Jun

03

Discuss patient financial information early in the hospital stay

By Case Management Weekly

The Patient Friendly Billing Project, a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), has developed guidelines for care providers to help inform patients of their financial liability as early as possible during a hospital stay.

The guidelines describe these discussions as an opportunity to help patients make informed decisions about their care. Such discussions also help patients learn about payment alternatives, such as Medicaid or charity care, and begin the application process as early as possible.

Early discussions of treatment and financial options, says the HFMA, increases the likelihood that providers will receive sufficient payment. This helps ensure they will be able to continue providing high quality care.

Source: Healthcare Financial Management Association