Why Texas ASCs Are Moving to Outsourced Revenue Cycle Management

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Introduction: The Growing Financial Pressure on Texas ASCs Why Texas ASCs are moving to outsourced revenue cycle management has become one of the most important discussions in ambulatory surgery center operations. ASCs across Texas are facing rising administrative costs, increasing payer complexity, and growing pressure to improve financial performance while maintaining compliance. The ASC industry continues to expand because outpatient surgical procedures are more cost-effective and efficient than hospital-based care. However, the financial side of ASC operations has become significantly more complicated. Billing errors, denied claims, delayed reimbursements, and staffing shortages are reducing profitability for many centers. Without advanced ASC billing services and reliable medical billing services , surgery centers often struggle to maintain consistent cash flow. As a result, many Texas ASCs are shifting toward outsourced revenue cycle management to improve operational efficiency...

Basics of Medicare Consolidated Billing for SNFs


Need for Consolidated Billing for SNFs

Prior to the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA), a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) could elect to furnish services to a resident in a covered Part A stay, either, directly using its own resources; through the SNF's transfer agreement hospital; or under arrangements with an independent therapist (for physical, occupational, and speech therapy services). In each of these circumstances, the SNF billed Medicare Part A for the services.

However, the SNF also had the further option of ‘unbundling’ a service altogether; that is, the SNF could permit an outside supplier to furnish the service directly to the resident, and the outside supplier would submit a bill to Medicare Part B, without any involvement of the SNF itself.

This practice created several problems, including the following:

  • Potential for duplicate (Parts A/B) billing if both the SNF and outside supplier billed;
  • An increased out-of-pocket liability incurred by the beneficiary for the Part B deductible and coinsurance even if only the supplier billed; and
  • A dispersal of responsibility for resident care among various outside suppliers adversely affected quality (coordination of care) and program integrity

Then Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA), was enacted, containing a Consolidated Billing (CB) requirement for SNFs. Under the CB requirement, an SNF itself must submit all Medicare claims for the services that its residents receive. Conceptually, SNF CB resembles the bundling requirement for inpatient hospital services that's been in effect since the early 1980s, assigning to the facility itself the Medicare billing responsibility for virtually the entire package of services that a facility resident receives, except for certain services that are specifically excluded.

To get more information about Medicare Consolidated Billing for SNFs click here: https://bit.ly/3vmPAjQ. Get in touch with us at: info@medicalbillersandcoders.com/ 888-357-3226.

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