RCM tip of the day: Understand the definitions behind the metrics

Metrics play a key role in helping hospitals and health systems receive an accurate assessment of their billing department.

Peter Angerhofer, a principal at Colburn Hill Group, an RCM operational solutions firm: Every patient accounting system and every hospital defines metrics in slightly different ways. Don't assume the figure means what you expect it to mean. Understand what goes into the number and what it means in context. Examples of this include: a stock discharged not final billed report might include accounts with lag, or only post lag; or accounts receivable or accounts receivable days calculations might be skewed by inclusion or exclusion of credits.

To learn more about key metrics to determine the health of a hospital billing department, 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.

 

More articles on healthcare finance:

North Philadelphia Health System files for bankruptcy
Health First sees operating income plunge 89% in FY 2016
OIG tags 2 Mississippi hospitals for incorrect billing

 

 

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.

 

Articles We Think You'll Like

 

Featured Whitepapers

Featured Webinars