Monroe County in New York is hiring an accounting firm to help settle $3.9 million in medical debt from uncollected Medicaid and insurance claims, according to City Newspaper.
The issue involves outstanding bills accumulated by Rochester, N.Y.-based Monroe Community Hospital. The county owns and operates MCH, a residential healthcare facility that provides long-term care.
County and hospital officials recently told county legislators that the county is hiring Buffalo, N.Y.-based firm Freed Maxick to tackle the debt, which grew due to the hospital switching EHR systems, and while the hospital's billing manager was on family leave, the paper reported. The firm has pledged to get back a third of the outstanding debt. All bills are more than 180 days past due.
County spokesperson Jesse Sleezer told City Newspaper the hospital typically has between $2 million and $2.5 million worth of unpaid bills more than 180 days old annually because the hospital treats patients with complex health needs, resulting in complex billing involving denials and follow-up from insurers. He said the county sought to hire a firm to collect claims after learning of an increase in unpaid bills following the EHR system transition.
Read the paper's full report here.
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