Why Billers Limit Your Access — And What You Can Do About It

Now more than ever, it’s important to work with a biller that has the skill, experience, and data to deliver maximum billing and collections.

Partners don’t keep secrets.

At Coronis Health, we are 100% transparent. Our team offers complete access to our medical billing software. Our clients can view patient statements, reimbursement rates, monthly projections, and more whenever they please. To ensure our clients always have access to up-to-date insights, we publish a comprehensive report each week and a full monthly report every month. 

We even create custom reports for you at no charge — you can see your business from any angle, accurately. If your biller doesn’t offer that same level of transparency, you have reduced visibility into your financial health. Reporting is the lifeblood of your organization, and Coronis Health takes reporting to the next level.

What does your current biller have to hide?

Have you ever wondered why your current biller doesn’t provide weekly or monthly reports to you regarding the status of your billing and collection activity? 

• Are they hiding something? 
• Are they burying mistakes? 
• Are they just lazy? 
• Are they simply not equipped to collect and present accurate data to you on a regular basis? 
• And how about benchmarking? 
• Does your current biller give you detailed reports on authorized days and reimbursement levels that you’ll receive? 
• Do you know how you’re doing against your competitors and vs. the industry? 
• Does your current biller train your clinical staff, work to improve your cycle time, and provide insightful guidance on VOBs? 

If the answers are “no” or “I don’t know,” then it’s time to schedule a free financial health assessment with Coronis Health. We’re more than a vendor or billing service. — we become your partner. And partners don’t keep secrets.

Let Coronis Health Find Your TRUE Reimbursement Rate

While other billers may give you you anecdotal reports based on general information, Coronis Health delivers specific, detailed reports that actually help you manage your day-to-day operations. 

Experience + Persistence + Documentation+Reporting

Those words may sound simple, but they’re words out team lives by. We have extensive relationships with insurers because we are staffed with seasoned licensed clinical and medical professionals with years of experience to facilitate approvals. Moreover, we are on the phone with insurers representing our treatment center clients daily, developing personal contacts with insurance company decision-makers. 

We know better than to accept their first offer as the final answer, and also transition this persuasive but firm approach to collections from patients. Finally, our documentation is bullet-proof, especially if you use Kipu®, since we are a Certified Gold Biller. There’s no better way to keep insurers in check than by quickly providing them with full and undeniable backup support. This improves both collection times and collection rates. It’s what we do every day.

Schedule a Free Financial Health Checkup with Coronis Health Today

There are billers, and then there’s Coronis Health. Our team helps managers make better decisions by providing the industry’s most advanced data analytics tools to gather, analyze and utilize huge amounts of information. We’ve built the right technology to not just organize and report data, but understand its deeper meaning and help our clients navigate the convulsive waters of the current billing environment. 

Is your biller full of myths? Maybe it’s time for a better biller.

Contact us today to schedule a free financial health assessment and see how Coronis Health can maximize your revenue.

from
https://www.coronishealth.com/blog/why-billers-limit-your-access-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/

What is the difference between a CHC and FQHC?

Healthcare is constantly changing to remain beneficial and effective for patients, and for hospitals and facilities to provide excellent care. The cost of healthcare is also a factor for patients who are uninsured or underinsured, so coordination and continuity of care is a challenge.

Community health centers (CHC), which are under the umbrella of federally qualified health centers (FQHC), move beyond the barriers for these patients to provide care at a lower cost by operating with funding from the government. The differences between the two are minimal, but the access and benefits they provide mean the world to their patients.

What Is a CHC and What Services Do They Offer?

CHCs are designed to provide primary care services to patients who live in underserved communities, and serve patients who have little or no health insurance. While CHCs provide affordable care, they are not free clinics. Care is provided to each patient based on his or her income, or the income of a household that is below 200% of the poverty limit, and is structured with a sliding fee schedule for affordability.

The primary care services patients receive focus on chronic disease, preventive care, and management of health screenings to promote a healthy lifestyle. Additional services include pharmacy, mental health, substance abuse counseling, and dental services.

To remain accredited as a CHC, quality metrics are measured to ensure that a center is meeting the standards set in place to improve population, create excellent patient experiences, and lower the cost of healthcare.  

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) also requires CHCs to report the performance data compiled by the center to ensure that performance improvement initiatives are consistent with clinical and operational objectives. 

CHCs fall into the category of a federally qualified health center as they receive government funding to facilitate the programs offered to patients in underserved areas, which include the 340B drug pricing discounts and free vaccines for children. Other benefits for CHCs include recruiting assistance for primary care physicians with the National Health Service Corps, and the potential to receive grant funding, which can aid with malpractice coverage for employed providers. 

What Is a FQHC and What Services Do They Offer?

Federally qualified health centers (FQHC) were first established in 1965 as primary care clinics. All centers that fall under the FQHC umbrella, which include community health centers, migrant health centers, centers for the homeless, or health centers for residents of public housing, are required to maintain a high standard of services by meeting the requirements of services that are based on a sliding fee scale. All FQHCs receive funding from the HRSA, and all centers must operate with a board of directors that includes members who are also patients and actively use the services at the center.

All FQHCs provide primary care services to patients regardless of their ability to pay. The mission of FQHCs is to provide affordable, quality care that is accessible to those who are underinsured or uninsured.

Most people recognize community health centers, which also fall under the overall category of a federally qualified health center.

How Are the Two Types of Clinics Different From Each Other?

CHCs and FQHCs may differ based on local demographics or the type of clinic, such as a migrant health center, or a community health center, but for the most part, the two are the same as CHCs are an FQHC. There are centers, however, that are called “look-alikes”, which provide the same types of services and are eligible for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, but they are not eligible for receiving federal grants. Overall, the mission of a CHC and FQHC are the same. 

Which Type of Clinic Is Right for You and Your Family’s Needs?

A CHC or FQHC is beneficial for patients who meet the income requirements to receive primary care services. The guidelines for receiving services are based on income, and considering the demographics of a community or county, certain clinics will be available to provide care for patients and families who seek quality healthcare. For instance, rural areas may have centers that focus on services that differ from the inner city, so researching your community will give you a foundation of knowledge to make the right decision about healthcare for you and your family. 

How Can You Find Out More About CHCs and FQHCs?

The best way to find out about CHCs or FQHCs is to research the centers located in your community. Locate a center by searching in your state and city, and visit the website for each center. You will find out about services, hours, providers, and the mission of the center. Your search will give you the information you are seeking to make an educated decision about the care you receive for you and your family. 

How Coronis Health Supports CHCs and FQHCs

Coronis Health offers medical billing and other services to help CHCs and FQHCs function more efficiently. With scalable solutions, our team of experts is ready to assist these facilities by easing their administrative burden and free staff to care for patients. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

from
https://www.coronishealth.com/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-a-chc-and-fqhc/

How Upgrading From An Amateur Biller Can Improve Behavioral Health Collections

Traditional third-party billing is dead. It’s the data-driven era. 

The stakes are high for inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities as the very nature of treatment undergoes some degree of change. As personal and professional lives shift under Covid-19, many facilities are reporting three- and four-fold increases in admissions. 

Working side-by-side with our clients during this pandemic, Coronis Health has maintained unprecedented levels of billing and collections to THE LAST PENNY.

We’re in it — to win it — together.

We go to battle every day. The tussle that has always existed between insurance carriers and treatment facilities have now become a battle royal: Insurance companies, of course, want to minimize payouts, while clinicians strive to deliver better care and improve outcomes. Coronis Health always wins.

We’re on your side. And we will win.

We’re aggressive, smart, armed with data and we never, ever relent. We negotiate from a position of strength. We aggressively and expertly negotiate recoupment requests. Our goal is to dismiss the carrier’s attempts to claw back funds or significantly reduce them in many cases.

Facilities rely on Coronis Health to help them strategize with the insurance carrier to create workable, effective action plans aimed at removing any and all penalties that result in lost revenue as a result of “over-treating.” Industry expertise makes the difference. And that means more dollars for our partners. Our staff of seasoned professionals is ready to assist you.

Put Coronis Health To the Test: See How We Collected on A
$50K+ Claim

It’s been said that “Energy and persistence conquer all things.” In this case, it’s so true. 

I was not shocked that, after two full years, we were able to collect for our client. It’s our mission statement and our culture. In this case, a client simply was not getting paid on legitimate claims. Over $50,000 hung in the balance. Repeated communication simply was — well, ignored.  

We won’t be ignored. We brought in our attorneys to write demand letters, made calls at least twice weekly — for two full years! While others would have given up and dropped this claim into their cold case files, we simply wouldn’t stop. 

To be honest, we never imagined that the claim would stand unpaid for two years, but as with all claims, we’re in every battle for the long haul and for every penny owed, no matter how long it takes to collect. While we strive to settle all claims quickly, if it takes two days, two weeks, or two years — we’ll get your money. We’ll blast through the confusing changes and labyrinth of regulations. We don’t take “no,” “low” or “slow” for an answer.

So after two years, our client received their hard-earned payment. We closed the book on a claim that was first entered in 2018, one of the longest collections we’ve ever been involved with.

Our determination to bill and collect with accuracy and integrity, along with our technology and experienced staff has made the difference for our clients. Collecting every penny and doing it quickly and efficiently.

Why Coronis Health?

We are insurance industry insiders armed with data and in your corner. The tussle that has always existed between insurance carriers and treatment facilities has now become a battle royal. 

Insurance companies, of course, want to minimize payouts, while clinicians strive to deliver better care and improve outcomes.

We’re Aggressive. That’s what it takes. We negotiate from a position of strength. We aggressively and expertly negotiate recoupment requests. Our goal is to dismiss the carrier’s attempts to claw back funds or significantly reduce them.

We Collaborate with facilities to help them strategize with the insurance carrier to create workable, effective action plans aimed at removing any and all penalties that result in lost revenue as a result of “over-treating.” 

We’re Experts. Industry expertise makes a difference. And that means more dollars for our clients. Our staff of seasoned professionals is ready to assist you.

VOB MANAGERS

Available daily to advise your intake team on policies with vast knowledge and experience gained from years in the industry.

UR TEAM

Providing daily insight and training to insure authorizations for the highest levels and most days.

CODING MANAGER

Weekly audits and directions ensure clean code submissions.

BILLING MANAGERS

Experience handling even the little nuances, whether it is billing admit to discharge or HCPC vs Rev codes.

Coronis Health’s FINANCIAL ANALYSTS

Running your business with comprehensive reporting and deep data. We’ll provide analysis and individualized recommendations.

And of course, reporting. The lifeblood.

Good, solid reports that can assist managers in making better decisions. But it all starts with the data — along with the right tools to gather, analyze and utilize it. Do you have the expertise and technology required to run a billing and collections unit? For many managers, the answer is “no.”

That’s where we come in. Coronis Health can not only improve collection rates (we guarantee it!), but we can help you navigate the convulsive waters of the current billing environment. Good reporting means better decisions.

Schedule a free financial health assessment to find out how Coronis Health can find missing revenue and improve collections for your facility.

from
https://www.coronishealth.com/blog/how-upgrading-from-an-amateur-biller-can-improve-behavioral-health-collections/

How Outsourcing Your Addiction Treatment Center Medical Billing Can Reduce Denial Rates

Sorting through behavioral health reimbursement regulations can be a time-consuming and costly process. It’s common for small facilities like addiction treatment centers to have limited administrative assistance for billing and collections—some providers even manage billing themselves. This arrangement can be overwhelming and lead to breaks in the revenue cycles and lost income. 

Addiction treatment facilities can outsource their behavioral health billing to reduce denial rates and improve cash flow—and Coronis Health can help.

Coronis Health is a healthcare revenue cycle management company that offers specialized solutions using industry-leading technology. When it comes to unique billing for mental health, substance abuse, and eating disorders, we have specially designed services that can help your facility maximize revenue so you can focus on patient care.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Increased Denial Rates?

Behavioral health billing is an extremely complex process that involves numerous variables, making it difficult to standardize your billing guidelines. Not securing authorization for treatment or using the wrong modifier can lead to reimbursement denials.

Insurance plans and benefits can be very specific and widely vary between patients, so it is critical to conduct a verification of benefits (VOB) before any services are received. A VOB ensures that a service or treatment the patient is seeking is covered and determines the amount their insurance will pay for the services. 

Though it can be a tedious process, it is better that patients know what they have to cover personally to make timely payments. It is best to collect as much information as you can and make copies of insurance cards to ensure you know how to receive payment for services or treatment provided.

When billing for behavioral health, there are common procedural technology (CPT) codes that insurance providers require to determine reimbursements to facilities. Addiction treatment centers need to understand the types of services they offer and the related CPT codes. Using the incorrect codes can lead to claim denials and lost revenue for your operations.

Filing a claim is more than populating the correct patient demographic information and identifying the valid CPT codes—you also have to consider the place of service, type of bill, rendering provider details and whether to file interim claims or admit to discharge. Behavioral health claims should be submitted in the proper billing format, which varies by insurance company. You can find out the company’s preferred billing format and the timeline allowed by the plan during the VOB. Double-checking your information and billing format can lead to fewer denials and more collections for your facility.

What are the Advantages of Outsourcing Mental Health Billing Services?

Providing a specialized service calls for a specialized billing solution. With a time-consuming and complex process, an expert service that knows the ins and outs of mental health medical billing can be an invaluable addition. Outsourcing your mental and behavioral health billing services can:

Reduce administrative time: The time and cost to hire, train, and keep up with changing policies can create a significant burden for mental health providers. Transferring the responsibility frees up staff to handle in-house tasks for providers and patients.

Increase reimbursements and decrease denials: A qualified vendor can submit claims quickly and efficiently to ensure a higher reimbursement from payers without mistakes, denials, or delayed payments.

Expert billing services can also:

• Create consistency
• Reduce errors
• Improve revenue cycle
• Keep patient data secure
• Handle audit and compliance

Addiction Treatment Medical Billing; How to Stay on Top of Regulatory Changes

Outsourcing behavioral health billing can relieve the burden on providers and administrators, particularly when it comes to decreasing denials and receiving collections. Medical billing vendors can also help facilities understand government regulations and compliance. Billing professionals stay up to date on the latest rules, regulations, and coding requirements so you can focus on patient care. The behavioral health billing landscape is an ever-changing scene that consumes time and resources.

Coronis Health provides medical billing with a personalized touch so that our experts know what regulatory changes are coming, when they will be implemented, and how to prepare your facility.

Medical Billing Audits; What to Know

A medical billing audit examines documents to ensure accuracy, speaks to the reliability of information from your facility, and reviews health records and medical billing data submitted by the payers. Audits seek out and monitor inaccurate, incomplete, or inappropriate billing methods or documentation. Outsourcing billing to a professional vendor like Coronis Health can keep your data organized and accurate. While audits are compliance measures, they can also help ensure that billing practices are beneficial to your facility and help make processes more efficient.

Coronis Health safeguards data and provides professionals who execute billing with perfection from filling out forms and submissions to follow-up. Our team can help your facility cultivate financial success.

Questions about Outsourcing Your Addiction Treatment Center Medical Billing? Contact Coronis Health Today!

from
https://www.coronishealth.com/blog/how-outsourcing-your-addiction-treatment-center-medical-billing-can-reduce-denial-rates/

Best Practices for Improved Financials Post-COVID Part 1: Systems Optimization

The COVID pandemic became a public health crisis that presented challenges with growing repercussions. Practices had the task of pivoting their business and system operations to restore and strengthen revenues, adapt to the changing environment post-pandemic, and accelerate their growth.

In a webinar, medical billing experts from Coronis Health join for a panel discussion about best practices for improved financials post-COVID. Panelists also provide case studies on how practices have created smarter operations by leveraging technology, understanding coding and analytics, and reducing unnecessary fees. In this 3-part series, we share the highlights of that webinar and case studies to demonstrate the value of teaming up with experts in revenue cycle management.

The Critical Importance of System Optimization

The healthcare revenue cycle is very complex. There are many moving parts and different facets involved – all of which directly or indirectly impact your practice’s cash flow and revenue. 

One of the goals of Coronis is building a partnership that provides an analysis and review of existing operations and systems, with the goal of improving them and making them more efficient.

Optimizing Your Systems Case Studies

When you are reviewing your systems, you want to understand how you can optimize your systems best. But what does optimizing your system really mean? And how do you know you are actually optimizing your system? 

The first case study features a large pain group who loved their system’s EHR but was less than satisfied with the practice management system. 

We did a full task analysis of the onboarding process, identifying that the providers were very happy with the EHR, but on the back end, the administrators felt like they had no visibility on what was going on in the billing side. The staff didn’t understand where the charges were going or who was working on what. 

Despite the obvious issues, changing systems can be risky when it comes to cash flow and claims submission. How can we help these providers keep the EHR they love while achieving better visibility on the administrative side?

We took a look at their systems and moved them from their current practice management system to a new PM system. We did a system integration that pulled charges from their current EHR and sent them to their new practice management system. This enabled transparency while improving cash flow.

Results:

• Identified improvement on coding for ultrasounds due to client owning the ultrasounds (nice add-on)
• Increased overall monthly receipts by 10% because of improved coding and implemented audit for charge submission
• Provided access to Coronis Health BI tool to analyze denials to drive change
• Implemented click-to-pay patient statements to increase payment for patient receivables

Our second case study features a rural urgent care group that had an in-house biller for 20 years and was worried about outsourcing to a company that is not their own. For a group that belongs to a small, tight-knit community, they were also scared that these new individuals may not perform as well as those that have worked with them for 20 years. In addition, they had felt that since their system wasn’t broken, it did not need any fixing.

We wanted to understand their systems and their culture, because for us to build a partnership, we had to know what drove their business and what their patients’ expectations were. The practice was hit hard with COVID and almost had to close their doors because they weren’t able to keep the staffing on the front end to do patient registration. 

Within two months of working with them, we did a full task analysis on all their manual processes and created automation and efficiency to improve their revenue cycle. We utilized their specific software to help them with their manual tasks, and we implemented a verification tool that was already in the software to replace the manual task of verifying services.

Results:

• Helped the client keep their doors open to treat patients during the pandemic while taking care of the back office billing work
• Provided the client with resources to replace their retiring billing manager of 20+ years without causing a break/pause in the billing work
• Maintained the cash flow for the client during the initial transition period 
• Activated the verification tool that saved the the time required to go into different payer websites

Are you losing revenue due to inefficient processes? Let us help you optimize your systems and maximize your revenue cycle. Contact us today to learn more.

from
https://www.coronishealth.com/blog/best-practices-for-improved-financials-post-covid-part-1-systems-optimization/

Choosing the Right Outsourcing Service: 5 Questions to Ask

When you decide to outsource your medical billing, you need to do your research to ensure that you connect with the right company for your facility’s needs, such as claim processing, offered services, staff training, AR management, and analytic reports. When you find the right billing company, all of these needs – and more – will be fulfilled. 

1. How Quickly Will They be Able to Begin Processing Claims?

Prompt filing is critical to ensure your facility receives its reimbursement in a timely manner. Billing companies usually start processing claims within 30 to 60 days after signing a business agreement, but each company varies with its timelines. Check with multiple companies and find out if they are well versed with your facility’s billing software, or if they are familiar with other practice management software if you happen to be transitioning from one to another. Either way, you need to find a company that can work with your existing tools, or can transition with your facility as you make changes. This will ensure that they can start processing claims sooner than later.

2. What Services Do They Provide?

Revenue cycle management should be handled by experts who are familiar with all aspects of medical billing and coding. You will want to sign with a billing company that is familiar with all components of revenue cycle management, and identify your expectations about which tasks you want to oversee in your facility, and which services you want the billing company to provide. 

Some billing companies may not offer coding services, while others offer coding and charge entry, but do not handle patient accounts. Because each billing company offers something different, you need to find the company that offers exactly what you need, and can be flexible by offering à la carte services if you choose to handle some billing tasks in-house.

3. What Training Does Their Staff Receive?

During your search, ask each billing company if the billers and coders are certified by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), which offers training and certification for professional coders (both inpatient and outpatient), billers, auditers, and more. The training AAPC offers is industry-driven and current, and falls in line with how billers and coders should be managing their role within a billing company or healthcare facility. Training that is central to AAPC demonstrates that a billing company understands the importance of compliance, regulations, professionalism, and above all else – accuracy, which ensures that their clients are receiving timely payments. Ask about continuing education for a billing company’s team – for instance, how often their staff are trained, recertified, and provided with up-to-date industry information. 

4. Who Will Handle the Current Accounts Receivable (A/R)?

Choosing a billing company is an important decision, especially if you have old claims that date more than 180 days. When you sign an agreement with your selected billing company, set your expectations about who will handle old claims – your facility, or the new billing company. The best option may be a fresh start with your new billing company that begins with newer claims of 90 or less days. Your billing company consultant will guide you in making this decision, and how older claims can be managed. During the transition, you may be operating with two medical billing processes simultaneously as older claims either roll off, or are closed out through successful collection.

5. Will Monthly Financial Reports be Provided?

Medical billing companies have high-quality software to facilitate accuracy in reporting and provide a big picture of the revenue health of a healthcare facility. A billing company worth its weight will provide your facility with access to not only monthly reports, but access to dashboards that can create a central hub for analysis and interpretation. Look for a billing company that offers dashboards, summaries, trending reports, and also advice on how to use the reports to make changes or focus on process improvements for the revenue health of the facility. Worthy medical billing companies understand the importance of metrics and performance, and will work with you to set standards that are easily monitored. 

When you make your decision to sign with a billing company – you will find that the best company will answer these questions quickly, accurately, and give you the confidence you need to transition to outsourced medical billing. The revenue health of your facility depends on the quality of your billing company – so do your research, and choose a company that is not just a business partner, but a team member who truly accepts your facility’s mission and vision to offer the best services to its patients. 

Coronis Health allows you to remain independent and focus on caring for your patients, while we handle your medical billing and revenue cycle management. Are you ready to learn more? Contact us to request your free financial checkup.

from
https://www.coronishealth.com/blog/choosing-the-right-outsourcing-service-5-questions-to-ask/

Struggling with Staffing Shortages? We Can Help

Staffing shortages affect so many aspects of healthcare, from the delivery of patient care to the ability of an organization to retain quality talent. The pandemic is certainly a factor in recent staffing shortages, but shortages have been brewing for decades. Rural hospitals and facilities face staffing challenges now more than ever, but there are solutions that reach beyond traditional hiring. 

The Staffing Crisis 

The staffing crisis seems to be at an all-time high since COVID-19 hit the states in early 2020. Recently, data shows that 25% of hospitals in 13 states are facing critical staffing shortages of not only nurses, but doctors and other medical professionals. The shortages cause hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) to turn away patients who need care. The outlook is bleak as the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is increasing the statistics of cases, and is causing many emergency departments to close due to a combination of staffing shortages and over capacity. ASCs are also postponing elective surgeries due to lack of space and staffing. 

The following states are seeing record, and critical, staffing shortages, with some reaching as high as 40%:

South Carolina and North Dakota – 33%
West Virginia – 39%
Rhode Island – 40%
These are all more than twice the national average of 16.5%
Arizona, Wyoming, Kentucky, Wisconsin, California, Alabama, and Oklahoma – all reporting more than 25% shortages

These staggering staffing shortages are more than just critical – they are the worst in four decades, and create a number of hardships:

• Patients traveling hundreds of miles for specialty or advanced care due to shortages
• Hospitals operating under crisis standards, resulting in support from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) employees, volunteers, or military, or DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Teams)

Ultimately, staffing shortages affect patient care, employee morale and retention, and force organizations to resort to extreme recruiting efforts to fill critical positions. Even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending a 5-day quarantine versus the original 10-day quarantine for healthcare workers who contract COVID. They are able to return to work 5 days after the onset of symptoms, which lessens the duration of their absence, thus mitigating the shortage in any given department. 

Reasons Behind the Shortage

Staffing shortages are considerably more noticeable during the pandemic due to many factors including the influence of social media and news, and politics. Hospitals and other organizations have seen an increase in attrition due to the vaccine mandate, but not enough to create a massive dent in the operations of an entire organization. Many healthcare professionals are leaving for other reasons, such as burnout or better opportunities.

Burnout or exhaustion

Burnout or exhaustion can easily relate to the pandemic, as it places excessive stress on nurses and other healthcare professionals. Burnout can also relate to lower wages, less appreciation, and aging out of a job. The aging workforce sees many nurses working into their late 50s or 60s. 

Better job opportunity, moving, or retirement

Hospitals and ASCs are consistently recruiting and offering travel nurses amazing opportunities – which is appealing to many younger nurses or healthcare professionals who want to travel throughout the year to new places. 

Some healthcare professionals move due to a spouse’s new job or military deployment to a new station, or they simply want to retire from their demanding career. 

Demands of patients

The demands of an elderly patient are increasingly difficult, as they require more advanced and specialized care. As patients age, so do the nurses, and the work is tiring and repetitive. For many nurses, this links back to the burnout stage of their career. 

Not enough graduates

Many states have excellent nursing schools, but they just aren’t graduating enough nurses to fill the vacancies in many of the hospitals or ASCs. Some states struggle to meet even 50% of the vacancies for nurses.

Increase of COVID hospitalizations

The recent strains of COVID-19, including Omicron, are creating a high rate of hospitalizations, with many patients who are still unvaccinated. Healthcare professionals can be forced to isolate if they are infected or exposed to COVID, which results in the continuing shortage. The CDC is recommending hospitals and ASCs allow healthcare workers to return to work in 5 days if they contract COVID-19, which helps with critical shortages. 

Ultimately, the staffing crisis and shortages threaten patient safety, even in the face of wearing masks, washing hands, and social distancing. 

The Pay Problem

Rural hospitals and ASCs face the same challenges any facility faces with recruiting during a pandemic or staffing crisis – but rural organizations have one more challenge to face that others do not – their location, and their ability to match the pay of other local organizations that pay more for entry level positions.

Competing with retail

Rural towns and counties have the basic necessities for its residents – schools, churches, a hospital, banks, grocery stores, gas stations, movie theaters, clothing chains, and yes – even WalMart, the retail giant. WalMart can easily hire entry-level employees and pay $15 to $18 per hour, but hospitals struggle to retain employees as they aim to meet the pay rate with their local competitor. 

Hiring efforts

With specialized needs, such as licensed or certified technologists or nurses, it’s difficult for hospitals or ASCs in rural communities to hire without exceeding the competitor’s wages. Rural counties in states such as Nebraska, Wyoming, or Alaska must resort to sign-on bonuses for critical-hire positions, or relocation or moving reimbursement for new employees who move from out of state. 

Solutions to Staffing Shortages

These may seem like daunting problems that are insurmountable, but solutions are available with some effort and foresight: 

• Create value for your employees by teaching them new skills, such as a medical assistants learning the role of a scheduler or front desk staff
• Provide guaranteed coverage if an employee leaves the organization or is absent
• Develop a culture and work environment of trust and empowerment

Hospitals and ASCs in rural communities can also partner with management agencies to fill staffing gaps, or create better efficiency by shifting the focus of cases that the hospital is unable to handle because of over-capacity. 

Recruiting in rural communities is challenging at best – but with a focus on cross training new hires, or using intermittent or part-time staff, the stress caused by staffing shortages is relieved and full-time employees may stay longer with an organization. Quality employees and quality care starts with ensuring that your employees have a work environment and culture where they feel empowered, valued, and appreciated. 

Hiring managers should also focus on reviewing benefits packages and employee offers as they partner with their recruiting department. The relationship between recruiters and hiring managers is critical to ensure a smooth hiring process by bringing on qualified, talented professionals. 

The pandemic has created an increase in the employment of foreign nurses, who are subject to receiving work Visas that were otherwise intended for relatives of American citizens, but were canceled due to COVID-19. The number of available green cards for people moving to the United States for work doubled in the last year, so healthcare recruiters are hoping to gain from the opportunity to bring on foreign nurses to aid in the critical staffing shortages around the nation. 

What Coronis Health Can Do

Coronis Health is known and recognized for its medical billing and outsourcing for revenue cycle management (RCM). During this staffing crisis, think about how your facility is managing its billing or RCM, and how it contributes to your staffing woes. If you answer “Yes” to any – or all of the following questions, Coronis Health could be the solution to your staffing crisis:

• Are you short staffed because you are unable to pay or retain quality employees? 
• Do you have employees who are willing and able to cross train into other roles or departments?
• Do you have part-time opportunities but are unable to hire because you are currently overstaffed?
• Do you want to relieve employee stress caused by the pandemic?
• Do you need to streamline your billing processes or RCM?

Outsourcing your billing and RCM opens up multiple doors and opportunities for you to increase employee retention, relieve stress (caused by work demands or the pandemic), create more part-time opportunities, and streamline your revenue operation. You can maximize your revenue, increase your employee’s salaries, and ultimately retain the best talent for your organization. 

The pandemic is still here, and staffing shortages are still in crisis mode, but Coronis Health can be the light that creates a shining solution for your billing and staffing challenges. Call Coronis Health today, and see what solutions we can create for you. 

from
https://www.coronishealth.com/blog/struggling-with-staffing-shortages-we-can-help/