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BUSINESS ADVISOR
with that option, our finance director makes the final determination of the minimum amount we can collect.
Firm but fair
Every surgical facility experiences patients that do not understand their personal financial responsibility and may even fight it. We understand that as the industry continues to change, so must we in our approach to billing and patient collections. However, we always want to maintain an attitude of respect and education, even in the face of a highly competitive marketplace. OSM
Ms. Massey (corriemassey@yahoo.com) is the director of the 20th Street Surgery Center in Santa Monica, Calif.
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COVER YOUR COSTS
Red Flag: Implants and High-Deductible Plans
One challenging scenario is a high-deductible plan for a
costly procedure — partic-
ularly one that involves implants. In this case, our policy is that the collected amount must at least cover the estimated costs of supplies and staffing. This ensures that in the event of a non-payment or low payment by the patient's insurance company, we've still covered our costs of the case. As a smaller facility, we simply can't afford to lose money on cases. Making our finance office staff aware of those case costs has improved collections efforts greatly.
— Corrie Massey, MHA
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