Safety-net hospitals and health systems face unique revenue cycle challenges, as they provide care for millions of vulnerable, uninsured patients burdened by economic hardship.
One such organization is Chicago-based Cook County Health and Hospitals System, the safety-net healthcare provider for residents of Cook County. More than 41 percent of the health system's patients have Medicaid coverage, and more than 37 percent are uninsured.
Doug Elwell, deputy CEO of finance and strategy at CCHHS: With the implementation of the ACA, many more patients now have health coverage and more options for care. This is extremely positive for our patients and the precise intent of healthcare reform. However, it comes at a price for safety-net providers as we must create a more robust revenue cycle process [for billing] to receive payment from a multitude of managed care organizations for the care we provide.
To learn more about how CCHHS navigates RCM as a safety-net provider, access this story from Becker's Hospital Review.
If you would like to share your RCM best practices, please email Kelly Gooch at kgooch@beckershealthcare.com to be featured in the "RCM tip of the day" series.