COVID-19 has resulted in an increasing number of patients losing health coverage and hospitals losing revenue associated with uninsured patients. At the same time, more patient encounters qualify for reimbursement than ever before due to the passage of the Affordable Care Act and its impact on Medicaid availability. In addition to Medicaid, there are dozens of federal, state and private programs that cover the uninsured that are not being utilized effectively.
In response to this challenge, the AAHAM has just published a new article Maximizing Medicaid Eligibility to Manage the Self-Pay Patient Population in its Winter 2021 Journal. Authored by Jeff Nieman, Meduit CEO, and Christine Adams, Vice President of Client Engagement for Meduit, the article covers how hospitals and health systems can better manage the growing population of uninsured Americans and reduce uncompensated patient care by enrolling qualified patients in Medicaid and other programs.
The article also references automated technologies that support efficient Medicaid enrollment and identify additional programs that help pay for care. When more patients are covered for their whole health, hospitals and health systems also benefit from reimbursements. It’s a win-win for patients and providers alike.