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1/18/2012 www.Kareo.com 1 Medical Billing Made EasyPresents Let’s Collect Deductibles Let’s Collect Deductibles in 2012: in 2012: Tips for Improving Tips for Improving Self Pay Collections Self Pay Collections Beginning now… www.Kareo.com Today’s Program Today’s Program Introduction Presentation: Sara Larch, MSHA, FACMPE Kareo Special Offer: © 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 3 Sponsored by Scott Cramer, Senior Sales Executive, Kareo Questions How to Participate Today How to Participate Today Arrow = Open/close your panel Questions = Submit text questions Sponsored by Follow-up email with video link within 24 hours

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Page 1: Let’s Collect Deductibles Tips for Improving Self Pay …gettingpaid.kareo.com/gettingpaid/wp-content/uploads/...1/18/2012 1 Medical Billing Made Easy Presents Let’s Collect Deductibles

1/18/2012

www.Kareo.com 1

Medical Billing Made Easy™

Presents

Let’s Collect Deductibles Let’s Collect Deductibles in 2012: in 2012:

Tips for Improving Tips for Improving Self Pay CollectionsSelf Pay Collections

Beginning now…

www.Kareo.com

Today’s ProgramToday’s Program

Introduction Presentation:

Sara Larch, MSHA, FACMPE Kareo Special Offer:

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 3

Sponsored by

Scott Cramer, Senior Sales Executive, Kareo Questions

How to Participate TodayHow to Participate Today

• Arrow = Open/close your panel

• Questions = Submit text questions

Sponsored by

Follow-up email with video link within 24 hours

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1/18/2012

www.Kareo.com 2

Medical Billing Made Easy™

Presents

Let’s Collect Deductibles Let’s Collect Deductibles in 2012: in 2012:

Tips for Improving Tips for Improving Self Pay Collections Self Pay Collections

Sara M. Larch, MSHA, FACMPE

www.businessofmedicine.com

Let’s Collect Deductibles Let’s Collect Deductibles in 2012: in 2012:

Tips for Improving Tips for Improving Self Pay CollectionsSelf Pay CollectionsSelf Pay CollectionsSelf Pay Collections

January 19, 2012Sara M. Larch, MSHA, FACMPEPrincipal, Business of Medicine

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

What the medical practice’s staff need to know Overview of patient collections Importance of patient communications Best practices in self pay collections at time of

service

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 7

Sponsored by

Managing cash flow in 2012 Q1 (Jan-Mar) Medical group education

Copyright 2012 Larch www.businessofmedicine.com

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What Your Staff Need to KnowWhat Your Staff Need to Know

Schedule meeting this week Time = $$ It is not just about the staff Must include physicians,

non-physician providers, nursing

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 8

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p y p , gpersonnel – everyone that works in your practice

Overview of Patient CollectionsOverview of Patient Collections

Why is this important? More self pay accounts in 2012 More self pay = deductibles (Patients selecting

high deductible plans) More deductibles due More patients are underinsured

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 9

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o e pat e ts a e u de su ed This creates more risk in your collection

performance Focus: manage deductibles and increase

revenue collected at time of service Do we know enough about our own patient

collections?

Patient has no insurance - confirmed

Patient states they have no insurance – do not want to use it for this encounter

Self pay after insurance

Patient charity care vs. patient bad debt

Patients aged 18-23 status often unclear

Largest balances include auto accidents & workers comp not billed to

What Is in Your “Patient Collections” What Is in Your “Patient Collections” Category or Account Type?Category or Account Type?

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 10

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p y Self pay – payment plan Self pay – bad address Self pay – pending

Medicaid Self pay – financial

hardship Mixture of indigent and

situational financial hardships

pappropriate party

Patients sitting in self pay that have insurance When you add insurance to

existing patient’s account, must review account to see if there are dates of service within effective dates

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What Percentage of What Percentage of Your Total Annual Revenue?Your Total Annual Revenue?

Patient Responsibility as % of Total Annual Revenue:

2007: 12%2011: 20%

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 11

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2011: 20%2012: 30% (forecast)

Source: “The ‘Retailish’ Future of Patient Collections” www.celent.com

Copyright 2012 Larch www.businessofmedicine.com

Industry Experts Say…Industry Experts Say…

20% of total AR – patient receivables (per HFMA Self Pay/Point of Collection Survey, 12/09).

% of Americans under age 65 out of pocket expenses for family exceeds $2,000/year =

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 12

Sponsored by

37% in 1996, 43% in 2003 1 in 5 families with employer based insurance

had deductibles greater than $5,000 in 2008. Collecting payments at registration leads to 80-

100% recovery – post service less than 40%.Source: www.ntelagent.com and Kaiser Family Foundation survey on health benefits unless noted otherwise.

Industry Experts Say… (Cont’d.)Industry Experts Say… (Cont’d.)

Practices can expect to only collect 50-70% after s/he is treated.(per McKinsey and Company)

65% of all patient bad debt is the result of insured patients, not uninsured

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 13

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p , Bad debt – 50% showed capacity to pay; 17%

could be evaluated for MA or charity careSource: www.ntelagent.com and Kaiser Family Foundation survey on health benefits unless noted otherwise.

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My Own “Self Pay” Journey Started in My Own “Self Pay” Journey Started in 20032003

Total A/R

Unadjudicated A/R (new)

Disputed Claims (Denied/Appeals)

Self-Pay Patient Financial Charity

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 14

Sponsored by

After Able to Hardship Care Insurance Pay (Partial Pay) Potential: 100% 100% 15-30% 0%

Borders are not currently known.

$14m or

20% of AR

Journey Continues in 03: HJourney Continues in 03: How Much Self ow Much Self Pay Do We Have? How Collectible Is It?Pay Do We Have? How Collectible Is It?

Annual Self Pay Charges $33m (annualized on Jul-Sep 03)- Transfers to Insurance $25.2m

+ Transfers from Insurance $27.2mNet Self Pay Charges $35m

CollectibilitySelf Pay After InsuranceCopays co insurance deductibles 100%

Based on FY03Q1Transfers by 2-03

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 15

Sponsored by

Copays, co insurance, deductibles 100% Elective services 100% Balances from commercial/no contract payors 50% Non-covered services 15-50% Insurance information invalid 15%

Self Pay - No Insurance Charity Care 0 Financial Hardship 15-30% Able to Pay 100%

Journey: How Many Self Pay Accounts Journey: How Many Self Pay Accounts and In What Dollar Ranges?and In What Dollar Ranges?

Account Dollar Ranges

# of Accounts

% of Total

Self Pay AR $'s

% of Total

>10,000 110 0% $1,236,510 9%

5,000-9,999 216 1% $1,646,136 12%

2,000-4,999 786 3% $3,152,646 23%

1,000-1,999 1,320 5% $2,321,880 17%

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 16

Sponsored by

1,000 1,999 1,320 5% $2,321,880 17%

500-999 2,155 7% $1,629,181 12%

250-499 3,249 11% $1,536,777 11%

100-249 6,506 22% $1,379,272 10%

50-99 3,996 14% $339,660 2%

10-49 10,880 37% $451,523 3%

Grand Total 29,218 $13,693,585

Look at this data in chart format

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How different would this chart look if you collected more at time of service?

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 17

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Which dollars could get more attention if time of service was at ‘best practice’?

Questions: Can You Answer These for Questions: Can You Answer These for YourYour Practice?Practice? What does it cost to send a patient a

statement? What percent of patients pay at time of

service? How much does your medical practice collect

annually at the time of service?

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 18

Sponsored by

annually at the time of service? How much could you collect annually at the

time of service? When will a patient receive a statement if they

don’t pay their copay or deductible? What percent of patients pay their self pay

balance when they’re billed after the visit?More…

Questions: Can You Answer These for Questions: Can You Answer These for YourYour Practice? (Cont’d.)Practice? (Cont’d.) What are the legal or contractual risks of not

making a good faith attempt to collect copays, coinsurance, and deductibles?

How much do you send to your collection agency? After how much time? What is their

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 19

Sponsored by

agency? After how much time? What is their recovery rate?

When is it smart to outsource some/all patient collections after time of service?

Few groups can answer these questions – need more focus on payment at time of service (PATOS)

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How to Motivate Patients to PayHow to Motivate Patients to Pay

Define potential consequences if

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 20

Sponsored by

Make it easy for patients to pay what they owe

consequences if they don’t pay

Patient CommunicationsPatient Communications“How to motivate patients to pay what they owe”“How to motivate patients to pay what they owe”

Pre-Visit: Patients want an appointment Most likely to pay prior balances

Time of Service: Patients don’t want to worry about paying doctor – worry about the clinical care

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 21

Sponsored by

Make copay and deductibles required prior to visit or reschedule visit

More…

Patient CommunicationsPatient Communications“How to motivate patients to pay what they owe”“How to motivate patients to pay what they owe”

Post-Visit: Patients happy to be well and not worried about paying doctor (worry about electric bill, buying groceries, etc.) until they need another appointment. Have to pay prior balances for another (non-

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 22

Sponsored by

emergent) appointment Report patients’ nonpayment to their insurance

company

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Patient Communication Tips & ToolsPatient Communication Tips & Tools

Patient Financial Policy Make it easy for patients to pay Communicate to patient over and over again “…as we outlined in our financial policy…” “..during your appointment phone call..”

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 23

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Patient CommunicationsPatient CommunicationsUsing the sign in sheet to remind patients Using the sign in sheet to remind patients that payment is expected.that payment is expected.

Daily Sign-in Sheet

Welcome to our Practice! Payment for Services is due in full today. Today’s Date: _______________________

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 24

Sponsored by

Please sign below: Payment Method Insurance/Home Address

Patient Name Arrival Time

Cash Check Credit Card

Has your patient information changed? (check “Y” or “N”)

Patient Financial PolicyPatient Financial Policy

Provide patients with a policy that includes: Explanation of payment related

terms: co insurance, copayments, deductibles Explanation of when the patient will

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 25

Sponsored by

Explanation of when the patient will be expected to pay List all the ways that patients can pay Give this document to all new patients

and annually to established/return patients and make available on practice’s website/patient portal

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Patient Policy at Time of ServicePatient Policy at Time of Service

Our office participates with a variety of insurance plans.

It is your responsibility to: Bring your insurance card at every visit. Be prepared to pay your copay at each visit. Payment can be

made by cash, check or credit card.

In the past:

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 26

Sponsored by

For medical care not covered under your insurance, payment in full is due at the time of visit.

If you have insurance that we do not participate in, our office is happy to file the claim upon request; however, payment in full is expected at time of service.

Financial assistance is available if you are unable to pay for necessary medical care. It is your responsibility to inform us prior to the visit.

Patient Policy at Time of ServicePatient Policy at Time of ServiceNow (with consequences):Our office participates with a variety of insurance plans.

It is your responsibility to: Bring your insurance card at every visit. Be prepared to pay at each visit. We will be collecting all copays,

deductibles, and coinsurance due. Payment can be made by cash, check or credit or debit card.

For medical care not covered under your insurance payment in full

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 27

Sponsored by

For medical care not covered under your insurance, payment in full is due at the time of visit before you will be seen by your provider.

If you have insurance that we do not participate in, our office is happy to file the claim upon request; however, payment in full is expected at time of service before you will be seen by your provider.

If you do not have insurance, payment in full is expected at the time of service before you will be seen by your provider. Financial assistance is available if you are unable to pay for necessary medical care. It is your responsibility to inform us prior to the visit.

Will Payment Plans Be Part of Your Policy?Will Payment Plans Be Part of Your Policy?Amount Amount Due Per Month Due Per Month –– Payment Payment ScheduleSchedule

Account Balance Standard Negotiated Time Allowance Supervisor Approval

Operative Range Preferred3 Months 4 Months 5 Months 6 Months

Minimum Acceptable

Calculated Months

$5 00 $24 99 F ll OK 0

Patients that are unable to pay their account balance in full at the time of service as a result of limited or no insurance coverage, and are not considered indigent, will be offered the opportunity to pay the balance in full within 90 days or in accordance with the payment plan below. This policy is not applicable to co-payments, which must be collected at time of service.

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 28

Sponsored by

$5.00 - $24.99 Full OK 0$25.00 - $50.00 Full $25.00 2$51.00 - $150.00 $50.00 $37.50 $30.00 $25.00 $25.00 6

$151.00 - $250.00 $83.33 $62.50 $50.00 $41.67 $35.00 7

$251.00 - $500.00 $166.67 $125.00 $100.00 $83.33 $60.00 8

$501.00 - $750.00 $250.00 $187.50 $150.00 $125.00 $90.00 8

$751.00 - $1,000.00 $333.33 $250.00 $200.00 $166.67 $125.00 8

$1,001.00 - $1,500.00 $500.00 $375.00 $300.00 $250.00 $175.00 8

$1,501.00 - $2,000.00 $666.67 $500.00 $400.00 $333.33 $200.00 10

$2,001.00 - $2,500.00 $833.33 $625.00 $500.00 $416.67 $250.00 10

>$2,500.00 Referral to Practice Manager 12

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Make It Easy for Patients to Pay:Make It Easy for Patients to Pay:

On the phone, before they arrive or after a visit

In the medical practice Online via the website/patient

portal

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 29

Sponsored by

p No paper or stamps and available

24 hrs/day Make it easy to pay All credit cards & debit cards Reduces costs of sending multiple

statements & posting check payments

Can You Really Collect More @TOS? Can You Really Collect More @TOS? Primary Care Case StudyPrimary Care Case Study Busy urban primary care office Payer mix included high percentage of Medicaid

and Medicare, moderate commercial/managed care, and high self pay

Reasons for self pay were very diverse

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 30

Sponsored by

Reasons for self pay were very diverse Collecting money at front desk was chaotic Very little collection at time of service Negative operating bottom line

Primary Care: New PolicyPrimary Care: New Policy Every patient pays at every visit. No more free

encounters. If you are not insured for today’s visit: We do not participate with your insurance company Medicaid pending (bring copy of application) Service you are receiving is not covered by your

insurance policy You do not have the required referral or authorization

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 31

Sponsored by

You do not have the required referral or authorization for today’s visit Etc., etc.

You must pay $75 to see one of our providers. If you do not have the money (cash, check,

credit card), go to an ATM and return to our office where you will be worked into the schedule.

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Implementation of New PolicyImplementation of New Policy Communication to patients New policy via flyer in office for 30 days (handed to

each person as they checked in) with effective date. Informed patients when they made appointments and

during appointment reminders. First day, 4 (out of 112) people came without

their money, 3 went to the ATM and came back,

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 32

Sponsored by

another rescheduled appointment for following day and returned with the money.

RESULTS: First Month: Practice was breaking even for the first

time! Zero patient complaints! End of First Year: Physicians were happy with the

financial performance and recruiting more physicians to join them

Best Practices in Self Pay @ TOSBest Practices in Self Pay @ TOS

Front End Strategies Financial Policy Excellent registration quality pre-visit Correct insurance information and verified with payor Screen for Medicaid/Medicare eligibility

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 33

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Financial clearance: must have ‘cleared’ the patient and confirmed financial status

Calculate patient estimate

More…

Best Practices in Self Pay @ TOSBest Practices in Self Pay @ TOS

Front End Strategies (Cont’d.) @ TOS Scan insurance cards to capture current copay and

deductible amounts Collecting pre-payments for procedures, surgeries, etc. If not contracted with insurance company, financial

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 34

Sponsored by

counselors negotiate with patient or plan, and collect 75% to 100% upfront

If patients are HDHP, consider collecting 75% of estimated visit costs

Billing fees $10 statement fee if copay not paid $15 late fee if not paid in 30 days

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If Patients Don’t Pay, If Patients Don’t Pay, What Is the Next ‘Best’ Strategy?What Is the Next ‘Best’ Strategy?

Date ____________Dear Patient,

We remind you that it is our policy to collect payment at the time of service. For your convenience,

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 35

Sponsored by

please use this addressed and stamped envelope to return your payment to us within three days. This will help us control rising costs by eliminating the need to mail you a bill.

Please remember to be prepared to pay your copay, deductible and prior balance the next time you visit. Thank you,

Cardiology practice results: 22% increase in copays in 2 weeks

Self Pay ReportsSelf Pay Reports

Do you have the reports you need to manage your patient collections?

Can your PMS identify/flag patients in HDHP’s? Recommended Reports: Daily Cash Collection Report

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 36

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Daily graph completed by collectors showing cash collected at time of service by collector and by practice location. Monthly report on PATOS (cash, bad debt, agency…)

Best Practices: Reduce Self Pay Best Practices: Reduce Self Pay Collection CostsCollection Costs Patient collections are labor intensive and

expensive Deductibles are the most difficult Invoices, letters, phone calls to individual patients rather

than insurance companies$17 50/ t (7 th i )

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 37

Sponsored by

$17.50/account (7 x more than insurance) Source: Tony Reisz, CEO, Ontario Series of front end and back end best practices:

• Proper front end patient segmentation is vital• Leverage technologies (dialers)• Align staff compensation with self pay goals• Allow patients to pay online or IVR (interactive voice

recognition)

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Best Practices: Self Pay A/RBest Practices: Self Pay A/R

Copays: average AR Days is 16 days Deductibles: 4 x longer than copays to collect

Source: www. Physicianspractice.com 50% overall patient responsibility goes

uncollected

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 38

Sponsored by

Source: Stampiglia, Tom. “Maintaining Profitability in the Era of Consumer-Directed Health Care.” Group Practice Journal. May 2009.

Vendors can offer accelerated collection strategies

Self Pay A/R: Let’s Agree on a Few Self Pay A/R: Let’s Agree on a Few ThingsThings

1. The older an account gets, the harder it is to collect2. There is a difference between a casual delinquency and a high-risk

debt3. Consistent and effective follow-up can be challenging & expensive4. Most practices would prefer to never have to use a collection agency

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 39

Sponsored by Source: Transworld Systems/GreenFlag Accelerator

Have You Optimized Your Patient A/R?Have You Optimized Your Patient A/R?

Most practices have a two step approach to collections:

Day 30 Day 60 Day 90 Day 120 Day 150

Statement ($1.10)

Statement ($1.10)

Statement ($1.10)

Letter #1 ($1.10)

Phone Calls ($2.96)

Statement ($1.10)

Letter #2 ($1.10)

Phone Calls ($2.96)

Statement ($1.10)

Letter #3 ($1.10)

Phone Calls ($2.96)

In-House Efforts

CollectionsDay 180 (approx)

Intensive telephone contact and/or legal action at a cost of 25 50% of recovered amounts

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 40

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Challenges with a Traditional, Two Step Approach: Patients know they owe, but don’t care Patients are less likely to respond as attempts continue

Intensive telephone contact and/or legal action at a cost of 25-50% of recovered amounts.

Total Cost: $17.68

Source: Transworld Systems and GreenFlag Accelerator

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Managing Your Cash Flow in Q1Managing Your Cash Flow in Q1

Increase patient communication about payment expectations

Set PATOS goals Reduce no pay encounters Based on prior year

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 41

Sponsored by

Based on potential collections Consistent with policies

Measure performance Self pay collections A/R

How Will You Set Your Daily PATOS How Will You Set Your Daily PATOS Goal?Goal?Is a 20% Increase Over Prior Year the Right Is a 20% Increase Over Prior Year the Right Target?Target?

Office Locations

2011 

PATOS

Avg Daily 

PATOS

Daily Goal 

2012

P i L i 1 $195 000 $774

2011 Visits

Visit 

Average

Daily 

Goal

26 460 $7

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 42

Sponsored by

Practice Location 1 $195,000 $774

Practice Location 2 $661,500 $2,625

Practice Location 3 $541,000 $2,147

Total $1,397,500 $5,546

26,460 $7

13,230 $50

26,460 $20

66,150 $21

Note: Can do this by office location or by collector.

PATOS: PATOS: What Could You Potentially Collect?What Could You Potentially Collect?

MD 1 MD 2 MD 3 MD 4

30 25 20 30 105

Total 7,560 6,300 5,040 7,560 26,460

15% MA 1,134 945 756 1,134 3,969 $0

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 43

Sponsored by

PATOS: Payment at time of service

85% Have to pay 6,426 5,355 4,284 6,426 22,491

15% Medicare 964 803 643 964 3,374 $111,330 1/3 @100

15% High ded 964 803 643 964 3,374 $278,326 2/3 @125

10% No Ins 643 536 428 643 2,249 $168,683 $75

5% Non covered 321 268 214 321 1,125 $56,228 $50

55% Copays 3,534 2,945 2,356 3,534 12,370 $247,401 $20

$861,968

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Manage Your Cash Flow:Manage Your Cash Flow:Impact of PATOS PoliciesImpact of PATOS Policies

PATOS Policy Decisions: Deductibles from Medicare patients: $111,330

From High Deductible insured patients: $278,326

From patients with no insurance: $168,683

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 44

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From patients with no insurance: $168,683

Collecting for non-covered services: $56,228

Collecting 100% of copays: $247,401

Managing Your Cash Flow:Managing Your Cash Flow:How Could We Impact This Chart ASAP?How Could We Impact This Chart ASAP?

Account Dollar Ranges

# of Accounts

% of Total

Self Pay AR $'s

% of Total

>10,000 110 0% $1,236,510 9%

5,000-9,999 216 1% $1,646,136 12%

2,000-4,999 786 3% $3,152,646 23%

1 000 1 999 1 320 5% $2 321 880 17%

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 45

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1,000-1,999 1,320 5% $2,321,880 17%

500-999 2,155 7% $1,629,181 12%

250-499 3,249 11% $1,536,777 11%

100-249 6,506 22% $1,379,272 10%

50-99 3,996 14% $339,660 2%

10-49 10,880 37% $451,523 3%

Grand Total 29,218 $13,693,585

73%of Accts in AR

Do it right the first time

What Your Practice Needs To KnowWhat Your Practice Needs To Know

Schedule meeting this week Time = $$ It is not just about the staff Must include physicians, non

physician providers, nursing

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 46

Sponsored by

p ys c a p o de s, u s gpersonnel – everyone that works in your practice

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Practice Training Practice Training ObjectivesObjectives

Understand and be able to explain the practice’s: Patient collection policies What each service (CPT) costs the

practice Be able to identify expected copay,

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 47

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y p p y,deductible and/or patient’s prior balance

Ask patients for payment in firm, tactful manner

Follow group’s cash collection policies

Medical Group TrainingMedical Group Training

Behavior Modeling Technique Tips and Technique Overcome Common Obstacles Create scripts Role Play

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Medical Group Training:Medical Group Training:High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP)High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) Become knowledgeable about the

major health plans in your area and whether they include high deductibles Research your payer contracts about

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collecting high deductibles

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Create Tools That Can Be Referenced Create Tools That Can Be Referenced Online: 2012 Medicare Deductible and Online: 2012 Medicare Deductible and Coinsurance Amounts Coinsurance Amounts

Part A: (pays for inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility, and some home health care) For each benefit period Medicare pays all covered costs except the Medicare Part A deductible (2012 = $1,156) during the first 60 days and coinsurance amounts for hospital stays

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y p ythat last beyond 60 days and no more than 150 days.

◦ For each benefit period you pay:• A total of $1,156 for a hospital stay of 1-60 days.• $289 per day for days 61-90 of a hospital stay.• $578 per day for days 91-150 of a hospital stay (Lifetime Reserve

Days).• All costs for each day beyond 150 days

More…

Create Tools That Can Be Referenced Create Tools That Can Be Referenced Online: 2012 Medicare Deductible and Online: 2012 Medicare Deductible and Coinsurance Amounts Coinsurance Amounts Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance

• $144.50 per day for days 21 through 100 each benefit period.Part B: (covers Medicare eligible physician services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment)

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• $140.00 per year. (Note: You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for services after you meet the $140.00 deductible.)

Additional information about Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance rates for 2012 is available in the October 27, 2011 Fact Sheet titled, “ Medicare Premiums and Deductibles for 2012” at www.cms.gov website.

Sample CashSample Cash--atat--TimeTime--of Service of Service ScriptsScriptsAsking for payment: “The amount due for today’s visit is $10.00 and you can pay that today by cash, check, credit or debit card.”

[This straightforward statement makes it difficult for the patient to respond any other way than how they will pay!]

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“The fee for today’s services is $200. As we explained, we do not participate with your insurance. You can handle payment by cash, check, credit or debit card.”

[State the full amount of the visit and acknowledge the fact that you know the patient was informed previously that their insurance was not accepted.”

Modified from: “The Physician Billing Process: 12 Potholes to Avoid in the Road to Getting Paid” by Walker Keegan, Woodcock, and Larch, published by MGMA, 2009

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Phrases To Use When Overcoming Phrases To Use When Overcoming ObstaclesObstaclesPatient can’t pay (for various reasons): Don’t say: “I want you to…”; “We require…”; “Our policy states…” Do say: “May I suggest payment by credit card, or do you have an ATM?”

“There is a convenient ATM machine around the corner.” “Okay, let’s see, today is Tuesday. How much time will you need

on the $200?”

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[the patient will probably respond by saying next week, when I get my paycheck, end of the month.” “Here is an envelope for you to mail your payment within three

days.”

NOTE: if collecting payment prior to the visit and the patient refuses to pay: “You can pay today with check or credit card, or we can reschedule your

visit.”More…

Phrases To Use When Overcoming Phrases To Use When Overcoming Obstacles (Cont’d.)Obstacles (Cont’d.)Patient: Bill me “I wish we could, but we need you to pay today.” “Your payment is due at time of visit. This was explained in

your insurance information, and we are required to collect the copay, your deductible and your coinsurance each time you see the doctor.”

© 2012 S. Larch | www.businessofmedicine.com 54

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y

Modified from: “The Physician Billing Process: 12 Potholes to Avoid in the Road to Getting Paid” by Walker Keegan, Woodcock, and Larch, published by MGMA, 2009

Self Pay Tools & TipsSelf Pay Tools & Tips

If not, why not? Incentive plans – rewards or promotions based

on ability to reach collection targets Targets based on potential collections For front end collectors

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For the whole team

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Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

What the medical practice’s staff need to know Overview of patient collections Importance of patient communications Best practices in self pay collections at time of

service

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Managing cash flow in 2012 Q1 (Jan-Mar) Medical group education

Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources

“The Physician Billing Process: 12 Potholes to Avoid in the Road to Getting Paid” by Walker Keegan, Woodcock, Larch, published by MGMA 2009. To purchase, go to www.mgma.com

Additional free articles/tools available at

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Business of Medicine, www.businessofmedicine.com. More advanced materials available in the Store.

Free e-newsletter by Sara Larch available at www.businessofmedicine.com.

Contact MeContact Me

Sara M. Larch, MSHA, FACMPEPrincipal, Business of Medicine

Email: [email protected]: www.businessofmedicine.com

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Website: www.businessofmedicine.com

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