Discover how InstantVOB’s® patient estimation leads to better patient satisfaction. Stop inaccurate billing estimates in their tracks.
Patient estimation is the process of predicting how much a patient will owe for healthcare services. It plays a crucial role in facilitating smoother billing procedures and enhancing patient satisfaction.
More than 25% of adults aged 18-64 experience difficulty paying medical bills. With accurate patient estimation, healthcare organizations can reduce bad debt and improve their billing accuracy.1
Did you know that more than half of Americans (57%) have gotten a medical bill that caught them off guard?2 That’s where patient estimation comes in handy. It helps patients figure out how much they need to pay for their medical treatments so that they can make smart choices.
The goal of patient estimation is to help patients understand their financial responsibilities and make informed decisions about healthcare. Plus, about 70% of hospitals are now following price transparency rules. That means accurate patient estimation is super important these days.3
Patient estimation is an important step in healthcare, helping patients and healthcare providers plan for treatment and care.
The process involves the patient, healthcare provider, and insurance provider. Here’s how it works:
To make accurate estimates, patients need to give personal and insurance details. Healthcare providers gather this information and verify it with the insurance provider.
Once the information is collected, healthcare providers use databases to calculate the costs. They think about what kind of service it is, where it will happen, and how long it will take.
Healthcare providers share the estimate with the patient. The estimate includes what the patient must pay, insurance coverage, and out-of-pocket expenses. Providers may also explain the payment options.
Patients have the right to seek clarification and understand the estimate provided. Healthcare providers should explain the process using simple words so patients know how much they might have to pay.
Medical debt on consumer credit records reached $88 billion as of June 2021. This figure explains why accurate patient estimation is necessary. They need to give accurate personal and insurance information to healthcare providers.4
Healthcare providers collect patient information and verify insurance coverage. They determine the costs of medical services like tests or treatments, considering how complex the condition is and how long the treatment will take.
Insurance providers work with healthcare providers and patients to facilitate the estimation process. They review patient insurance to see what services are covered and communicate with healthcare providers to ensure the cost estimates are right.
Inaccurate estimations can lead to inadequate care or unnecessary costs.
Here are some ways healthcare providers can improve the accuracy of their patient estimation process:
InstantVOB® helps healthcare providers automate key steps in the estimation process. It ensures that estimates are accurate, efficient, and secure.
Let’s explore how instantVOB® helps streamline this process.
instantVOB® makes it easy for providers to collect patient information. They can input personal details and insurance coverage quickly. It eliminates the need for manual paperwork to prevent mistakes and saves time.
instantVOB® checks insurance coverage automatically. It tells providers if the insurance is active and how much patients need to pay out-of-pocket. This helps providers give accurate cost estimates.
instantVOB® makes estimating costs easier by connecting smoothly with existing databases. It brings all the data together in one place, keeping it updated in real-time. This helps healthcare providers work more efficiently and avoid mistakes.
instantVOB® makes it easy to calculate costs for healthcare. It looks at important factors such as insurance, deductibles, out-of-pocket expenses, copays, and coinsurance.
Providers can use this information to estimate costs and be transparent with patients.
With instantVOB®, providers get updates and reports in real-time. Any changes made in one system show up immediately in instantVOB®.
instantVOB® makes it easy for providers to explain the cost estimates to patients. It generates clear reports that patients can understand.
Providers can use simple words and pictures to help patients know what to expect.
instantVOB® cares about following rules and keeping patient data safe. It follows HIPAA guidelines to protect patient privacy.
Our platform is on the safe Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud, so data is well protected.
Accurate patient estimation is crucial for healthcare providers to provide reliable cost information.
By considering these factors, providers can ensure that cost estimates are accurate:
Incorrect patient estimation can cause serious problems for healthcare providers and patients. That’s why it’s important to know the risks involved.
If the cost estimate is wrong, patients may struggle to pay their medical bills. This can create financial stress and make it difficult to manage healthcare expenses. Inaccurate estimates can prevent patients from planning and budgeting properly.
Inaccurate cost estimates can deter patients from seeking necessary medical care. If patients mistakenly think they can’t afford treatment, they may delay or skip necessary care. This can lead to worse health outcomes and delayed diagnoses.
When patients get bills that are much higher than the estimated costs, they can feel upset and lose trust in the healthcare provider.
They may feel like they were tricked or lied to. This can harm the relationship between patients and providers, and patients may go elsewhere for care.
Incorrect estimation creates challenges for healthcare providers. It can cause billing mistakes, patient disagreements, and extra work to fix the errors. These problems take up time and resources that could be used for patient care.
Inaccurate patient estimation may have legal and ethical consequences. Patients deserve accurate and clear information about their healthcare costs.
Misleading estimates can lead to legal disputes and harm the reputation of the healthcare provider.
20% of US households have outstanding medical bills with healthcare providers already. Incorrect patient estimation can further hurt healthcare providers financially.5
If estimates consistently underestimate costs, providers may struggle to cover expenses. It can also affect how much they get paid by insurance companies, causing more financial strain.
To mitigate the challenges of incorrect patient estimation, healthcare providers can:
Having an effective patient estimation process in healthcare is crucial for various reasons.
Here are some key points to consider:
instantVOB® assists healthcare providers in getting accurate and real-time data. With instantVOB®, providers can access up-to-date information quickly.
We will be able to know if insurance is active and see details like deductibles, out-of-pocket expenses, copays, and coinsurance.
instantVOB® makes estimating costs precise and transparent for patients. It works well with existing databases and helps providers save time.
Using instantVOB® improves the accuracy of cost estimation, benefiting both providers and patients.
Here are some compelling reasons why instantVOB® is the best solution you can avail of:
By choosing instantVOB®, you get a team of experts specializing in substance abuse and mental health billing. Our team of experts includes admissions, verification, and revenue cycle management.
They’ll help your organization operate better, make more money, and provide better care for patients. You can rely on us for support. Call now to get started!
