This week, the Healthcare Financial Management Association and the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals released new best practices for medical debt collection.
The best practices aim to help hospital and health system leaders approach a sensitive issue — resolving patient financial obligations before, during and after the patient visits a hospital or clinic.
According to Joe Fifer, president and CEO of HFMA, the best practices "provide a much-needed blueprint for hospitals, physicians and our partners in account resolution to coordinate their activities in ways that respect and benefit patients."
A steering committee developed the best practices. Three health system CFOs were members of the committee:
• Aaron Crane, CFO and chief strategy officer of Salem (Ore.) Health.
• Patricia Keel, CFO of Good Shepherd Health System in Longview, Texas.
• Bert Zimmerli, executive vice president and CFO of Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City.
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Why Transparency Wins the Day: Insights From St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center CFO Meredith Price
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