The following article is written by April Sackos, CASC, director of business operations for Meridian Surgical Partners.
The New Year is a great time to review your current processes and make the necessary adjustments. Here are eight worthwhile and achievable goals to set for 2012 for your ambulatory surgery center's business office.
1. Clearly define staff roles. Ensure that your staff members clearly understand their roles and expectations. Provide solid cross-training and the necessary tools for optimal job performance. Be consistent with staff meetings and set goals as a team.
2. Provide patient financial counseling. With the growth in high-deductible plans, centers must have a strong financial counseling process in place. It is very important to discuss benefits information with patients prior to their date of surgery and communicate their financial responsibility. If there is an amount due, make every effort to collect the amount prior to surgery. If the patient can't pay the full amount, offer several different methods for payment (e.g., personal credit cards, checks, debit card, healthcare credit card). If a payment plan is necessary, obtain a promissory note and verify there is a process in place to ensure accounts are paid as agreed.
3. Ensure efficient charge entry. Claims should be submitted 48-72 hours from the date of service.
4. Verify electronic claims submission. Verify that clean claims are being submitted in a timely manner and review your error reports.
5. Check for proper payment posting. When posting insurance payments, verify reimbursement is in line with your contracts.
6. Track and review denied claims. Track denied claims, analyze them and identify areas that need improvement. Educate staff on the payors' guidelines and timely filing requirements.
7. Develop a coding audit program. Developing a coding audit program (which is typically performed by a third party) will ensure you are meeting your compliance objectives, identifying areas of deficiency and serving as an educational tool for your coder.
A third party can help you determine how many accounts to audit and the frequency for your center, but typically, 2 -10 percent of charts annually is recommended.
8. Conduct scheduler to scheduler marketing. With decreased volumes, it is imperative that your scheduler is meeting the needs of your physicians' schedulers. Holding an annual scheduler's luncheon, as well as making regular on-site visits, is recommended. Some common questions to ask of physicians' schedulers are as follows:
- Is the center meeting the scheduler's expectations?
- Is the center meeting the surgeon's expectations?
- Are there payor issues?
- Is there anything the ASC could do to increase cases?
Learn more about Meridian Surgical Partners.
More Articles Featuring Meridian Surgical Partners:
8 Ways to Involve ASC Physicians in Physician Recruitment
Meridian Surgical Partners Announces Opening of New Spine-Focused ASC in Dallas
5 ASC Budget-Related Statistics to Track and Benchmark