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360 Degrees of Revenue Cycle Management Process

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Mastering Compliance: Implementing Real-Time Medical Documentation

Author: Krupa Joy

 

Revenue cycle management is the financial procedure that healthcare institutions employ to keep track of all the services provided to patients. It involves understanding and controlling the cash flow, customer payments, and billing cycles to maximize profits. In recent years, revenue cycle management has become increasingly complex due to the introduction of data-driven solutions and processes requiring detailed analysis. This article will take a 360-degree view of the modern revenue cycle management process, the complete cycle. We’ll discuss best practices for efficient operations and maximizing profitability at every step of the process.

What Is Revenue Cycle Management Process?

Revenue cycle management (RCM) is a comprehensive process that healthcare organizations use to track patient care episodes from appointment to the final payment. The goal of RCM is to optimize cash flow and reduce the cost of billing and collections.

The first step in RCM is patient registration, which includes verifying insurance coverage and collecting demographic information. Once registered, the patient is seen by a provider and receives care. The provider documents the services rendered and sends a claim to the payer, an insurance company, Medicare, or Medicaid.

The payer processes the claim and determines how much they will reimburse the provider. The provider then bills the patient for any remaining balance owed. The final step in RCM is collecting payment from the patient.

Healthcare organizations can use many different software systems to automate and improve their revenue cycle management process. By investing in RCM software, organizations can improve their cash flow, increase efficiencies, and reduce costs.

The 360-Degree View of Revenue Cycle Management:

In any business, the revenue cycle is the process that begins with the initial contact with a customer or client and ends when the final payment is received. Revenue cycle management (RCM) is the strategic oversight and coordination of these key activities to optimize cash flow and profitability. The cycle begins with the initial contact with a patient and ends when the organization has received payment for all services provided. There are a number of steps in the revenue cycle, and each one is important in ensuring that the organization is able to receive payment for the services it provides.

The revenue cycle can be divided into six main phases:

  1. Lead Generation and Prospecting: Lead generation and prospecting is the process of finding and acquiring new customers for a business. In revenue cycle management, this process is used to identify and collect payments from new patients. In business, lead generation and prospecting is the process of finding and acquiring new customers. This can be done through various methods, such as advertising, networking, or cold calling.
  1. Sales and Contracting: Sales and contracting in revenue cycle management refers to generating new business and entering into contracts with customers to provide goods or services. This process can involve various activities, such as sales and contract revenue cycle management, which is the process of working with insurance companies and other payers to get reimbursement for services provided. This process includes negotiating rates and submitting claims for payment. marketing and sales operations, contract negotiations, and order fulfillment.
  1. Service Delivery or Fulfillment: Includes steps ranging from delivery, processing, and feedback of the services provided. This can be done through a patient payment tracking system, which can help ensure that all the services are processed in a timely manner.
  1. Billing and Collections: Billing is submitting and tracking reimbursement claims from insurance companies and other payers. Revenue cycle management (RCM) is the broader process of managing the financial aspects of a healthcare organization. In order to improve the efficiency of the revenue cycle management process, it is important to have a well-defined and well-organized system for tracking and managing patient payments.
  1. Denials: Effective denial management is key to minimizing the impact of denials on the organization’s revenue cycle. This includes developing a process for identifying and resolving denials and tracking and reporting on denials data.
  1. Appeals: There are a few different types of appeals that can be made in the revenue cycle management process. These include appeals of denials, appeals of coverage decisions, and appeals of payment decisions. There are a few different types of appeals that can be made in the revenue cycle management process. The first is an appeal of a denial of payment. The second is an appeal of a determination of medical necessity. The third is an appeal of a determination of coverage. The fourth is an appeal for a determination of the payment amount. The fifth is an appeal of a determination of eligibility.

Each of these phases has its own distinct set of activities, but there is significant overlap and integration between them. For example, billing can’t begin until services have been delivered, but sales and contracting efforts may need to take place concurrently with service delivery in order to land new business. The goal of RCM is to manage these activities to maximize revenue while minimizing cost and risk.

There are many different ways to approach RCM, but one framework that is often used is the “360-degree view of revenue cycle management” This model considers all aspects of the revenue cycle, from lead generation through collections, and looks at how they interact with each other. By taking a holistic view of the revenue cycle, businesses can identify areas where improvements can be made that will positively impact overall performance.

Why is RCM Important?

There are several key reasons why RCM is important for healthcare organizations. First, it can help to ensure that accurate patient data is collected from the point of care through to billing and collections. This includes information such as insurance details, diagnosis, and treatment codes. This data is then used to generate claims submitted to payers for reimbursement.

RCM can also help to streamline the revenue cycle by automating key tasks and improving communication between different departments within the organization. This can lead to faster claim processing and fewer errors, resulting in increased revenues for the organization. Additionally, RCM can help identify areas where cost savings can be achieved, such as through negotiating better contracts with payers or improving coding accuracy rates.

Stages of RCM:

Revenue cycle management (RCM) is the process by which healthcare organizations manage patient financial information and related revenue. The goal of RCM is to optimize both patient satisfaction and organizational profitability.

There are four main stages in the revenue cycle management process:

  1. Takeaway
  2. Charge Capture
  3. Claims Management
  4. Revenue Recovery

The first stage in the revenue cycle management process is “takeaway.” In this stage, patient financial information is collected from a variety of sources, including registration forms, insurance cards, and doctor’s orders. This information is then used to generate an estimate of the patient’s financial responsibility for their care. The estimate is then communicated to the patient prior to their care being rendered.

The second stage in the revenue cycle management process is “charge capture.” In this stage, all of the services provided to the patient are coded and billed correctly. This includes ensuring that all services are correctly documented, that proper coding conventions are followed, and that any required authorizations or pre-certifications have been obtained.

The third stage in the revenue cycle management process is “claims management.” In this stage, claims are submitted to payers for reimbursement. This includes verifying that claims meet all requirements for submission, following up on unpaid or denied claims, and appealing any denied claims.

The fourth and final stage in the revenue cycle management process is “revenue recovery.” In this stage, organizations work to collect any outstanding patient balances. This includes sending out statements for balances due, setting up payment plans, and working with collection agencies if necessary.

What are the factors affecting RCM IN Healthcare?

There are a variety of factors that can affect the revenue cycle management (RCM) process. One of the most important factors is the payer mix. The payer mix is the percentage of patients with different types of insurance coverage. For example, if a practice has a high percentage of patients with Medicare coverage, then the RCM process will be different than if the practice has a high percentage of patients with private insurance coverage.

Other important factors that can affect RCM include:

-The type of practice (primary care vs. specialty care)

-The geographic location of the practice

-The size of the practice (number of providers and staff)

-Whether or not the practice uses electronic health records (EHRs)

Value-Based Care with Revenue Cycle Management:

Value-based care (VBC) is a type of healthcare delivery model that focuses on providing care that results in improved health outcomes for patients. VBC reimbursement models reward providers for achieving quality benchmarks rather than for the number of services delivered. The integration of RCM and VBC can help healthcare organizations improve their financial performance while improving the quality of care they provide. In this model, providers are reimbursed based on the quality of care they provide rather than the number of services rendered. The two concepts are closely related, as value-based care requires an effective revenue cycle management process to succeed. An effective RCM process can help healthcare organizations generate more revenue while providing quality patient care. In order to achieve these goals, healthcare organizations must have a detailed understanding of both revenue cycle management and value-based care.

When RCM and VBC are aligned, providers are incentivized to focus on both quality and cost efficiency. This can lead to better patient outcomes and lower overall healthcare costs.

Conclusion:

Understanding the 360 degrees of the revenue cycle management process is essential for any successful healthcare organization. Organizations can minimize costs by taking a holistic approach to managing the revenue cycle while generating maximum reimbursement and ensuring patient satisfaction. With proper monitoring and oversight, healthcare systems can ensure compliance with evolving regulatory requirements and optimize their financial performance within an ever-changing landscape.

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Sources:

  • Manley R, Satiani B. Revenue cycle management. Journal of vascular surgery. 2009 Nov 1;50(5):1232-8.
  • Rauscher S. Revenue cycle management in the US hospital industry (Doctoral dissertation, University of Michigan).
  • Jewell B. Revenue Cycle Management. The Business Basics of Building and Managing a Healthcare Practice. 2020:19-29.

 

 

 

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