Top Revenue Cycle Key Performance Indicators For Success

Key performance indicators (KPIs) are essential for any business, and the revenue cycle is no exception. KPIs allow companies to measure performance in key areas, identify areas of improvement, and track progress throughout an organization. Regarding the revenue cycle, there are several KPIs healthcare professionals use to measure success.

Medical Industry: Revenue Cycle Key Performance Indicators

In the medical industry, KPIs are metrics used to measure the effectiveness and efficiency of a company's medical revenue cycle. By using KPIs, businesses can understand the efficiency of their operations, identify areas requiring improvements, and measure their overall financial success.

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Why Do Revenue Cycle KPIs Matter In Healthcare Businesses?

To manage a medical practice or healthcare business, it is essential to closely monitor numerous metrics. KPIs are a practical way to measure revenue cycle performance, analyze improvement areas, and track an organization's progress. Regarding the medical industry, revenue cycle KPIs are the essential metrics used to measure financial success and identify areas for improvement.

KPIs are helpful because they provide a way to measure performance, set goals, and track progress over time. By setting tangible goals with KPIs, businesses can better comprehend what is working and what needs to be added to the revenue cycle process. This can help them improve operations and customer service, boost profitability, reduce waste and errors, and increase overall success.

How To Create Revenue Cycle KPIs For Business Goals

When creating revenue cycle KPIs, the most important thing is to select metrics that reflect your business goals and objectives. It is also beneficial to establish measurable targets for each KPI. This allows businesses to set goals and track progress over time. Here are steps for creating your revenue cycle KPIs: 

1. Determine Your End Goal

Pinpointing your ultimate goal is the first step in developing revenue cycle KPIs. Ask yourself what you want to realize with your KPIs and how they will help you attain that purpose. Do you desire to minimize accounts receivable days, augment the collection rate, or shrink the denial rate? Once you have singled out your desired result, you can craft KPIs that calculate progress toward that goal.

2. Ask Key Questions

Once you have identified your goal, it's essential to develop key performance questions (KPQs) that will help track progress. KPQs are tailored, quantifiable inquiries used to gauge the efficacy of a given procedure. They are an excellent tool for designing KPIs, as they help businesses stay focused on their desired outcomes.

3. Cross Check The Information You Already Have

Identifying what information you already have is essential in creating revenue cycle KPIs. Look at your existing data and determine what metrics you are already tracking that could be used as KPIs. This will help create a practical KPI framework grounded in your current operations.

4. Collect Supporting Data

Collecting supporting data is an essential step in creating revenue cycle KPIs. You can use this data to measure the performance of your KPIs and provide additional insight into the performance of your processes.Common supporting data types include patient demographics, insurance information, payment history, and claims data.

5. Figure Out How Often Each KPI Should Be Monitored

When creating revenue cycle KPIs, it is essential to determine the measurement frequency. Depending on the specific KPI, this could involve monitoring daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly metrics. The selected frequency needs to allow for the data to be collected and analyzed in a timely manner without overwhelming the organization with too much information.

For example, tracking accounts receivable days should be done daily to ensure timely payment of invoices. Alternatively, tracking the number of patient visits should be done monthly to get an overview of how well a practice is doing.

6. Set Short- and Long-Term Goals

Creating measurable, achievable goals for your KPIs is crucial to establishing revenue cycle KPIs. Short-term objectives can be accomplished in a few weeks or months, while long-term targets may take up to a year or more. Setting these goals allows you to track your progress and determine the areas that require additional work.

7. Delegate Responsibility For KPIs

Assigning accountability for revenue cycle KPIs is a crucial step in setting up the system. It's essential to identify the individuals or teams responsible for tracking and managing each KPI. This guarantees that personnel consistently monitor KPIs and can eliminate problems in streamlining them. 

8. Share KPIs With Appropriate Leadership And Stakeholders

Sharing your KPIs with the exemplary leadership and stakeholders is essential, so everyone can be informed and take action if necessary. This includes notifying executive leadership, finance teams, and other relevant parties of the KPIs and their progress.

What Are The Common Healthcare Revenue Cycle KPIs?

As each practice and financial institution is unique in its processes, there is no one-size-fits-all KPI for revenue cycle management. According to the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), the following KPIs are the most important for healthcare organizations to measure:

Point-Of-Sale Service Cash Collections

The number of payments received from point-of-sale services over a given period is an essential measure of cash collections. This metric shows how quickly the practice is receiving payments and whether it needs to make any adjustments to improve that process.

Denial Rate

The percentage of denied claims for payment by health plans is another important KPI, as it can show potential issues with coding accuracy or patient eligibility. Tracking this metric will help to quickly identify and address any problems.

Accounts Receivable Days

Comparing the amount of time it takes to collect payments from patients and health plans is an excellent measure of payment effectiveness. Keeping a close eye on accounts receivable days allows you to adjust collection policies if needed and ensure timely payment.

Adjusted Collections Ratio

The adjusted collections ratio compares the total amount collected to the amount due for services rendered over a specific period of time. This metric can be used to identify any discrepancies between payments received and expected amounts, allowing you to take corrective action quickly.

Total Discharged Not Billed

Total discharged not billed is the total amount of claims not sent to insurance companies for payment over a specific period. This metric can help identify billing issues and ensure that all services are properly billed and claims paid.

Bad Debt

Bad debt is a KPI that measures the amount of money owed to a company that is unlikely to be collected. It can be caused by customers who are unable or unwilling to pay their invoices or by errors in billing processes. Companies should monitor their bad debt levels closely and take steps to reduce them, such as offering payment plans or improving billing accuracy.

Late Charge-Off Rate

The late charge-off rate is the percentage of overdue accounts that will not be collected. It is an essential metric to track, as it can reveal problems with billing processes or customer service. Keeping this number low is necessary for maintaining a healthy revenue cycle.

Cost To Collect

The cost to collect is a crucial metric that measures the amount of money spent on collecting payments. It can include costs associated with paper bills, payment processing fees, and staff time. Keeping a close eye on this KPI ensures that collection costs remain low and efficient processes are in place.

Resolve Rate

The resolve rate is the percentage of claims processed or resolved within a specific timeframe. It can measure how effectively the revenue cycle team responds to inquiries and resolves issues. Tracking this KPI helps identify any problems, like rejected claims, and take action quickly.

Net Patient Service Revenue

Net patient service revenue (NSR) is the total amount received for services rendered, minus any discounts or write-offs. This KPI can help identify any potential problems with billing accuracy and ensure that practices are maximizing their income from the services provided.

Get The Best RCM Software On The Market!

Enter.Health provides a comprehensive RCM software solution that helps healthcare organizations streamline their billing and collections processes. The software includes features such as automated claims processing, patient eligibility verification, and analytics to help identify areas of improvement. 

Contact us today to learn how Enter.Health can help your organization optimize its revenue cycle efficiency and maximize cash flow.