White Papers

Browse the library below to stay up-to-date on the latest industry topics.

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March 2009
A New Blueprint for Hospital/Physician Organizations
In this paper, we will investigate the different incentives that exist today for both hospitals and physicians and provide a new model for hospital/physician organizations to not only co-exist but to meet the market expectations of a quality, integrated delivery system. While there are risks in any new strategy, there are even greater risks for hospitals and physician groups that ignore the current healthcare market movements and relationship formation.

December 2008
Outsourcing, Enablement, Enlightenment
Revenue cycle management (RCM) for healthcare includes a series of complex processes: charge entry, claims production, payment processing, A/R management, self pay collections and reporting functions. Due to the growing complexity of the healthcare payment system, the difficulty in managing the revenue cycle is expected to increase in the foreseeable future. Faced with the higher cost of technology, what solutions can healthcare providers employ to combat these challenges?

June 2008
The ABCs of Claim Rejects: Causes, Identification, and Resolution
The new ABCs for the healthcare industry have promised better transparency and improved efficiency. Unfortunately, many, if not all of these acronyms (HIPAA, PQRI, NPI, etc.) have failed to meet those promises. The cost of implementing these programs has increased the cost of collection in a significant manner by generating a new and faster form of CPT denial called the Reject. Claim rejects are the result of these programs as well as the adverse impact of many states’ Clean Claims Legislation passed a few years ago.

May 2008
Convert Thyself
All conversions have historically been difficult due to the vast amount of training and number of individuals involved in the process. If a database is over five years old, you should consider a voluntary conversion disguised as an installation to drive a more efficient and cleaner collection process. The baptism of a voluntary conversion will make an evangelist of your abilities as a businessperson, healthcare executive and technologist. This type of conversion is your best friend to fight the challenges of the healthcare RCM process.

February 2008
Retooling Accounts Receivable Measurement
Since the abacus, accounting principles have been used to provide some level of a company’s financial performance. Many medical providers complain about various forms of calculations. One of these calculations, A/R days Outstanding, is considered to be the most effective. However, A/R Days Outstanding, like most metrics, needs consistency over time as well as a healthy balance of other complementary metrics.

January 2008
The Value of Correspondence Imaging
Paper correspondence is the critical portion of the revenue cycle process after the receipt of the claim by the payer. Based upon the continued fragmentation of payers, providers and consumer directed healthcare models, paper is not only a crucial component of future healthcare delivery but a growing one. The revenue cycle provides a real opportunity to manage the paper chase in terms of cost reduction and higher collection results.

December 2007
Is Your Practice R4R? (Ready for Retail)
There is no doubt that healthcare is moving toward a retail delivery model. While R4R is a new paradigm in healthcare, providers have been searching for alternative revenue streams for some time. Healthcare has been spawning closet retail businesses for decades with many providers dabbling in optical shops, elective surgeries, wellness programs and even medical supplements. Providers must begin taking steps toward a retail orientation to stay current with their competition.

November 2007
Healthcare Reform 2008, The Number One Issue: Cost of Collection
With healthcare reform as the number one domestic issue, many providers are wondering whether real change will occur and the impact it will deliver this time around. Regardless of the form the changes take, providers will be paid less with higher costs of delivery in the near future. The current reform effort is radically different. Instead of payer, physician or hospital consolidation, employers are demanding cost reductions as well as proof of quality of care improvement. But while most of the healthcare debate concerns quality of care, the number one issue might be the cost of collection.

November 2007
Does your CBO Need a Wellness Exam?
Today, with reductions in fee schedules, rising employee costs, increasing technology complexity and overall increases in the cost of collections, a medical provider cannot afford to wait until an urgent business office issue arises before taking action to identify and correct problems. Medical providers must revise their business review to include a set of clearly defined performance metrics that properly identify the symptoms of a “sick” CBO.

October 2007
Accounts Receivable Management: Task Management versus Denial Management
The accounts receivable management process is fraught with a toxic combination of inflexible technology, poor processes and lack of scale. In a perfect world, accounts receivable would require nothing more than collection—not management or process. MedSynergies can advise you on how to optimize the accounts receivable process and reduce the entire cycle time.

August 2007
Effectiveness versus Efficiency in Billing: Is your CBO a Krispy Kreme®?
Faced with increasing billing complexity and the voluminous documentation demands for a “clean claim”, medical providers are experiencing a growing need for additional accounts receivable management staff. The economics of a medical practice do not allow for increasing non-clinical staff. View how a medical practice can find ways to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of its non-clinical staff.

June 2007
Toward the Electronic Patient Record: A Review of the 23rd Annual TEPR Conference & Exhibition
The TEPR (Toward the Electronic Patient Record) conference held May 19-23, 2007 by the Medical Records Institute (MRI) was well attended and highly informative. View the summary of viewpoints shared concerning EMRs from the key players.

June 2007
The Roaring Nineties are Back! Physician Consolidation Round II
In the early and mid-nineties, companies like MedSynergies emerged from a consolidation of physicians facing rapid changes in their healthcare marketplace. See how the growing economic pressures that private practice physicians face are driving us back to the nineties.

May 2007
Credentialing: The Hidden Source of Non-Payment of Claims
Credentialing is a complex process that complicates initiating a new physician practice and participating in health plans. This esoteric method of determining a physician’s qualifications to practice in a specific market or with a health plan is a perfect example of a re-occurring problem with our health care system.

April 2007
Disaster Recovery: Beyond Tapes in your Briefcase
In 2001, MedSynergies underwent a Disaster Recovery analysis with an outside firm. We found key elements that have served as the backbone of our ongoing strategy. MedSynergies can advise you on your current recovery process.

March 2007
Insurance Benefits: Managing an Out-of-Network Experience
Coverage for in-network service vs. out-of-network service is becoming increasingly complex for both patients and physicians. See examples of tenuous situations that these issues can cause, including a personal story from the CEO, as well as advice on how to manage these issues.

January 2007
Electronic Medical and Health Record Implementation: Is the Time Now?
The movement towards an electronic medical record solution is on everyone’s mind. If you are unsure of your next steps or if you are already involved in a system selection process, MedSynergies can help.

January 2007
Health Reimbursement & Savings Accounts: Beware the Myth of the Silver Bullet
There have been many recent articles about HRAs and HSAs, including predictions on adoption and impact. MedSynergies has developed an overview of the trend as well as recommendations to address its impact such as better management of self-pay collections at the time of service.

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