solution for eligibility and benefits verification, claim submission and tracking from point-of-submission through payment– all at an affordable price.
By committing to resolutions backed by real solutions, you’ll shed ‘wait’ and get that bottom line in shape in 2010. Contact your Emdeon representative today to get started!
Resolve to lose 'wait' and get the bottom line in shape this year
