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EthiCare's unique Charge Assurance System for Hospitals (CASH)® tool enables our clients to load up to one year's worth of patient account information onto our Internet-based HIPAA-compliant secure server, let CASH run through over 1,000 charging algorithms, and be able to download a CASH report detailing specific possible unbilled charges. The service is entirely budget-neutral and risk free. Only after CASH findings are verified, billed, and the money collected is EthiCare paid a small percentage of the cash actually received. CASH findings ensure that our hospital clients are charging appropriately and accurately for all services rendered, no more and no less. In so doing, CASH reports can also be used in conjunction with most hospital's balance score cards. Best of all, CASH is made avaliable on a per-access basis, with no need for any short- or long-term service and/or maintencance contracts. If you find that CASH is able to generate significant recoverable lost charges and are satisfied with the service EthiCare's Internet-based solution provides, you are free to choose whether or not to utilize the CASH server again. The only "investment" you have using CASH is extracting the needed patient account and other charge and coding information from your patient accounting systems.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Can I stop using the online CASH service anytime I want?
Yes, you can stop anytime you would like. You are under NO obligation to continue the service. Once the initial contract to utilize the online CASH tool is signed, you can conveniently and securely utilize our service anytime you like and stop using our service just as easily.
2. What is involved to obtain the data needed to use the online CASH service?
An analyst or other IT individual will be needed to initially extract the data from your patient accounting system. The information we use it basic patient account information, charge, and HIM information. After the setup of the extract is completed, it can be used again as needed.
3. What steps do we need to start to use the online CASH tool?
The steps to start using CASH are listed on "Next Steps" section.
4. What must we do once CASH reports are retrieved off the server’s download folder?
You need to determine if the charges can be rebilled. First determine if the account has timed out. If not, next work with your medical records department or nurse auditor to determine if, in fact, the services and/or supplies identified by the CASH report were provided, but not charged. Remember, the CASH reports list only possible lost charges, which must be verified against both the payer contracts and medical records. If the account has not timed out and the charges are valid, rebill the charges immediately.
5. How much time do we have to rebill any lost charges identified by CASH reports that are valid unbilled charges?
EthiCare asks only that you rebill the charges in a reasonble amount of time. Think of it as your money that is owed, and your hospital needs that money to pay its employees and to keep its doors open..
6. Can we get any special reports (e.g., run series, bill breakdown)?
Yes, but these are not available per EthiCare’s standard contract. A separate contract and payment terms will need to be negotiated and agreed-upon before any special reports can be provided.
7. Can specific charge problem areas be addressed?
Yes. EthiCare would like to point out that there are no proprietary charge capture rules and any rules developed for your hospital can be used at other hospitals, and vise versa. Even robotic surgeries and specific clinical trials are done in multiple hospitals throughout the world. EthiCare would put you in touch with one of our charge capture specialists to discuss addressing special charge capture problems.
8. If CASH identifies unbilled charges for patient accounts past their respective statutes of limitation, or if our hospital is not able to rebill certain accounts until after the statutes of limitations have lapsed, will EthiCare still require payment from us?
Absolutely not. EthiCare is considered budget-neutral because it is fully at-risk with its CASH reports: EthiCare gets paid only if – and when – your respective payers pay you.
9. How does EthiCare financially support our hospital’s medically underserved?
Many public-benefit or otherwise non-profit general acute care hospitals are becoming increasingly dependent upon their affiliated foundations or donors to underwrite losses due to hospital operations. EthiCare addresses this situation in two ways. First, unbilled charges represent a new source of money. This means money received from foundations and donors can be more appropriately used to serve other needs. Second, EthiCare, per its mission, will contribute a portion of its income to those same public-benefit foundations affiliated with your hospital. In this manner, EthiCare does its part.
10. Can Ethicare's standard contract be negotiated?
Yes. However, the contract was constructed to be fair to both parties.
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