The Weekly RUSH - Minimizing Billing Delays

Software can save you time and money

Have you ever printed a claim and discovered the words “to be faxed” rather than the insurer’s name and address? Hmm, it seems that submitting the claim just got a little harder. How did the account get past insurance verification and financial counseling without anyone noticing? You have to wonder.

Challenge: Too often a procedure is scheduled without complete demographic, billing and/or insurance information on file. This is particularly common when a case is added via phone rather than through standard procedures. Incomplete cases can be difficult to track unless you develop a system to help you spot them.

Bottom-line: Most scheduling software programs make it easy for staff to differentiate between blocks (reserved time) and scheduled cases. Yet few use blocks to hold a time while awaiting a completed surgery request. Staff might have a mental block about using blocks or (dare we say it) they are simply skipping a step. It’s easy to see how a case gets scheduled without complete information. The real mystery is how it gets by the rest of the team!

Bang for the Buck: Using blocks to reserve time for cases added to the schedule over the phone or at the last minute can significantly reduce payment and collection issues. If the time is not confirmed, just check with the surgeon’s office before canceling it at the end of the day.

Check out – The RUSH GROUP and National Surgical Care Partner on Training and Employee Development at http://www.therushgroup.com/newsArticles.htm

RUSH U
Business School for Healthcare Professionals

Managing the Schedule is no easy task! Schedulers often have to juggle the needs of patients, doctors and the nursing staff – all while staying on top of the details needed to schedule a case. Getting your system down will get you into a groove and help you succeed no matter how many balls you’re juggling.

Check out the RUSH U Front Office Series for more on Managing the Schedule and other front office functions at http://www.therushgroup.com/frontOffice.htm.