Bringing in the right help

Oconee Valley Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center located in Greensboro, Georgia, found itself grappling with challenges brought by staff attrition in their billing department. The loss of key personnel created a bottleneck in their operations, making it increasingly difficult to manage claims efficiently. Oconee recognized that they needed a robust, hands-on solution to address their billing inefficiencies.

They decided to engage with athenahealth’s Advisory Services to provide support tailored to their unique needs.

Bringing in experts to lighten the load

The Advisory Services team offered additional coding resources and implemented best practice recommendations that allowed Oconee Valley Health to stabilize its billing processes. This collaboration not only alleviated the immediate pressures on their internal team but also equipped them with the tools necessary for long-term success.

Over a span of nearly two years, Oconee Valley Health collected a significant amount in claims. They also saw significant improvements in their operational metrics, including a reduction in their rejection rate from 2.73% to 0.87% (a 31.9% reduction) and a decrease in their denial rate from 26.75% to 7.22% (a 27% reduction).*

Stephanie Myers, MAcc, RN-BSN, Chief Financial Officer at Oconee Valley Healthcare, shared her perspective on the engagement:

“As a healthcare provider, managing our billing efficiently is critical to our operations, and partnering with athenahealth Advisory Services has made a measurable difference. Before working with them, our pending claims consistently averaged around 1,200 outstanding, which created cash flow delays and administrative strain.

Since bringing their team on board, we’ve seen a dramatic improvement. Our outstanding claims have been reduced to an average of approximately 450, a shift that speaks volumes about their expertise in claims management. Their proactive approach to resolving issues and staying on top of submissions has significantly improved our revenue cycle performance and decreased the administrative burden of our small billing team.”

Learn how Advisory Services can support your organization

Oconee Valley Health’s experience serves as a powerful illustration of the impact that effective partnerships can have in overcoming healthcare challenges. By leveraging the expertise of athenahealth’s Advisory Services, they were able to navigate a critical period of staffing challenges. For organizations facing similar challenges, learn more about how athenahealth’s Advisory Services can help your organization achieve similar success and enhance patient care.