What is the process called that ensures financial viability for health care facilities?

The process that ensures financial viability for health care facilities is known as revenue cycle management. This comprehensive approach encompasses the entire financial process of healthcare services, including patient registration, insurance verification, coding, billing, collections, and managing payer reimbursement. By effectively overseeing these elements, healthcare facilities can maximize their revenue, reduce claim denials, and enhance cash flow.

Revenue cycle management plays a critical role in maintaining the operational efficiency of healthcare facilities. It helps in identifying and resolving issues that lead to lost revenue, ensuring that services provided to patients are promptly and accurately billed. Furthermore, through effective tracking and analysis of financial data, facilities can anticipate and plan for their financial needs, which is essential for sustaining operations and funding future improvements in care.

In contrast, patient orientation primarily focuses on acclimating patients to the healthcare environment and their care pathway, while accounts receivable pertains to the money owed to the facility by patients and payers, rather than overall financial viability. Auditing involves reviewing financial records for accuracy but does not proactively manage the entire revenue cycle process necessary for ensuring long-term financial health.