RESULTS

BrightSpring has been live with the vendor’s systems since mid-June 2018, and initial results show a steady increase in patient-initiated payments and a decrease in staff-initiated payments, which significantly reduces staff effort to collect.

“Our billing staff immediately noticed the impact of these changes,” Babin said. “They receive significantly fewer mailed checks, which has reduced the time spent to process payments. They also send fewer statements since clients are paying their bills faster and many are enrolling in paperless billing.”

BrightSpring saw an immediate rise in online payments before it even announced that the patient portal was available. Clients who wanted this payment option found it on BrightSpring’s website and immediately started using it to pay their bills.

“Furthermore, our clients are choosing other electronic options like e-statements, which cuts down our postage and printing costs for billing,” Babin stated. “Ultimately our goal is to make sure our caregivers can continue to focus on care, and the vendor has allowed us to do just that.”

ADVICE FOR OTHERS

Choose the right partner for your business, Babin advised.

“There are so many healthcare payments solutions available and it’s easy to match a different vendor to each of the various challenges facing your organization,” she said. “Take the time to find a partner who can support the end-to-end process. This will make all the difference from the start and in the long run.”

Twitter: @SiwickiHealthIT
Email the writer: bill.siwicki@himssmedia.com