Administrator of Southfield, Mich.-based Great Lakes Surgical Center Allison Stock, RN, JD, CASC, discusses the center's strategy for patient collections and where she sees payer trends headed in the future.
Ms. Stock will share her expertise as a speaker at the Becker's ASC 26th Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, Oct. 24-26, 2019 in Chicago. To learn more and register, click here. For more information about exhibitor and sponsor opportunities, contact Maura Jodoin at mjodoin@beckershealthcare.com.
Question: What is your ASC's strategy for patient collections?
Allison Stock: Our strategy for patient collections is to collect any co-pay or unmet deductible on date of service. We are very upfront with patients about this. It is stated in our facility brochure, which is given out in the surgeon's office. We call patients with amounts due 10 days, or two weeks, prior to their procedure. We have great success with this approach.
Q: How have you seen the increase in high deductible health plans impact your patients?
AS: I haven't noticed a big impact, but I have noticed that more patients have large deductibles and are paying a lot more out-of-pocket.
Q: Where is the biggest opportunity for strategic growth in the next nine to 12 months?
AS: The biggest opportunity for strategic growth is to be aware of what is going on in your center and your community. You must continuously be looking at your center's book of business and assessing what is viable. Procedures and specialties that were financially successful five years ago are mostly likely no longer successful. The market is constantly changing and reimbursement is ever evolving. To continue to be successful you must pay attention to your cases, costs and reimbursements.