Management of the revenue cycle in the healthcare environment

In the management of the revenue cycle in the healthcare environment, we have four clear steps: establishing effective policies and procedures, implementing/evaluating an accounting system, implementing/evaluating a medical records system, and implementing/evaluating a credit and collections system. Each of these steps are central to the success of the organization, and any weakness at just one of the steps leaves your organization critically vulnerable.
The passing of HIPAA (as a transactional standard) gives us the unique opportunity to improve revenue cycle performance. As you grow in financial managerial skills, it will help you to conceptualize the revenue cycle as a continuum, instead of a set of isolated happenings. This Module’s Case will challenge you to study each of the four steps, and then explain their central nature to organizational success.
Case Assignment
After completing the required readings:
1. What are the four distinct steps of the revenue cycle?
2. How does each portion of the cycle specifically support organizational success?
3. How does the economic status of the patient population and the patients’ ability to pay impact revenue cycle and viability of the organization?
4. How can revenue cycle management be improved using the five key areas noted by Dr. Nowicki (2018; see required background reading)?
5. Which step do you feel your organization (or most organizations) struggles with the most, and why? Be as specific as you can in your explanations.