With the push to maintain or lower healthcare cost, new delivery models are emerging in the United States. A driving goal behind these trends is to maintain a high quality of patient care, while lowering overall healthcare expenses.
ABCS RCM is actively watching these trends and assisting health professionals in order to stay ahead of these changes. As a medical billing company, we assist health professionals with claim submissions and follow-up, denial management, the posting of payments and more. We are constantly monitoring these new trends in order to deliver the best possible customer service and advice to our clients.
New Healthcare Delivery Models:
- Ambulatory Surgery Centers – A model of care that exists between the primary care clinic and a hospital. Focus on providing the same level of care as a traditional hospital, but at a lower cost.
- Urgency Rooms/Urgent Care – These can usually perform medical procedures at a lower cost than a traditional emergency room (ER) in a hospital. Their goal is to offer the same level of care as a traditional emergency room.
- Telemedicine/Telehealth – This delivery model greatly expands the reach of a clinician. By using newer video-conferencing technology, telemedicine increases access to healthcare while substantially controlling cost. (For more information, refer to the previous week’s post.)
- Retail and Virtual Clinics – Usually located in shopping centers or malls, these provide easier access for a patient wishing to receive general medical advice and treatment.
- Growth in Post-Acute Care – The goal is to have patients sent home from the hospital as soon as possible. A medical clinician may even visit the patient at their home. Eldercare and SNFs have expanded into this medical area.
- Expanding Emphasize on Self Care – This can include everything from the use of health tracking devices (ex. Fitbits) to connecting to an internet hub that provides access to healthcare experts. Patients can receive care from the comfort of their homes.
- All of these trends correspond with the same trend lines that Medicare’s data has pointed out. From 2000 – 2013, outpatient care has grown at a much faster rate than inpatient care. The expansion of outpatient care is projected to maintain this growth over the next decade.
Source: University of Minnesota
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For additional information on changes in healthcare delivery models here:
New Models, Healthcare Delivery