Hospital Access Management – February 1, 2003
February 1, 2003
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Everyone involved in the revenue cycle is an important part of the process
Whether your hospital has embraced the methodology associated with the term revenue cycle management, chances are youve heard the words bandied about. Certainly the crucial importance of accurate and efficient front-end operations to a health care providers bottom line is emphasized whenever there is a gathering of health care industry leaders. -
Committee seeks ways to enhance hospital revenue
When Donna Madlener agreed to lead the Revenue Enhancement Committee for the James Cancer Hospital, which is part of The Ohio State University Health System (OSUHS) in Columbus, she signed on for a unique experience that went to the heart of such issues as financial responsibility and internal customer service. -
Career Paths: Veteran access pro segues into revenue management
Several years ago, when The Ohio State University Health System (OSUHS) decided to convert from its homegrown computer system to a commercial product, Joe Denney, CHAM, who was then director of patient access and financial services, was given a choice between two career options. -
‘Pricing sensitivity’ one way to optimize hospital revenue
One of the concepts Joe Denney, CHAM, has become familiar with in his position as director of revenue management at The Ohio State University Health System (OSUHS) in Columbus is something called pricing sensitivity, he says. -
Guest Column: Arbitration viable option for handling payer denials
In October 2002, HCA in Nashville, TN, won an $8.8 million arbitration decision against Humana Medical Plan Inc. of Florida for the late payment or nonpayment of 3,300 patient accounts at 16 hospitals in Florida. HCA alleged that Humana paid hospital bills for patients in its HMO, preferred provider, Medicaid, and Medicare health plans as much as one year late, and that its hospitals sometimes had to rebill the insurer three or four times to receive reimbursement. -
‘STAR’ is first award honoring access staff
The University Hospital of Arkansas in Little Rock has instituted its first recognition program aimed specifically at access personnel, says Holly Jones, revenue integrity specialist and a member of the committee that selects the winner. -
News Briefs
HHS: 450,000 health workers may get vaccine; Outlier payment scrutiny to be increased, CMS says; Hospitals can offer free rides despite gift limits; HHS offers guidance on HIPAA privacy rule; HAM offers more with HIPAA insert. -
HIPAA Regulatory Alert: HIPAA privacy guidance seeks to maximize voluntary enforcement
In December 2002, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) released an extensive guidance outlining various aspects of the privacy portion of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). That follows a recent decision by HHS to place OCR in charge of enforcing HIPAAs privacy mandates. -
HIPAA Regulatory Alert: HHS outlines major changes in privacy
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has said for months that HIPAA would continue to be a work in progress. The agency proved that again last month when it added a new section to the guidance on public health disclosures and another on workers compensation disclosures. -
HIPAA Regulatory Alert: How to deal with family members under HIPAA
One of the many challenges facing providers under HIPAA, particularly in the context of oncology, cardiac surgery, and OB/GYN services, involves health care services provided to a family member. -
HIPAA Regulatory Alert: How to deal with minors under HIPAA
One of the problems facing providers under HIPAA will be how to deal with minors, including newborns. -
HIPAA Regulatory Alert: Survey finds major progress toward HIPAA compliance
According to a survey just released by the Minneapolis-based Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA), the health care industry is continuing to take the necessary steps to ensure compliance with sweeping changes required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). -
HIPAA Regulatory Alert: Confidentiality may involve sticky legal, ethical issues
When it comes to confidentiality issues, health care professionals often walk a tightrope, Mindy Owen, RN, CRRN, CCM, asserts. -
HIPAA Regulatory Alert: White Paper addresses DM, HIPAA concerns
A comprehensive analysis of HIPAA and its impact on disease management has concluded that the new privacy regulations will not hamper disease management programs, according to the Disease Management Association of America (DMAA) in Washington, DC. -
HIPAA Regulatory Alert: Feds offer database for record disclosures
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has created a Privacy Accountability Database to aid in tracking, reporting, and accounting the disclosures made from all CMS systems of records permitted by the Privacy Act of 1974 and HIPAA. -
HIPAA Regulatory Alert: Web site answers FAQs about HIPAA
A Frequently Asked Questions document about the HIPAA privacy rule is posted on the Department of Health and Human Services web site.