Introduction - With many patients having large deductibles and co-payment requirements, the collections job has become even more important and more difficult at the same time. Participants will learn how to maximize point-of-service collections, communicate effective collection policies to patients and organize collection tasks with the staff to effect maximum return on collections over the shortest period of time. The goal is to minimize write-offs of patient responsibility balances and maximize practice profitability. This program is designed for managers, billing staff and front desk personnel.

This Practice Management Audiocast Presentation includes ...

• This Audiocast is of a recent Live Webconference presented by Economedix;
• Your registration fee covers the ability for you and your practice to view this presentation for one year along with various course handout materials;
• The ability for ACS Fellows and practice managers to e-mail follow-up questions to Economedix Practice Management Advisors for personalized responses;
• Co-Sponsors - The American College of Surgeons (ACS) and The Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM).

Course Objectives - Completion of this Practice Management Course will provide:

• Define strategies to use to minimize patient balance write-offs;
• Increase collections at the point-of-service;
• Estimate surgical and ancillary charges prior to the service;
• Have a working financial policy for patients;
• Create strategies for physicians and staff to increase collections; and
• Increase collections from patients without increasing risk or decreasing physician-patient relationships.

Accreditation - The American College of Surgeons is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education to physicians.

Credits - The American College of Surgeons designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 category 1 credits toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those credits that he/she actually spent in the educational activity. PAHCOM has pre-approved this educational activity for 1 CEU towards the PAHCOM CMM designation. To earn the credit, participants must complete the combination Evaluation / CME - CEU Form, that is included in the course materials, and FAX this form back within seven days following the date of the teleconference.

Faculty - The faculty for the course is Mr. Tom Loughrey, MBA, CCS-P. Mr. Loughrey is Chairman of Economedix and a noted practice management consultant to physicians, medical offices and medical societies. For over a decade, Mr. Loughrey has provided consulting services to the College as a part of the Consultant’s Corner at the annual ACS Clinical Congress and regularly is engaged by ACS to speak and teach at meetings and workshops throughout the country.