Establish a relationship with patient financial services staff
The crossover between patient access and case management is natural. Share this tip with your ED case managers:
Patient financial services (PFS) counselors offer various assistance to patients. They:
- Speak with patients about insurance coverage or the lack thereof
- Offer to assist with originating a Medicaid or free/charity care application
- Try to answer any questions related to the financial obligations resulting from the patient’s ED visit/hospitalization
The ED case managers in your organization also can inquire about other funding opportunities available through:
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Workers’ compensation
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No-fault motor vehicle insurance
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State crime victims’ insurance funds
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Charity care, such as professional home visits, durable medical equipment, or free transportation
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Individual state public health resources
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Individual hospital funded programs for post acute needs
Establishing a relationship with PFS counselors can help case managers in their role as patient advocates.
This tip was adapted from the HCPro publication Emergency Department Case Management. For more information or to order your copy visit the HCMarketplace.
About the Author: The Patient Access Resource Center is your one-stop resource for managerial, training and compliance needs of the patient access manager. Here, you can find the latest news, benchmarking reports, newsletter articles, and practical scenarios to help your every-day needs.