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Newsletter Article

Sep 01 2020
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How to Build an Effective Work-From-Home Program

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Author: David Markaverich, VP, Strategic Accounts at Parallon In revenue cycle, we create “playbooks” for everything we do. Work-from-home is no exception–that’s why we’re providing best practices on how to keep an effective work-from-home program running for both employees and managers. In order to set up your team for success, provide the following equipment: LaptopMonitorsMouseKeyboardHead setPhoneWebcamOffice supplies We actually do not provide printers to our remote workers. Printing when necessary is done in a central location where there is staff to process the correspondence both inbound and outbound. We require a dedicated work space due to privacy laws and business practices. The space can be created by temporary barriers when the employee does not a room to have it permanently separated. Managing Work-from-home Employees: 5 Tips for Success Leading Set ground rules, have an open-door policy and always explain the ‘why’ behind the work you’re asking them to complete. Communication Communicate twice as much. Have a post-weekend check-in on Monday. Provide information proactively. Belonging Do not squeeze employees in between meetings. Care holistically about them. Host virtual team lunches. Listening Follow the three A’s to success: Be available.Be approachable.Be anxious to assist. Inclusion Publicly recognize contributions. Acknowledge milestones and celebrate holidays and anniversaries. Measuring Productivity and Other Performance Monitors People perform better when they are measured because it sets expectations and people know what productivity goals they need to hit. Be clear with your team and don’t be nitpicky; focus on what is truly important. Automate activity tracking as much…

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May 07 2020
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HFMA South Texas Gives Back!

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Our very own Paola Turchi, Certifications Chair and Director for 2020-2021, has been making masks to give back to the community.Any donations she receives are used to buy materials and cover shipping costs.Donations can be done via Venmo @paola-turchi (confirm 8940) If you are in need of a mask you can contact her via email sziapao@yahoo.com – Please know that it takes time as she is doing the masks on her free time. Paola stated that the masks “are not necessarily perfect, but they are made with lots of love”

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Oct 01 2019
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HFMA eLearning Portal

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We’d like you to participate in eLearning courses provided by Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). To do so, please follow these instructions: Step 1: Go to www.hfma.org If you already have an HFMA account, click Sign In and enter your username and password. If you do not have an HFMA account, click Sign up and enter your first name, last name, email address, password. Indicate that you are not a robot and click Sign up. Step 2: Click My eLearning in the dark menu at the top of the page. Step 3: Come back to this email and click here to be added to the learning portal. Step 4: I will receive an email notification when you have added yourself to the learning portal. You will also receive one. If you don’t, you may not have added yourself to the learning portal. Try steps 1-3 again after you watch this short video. Step 5: Once I have enrolled you in the course, you’ll receive an enrollment notification email from elearning@hfma.org to confirm that you’ve been enrolled. This email will provide instructions for accessing the course. You’ll have access to the course(s) for one year from the date of enrollment. Twelve months will go by quickly, so get started right away! If you encounter any technical difficulty with the course, please contact Maegan Bishop at mbishop@hfma.org. As a reminder: To access the course after you receive the enrollment notification email: Go to http://www.hfma.org/  Click Sign in (in the upper right corner of…

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Jul 20 2017
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Revenue Roundtable

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Bedside Procedures Charges – A lot of education and planning is involved when/ if a facility decides to capture bedside procedures, particularly when no additional net reimbursement is gained. Then why do it? New Code Updates for July 2017- Learn about the new laboratory, blood bank, surgery, clinic and pharmacy codes that must be implemented in July 2017. Is the chargemaster ready and staff prepared? Read more

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Apr 21 2017
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Booming Demand: How Urgent Care Centers are Impacting Hospital Operations

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The construction and use of urgent care centers in the health care industry has steadily increased over recent years. The growing popularity of urgent care centers presents an opportunity for hospitals to extend networks or expand partnerships in order to reach new clientele. Further, it offers an opportunity to enhance brand recognition in new and existing markets. According to the Urgent Care Association of America (UCAOA), urgent care dates back to the late 1970s and was created with the intention of meeting a community’s immediate health care needs. It was a slow but steady start for urgent care in the beginning, but the concept of seeing a physician without an appointment eventually began to gain popularity among patients. Over the past 20 years, the urgent care industry has continued to expand and earn the trust of those seeking a safe and affordable place to receive medical attention. Today, urgent care centers are physician-staffed and typically offer extended hours (evenings and weekends), providing quality care without the costs and wait times associated with the average emergency room (ER) visit. Urgent care centers are best suited for situations that require more immediate attention; often times, this serves to be more practical than seeing a primary care provider, who can be challenged with offering consumers the hours or immediacy an illness or accident can demand. Why the Increase in Popularity? There are various drivers behind the recent growth of urgent care. The UCAOA estimates that growth has been steady the last several years,…

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Apr 18 2017
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Medicare Certification Process – Setting the Stage for Success

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According to a 2015 Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) Report recently released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), “the denial rate for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) increased from 6.9% to 11% due to missing or incomplete certification/recertification.” A certification that the beneficiary requires daily skilled care that can only be provided in a SNF/swing bed setting is key to Medicare Part A coverage and claim approval. The SNF must obtain and retain the certification and recertification statements as Medicare Administrative Contractors or other Medicare contractors may request them as part of a medical review to determine if SNF services were reasonable and necessary. CMS does not require a specific format for the certification or recertification process but does have a list of requirements that need to be met for the resident’s stay to be deemed valid. The certification process is not the same as an order to admit to the SNF or an order for a skilled level of care. A separate statement indicating the resident will require on a daily basis SNF covered skilled care is required. The initial certification must be obtained at the time of admission, or as soon thereafter as reasonable and practicable. BKD recommends the physician certification be signed within the first two days of admission. Faxed signatures are acceptable. The initial certification must clearly indicate that; Skilled nursing or rehabilitation services are required on a daily basis, The services can only be provided in the SNF or swing bed hospital on…

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Apr 18 2017
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Embracing Change: Issues regarding the potential re-designation of Critical Access Hospitals to Free-standing Rural Emergency Centers

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While an estimated 19% of the US population lives in rural areas, 54% of all traffic fatalities occur in these geographic areas as opposed to urban areas1. For persons living in rural areas, a closed hospital means farther travel, even hours, for care. This is simply not an option for cardiac issues, workplace injuries, or automobile accidents. Today, critical access hospitals face a three-pronged challenge of high volumes of uninsured and underinsured patients, declining reimbursements from government payers, and a sharp decline in census for inpatient services. While Rural Health providers face continual challenges, the same cannot be said for the nation’s free-standing emergency departments than now number at over 500 sites. Most are affiliated with a large hospital system and serve as a feeder for patients needing inpatient care. Also, these EDs are usually located within 20 miles of a full-service hospital, typically located in more affluent suburban areas to target privately insured patients2. The same can be said of Urgent Care Centers that cherry-pick locations based on socio-economic factors such as rates of commercially insured residents. So, the prospect of a large for profit ED or Urgent care center opening in a rural community to compete with the local CAH is near non-existent. As a result, Critical Access Hospitals are the only option for persons seeking both emergency and urgent care. Nearly twenty years have passed since the Critical Access Hospital designation was created as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 in response to a string…

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