Denial rates, notably within Medicare Advantage, are on the rise, impacting both hospital revenue cycles and patient care, remarked the executive director of a Minnesota-based large multispecialty health care organization focused on Revenue Cycle management. Despite the organization reporting a favorable margin this year, it falls short in achieving profits comparable to those of insurers, […]
Denial management in rcm: In the intricate realm of healthcare revenue cycle management (RCM), the substantial challenge revolves around handling denied claims. Scarcity of resources, understaffing, and restricted capacity frequently lead to difficulties in resolving denied claims, where an alarming 82% to 90% are considered potentially preventable. RCM teams can optimize time and revenue recovery […]
Healthcare organizations consistently grapple with the complexity of overseeing their revenue cycles—a comprehensive process spanning patient registration, appointment scheduling, and concluding with balance payments. Yet, a pivotal hurdle disrupting this cycle’s seamless operation is the prevalent occurrence of claim denials. Vital for any healthcare institution’s financial well-being is the imperative to diminish these denials and […]
Alongside its positive impact on health outcomes, the Medicare Advantage value-based care plans implemented by an insurance provider resulted in a significant $8 billion in cost savings throughout 2022. Reports from the payer revealed that Medicare Advantage beneficiaries under value-based care exhibited improved health conditions, marked by reduced inpatient admissions and emergency room visits. The […]
Given labor shortages and financial constraints, fully managed hybrid outsourcing solutions are increasingly gaining prominence. Hospitals and provider organizations grapple with staffing deficiencies across various departments, with the revenue cycle facing considerable strain. A recent survey among medical group leaders highlighted coders as the most challenging role to fill, closely followed by billers, schedulers, authorization […]
The Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN), Form CMS-R-131, issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), holds immense importance for healthcare providers, revenue cycle teams, and Medicare beneficiaries. What is an ABN (Advance Beneficiary Notice)? An ABN, formally extended to Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) beneficiaries, precedes outpatient services like labs, imaging, physical therapy, or observation. […]
Denials within the realm of healthcare persist as a perpetual and escalating issue. By 2022, denials constituted over 11% of claims, posing a significant threat if left unaddressed, as they can severely compromise an institution’s financial well-being and prospects. The combination of outdated technology and manual processes exacerbates the burden on staff, time, and finances […]
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) within the healthcare revenue cycle play a vital role in monitoring financial well-being and optimizing revenue capture for providers. Understanding these metrics is crucial for healthcare organizations aiming to sustain access to high-quality, cost-effective care—an essential aspect of the evolving landscape of value-based care and healthcare consumerism. These KPIs offer critical […]
The 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, recently released by CMS, confirms the anticipated reduction in payments for physicians. The finalized conversion factor of $32.7442 represents a 3.4% decrease from the 2023 rates, which themselves saw a 2% reduction from 2022. In contrast, the Medicare Economic Index, a gauge of practice cost inflation, surged to 4.6%, […]
Despite the American Medical Association’s (AMA) strong protests regarding a 26 percent decrease in physician reimbursement from 2001 to 2023, it seems that these objections have not been heeded. On November 2, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced their final policy changes, which include significant reductions in reimbursement for the upcoming year. […]