Maximizing Collections by Improving Revenue Efficiencies

The Challenge

Saint Luke’s Surgicenter, located in Lee’s Summit, MO, has been providing patients with high quality, individualized care since 2006. This multi-specialty, 60,000-square-foot outpatient facility sees in excess of 1,000 patients per month, and prides themselves on their advanced medical technology, highly qualified nursing staff, and a relaxed atmosphere with all the patient amenities.

Saint Luke’s Surgicenter – Lee’s Summit has long recognized the importance of patient financial counseling. Processes had been put in place to verify insurance, calculate cost shares and educate the patient prior to the date of service.

That process, however, was highly manual, inefficient and if mistakes were made or patients fell through the cracks they were at risk of losing revenue and upsetting the patient. Despite being a mature facility, Saint Luke’s Surgicenter – Lee’s Summit was also experiencing unprecedented growth. Greater stress was being placed on the business office staff and help was needed to improve workflow efficiency; estimation accuracy, communication and pre-collections efficacy; patient experience and employee satisfaction.

The Solution

To address these challenges, Saint Luke’s Surgicenter implemented HST’s patient estimates’s verification and estimation solutions. This integration streamlined the process of identifying non-covered procedures, out-of-network carriers, and demographic conflicts. The technology also reduced patient stress by clarifying their financial responsibilities upfront. Additionally, HST’s patient estimates’s dependable team maintained insurance contracts, ensuring a seamless operation.

The Results

The implementation of HST’s patient estimates led to a significant increase in upfront collections and a notable decrease in denials. The streamlined process not only improved financial outcomes but also enhanced the overall patient experience by reducing uncertainty and stress related to medical bills. The facility saw an overall improvement in workflow efficiency and employee satisfaction.

The Future

Looking ahead, Saint Luke’s Surgicenter plans to continue leveraging HST’s patient estimates to further enhance their revenue cycle efficiency. They aim to explore additional features and services to maintain their high standards of patient care and financial management. Continuous innovation and adaptation will be key to sustaining growth and meeting the evolving needs of their patients.