Our accuracy within AHIQA across all registrations is running around 88%. This is then translating into a billing system clean claim rate of 84%, up from 62% 18 months ago. This translates into 2 less billers (out of 7 initially).
It has also lead to a reduction in the AR over 90 days from 38% to 20% this month! As bills go out cleaner, fewer get denied and therefore the collectors have fewer rejections/denials to work. The AR over 90 days dropped $8 million for us out of a total gross AR that runs around $98 million. We’ve collected more cash in 2005 with no more FTEs in a year in which the health system’s revenues and volumes were up. We are now looking to redeploy some of the collectors into other areas as they are not needed in insurance follow-up.
We have also been able to use the AHIQA accuracy percentages to form the basis of an incentive based pay system for the patient access staff. Average pay out was $123 for fourth quarter out of a possible $200. HR loves the quantitative method of determining the payout.