Practice Management

Hi,

I'm trying to take a straw poll on how many practices have a policy in place to not schedule an MRI/CT/PET etc without having the authorization number?  We strive to be patient-centric but we also recognize that we create a lot of internal and external issues when we allow for scheduling without having auth in place.  Just trying to see if there's a trend in what most other groups do?

Thanks,

Gerry


------------------------------
Gerald Nannen
Executive Business Director
Windsong Radiology Group, P.C.
Williamsville NY
716-817-7199
------------------------------

Hi Gerald,
We do not have a written policy in place as much as an operational understanding. We do not schedule advanced imaging studies unless prior authorization has been obtained if needed.

We schedule for MRI, and PET/CT for outpatient facilities.

Warm regards,
Shannon Wilson, FRBMA
Practice Manager
Bay Imaging Consultants
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Original Message------

Hi,

I'm trying to take a straw poll on how many practices have a policy in place to not schedule an MRI/CT/PET etc without having the authorization number?  We strive to be patient-centric but we also recognize that we create a lot of internal and external issues when we allow for scheduling without having auth in place.  Just trying to see if there's a trend in what most other groups do?

Thanks,

Gerry


------------------------------
Gerald Nannen
Executive Business Director
Windsong Radiology Group, P.C.
Williamsville NY
716-817-7199
------------------------------

Original Message------

Hi,

I'm trying to take a straw poll on how many practices have a policy in place to not schedule an MRI/CT/PET etc without having the authorization number?  We strive to be patient-centric but we also recognize that we create a lot of internal and external issues when we allow for scheduling without having auth in place.  Just trying to see if there's a trend in what most other groups do?

Thanks,

Gerry


------------------------------
Gerald Nannen
Executive Business Director
Windsong Radiology Group, P.C.
Williamsville NY
716-817-7199
------------------------------

We will schedule all imaging exams at our OP centers without the auth in place. Our scheduling teams have a tool we called the preauth matrix that lists how far out to book each exam based on the plan and how long it takes on average to obtain an auth.
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Original Message------

We do with the exception of United Healthcare – whose administrative guidelines clearly stipulate an authorization must be obtained prior to scheduling high tech radiology.

 

Philip Collins

Director of Business Services

Southwest Diagnostic Imaging Center

(214) 345-4141 – Office

(214) 345-2099 – Fax

(214) 770-8622 - Cell

 

 

8230 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 100

Dallas, Texas 75231

www.swdic.com

 

​Good morning,
We schedule MRI/CT/PET exams before they have authorization.  This does pose some challenges but also helps us fill our first available time slots too.  It is a trade off...  As a solution we do have notes about some insurances to not schedule those exams for 48-72 hrs. and we have some notes from certain referring doctors that they do not want their exams scheduled before a certain time frame.  These scheduling notes help a lot!

Thanks for the great question and conversation starter!


------------------------------

STACY SANSO
Georgetown Clinic Manager
ARA Diagnostic Imaging
3201 S. Austin Ave. Ste. 105| Georgetown, TX 78626
sansos@ausrad.com
www.ausrad.com
t: 512.863.4648 x2610
f: 512.869.1340

AUSTIN TOP WORKPLACE 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2015
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-28-2019 14:33
From: Philip Collins
Subject: Scheduling without Pre-Authorization

We do with the exception of United Healthcare – whose administrative guidelines clearly stipulate an authorization must be obtained prior to scheduling high tech radiology.

 

Philip Collins

Director of Business Services

Southwest Diagnostic Imaging Center

(214) 345-4141 – Office

(214) 345-2099 – Fax

(214) 770-8622 - Cell

 

 

8230 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 100

Dallas, Texas 75231

www.swdic.com

 

Original Message------

Hi,

I'm trying to take a straw poll on how many practices have a policy in place to not schedule an MRI/CT/PET etc without having the authorization number?  We strive to be patient-centric but we also recognize that we create a lot of internal and external issues when we allow for scheduling without having auth in place.  Just trying to see if there's a trend in what most other groups do?

Thanks,

Gerry


------------------------------
Gerald Nannen
Executive Business Director
Windsong Radiology Group, P.C.
Williamsville NY
716-817-7199
------------------------------

We will  not schedule for PET unless authorization in on file or we have verbal authorization and paperwork is on the way.  When cases go peer to peer we proactively contact the patient to notify them of situation and schedule out 10 days.  
Regards, ​

------------------------------
Dawn Krueckeberg
Billing Operations Manager
Fort Wayne Radiology
Fort Wayne
260-469-4766
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-28-2019 14:06
From: Gerald Nannen
Subject: Scheduling without Pre-Authorization

Hi,

I'm trying to take a straw poll on how many practices have a policy in place to not schedule an MRI/CT/PET etc without having the authorization number?  We strive to be patient-centric but we also recognize that we create a lot of internal and external issues when we allow for scheduling without having auth in place.  Just trying to see if there's a trend in what most other groups do?

Thanks,

Gerry


------------------------------
Gerald Nannen
Executive Business Director
Windsong Radiology Group, P.C.
Williamsville NY
716-817-7199
------------------------------

We schedule patients with lead times related to the average time to receive confirmation on the pre-auth.

Like Janine Walker who mentions her preauth matrix we have one, too which is the only way to schedule without any last-minute issues.

We have had patients who insist on having a scan with long wait times to secure the pre-auth (thank you UHC...) so we charge them our cash or no-insurance rate.

However, this all to frequently leads to unhappy patients after the scan who now insist it should be billed to their insurance company.

We ask them to submit our bill for reimbursement, but really too many hassles.

Of course, pre-auths consume too much administrative time and we would like to see it done hands-off in a quick and automated way.

Does anyone have experience with these third-parties who offer to automate pre-0auths by integrating into your scheduling system?

I believe this is universally sorely needed and am happy to collaborate with anyone to find a better and less time-consuming method to accomplish this task.




------------------------------
William Kisse
COO
Washington Open MRI, Inc.
Rockville, MD
bill@womri.com
(301) 424-4888
https://www.linkedin.com/in/billkisse/
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-28-2019 14:06
From: Gerald Nannen
Subject: Scheduling without Pre-Authorization

Hi,

I'm trying to take a straw poll on how many practices have a policy in place to not schedule an MRI/CT/PET etc without having the authorization number?  We strive to be patient-centric but we also recognize that we create a lot of internal and external issues when we allow for scheduling without having auth in place.  Just trying to see if there's a trend in what most other groups do?

Thanks,

Gerry


------------------------------
Gerald Nannen
Executive Business Director
Windsong Radiology Group, P.C.
Williamsville NY
716-817-7199
------------------------------

I realized I never responded.  First, thanks to all that responded, it's helpful to see how others are handling this pretty important issue.  Bill, to your specific question, I do not have experience with the 3rd party companies but I would also be interested to hear if anyone has worked with a vendor and how their experience has been including any measurable results.

Gerry

------------------------------
Gerald Nannen
Executive Business Director
Windsong Radiology Group, P.C.
Williamsville NY
716-817-7199
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-11-2019 13:41
From: William Kisse
Subject: Scheduling without Pre-Authorization

We schedule patients with lead times related to the average time to receive confirmation on the pre-auth.

Like Janine Walker who mentions her preauth matrix we have one, too which is the only way to schedule without any last-minute issues.

We have had patients who insist on having a scan with long wait times to secure the pre-auth (thank you UHC...) so we charge them our cash or no-insurance rate.

However, this all to frequently leads to unhappy patients after the scan who now insist it should be billed to their insurance company.

We ask them to submit our bill for reimbursement, but really too many hassles.

Of course, pre-auths consume too much administrative time and we would like to see it done hands-off in a quick and automated way.

Does anyone have experience with these third-parties who offer to automate pre-0auths by integrating into your scheduling system?

I believe this is universally sorely needed and am happy to collaborate with anyone to find a better and less time-consuming method to accomplish this task.




------------------------------
William Kisse
COO
Washington Open MRI, Inc.
Rockville, MD
bill@womri.com
(301) 424-4888
https://www.linkedin.com/in/billkisse/

Original Message:
Sent: 08-28-2019 14:06
From: Gerald Nannen
Subject: Scheduling without Pre-Authorization

Hi,

I'm trying to take a straw poll on how many practices have a policy in place to not schedule an MRI/CT/PET etc without having the authorization number?  We strive to be patient-centric but we also recognize that we create a lot of internal and external issues when we allow for scheduling without having auth in place.  Just trying to see if there's a trend in what most other groups do?

Thanks,

Gerry


------------------------------
Gerald Nannen
Executive Business Director
Windsong Radiology Group, P.C.
Williamsville NY
716-817-7199
------------------------------

Original Message------

I realized I never responded.  First, thanks to all that responded, it's helpful to see how others are handling this pretty important issue.  Bill, to your specific question, I do not have experience with the 3rd party companies but I would also be interested to hear if anyone has worked with a vendor and how their experience has been including any measurable results.

Gerry

------------------------------
Gerald Nannen
Executive Business Director
Windsong Radiology Group, P.C.
Williamsville NY
716-817-7199
------------------------------