Your Revenue Cycle Starts at Intake

When managing your behavioral health revenue cycle, one of the most effective places to start is the intake process. Often viewed as an administrative task, it’s actually a key element in improving your revenue cycle. A well-organized intake process helps streamline billing, reduce claim rejections, and improve payment timelines. Let’s explore a few ways to make your intake process work for you.

Gather the Right Information

Collecting essential information from the outset is critical to ensuring smooth operations. While each behavioral health facility may have its own specific requirements, there are a few common types of information to collect:

• Patient demographics – verified and validated.
• Insurance details – including co-pays, deductibles, policy limits, out-of-network policies, and co-insurance information.
• Payment guidelines – specifics on out-of-pocket payments or limitations based on the client’s plan.

Ensuring that all this information is gathered upfront allows for smoother processes down the line.

Accuracy is Key

Accuracy during intake can make or break the efficiency of your revenue cycle. Taking the time to verify and record information correctly is essential. Accurate data speeds up benefits verification and helps prevent claim rejections. Inaccuracies or missing details can lead to delayed claims, which in turn slow down payment processing. Additionally, it helps ensure that billing gets sent to clients in a timely manner and with accurate charges.

At Nextus, our system includes built-in checkpoints that catch any inconsistencies or errors. With our approach, we achieve a first-pass acceptance rate of 99% for claims. That means fewer rejected claims, quicker payments, and a more streamlined process overall.

Additional Forms for Compliance

In addition to basic patient and insurance information, it’s a good idea to collect forms that may be required later in the process. These can include:

• Consent to treatment
• HIPAA notification acknowledgment
• Release of information form
• Financial assignment of benefits

Having these forms on hand helps address any potential questions or requirements from insurance carriers and keeps your practice compliant.

Benefits of a Strong Intake Process

While the intake process can feel detailed, the rewards are clear. A thorough and accurate intake reduces the chances of delayed or denied claims and helps ensure faster reimbursement. The more streamlined the intake, the fewer resubmissions are necessary, and the quicker your practice receives payments.

Moreover, when clients are fully informed about their co-pays and out-of-pocket expenses from the start, they are more likely to pay promptly. Transparent communication upfront fosters trust and eliminates any unpleasant surprises for the client when they receive their bills.

Nextus is Ready to Help

Nextus is committed to making your behavioral health revenue cycle more efficient and effective. By handling the administrative side, we allow you to focus on what you do best – providing excellent care to your clients.

If you’re ready to optimize your revenue cycle management, schedule a consultation with us. We’d love the opportunity to help your program thrive.