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Patient access is generally the first encounter a patient will have with a healthcare organization, making it central to the patient experience. But this aspect of healthcare is also a major first for another area: revenue cycle management.
During the patient access process, revenue cycle teams have their chance to get medical billing and reimbursement right the first time around. For example, registration is an opportune time to obtain and verify a patient’s demographic and insurance information—important data points needed for accurate and complete reimbursement later.
Through patient access, revenue cycle teams can also clear patients financially for their scheduled services by verifying information and discussing and collecting upfront patient financial responsibility, such as copayments.
All these actions are foundational to optimal revenue cycle management, making it easier and faster to collect patient payments and payer reimbursement. But getting it right the first time is key, according to Sue Plank, director of patient access at Goshen Health.