Ingenix to Manage Bethesda Healthcare System’s Revenue Cycle Activities

Bethesda Healthcare System, a not-for-profit, 401-bed health care organization serving South Palm Beach County, Fla., has selected Ingenix to manage comprehensive revenue cycle functions for its hospital and outpatient facilities.

The arrangement enables Bethesda Healthcare System to maximize the dedication of resources to patient care as Ingenix assumes responsibility for administrative operations to reduce denied claims and ensure prompt, accurate payments.

Ingenix will redesign revenue cycle processes across Bethesda Healthcare System, using an integrated suite of technology and services, including Ingenix’s Electronic Financial Record™ (eFR™) technology, computer-assisted coding and electronic health records solutions, patient financial counseling services, emergency department information systems and medical necessity consulting. Ingenix will also provide full-time onsite staff to manage revenue-related functions, including scheduling, patient registration, health information management, patient financial services, decision support and managed care contracting.

The Ingenix eFR platform will serve as the cornerstone of revenue cycle solutions for Bethesda. The eFR integrates disparate financial data into a single database to create a real-time, patient-centered financial record. The system uses automated intelligent workflow processes to advance documentation to each department that sees a patient in the course of his or her care, flagging items that require information and alerting the appropriate person to take steps to keep claims and reimbursement processes moving forward. This automation minimizes time spent on administration and will allow Bethesda Healthcare System to achieve faster claims reimbursement, while reducing administrative costs.

“As health care delivery systems integrate to increase the coordination of patient care, we need a comprehensive approach to financial operations,” said Joanne Aquilina, vice president of finance and CFO of Bethesda Healthcare System. “After an extensive evaluation process, we determined Ingenix could best provide us with the support necessary to enhance revenue cycle performance and enable us to better meet the ever-growing needs of the community we serve.”

“With little investment risk, Bethesda Healthcare System will gain considerable financial expertise, services and technology solutions that will deliver better control of operational costs and more predictable revenue streams,” said Bill Miller, president of provider solutions at Ingenix.

“Ingenix will help Bethesda Healthcare System improve financial performance by providing efficient, integrated systems and expert staff who are skilled at designing processes to eliminate administrative bottlenecks and increase productivity,” said Miller. “Ingenix’s flexible approach to working within Bethesda’s organizational structure, and our alignment with their goals, will be critical to helping Bethesda deliver its vision.”