Are you ready for audits

Audits can cost your practice thousands--if not millions--of dollars. Protect yourself with internal audits to ensure compliance.

Developing a revenue integrity improvement plan

A revenue integrity plan should address five key areas: Accuracy of patient information. Verification of payer information and policies. Accuracy of documentation. Processing of claims. Accuracy of payment.

Best practices for self-pay collections

Hospitals can improve their ability to collect on patient accounts by tailoring collection efforts to four segments of patients: Segment A: Patients with a high likelihood of payment and low account balances; Segment B: Patients who have high original balances, but also a high likelihood of payment; Segment C: Patients who have large balances and low expected collection rates; Segment D: Patients with low balances and low expected collection rates.

Spinning straw into gold: smarter bad debt management

To improve its bad debt management, Meridian Health focused on these three areas: Automatic rules-based workflow to control compliance with policies and procedures. Agency management and monitoring. Use of analytic technologies to manage recoveries.

Hatch hunts for hospitals. Minnesota is now the main stage in U.S. debate over uninsured billing as a third group of hospitals sign pacts with state officials

Minnesota has become the main stage in the debate over uninsured billing. Forthe third month in a row, state authorities have signed agreements with hospitals to expand discount programs and limit debt-collection efforts. The latest deal means about 75% of admissions there will be covered by such pacts. "We saw this as a positive response to a major public challenge," said Terence Pladson, left, of CentraCare.