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O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4
around for the financial struggles: a software switch, soft co-pay col-
lections and failing to bill secondary insurers.
Working with the staff to use the software more efficiently — cou-
pled with other policies, like switching to generics and implement-
ing patient payment plans — has improved the center's finances dra-
matically in a short period of time, so much so that the fully physi-
cian-owned, 6-OR ASC wins this year's OR Excellence Award for
Financial Management.
To a good revenue cycle
Starting in June 2013, Ms. Rochon says that the center began to care-
fully track accounts receivable (AR) metrics in search of solutions. By
using the software to its fullest advantage, the staff got a better grip
on what was going on with its AR and found ways to drive numbers
down.
Ms. Rochon says that the center uses the software to track several
different metrics — including AR greater than 90 days as a percent
and as a dollar amount, credit balances as a percent of AR and initial
claim denials. After getting a better look at its AR trends, the center
has implemented programs, like a more thorough intake process.
The center now verifies all cases and ensures authorizations are on
file prior to the patient's arrival, says Ms. Rochon, and compares a
patient's insurance cards to what they have on file during a financial
orientation call before surgery. In a year, the average number of initial
denials has dropped from 99 a month to 34.
"This rigorous intake effort plays a huge role in our good revenue
cycle," says Ms. Rochon.
Ms. Rochon says that staff uses the software to assign certain payors to
collectors and creates pre-defined criteria for accounts that need to be
reviewed. When a non-payment or denial trigger is met, or an account
