Tag: patient access

Improving patient access is often a heavy lift for healthcare providers thanks to staffing shortages, lack of thorough staff training, inefficient processes and more. Experian Health's State of Patient Access 2024 survey found that curating accurate patient information also continues to be a challenge, which is the primary cause of denied claims for almost half (49%) of healthcare providers. Meanwhile, patients themselves are growing frustrated and are increasingly demanding better access. The same Experian Health survey revealed that patients want self-service, on-demand mobile scheduling, faster access to doctors and more digital channels for managing their healthcare. They also want more communication, faster service and easy-to-use digital platforms. After all, why shouldn't managing access to healthcare be as easy as booking a flight online? Here's a closer look at some of the key findings: 89% of patients want self-service scheduling 85% dislike manually filling out repetitive intake paperwork 96% want a cost estimate before their treatment Unfortunately, today's healthcare industry is often plagued by a highly complex interplay between people, processes, environment and technologies. Providers are hamstrung by outdated and siloed procedures. From laborious patient registration to by-hand claims processing, workarounds and manual tasks are inherent in their systems – making it challenging to fully meet patient needs. The new healthcare rally cry: Better patient access It's clear that an innovative response to revenue cycle management and patient access is needed, and needed soon. Providers have heard the message from patients - they want more self-serve access, like streamlined scheduling, on-demand service and user-friendly technology. That's where patient access software comes in. How patient access software benefits patients By leveraging modern digital tools, patient access software offers patients more speed, convenience and control over their healthcare experience. Patients now have 24/7 access to live online appointment scheduling, registration forms, test results, bill pay and more. Automated patient estimates provide clear, upfront information about the cost of medical services. Patients can also use this software to communicate with their providers. When patients feel more involved in their healthcare journey, outcomes tend to be better, too. Here's a closer look at how patient access software helps patients: Online patient scheduling offers self-service convenience and the flexibility to schedule from any digital device. Patients can reschedule or cancel appointments online. These tools eliminate the need for lengthy office phone calls and allow patients to book appointments at their convenience. Patient intake solutions create better registration experiences by allowing patients to complete registration forms anywhere and anytime. This makes check-in easier and faster. Better technology streamlines the patient experience by removing the frustration of repetitious, manual paperwork. An Experian Health study showed that patients spend an average of $675 a year on surprise medical bills, with nearly half spending more than they can afford, thanks to inaccurate estimates. Tools like Patient Financial Advisor can help patients get accurate out-of-pocket estimates, while providing them with personalized payment plans and the ability to pay bills online. What's in it for providers? Better patient access solutions offer healthcare providers countless benefits. In addition to fostering continuous engagement with patients, providers benefit from streamlined administrative processes, reduced appointment no-shows and optimized scheduling. Plus, facilitating better patient engagement and satisfaction tends to improve health outcomes and strengthen patient-provider relationships. Providers that leverage AI and automation also reduce the burden on overworked staff and enhance revenue cycle efficiency, eliminate error-prone manual entry and increase revenue. Here's how implementing patient access software helps healthcare providers: Automated insurance verification and eligibility tools eliminate the costly human errors that cause claim denials and payment delays. These platforms can verify a patient's insurance coverage and benefits in seconds, ensuring accurate reimbursements and lower bad debt. Electronic prior authorization solutions automate pre-authorization inquiries and lessen the volume of claim rejections. Pre-authorizations are one of the three most common reasons for reimbursement denials. Patient payment estimates provide clear, upfront information about the cost of medical services. These tools create a sense of accountability in patients who understand their financial responsibilities before receiving care. Automating this step at patient intake reduces the administrative burden on healthcare staff. It also increases the likelihood that providers get paid and sets the stage for more effective collections when needed. Improved patient access is a win-win, and better technology is at the heart of patient-centered healthcare. Patient access software is integral in enhancing the efficiency of healthcare delivery, improving patient satisfaction, and optimizing the revenue cycle for healthcare providers. These solutions encompass a variety of technologies and processes designed to facilitate better communication, streamline administrative tasks and ensure timely access to care. Experian Health offers a suite of patient access software that streamlines the entire patient journey from start to finish.  Contact us to learn how these solutions can help healthcare organizations reduce manual errors, decrease claim denials and improve patient experiences.  Patient Access Software Contact us

Health payers created the prior authorization system as a cost and quality control strategy, ensuring patients receive only the most necessary, evidence-based, cost-effective and quality care. Nevertheless, real-life implementation has shown that prior authorizations often backfire on their original intents, increasing overall care costs beyond what is necessary. It also delays patient care, contributes to physician burnout and hinders operational efficiency.  Additionally, dealing with the administrative workload associated with prior authorizations can be overwhelming, time-consuming and exhausting for providers and billing teams. The sheer volume of paperwork required to navigate the traditional prior authorization system can be exhausting, particularly given the current climate of staff shortages and constantly changing payer policies.   Read on to learn why prior authorizations are crucial to reimbursements and how healthcare organizations can streamline the process using electronic prior authorizations.  What are prior authorizations?   Prior authorizations, also known as preauthorizations, is a process that involves healthcare providers obtaining approval from a health plan for a service or prescription to be delivered to a patient. This approval ensures that the plan reimburses the cost of the service or prescription.   Prior authorizations involve a series of steps. First, healthcare providers confirm the patients' qualifications for the proposed treatment. Next, they determine whether prior authorization is required. If an authorization is necessary, providers must submit information detailing the patient's medical history and other administrative information. They also have to submit supporting documents to justify the necessity and appropriateness of the proposed treatment. If the submission meets the prior authorization criteria, the plan approves the request and reimburses the cost of care.  Payers develop prior authorization criteria drawing from medical guidelines, cost considerations, utilization data and other relevant information. However, according to an American Medical Association (AMA) survey, more than one in three providers claim that these rules are rarely or never evidence-based.  Why are prior authorizations required?  Payers created prior authorizations to ensure that the specific service delivered to the patient is medically necessary, appropriate and in line with evidence-based guidelines. It is a cost-and-quality control mechanism. It is set in place so patients only receive the best and most cost-effective care option, optimizing quality while controlling costs.   Prior authorizations have been suggested to help manage the cost of care and reduce healthcare spending. Payers employ prior authorizations to prevent the arbitrary prescription of expensive treatments and medications to patients without appropriate justification. For instance, a healthcare provider might prescribe a costly brand-name medication for which a generic and more cost-effective alternative exists.  The prior authorization requirements regulations also ensure that healthcare providers administer evidence-based care and prescribe FDA-approved medications. In cases of off-label use, the requirements help encourage providers only to prescribe treatments supported by high-quality scientific literature. These medications must also meet indications endorsed by recognized sources such as the American Hospital Formulary Service Drug Information (AHFS-DI).  Challenges with traditional prior authorization methods  For many providers, dealing with prior authorization is an endless journey of starting, completing and revising paperwork. This process presents administrative challenges, leading to a significant waste of time and resources. An AMA survey found that 86% of physicians have reported that prior authorization increased healthcare resource usage.   Healthcare providers frequently allocate a large portion of their daily schedules to addressing prior authorizations. This practice takes staff time and effort that could otherwise be dedicated to providing high-quality patient care. According to an AMA prior authorization survey, healthcare providers spend about 12 hours working on 43 prior authorizations weekly. Not to mention that over one in four providers report that these prior authorization requests often or always end up being denied.   These experiences with traditional prior authorization methods have severe consequences for healthcare providers. They lead to increased physician workload, burnout, and lost time and productivity.  For patients, the time required to process manual paperwork can be a frustrating roadblock to accessing timely care. A convoluted prior authorization process also adds extra hurdles to working with different healthcare specialists for patients with multiple chronic conditions. Consequently, processing prior authorizations through traditional methods could lead to delays in care and even treatment abandonment.   The impact on patient outcomes is also quite significant. According to the AMA, more than nine out of 10 doctors report negative effects due to prior authorizations.   Additionally, payer policies are constantly changing, compounding this issue. It's hard for providers to stay up-to-date and ensure submissions are accurate. These new changes are often unannounced, making it more likely for healthcare providers to make prior authorization requests based on outdated rules. As a result, many of these submissions are instantly rejected.   Challenges with traditional prior methods point to one fact: the need for a more efficient prior authorization system is evident and urgent.  Why healthcare providers should use electronic prior authorizations  Electronic prior authorization entails systems or solutions that streamline the process of obtaining approval for proposed medical procedures, services and medications to be delivered. These systems enable healthcare providers to initiate authorization requests electronically, eliminating the need for manual paperwork processing. They are designed to improve operational efficiency, reduce healthcare providers' administrative burden and ensure patients receive care as early as prescribed.   Alicia Pickett, Senior Product Manager at Experian Health, says, "As healthcare providers face increasing administrative demands, automating prior authorizations is no longer just an efficiency measure—it's a necessity. By streamlining this process, we enable providers to focus on what matters most: delivering timely, high-quality care to their patients."  Overall, electronic prior authorizations connect payers' objective of only remunerating high-quality, appropriate and cost-effective care and providers' aspiration to bypass excessive procedural prerequisites for reimbursement. They also help ensure patients enjoy seamless and timely healthcare encounters that culminate in favorable clinical outcomes.  The benefits of electronic prior authorization solutions  The traditional prior authorization workflow can be tedious, time-consuming and error-prone. Enter electronic prior authorizations. Its unique capabilities offer many advantages for hospitals, healthcare providers and patients.  Neeraj Joshi, Product Director at Experian Health, says, "The true value of electronic prior authorizations lies in its ability to remove barriers to care. By reducing approval times and minimizing paperwork, patients receive faster access to the treatments they need, ultimately leading to better outcomes and fewer delays in critical care."   Here are some benefits of using electronic solutions to address prior authorization hurdles.  Reduced administrative burden  Prior authorization can be lengthy and frustrating when healthcare providers have to gather, review and complete hundreds of pieces of paperwork weekly. Electronic prior authorizations accurately and efficiently take care of these burdens in a way that human efforts cannot replicate.   Improved operational efficiency  Electronic solutions for prior authorizations are a partner tool that helps hospital management allocate resources appropriately. They can also help reduce staff workload and workflow, even amidst staff shortages. By freeing healthcare providers and staff from the time-consuming task of handling prior authorization paperwork, they can focus more on enhancing patient experience, care and satisfaction. As a result, hospitals have a more productive, less stressed and efficient workforce.  Reduced claim denials  Errors in the prior authorization process are a leading cause of claim denials, particularly when hospitals use traditional methods. Electronic authorizations help reduce the risk of claim denials by ensuring accuracy and completeness at every step of the submission process.   Improved patient experience and outcomes  Traditional prior authorization methods lead to costly care delays and frustrating patient encounters with the healthcare system. On the other hand, electronic accelerates time to care delivery, reducing the likelihood of patients experiencing adverse effects.  Increased hospital financial resources  By automating the prior authorization stage, healthcare organizations can speed up the entire claims and revenue management process. This accelerated system also helps reduce claim denial rates and boosts reimbursement rates. As a result, cash flow improves, ultimately strengthening their financial standing.  Key features of prior authorization software  Experian Health's prior authorization software, Authorizations, is an integrated online service that automates the inquiry and facilitates the submission processes for prior authorizations. The system automatically fills in payer information, and users are only infrequently prompted to make inputs.  Key features of the prior authorization software include:  Knowledgebase: Authorizations can access real-time and up-to-date prior authorization requirements and criteria in the National Payer Rulesets.   Submissions support: The software guides users to the appropriate website and presents patient data in an efficient format so that users can create clean submissions.  Enhanced workflow: It works with dynamic work queues, which provide an instant view of the prior authorization status and guide users through any pending tasks.  Postback: Users can send information about authorization status to the health information system (HIS) and practice management systems (PMS).  Image storage: Images of payer responses can be received and stored securely in the software's integrated document imaging system.  Reconciliation: The software offers insights into and helps resolve authorization variances, allowing staff to take proactive steps to prevent denials and appeals.   Electronic prior authorization solutions are a valuable time- and resource-saving investment for stakeholders in hospital revenue management. According to the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare (CAQH), the healthcare industry could save around $494 million annually by using them. In addition, providers can save 11 minutes per prior authorization transaction with electronic solutions.  Additionally, electronic prior authorization software creates a win-win situation for healthcare providers and payers: Payers only release payments when necessary and hospitals get steady, adequate cash flow to meet the operational expenses of delivering quality care.   Find out how Experian Health's electronic prior authorization software, Authorizations, helps healthcare organizations achieve faster reimbursement rates.  Learn more Contact us

As economists offer up their best guesses for the US economy over the coming year, healthcare leaders know one thing for sure: no matter what happens, they need solid revenue cycle management (RCM) processes to remain financially sound and deliver high-quality care. Revenue cycle management connects the financial and clinical aspects of care by ensuring that providers are properly reimbursed for their services, through accurate and efficient billing and claims management processes. Keeping the financial scales tipped in the right direction is a growing challenge: data from the American Hospital Association shows that payer delays and denials are driving up operational costs while slowing revenue. Many providers are turning to artificial intelligence (AI), automation and data analytics to eliminate inefficiencies and maximize reimbursement. Factors that affect healthcare revenue cycle management While revenue cycle math is pretty simple – money in versus money out – the reality is more complex. A tight grip on delivery costs is just one part of the equation. Most RCM efforts center around determining who owes what and collating the necessary documentation to secure prompt payment from each party. A few factors to consider include: Are there reliable processes for capturing accurate patient information? How quickly can coverage and pre-authorizations be verified? Are claims and denials managed efficiently? How easy is it for patients to understand and pay their bills? Can RCM leaders monitor and analyze staff and agency performance? Changing payer policies, patients' financial status and data management demands add to the challenge. The goal of revenue cycle management To achieve the primary aim of getting reimbursed in full and on time, organizations must reduce billing errors, submit clean claims and refine operational efficiency so staff can stay laser-focused on high-value tasks. But it's important to look beyond the spreadsheets: selecting the right tools to deliver a transparent and compassionate patient experience will boost the bottom line, too. History and evolution of RCM RCM has shifted from largely paper-based processes to sophisticated software-based systems in just a few decades. Few could have imagined how those early healthcare information systems of the 1970s would evolve as electronic health records, standardized coding frameworks and digital data processing came to the fore. Changes in regulation and reimbursement models furthered the need for advanced analytics. And now, the rise of healthcare consumerism drives demand for the industry to open its digital front door. Organizations that commit to digital transformation will be in a stronger position to navigate today's RCM challenges and meet the needs of digitally native consumers. Relationship between patient experience and RCM Experian Health's recently published State of Patient Access Survey 2024 reveals the extent to which the patient experience affects revenue. Integrating patient-centered principles into RCM processes improves patient satisfaction, makes it easier for patients to understand and pay their bills, and leads to better financial performance overall. Steps in the healthcare revenue cycle A typical revenue cycle management workflow in healthcare follows the patient’s journey. Each touchpoint in the patient's journey is an opportunity to check that patients, payers and back-off teams have the information they need to expedite payment: Scheduling – When the patient books an appointment, administrative staff verify the patient's insurance eligibility. This is a chance to make sure pricing is transparent and give the patient an estimate for the cost of care. Registration – Next, the provider captures the patients' medical history, insurance coverage and other demographics. Correct patient information on the front end reduces the errors that cause rework in the back office. Prior authorization – Front-end staff check whether the patient's insurance provider requires prior authorization for the procedure or service they need. Skipping this step can lead to costly denials and rework. Treatment and follow-up – After treatment, the back office collates billable charges and assigns a medical billing code to the claim. Accuracy is paramount, as reworking claim rejections can drain resources. Claim submission – Then, the claim must be submitted to the payer. Accurate and timely submissions prevent rejections and reimbursement delays. If a claim is denied, it must be resubmitted as quickly as possible to avoid lost revenue. Collections – Once the payer approves the claim, the patient's out-of-pocket costs are calculated and billed. Providing a range of convenient payment methods will increase the likelihood of prompt payment. Regulatory and compliance considerations At each stage in the process, staff must stay mindful of the regulatory and compliance frameworks governing revenue cycle management. These are primarily patient-centered. For example, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) safeguards patient privacy and sensitive health information, while the No Surprises Act seeks to make pricing more transparent. Failure to adhere brings severe reputational and financial risks, as made painfully clear by recent headlines about the cost of cyberattacks within the industry. Common challenges in healthcare RCM For most providers, avoiding the cycle of claim denials and rework is the biggest challenge. A survey of 1300 hospitals found that denials by commercial payers had increased by 20.2%, while Medicare Advantage denials had increased by 55.7% between January 2022 and July 2023. Reliance on inefficient manual processes to track and monitor claims does little to help. A 2023 CAQH report shows that switching from manual to electronic claim status inquiries could reduce the time spent on each transaction by 17 minutes, saving the medical industry more than $3.2 billion overall. Providers are also collecting increasing sums from self-pay patients. Financial pressures and uncertainty around coverage mean many patients cannot fully cover their medical expenses. Improving their financial journey with accurate upfront estimates, clear and compassionate communications, and convenient payment methods will accelerate payments. Unfortunately, there's still some way to go: the State of Patient Access Survey 2024 found that 64% of patients had not received a cost estimate before care, and of those that did, 14% reported final costs that were much higher than expected. Financial impact analysis To track the financial effects of these challenges, healthcare organizations should identify key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned to their specific priorities. Conducting real-time monitoring and analysis of patient access, collections, claims and contract management metrics can flag up opportunities to prevent revenue leakage and maximize income. Read more about how to identify the right KPIs for your revenue cycle dashboard. 4 ways to improve revenue cycle management in healthcare When it comes to implementing specific revenue cycle management solutions, the following four tactics are likely to yield the greatest return on investment: Automate AccessA healthy revenue cycle begins with quick, accurate and efficient patient access systems. Automated, data-driven workflows reduce the errors that lead to denials and rework. Online scheduling allows patients to easily book appointments, while solutions like Patient Access Curator use AI to capture all patient data at registration with a single click. Increase collectionsMaximizing patient collections while fostering a positive patient experience can be a delicate balance. Patient access staff must be the patient's advocate, while ensuring the organization collects what’s owed. Giving patients upfront estimates of their financial responsibility and offering appropriate financial plans makes it as easy as possible for them to pay. Collections Optimization Manager allows providers to focus their efforts on the right accounts, through highly predictive patient segmentation. Streamline claimsAutomating claims management is another way to use technology to accelerate reimbursement. Claims management software verifies that each claim is coded properly before being submitted. Encounters can be processed in real-time with automatic alerts to flag any issues before the claim is submitted. Experian Health's flagship AI Advantage™ solution helps predict and prevent denials by checking claims before they are submitted and calculating the probability of denial. It evaluates and segments denials that occur based on the likelihood of reimbursement following resubmission, and prioritizes the work queue so staff make the best use of time. Increase reimbursementHealthcare organizations that don't stay current on payer policy and procedure changes risk payment delays and lost revenue. Providers and payers must be on the same page to quickly resolve mismatches between expected and actual reimbursement amounts. Automated payer policy and procedure change notifications help providers strengthen relationships with payers and avoid payment delays. How healthy is your revenue cycle? Our revenue cycle management checklist helps healthcare organizations catch inefficiencies and find opportunities to boost cash flow. Case studies See how automated revenue cycle solutions helped Stanford Health optimize their patient collections strategy. See how Schneck Medical Center prevents claim denials with AI AdvantageTM Hear how UC San Diego Health used automation to improve patient billing and drive collections. Getting the most out of revenue cycle management software These case studies demonstrate that a successful revenue management strategy has three essential ingredients: data, software and training. Experian Health's “Best in KLAS” revenue cycle management solutions are built on proven technology and proprietary databases, to help staff find new opportunities to bring in revenue. Experienced consultants are on hand to guide staff and ensure workflows are set up for the best results. The future of RCM Whatever the economic outlook, technology’s defining role in the future of revenue cycle management is undisputed. Payers are already leveraging AI to their advantage, and patients have come to expect convenient digital transactions—any providers that fail to embrace AI and automation-based RCM solutions will fall behind the competition. Learn more about how Experian Health's revenue cycle management solutions generate more revenue for healthcare organizations.

Could healthcare organizations be doing more to open their digital front door? According to a 2024 study by HIMSS researchers, hospitals that embrace digital technology see stronger patient experience outcomes. This aligns with Experian Health's most recent State of Patient Access (SOPA) survey, in which patients and providers agreed that patient access had improved thanks to digital technology. Adoption of digital health technology accelerated in response to COVID-19, as healthcare organizations sought to manage demand and facilitate “contactless” access to care. Telehealth, mobile apps and patient portals gave patients more control over their health while allowing providers to deliver more personalized and efficient care. With over half of healthcare providers and nearly a third of patients acknowledging improvements in access since before the pandemic, it's clear that offering more digital options is a powerful strategy to improve patient engagement and streamline access. Progress is encouraging, but there are always opportunities to do more. What is healthcare's digital front door? Healthcare's “digital front door” includes all the digital channels through which patients access care, such as websites, patient portals, mobile registration and payment apps, telehealth platforms and online scheduling tools. The goals are to create convenient and user-friendly entry points for patients to engage with their providers, use online tools to expand access, improve patient satisfaction, and increase operational efficiency. Why a digital front door is crucial for healthcare providers When asked why they believe patient access has improved since before the pandemic, the top four reasons given by patients all relate to scheduling and registration processes: Being able to see a doctor quickly (72% agreed) Checking in and registration (61% agreed) Scheduling appointments (58% agreed) Finding appointments that work with their schedule (57% agreed). In other words, patient access improves when providers open the digital front door. Alex Harwitz, VP, Digital Front Door, at Experian Health, explains that for providers, this equates to two major benefits: 1. Improves patient engagement Harwitz says that putting access in the hands of patients gives patients more flexibility and choice about how and when they book appointments, fill out registration forms and pay for care. “There's a growing demand for easy, accessible healthcare, and opening the digital front door is how we meet it. Digital tools use automation and data analytics to create a more personalized and convenient patient experience, making it easier for patients to remember appointments, adhere to treatment plans and manage their financial obligations,” he says. “That's huge for busy households. The to-do list just got a lot shorter, so it's easier for them to engage.” 2. Streamlines patient access A second key benefit is reducing friction and bloat in patient access workflows. Harwitz says, “By expanding their online offerings, providers not only make it easier for patients to see their doctor sooner, but they also reduce demand on front office staff. Self-service options, performance reporting and data insights allow providers to allocate resources more effectively. It’s about making sure everyone gets the right support at the right time, whether that's online or in the office.” Getting the patient journey off on a strong footing also pays dividends throughout the rest of the revenue cycle: with fewer errors and faster throughput, collections and claims management improve, too. Read more: How patient access technology is transforming the healthcare revenue cycle Key components of a digital front door As more providers offer online patient access, competition for the digital front door is increasing. With 60% of patients looking for more digital and mobile options to meet with providers, schedule appointments, and manage bills and payments, these would be smart areas to prioritize for a competitive advantage. Here's what that might look like: 1. Cut paperwork and calls with self-service scheduling and mobile registration It should come as no surprise that a vast majority of patients say they do not like repetitive paperwork. Online and mobile-enabled scheduling and registration reduce form-filling and lengthy calls. For example, Patient Schedule gives patients a platform to book, cancel and reschedule appointments with ease, anytime and anywhere. Appointments are matched to patients' needs so no slots are wasted and patients see their doctor sooner. Mobile registration increases bookings further. With Registration Accelerator, patients receive a text that prompts them to scan their identity and insurance cards, so they don't need to wait in line to fill out forms. Validating their data from the start also improves billing accuracy and reduces the risk of downstream denials. 2. Make it easier to pay for care Simplifying the financial experience is a major component in opening the digital front door. Patients are worried about the cost of care and say that having accurate price estimates before treatment helps them plan for bills. With Patient Payment Estimates, providers can give patients accurate, upfront estimates of their out-of-pocket costs, while tools like Patient Financial Clearance can help direct them to appropriate payment plans. It's also important to make the actual payment process as straightforward as possible. Accepting payments 24/7 from any device allows patients to pay promptly and helps providers avoid bad debt. Checklist: 5 patient-friendly billing practices to accelerate collections 3. Communicate clearly for a great first impression At its core, opening the digital front door is about creating a welcoming first impression for patients. Patients don't want confusing instructions or radio silence when they have questions. They want proactive, helpful and clear communications. One of the benefits of digital tools is having the data and automation capabilities to send patients timely and personalized messages and reminders using their preferred channels. They can also drive targeted outreach campaigns using text messages and interactive voice responses to encourage patients to book appointments and make payments. The future of healthcare's digital front door These are just a few examples of how providers can expand their digital offerings to make it easier for patients to access care. But what will the digital welcome mat look like in the future? Advances in artificial intelligence, digital apps and wearable tech will transform the way patients interact with their providers. Hockey-stick growth in data generation will make data security and interoperability non-negotiable. It's a big ask of providers. Partnering with an expert third-party vendor will help digitally forward organizations remain responsive and adaptable. Find out more about how Experian Health helps providers open their digital front door with mobile scheduling, registration and payments.

The fine line between getting paid what they're owed and delivering compassionate care puts patient collections among the top challenges for providers. Improvements to collections processes feature prominently in Experian Health's most recent State of Patient Access survey: 94% of providers pointed to the need for more accurate patient estimates, while equally many want faster, more comprehensive insights into what patients' insurance actually covers so they can make the billing process easier for everyone. The challenge is even starker when the patient's perspective is considered. More than four in ten patients are so worried about the bill that will later land on their doorstep that they’d avoid care altogether. Even those who have insurance are struggling: 53% of total bad debt write-offs in 2023 came from patients with some form of insurance. As healthcare becomes more expensive, insurance becomes more complex, and patients become more cost-conscious, providers must find ways to improve the patient collections processes. This article looks at how technology can bridge these competing demands. What are patient collections in healthcare? Patient collection processes cover all the steps involved in calculating, invoicing and obtaining payment for the amount the patient owes for their healthcare treatment. Figuring out the patient's financial responsibility starts when the patient registers for care and when the provider can check for active insurance coverage. Once verification and eligibility processes are complete and the provider knows how much of the total cost will be covered by an insurer (if any), they can estimate the patient's responsibility. The earlier this happens, the better. What makes the process so complex is the number of moving parts: Payer policies change regularly, and staff must keep up to date or there will be gaps and errors in claims submissions and patient estimates Healthcare costs are increasing, leaving providers with tighter margins and less room to maneuver Patients are increasingly worried about whether they can afford healthcare, as household bills continue to increase despite economic improvements Patients expect a wider range of payment options, with 72% of patients emphasizing the need for online and mobile payments to enhance their health experience. Billing staff cannot tell which patients are able and likely to pay due to insufficient data on patients' economic and credit history. Part of the problem for healthcare providers is that their systems are geared more toward traditional collections from government or private payers. Still, the average patient's responsibility is at an all-time high. For healthcare providers to increase the volume of revenues they collect from patients, they must invest in technologies that provide consumers with a frictionless payment experience. How can patient billing and collections be improved? One way to think about improving patient collections is to break it down into its parts: How to calculate and communicate more accurate, upfront estimates to patients How to figure out a patient's propensity to pay based on segmentation data How to compile and share clear and comprehensive bills and financial statements How to offer patients various digital and mobile options to make prompt payments. Advanced technology offers solutions for each step, while creating a seamless experience overall. In a recent byline, Clarissa Riggins, Chief Product Officer at Experian Health, says that manual systems can't cut it any longer: “It's time to move away from the notion of collections as a one-off, manual and labor-intensive process. Instead, let's view it as a part of an ecosystem that begins before patients receive treatment, starting with upfront, self-service payment options and early screening of patients for potential coverage. In this way, we can transform collections from a destination into a process—and perhaps, by doing so, we can even put our traditional collections departments out of business.” How does technology improve patient collections? Prompt and accurate patient estimates Almost nine in ten providers agree that providing accurate, up-front estimates improves patient collections success. Patient Payment Estimates give patients the expected cost of care ahead of time, so they're in a stronger position to plan – and providers get paid faster. Automated estimates increase revenue and help providers stay on the right side of compliance with rules and regulations. Analytics-based collections optimization When compiling accurate bills to patients and payers, providers have a wealth of technical options at their disposal. For example, Collections Optimization Manager uses in-depth data and advanced analytics so providers can identify patients most likely to pay and ensure patient accounts are handled most efficiently. Patients are segmented by propensity-to-pay scores based on behavioral, demographic and credit data. This supports tailored billing and collections strategies and improves financial outcomes by identifying patients most likely to pay and ensuring patient accounts are handled most efficiently. Case study: See how St Luke's University Health Network used Collections Optimization Manager to improve patient engagement and boost cash collections by 22%. Quick and convenient ways to pay Riggins says that improving payment processes is a significant step toward maximizing patient collections in healthcare. Previous research has shown that while credit and debit cards are the most popular payment methods, patients would use them less often if their preferred digital options were available. Providers should consider digital tools such as PaymentSafe® to offer patients fast, frictionless and secure payment options across multiple collection points, including interactive voice response, mobile, kiosks and patient portals. Automating patient outreach to increase collections Another use case for patient access technology is in facilitating direct and efficient communications with patients while reducing the workload for staff. Automated patient outreach tools such as PatientDial and PatientText send patients timely bill reminders and self-pay options via voice or text message to increase collections without the need for agent interaction. These tools bring more dollars in the door while reducing operational costs: PatientDial helped Experian Health's clients collect over $50 million in one year via automated call campaigns, saving many thousands of labor hours compared to manual outreach. Personalizing payment plans for every individual From the patient's point of view, a winning strategy calls for transparency and personalized support. Creating a collections process that accommodates patients' individual circumstances will increase revenue while improving the patient's financial experience. For example, Patient Financial Clearance analyzes each patient's financial situation and creates a personalized payment path that fits their needs. It screens self-pay patients to identify those who need extra support and reroutes them to the proper channels. Where relevant, providers can then offer the option to pay in more affordable installments or connect the patient to financial assistance programs. Together, these tools improve collections by streamlining how patients pay – and how providers get paid. Maximize patient collections with Experian Health Walking the patient collections tightrope demands that providers take bold action and experiment with new approaches. That might feel risky when the stakes are so high, but working with a trusted vendor with experience in delivering leading patient collections solutions should ease concerns. Experian Health's suite of collections management and secure, reliable payment solutions integrate easily with existing systems and processes for a seamless end-to-end collections experience. Contact us today to learn more about maximizing patient collections in healthcare with Experian Health's leading collections management technology.

Maintaining a healthy cash flow is the only way to deliver quality patient care, invest in state-of-the-art technologies and keep daily operations running smoothly. But that's easier said than done: data errors, delayed payments, denials and staffing disruptions leave providers vulnerable to escalating admin costs and revenue leakage, with little left over to reinvest. By adopting a few key revenue cycle management (RCM) strategies, providers can sidestep these challenges and bring in more dollars. This guide summarizes five revenue cycle management best practices healthcare leaders should follow to optimize RCM workflows and promote financial stability. Key challenges in revenue cycle management Common issues that can get in the way of a healthy revenue flow include: Inaccurate patient data leading to coding errors, claim denials and billing delays Increasing numbers of denied claims generate costly rework and wasted time Payer compliance issues that are constantly changing and time-consuming to monitor Growing numbers of self-pay patients struggling to pay their bills Labor shortages increase pressure on staff and leave the door open to sub-par performance Inadequate data insights hindering management's ability to spot opportunities for improvement Rapid technological changes leave providers on the back foot if they fail to keep pace with new developments. The dream scenario would be to avoid all these potential obstacles before they do too much damage. In reality, providers will need to choose a few priority areas to troubleshoot. Check out this guide to choosing the right key performance indicators for your revenue cycle dashboard to ensure the effective implementation of RCM strategies. Revenue cycle management best practices What does a successful revenue cycle look like? For busy RCM leaders, deciding what to tackle first can be overwhelming. While there's no one-size-fits-all RCM strategy, there are a few key issues that all organizations must pay attention to. Here are five areas of best practice to factor in: 1. Streamline patient registration and insurance verification Accurate patient data is the number one factor in building a robust revenue cycle. It doesn't matter how efficient claims management and collections processes are if the data they use is flawed. Automated registration and verification tools reduce the chances of manual errors entering the system to ensure correct billing, reduce denials, and speed up reimbursement. One pitfall to watch out for is the fact that some digital tools still require staff to check multiple payer websites and data repositories to verify insurance eligibility. Experian Health's latest patient access solution, Patient Access Curator, avoids this by using AI-driven technology to collect and verify patient information with a single click. 2. Automate claims submission and management According to Experian Health's State of Claims 2022 report, 62% of providers feel they lack the necessary data and analytics to identify issues in claims submission processes. A similar number believe the absence of automation prevents improvement. The CAQH Index backs this up, with the latest estimates suggesting the healthcare industry could save $18.3 billion by switching to electronic transactions. As with patient intake, there's an opportunity to leverage automation in claims management to prevent errors and delays so the organization gets paid faster. Experian Health's claims management products—ranked #1 in 2024 surveys by both KLAS and Black Book—automate each step of the claims workflow so providers can submit clean claims quickly and cut the need for time-consuming manual work. 3. Optimize denials management and appeals with AI Despite best efforts, claims denials remain a burden for many RCM teams. However, proactively understanding and addressing the root causes can help keep denials under control. There's an opportunity to go a step beyond automation and see how artificial intelligence and machine learning can help combat the denials challenge. AI AdvantageTM evaluates individual claims in real time to flag those with a high likelihood of denials based on historical payment data, so staff can intervene quickly before submission. Denials are then triaged using advanced algorithms so staff can focus on reworking denials with the greatest chance of payment, rather than wasting time on those that are never going to be approved. Eric Eckhart, Director of Patient Financial Services at Community Medical Centers in California, says that since implementing AI Advantage, “Now I have almost a whole week a month of staff time back, and I can put that on other things. I can pull that back from outsourcing to other follow-up vendors and bring that in-house and save money. The savings have snowballed. That's really been the biggest financial impact.” Watch the webinar: Hear how Community Medical Centers and Schneck Medical Center are using AI AdvantageTM to prevent and triage denials. 4. Choose the right technology and tools for enhanced RCM The three previous revenue cycle management best practices emphasize the importance of selecting the right tools for the task. Two things to look out for when adopting a new RCM product are how well it integrates with existing tools and systems, and whether it offers meaningful insights to drive ongoing improvements. Experian Health's integrated RCM solutions are designed to fit together seamlessly, often allowing staff to view information from multiple workflows within the same dashboard. By bringing together metrics such as financial performance, billing efficiency and collections rates into one place, these tools help staff make strategic decisions about resource allocation and operational improvements. 5. Keep up with regulatory compliance Finally, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements cannot be overlooked. The reputational and financial risks are too great. Regular training for staff on compliance issues and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of government and payer requirements will minimize the risk of penalties. Choosing RCM tools that automatically check for relevant updates can help providers stay current. Price transparency is a topical example. While the Hospital Price Transparency Rule is designed to help healthcare consumers understand healthcare costs and make more informed decisions about their care, implementation has proven tricky for providers. With the right technology and third-party support, it's much easier to stay compliant. Watch the webinar: See how Experian Health and Cleverley & Associates have partnered to help healthcare organizations navigate price transparency in 2024. Looking for more insights into revenue cycle management best practices? Contact Experian Health today to discover how our RCM solutions can transform your revenue cycle and increase cash flow year over year. Revenue cycle management solutions Contact us

While the healthcare industry remains hesitant about automation, there's one area where digital tools have already proven their worth: patient intake. According to Experian Health's State of Patient Access survey, almost 90% of patients say they welcome digital patient registration, reflecting the growing demand for efficiency and convenience. Staff frustration with mounting paperwork and poorly coordinated manual systems also points to an urgent need for a better way of working. The case for switching from traditional to digital patient intake systems is pretty compelling, even before factoring in potential cost savings. For providers still taking a “wait-and-see” approach, it may be worth considering how digital patient intake could address some of the most common challenges associated with traditional registration methods, such as the following: 1. Online registration can prevent missed opportunities for patient bookings Patients' number one patient access challenge is seeing their doctor quickly. Too many are stopped in their tracks by slow and inflexible intake processes. Inconvenient booking protocols – often requiring phone calls during limited office hours – deter patents, resulting in sluggish scheduling rates and avoidable gaps in physician calendars. Moreover, traditional systems that treat scheduling and registration as two distinct activities miss the chance to accelerate intake because patients have to fill out the same information multiple times. Digital patient intake streamlines scheduling and registration so patients can book and manage appointments anytime, anywhere. With a mobile-first automated platform, patients can provide essential demographic and insurance information at the point of booking, and fill out remaining registration forms whenever it suits with a single click. When intake is easy, bookings increase. 2. Digital patient access can reduce high no-show rates Quick and convenient intake addresses the related challenge of no-shows, which lead to underutilization of services and delayed patient care. If canceling or rescheduling an appointment is easy, patients are more likely to make that little bit of effort to click the link instead of simply not turning up. With accurate patient data coming in at the start, providers can send automated appointment reminders and tailored messages to coordinate follow-ups, so patients are less likely to forget appointments or misremember referral instructions. 3. Digital patient intake can prevent payment delays and claim denials Inefficient registration means patient information passes through multiple hands, resulting in data entry errors that trickle through the revenue cycle. In a recent Q&A, Barb Terry, Product Manager for Registration Accelerator at Experian Health, talked about the importance of ensuring accurate data from the start: “Waiting until the patient's appointment to collect insurance information doesn’t give providers much time to verify insurance, or to determine the patient’s financial responsibility for copays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses… In previous surveys, 40% of providers have said registration errors are a primary cause of denied claims. Obtaining patient registration data before the appointment helps to ensure revenue cycle processes flow efficiently to reduce denials and financial risks.” With Registration Accelerator, patients receive a text to scan their identity and insurance cards, validating the data in real-time and automatically uploading it into eCare NEXT®. Experian Health's Eligibility Verification and Registration QA tools can then use the same verified data, reducing the risk of manual errors that lead to claim denials. 4. Reduce patient stress caused by unclear costs One of the clearest messages from patients in this year's State of Patient Access survey is the need for upfront, transparent information about costs. A disappointing 64% of patients did not get price estimates before care, and of those that did 14% said their estimates were inaccurate. It's extremely challenging for staff to compile all the data points necessary to calculate patient responsibility using traditional systems. Digital tools that automate patient data capture, insurance eligibility verification, coverage discovery and prior authorizations provide financial clarity quickly and accurately, giving patients peace of mind and reducing the burden on staff. By improving the patient billing and payment experience, providers can reduce financial stress for patients and get paid more promptly. 5. Digital patient intake reduces high operational costs and poor use of staff time Traditional registration systems are full of hidden costs, from the hefty price tags associated with paper forms, storage and printing to the time required of admin staff. These expenses are compounded over time by revenue leakage caused by errors in claim submissions and scheduling delays. Staffing shortages mean many providers simply don't have the human power to handle these challenges using manual systems alone. Again, automation comes out on top. Registration Accelerator eliminates the need to scan, fax and file forms and automatically handles patient check-ins, form returns and demographic updates. It is one of a suite of tools that feed into eCare NEXT®, automating up to 80% of the pre-registration process. Anthony Meyers, Director of Patient Access at West Tennessee Healthcare, explains how his team used Registration Accelerator to manage staffing shortages without compromising the patient experience: “We can't train somebody just for them to leave in three months [...] so we looked for digital solutions to help. It's frustrating for patients not to be able to talk to a real person, so I don't ever want to take the personal touch out of healthcare [...] But if we can use technology to make us work faster, harder, smarter and not do things manually, then we've got to do it. And it doesn't mean staff will lose their jobs: we reposition them to do other things to enhance the patient experience.” A digital helping hand for faster, smarter, more accurate patient intake As patient intake challenges continue to grow, digital patient intake stands out as a practical and proven solution to streamline access to care and stabilize cash flow. With Registration Accelerator, staff can focus on critical tasks that drive revenue and make a positive first impression on patients who are looking for a convenient and compassionate healthcare experience. Find out more about how Registration Accelerator expedites patient intake and solves the operational and financial challenges that come with traditional systems. Learn more Contact us

Patients increasingly expect convenience and efficiency in all aspects of their lives, including healthcare. A study by Experian Health shows that 89% want the ability to schedule appointments anytime via online or mobile tools. The same survey showed providers are listening, with 63% offering self-scheduling and another 16% planning to go live with these tools in six months. That's good news for everyone, and not just because patients say they want more digital tools to manage their healthcare. Online scheduling addresses patient expectations by offering a range of benefits that traditional scheduling methods cannot match. However, these benefits aren't just for patients; healthcare providers that deploy online patient scheduling software experience four impressive benefits with a direct impact on their revenue cycle. What is online patient scheduling software? Online patient scheduling software is a digital tool designed to facilitate the appointment booking process for healthcare providers and their patients. This patient access technology replaces traditional over-the-phone scheduling methods with an efficient and user-friendly online system. The key features of patient digital scheduling platforms include: 24/7 appointment booking: Patients can schedule appointments at any time, day or night, providing flexibility and convenience that traditional methods cannot offer. Automated reminders: The software sends automatic reminders via email or SMS to reduce the likelihood of missed appointments. Real-time availability: Patients can view and select available time slots in real-time, ensuring they can find appointments that fit their schedules. Calendar integration: The software integrates with the provider's existing calendar systems to ensure that all appointments are accurately tracked and managed. Customizable scheduling: Healthcare providers can customize the software to reflect their specific scheduling rules, such as appointment types, durations, and provider availability. Manual scheduling frustrates patients and providers. Online patient scheduling allows patients to regain control while increasing their engagement in managing their health. Why do patients prefer online scheduling? Patients want online scheduling software because it aligns with their desire for convenience, efficiency, and control over their healthcare experience. One of the primary reasons to use online scheduling software is its round-the-clock availability. Patients can book appointments without office-hour restrictions. Online scheduling software allows patients to select time slots best suited to their schedules, minimizing the time spent waiting on hold during phone calls or in busy waiting rooms. Patients can easily see and compare availability, making planning their visits easier around personal and professional commitments. It also makes canceling or rescheduling appointments less of a hassle. One common issue patients face is forgetting about their appointments. Online scheduling software often includes automated reminders and confirmations via email or SMS, helping patients remember their upcoming visits. Some patients may also feel uncomfortable discussing their medical issues over the phone or in person at the front desk. Online scheduling offers a more private and discreet way to book appointments, allowing patients to select services without disclosing personal information to multiple people. Bringing digital efficiencies to healthcare scheduling leads to a more positive patient experience. One study showed that 28% of patients say care access has improved over the past year, even as more providers adopt these new technologies. But it's not just patients who benefit from online patient scheduling software. There are plenty of incentives for healthcare providers to adopt these tools. Healthcare providers benefit from online patient scheduling By adopting this technology, healthcare providers can streamline operations, improve patient satisfaction, and ultimately deliver higher-quality care. Experian Health offers online patient scheduling software that meets the needs of patients while benefiting providers. For example, Indiana University Health (IU Health) deployed the software across 16 hospitals and the largest network of physicians in the state. The organization leveraged the solution to increase patient volumes with minimal staff training, improving patient utilization by 114% within the first year. Today, four employees can handle patient scheduling for up to eight service lines. An unexpected benefit was the increase in referral management; the software enabled 600 monthly referral appointments, helping to generate new revenue for the system. These results are typical; most providers find the benefits of online patient scheduling software include: Reduced staff training time Improves the scheduling process for patients and providers Decreases patient no-shows Increases patient volumes and revenue Speeds up staff training One of the most significant challenges in any healthcare setting is training new staff quickly and effectively. Getting new staff up to speed rapidly is essential when severe staffing shortages are the norm. Experian Health's online patient scheduling software simplifies training. Its user-friendly interface and intuitive design reduce the learning curve for new employees to about an hour. The software provides guided workflows and real-time assistance, translating to less time spent on training and more time focused on patient care. Streamlines scheduling time Traditional scheduling methods can be time-consuming and prone to errors; 62% of providers say chronic staffing shortages exacerbate the problem. Online scheduling streamlines the entire process, cutting scheduling time in half over traditional methods. By allowing patients to book appointments online, the software reduces the back-and-forth communication typically required for scheduling. Automated reminders and confirmations ensure efficient appointment management. The calendar integration feature allows real-time updates and availability checks, providing a convenient booking process that enhances the patient experience. Improves patient no-show rates Patient no-shows can be a significant issue for healthcare providers, leading to lost revenue and wasted time. Experian Health's online scheduling software tackles this problem head-on. The software includes automated email or SMS appointment reminders, significantly reducing the likelihood of patients forgetting their appointments. Additionally, the ease of rescheduling allows patients to adjust their appointments without the hassle, further decreasing no-show rates. By keeping patients informed and engaged, the software helps ensure they attend their scheduled appointments, improving the clinic's efficiency and patient satisfaction. Josh Brown, Program Manager for Provider Match at IU Health, stated, “We've seen a reduction in no-shows and an increase in patient engagement. By leveraging technology and data analysis, the guided scheduling platform has helped deliver better care more efficiently and effectively.” Increases patient volumes and revenue Online patient scheduling directly contributes to increased patient volumes by improving scheduling efficiency and reducing no-show rates. More patients can schedule in less time, and the reduction in no-shows means fewer appointment slots go unused. The convenience of online scheduling can attract new patients who prefer digital interactions over traditional phone calls. These benefits lead to higher patient volumes and increased revenue for the healthcare practice. Today's digitally-savvy healthcare consumers require a different approach to scheduling services. Online patient scheduling offers them the convenience of DIY appointment setting and has some surprising benefits for healthcare providers, too, making these solutions a win for everyone. Ready to make the move to online scheduling? Contact Experian Health to get started! Improve patient scheduling Contact us

According to Experian Health's State of Patient Access Survey 2024, eight in ten healthcare providers plan to invest in patient access improvements soon. As they weigh up the pros and cons of different solutions, many will focus on two key areas: making scheduling and registration easier for patients, and streamlining financial processes to boost their profitability. This blog post examines how automated patient access solutions can help providers meet patient expectations and operational demands. Survey snapshot: what do patients want? Experian Health's annual State of Patient Access surveys are useful pulse checks on patient perceptions. What do patients find challenging about accessing care? Where are they bumping up against unnecessary friction? The 2024 survey offers a promising outlook: 28% of patients report improvements in access in the last year, up from just 17% in 2023. Still, there is room for improvement: patients' biggest challenge – seeing a practitioner quickly – has topped the list for the last four years. Other significant challenges include understanding the cost of care and scheduling appointments. The State of Patient Access 2024 survey examines the perspectives from patients and providers on their perceptions of access to healthcare. Download now One key takeaway from the survey is the role of digital technology. Both patients and providers find complex, repetitive and inefficient processes to be the most problematic aspects of patient access – ideal targets for digital tools. Indeed, patients specifically express a desire for online health management tools, while more than half of providers attribute improvements in patient access to automated processes. There's a solid business case for investing in digital patient access solutions to ensure that patients see their doctors quickly and providers get paid without delay. Patient access solutions can open the digital front door with online scheduling and registration The first area where providers may consider investing in digital tools is in the patient's first interactions with their facility. When patients can schedule appointments quickly and complete registration without boring and repetitive paperwork, they're more likely to report a positive patient experience. Survey data backs this up: 89% of patients say the ability to schedule appointments any time, via online or mobile tools, is important to them 89% of patients say digital or paperless pre-registration is important to them. Online self-scheduling gives patients 24/7 access to book, cancel, and reschedule appointments from any device. Based on scheduling rules, they're shown the earliest suitable appointment, which means they'll see their doctor as soon as possible. Patients can be sent automated reminders of upcoming appointments and health checks, which means show rates and health outcomes will be better. It also drastically reduces call volumes so staff can focus on other priorities. Similarly, digital registration lets patients avoid the most dreaded part of patient intake: filling out lengthy forms in the waiting room. Automated registration also ensures that patients (specifically their data) are correctly entered into the system, preventing downstream delays. With text-to-mobile registration, patients are sent a text message prompting them to scan their identity and insurance cards, which are then uploaded and validated against existing records. Securing correct information from the start lays the groundwork for the patient's healthcare experience and the provider's revenue cycle. Interestingly, despite patient demand, self-scheduling and registration did not make the cut for providers' top three priorities. This suggests an untapped opportunity for providers that choose to invest here. Anthony Myers, Director of Patient Access at West Tennessee Healthcare, shares how their organization worked with Experian Health to accelerate and improve the registration process with Registration Accelerator. Watch now Patient access solutions can streamline insurance, eligibility and estimates A second opportunity lies in automating the patient access processes involved in revenue generation and claims submission. The revenue cycle is full of hidden costs for both patients and providers, often resulting from intake inefficiencies. Patients end up with bills that are higher than expected, while providers fall foul of changing payer requirements around prior authorizations and insurance eligibility verification, resulting in lost revenue. Improving upfront pricing estimates and clarifying insurance coverage ranked among the most urgent priorities for both groups in the survey. A few patient access solutions that can help here include: Patient estimates: When patients know in advance how much their care will cost, they can plan better. Web-based and mobile-enabled price transparency tools generate accurate estimates based on chargemaster data, claims history, patient insurance details and payer contract terms, and even account for payment plans and prompt-pay discounts. This improves the patient experience and increases collection rates while easing the burden on staff. Insurance eligibility verification: Manual processes for verifying active coverage are time-consuming and error-prone, causing staff burnout and patient confusion. Automating insurance verification checks at the time of service gives everyone greater certainty and prevents payment delays and claim denials. Personalized payment plans: By using their own data, along with third-party datasets, providers can leverage automation to offer alternative payment plans to patients who cannot pay the full amount right away. For example, PatientSimple® assesses each patient's propensity to pay and recommends the optimal financial plan that works for the patient's unique circumstances. Patients can check estimates and compare pricing plans on the self-service portal, giving them more control over their bills. These options promote financial sustainability by quickly identifying how much should be paid by which party and establishing processes to collect those amounts with minimal fuss. With ongoing staffing shortages, these time-saving tools are crucial for workforce resilience. Integrate patient access solutions with Patient Access Curator While providers may prioritize one of the above areas, the two are complementary: efficient scheduling and registration lead to better patient flow and accurate data collection, accelerating insurance and eligibility verification. This is more likely with an integrated “tech stack” across the whole patient access workflow. However, integration is a challenge for many providers. Nearly a quarter report that their biggest challenge in patient access is wrangling the multitude of tools needed to run pre-registration checks and gather the information necessary for claim submissions. Experian Health's newest patient access solution addresses this challenge by bringing together multiple insurance-related queries together into a single inquiry. With one click, Patient Access Curator automatically captures all relevant patient insurance data in less than 30 seconds. This includes: Eligibility verification, including billable secondary and tertiary coverage, chaining and primacy Coordination of Benefits, analyzing payer responses in real-time using AI to ensure no active insurance is missed Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers, using AI, automation and analytics to check and correct patient identifiers Patient demographics, using in-memory analytics and proprietary algorithms to ensure contact details are current Insurance discovery, for records marked as self-pay or unbillable, PAC automates additional coverage searches With over $1 billion saved in prevented denials by clients using Patient Access Curator, it's clear that investing in digital technology is a cost-effective way to address current challenges in patient access. By increasing capacity and reducing errors and delays, these tools not only enhance financial performance, but give providers a head start when it comes to delivering an outstanding patient experience. Learn more about how Experian Health's patient access solutions accelerate access to care and streamline revenue generation from the start.