WestCare Health System Selects PMMC for Patients’ Written Estimates
Charlotte, NC, March 06, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Preferred Medical Marketing Corporation (PMMC), a Charlotte, NC based software and consulting firm announced that WestCare Health System has purchased and implemented PMMC Estimator PRO software to produce written estimates for patients.
WestCare is composed of two hospitals and several physician clinics serving Swain, Macon, Graham, and Jackson Counties in Western North Carolina. WestCare currently uses PMMC Estimator PRO at its main campus, Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva, N.C.
Today’s trend of employers and insurers offering high deductible health plans creates a greater need for providers to give patients an estimate of expected payments due. A good estimate can set expectations and decrease confusion for patients and their families starting at pre-registration through admitting and discharge. Ultimately, this gives hospital staff confidence to communicate with patients and collect money. Without a tool, hospital staff often struggle to create reliable and professional estimates.
PMMC is an industry leader in reimbursement audit and modeling tools as well as in hospital pricing, so PMMC Estimator PRO is a logical product development. It is a web-based software application that allows hospital users to create written estimates of expected charges and expected payment in a patient’s health plan for anticipated services. It can also incorporate current eligibility and benefit status.
One reason WestCare chose PMMC Estimator PRO is that PMMC offered an array of implementation packages which allowed the organization to select a product appropriate for their current needs. PMMC offers scalable implementation packages to hospitals.
For WestCare, the current need is to quote estimates for scheduled outpatient services for a specific set of governmental and commercial health plans. PMMC provides this functionality without requiring WestCare to purchase unwanted capabilities. If WestCare decides to expand its use of PMMC Estimator PRO, the terms for that are in place. This puts the hospital system in position for control of its operating expenses. WestCare used Return on Investment (ROI) tests to make their purchase decision.
Jennifer Sellers, Surgery and Financial Counselor of WestCare said they chose PMMC Estimator PRO because it provided the opportunity to rely on historical data and current reimbursement agreements, taking the guesswork out of calculating patient portion due. Since implementing PMMC Estimator PRO, Ms. Sellers has seen an increase in cash collections as well as an increase in customer satisfaction. She stated, “Several customers have complimented us on our new service and appreciate knowing well in advance exactly what to expect rather than a ball-park figure. We expect this trend in enhanced customer service and financial counseling to continue climbing. Working with Palmer Hamilton and the PMMC staff has been terrific and we are very happy with the software. Our monthly KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators) will surely reflect the increase in up-front collections.” Mr. Hamilton added, “WestCare presented us with a terrific opportunity to customize our process and deliver the right package for what they wanted.”
PMMC is a Microsoft-certified software development and consulting company. Since 1986, its innovative software and consultants have assisted more than 400 hospitals and 20,000 physician clients improve their financial operations through enhanced contract management, payment verification, cost accounting, financial decision support and consulting services. For more information, contact Greg Kay, 704-543-8103 or visit http://www.pmmconline.com.
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WestCare is composed of two hospitals and several physician clinics serving Swain, Macon, Graham, and Jackson Counties in Western North Carolina. WestCare currently uses PMMC Estimator PRO at its main campus, Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva, N.C.
Today’s trend of employers and insurers offering high deductible health plans creates a greater need for providers to give patients an estimate of expected payments due. A good estimate can set expectations and decrease confusion for patients and their families starting at pre-registration through admitting and discharge. Ultimately, this gives hospital staff confidence to communicate with patients and collect money. Without a tool, hospital staff often struggle to create reliable and professional estimates.
PMMC is an industry leader in reimbursement audit and modeling tools as well as in hospital pricing, so PMMC Estimator PRO is a logical product development. It is a web-based software application that allows hospital users to create written estimates of expected charges and expected payment in a patient’s health plan for anticipated services. It can also incorporate current eligibility and benefit status.
One reason WestCare chose PMMC Estimator PRO is that PMMC offered an array of implementation packages which allowed the organization to select a product appropriate for their current needs. PMMC offers scalable implementation packages to hospitals.
For WestCare, the current need is to quote estimates for scheduled outpatient services for a specific set of governmental and commercial health plans. PMMC provides this functionality without requiring WestCare to purchase unwanted capabilities. If WestCare decides to expand its use of PMMC Estimator PRO, the terms for that are in place. This puts the hospital system in position for control of its operating expenses. WestCare used Return on Investment (ROI) tests to make their purchase decision.
Jennifer Sellers, Surgery and Financial Counselor of WestCare said they chose PMMC Estimator PRO because it provided the opportunity to rely on historical data and current reimbursement agreements, taking the guesswork out of calculating patient portion due. Since implementing PMMC Estimator PRO, Ms. Sellers has seen an increase in cash collections as well as an increase in customer satisfaction. She stated, “Several customers have complimented us on our new service and appreciate knowing well in advance exactly what to expect rather than a ball-park figure. We expect this trend in enhanced customer service and financial counseling to continue climbing. Working with Palmer Hamilton and the PMMC staff has been terrific and we are very happy with the software. Our monthly KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators) will surely reflect the increase in up-front collections.” Mr. Hamilton added, “WestCare presented us with a terrific opportunity to customize our process and deliver the right package for what they wanted.”
PMMC is a Microsoft-certified software development and consulting company. Since 1986, its innovative software and consultants have assisted more than 400 hospitals and 20,000 physician clients improve their financial operations through enhanced contract management, payment verification, cost accounting, financial decision support and consulting services. For more information, contact Greg Kay, 704-543-8103 or visit http://www.pmmconline.com.
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Contact
Preferred Medical Marketing Corporation
Greg Kay
704-543-8103
www.PMMConline.com
Greg Kay
704-543-8103
www.PMMConline.com
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