9/23/13 Health district outsources clinic billing department

  • By Nick Sabo
  • September 23, 2013
  • 399
                        
SUMMARY: Shared billing office initiative sponsored by 10 Ohio health districts The Holmes County Board of Health voted Friday Sept. 20 to join a consortium of health districts partnering to form a shared, single-office billing system. For an up-front cost of $19,000, the county will get in on the ground floor on a shared billing office that is being set up by 10 Ohio health districts. By joining, the health district will outsource its billing department for medical care offered through the clinic. Holmes County Health Commissioner Dr. D.J. McFadden said the board’s decision is well-timed, as the district’s employee who handles billing will be stepping down to pursue a career in nursing. According to McFadden, the employee is part-time and is paid $16,900 per year. Other staff are involved in billing, with the total salary costs coming in at around $20,000, McFadden said. McFadden said billing for medical expenses is a specialized field. An office focused just on billing that has the necessary experience should be able to keep pace with billing similar to the health district’s current system, McFadden said. The board approved joining the shared billing office contingent on there being a clause in the contract allowing the health district to exit the contract. Boardmember Kurt Rodhe said the shared billing office sounds like a good idea as long as the quality of service is consistent. “I would think if the service is done as good or better than we are now...no one wants to keep more administration than you have to as long as the job is being done right,” Rodhe said. The health district’s share in the single-office billing system may go down as other health districts join, McFadden said. As a charter member, the Holmes health district will further have a voice in the billing system. In other business, McFadden asked the board to officially endorse the health district’s application for accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board. The health district has started on the road to accreditation already and hopes to forward its application in 2014. Accreditation will be required of all health districts that wish to continue to receive government grants and other sources of funding, McFadden said. “I think funding will be tied to it,” McFadden said. “It won’t be, oh, you’re accredited, here’s all the grants you qualify for. I think it will be, you’re not accredited, you don’t get funded.” The board decided to table the request until after the Nov. 5 election, when the fate of the health district’s .75 mill levy is known. McFadden further reported to the board that the Holmes County Triathlon raised $8,000. Expenses for the triathlon were $6,000, leaving $2,000 to go toward health and fitness programing, McFadden said. The triathlon is in its second year. Results can be viewed at www.premierraces.com/content/files/holmesoverall.txt


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