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Press Release
nTelagent’s Self-Pay Management System Endorsed by ShareCor, a Subsidiary of Louisiana Hospital Association and Metropolitan Hospital Council of New Orleans
Member Hospitals Will Have Access to nTelagent’s SPMS, the Retail Application for the Healthcare Industry, to Better Serve Self-Pay Patients, Improve Upfront and Overall Cash Collections, Decrease Bad Debt and Ensure Compliance
January 14, 2009 (Nashville, Tenn.) --- Because of a new partnership between Nashville-based nTelagent, Inc. and ShareCor, hospitals in Louisiana will have access to the tools and technology they need to better serve both insured and uninsured patients. ShareCor is a subsidiary of the Louisiana Hospital Association (LHA) and the Metropolitan Hospital Council of New Orleans (MHCNO).
nTelagent’s proprietary Self-Pay Management System (SPMS), the Retail Application for the healthcare industry, is revolutionizing the way providers interact with patients at the point of service regarding financial responsibilities. Similar to applications used in the retail industry at the point of sale, the company’s automated system tells healthcare registrars and financial counselors exactly what to do and what to say to each patient regarding financial responsibilities at the point of service.
“Hospitals and other healthcare providers throughout the state of Louisiana are facing numerous challenges, from accurately documenting charity care and applying discounts to collecting appropriate payments upfront from the individual patient to decreasing bad debt. Sadly, the bad-debt challenge has been compounded in Louisiana by multiple hurricanes,” said Mike Mouisset, CEO of ShareCor. “As we continue to focus on reimbursement issues, as well as the financial viability of our hospitals, we are excited to bring nTelagent’s Self-Pay Management System to our membership. We believe that the system effectively and uniquely addresses some of the healthcare industry’s biggest struggles.”
Through ShareCor, over 200 hospitals and health entities will have access to SPMS at discounted pricing. The average implementation period is from four to six weeks, and usage fees are based on the volume of patient registrations.
For patients with a low capacity to pay for their care, the company’s predictive modeling technologies provide an online interface at the point of service that identifies charity care as well as appropriate third-party payors such as federal, state and local governments. SPMS identifies and acts on behalf of patients who are eligible for but not yet enrolled in entitlement programs such as Medicaid and Social Security Disability Insurance, providing outreach and advocacy services to facilitate their enrollment.
The system also helps hospitals to comply with the Federal Trade Commission’s “Red Flag and Address Discrepancy Rules,” which become mandatory in 2009, as well as other state and federal regulations. SPMS allows patient access staff to immediately verify and validate patient identity at the point of service, reducing the risk of fraudulent activity.
“We at nTelagent are excited about this alliance with ShareCor, and we look forward to providing member organizations the solutions they need to adjust to healthcare’s current retail-based revenue cycle model,” said Earl T. Winter, chairman and CEO of nTelagent. “Because our system automates the front end of the revenue cycle, patients are informed of their financial responsibilities right from the start, which leads to fewer surprises regarding the final bill, improved patient relations, and appropriate collections on the front end for providers.”
Moving workflow to the front end of the revenue cycle, nTelagent helps providers to ensure a better patient experience through clearer communication and better handling of patient accounts, while improving upfront and overall cash flow, receivables and profitability by reducing bad debt. Using non-credit scoring data, SPMS provides interactive scripts that integrate patient demographic information with each provider’s business policies and rules. The system allows for price transparency and automatically identifies discounting options, allowing the front-line staff to instantaneously offer and document financing terms.
About ShareCor
SHARECOR is a shared services company, which provides opportunities for its members through negotiated contracts for services. The mission of ShareCor is to improve the financial viability of Louisiana hospitals through cost effective and innovative programs and services, while supporting the missions of the parent organizations.
About nTelagent, Inc.
nTelagent, Inc. has developed The Retail Application for the healthcare industry, called the Self-Pay Management System (SPMS). Similar to applications used in the retail industry at the point of sale, the company’s proprietary, automated system tells healthcare registrars and financial counselors exactly what to do and what to say to each patient at the point of service regarding financial responsibilities. Moving workflow to the front end of the revenue cycle, nTelagent helps providers ensure a better patient experience through clearer communication and better handling of patient accounts, while improving upfront and overall cash flow, receivables and profitability by reducing bad debt. Using non-credit scoring data, SPMS provides interactive scripts that integrate patient demographic information with each provider’s business policies and rules. The system allows for price transparency and automatically identifies discounting options, social services eligibility and charity care options when applicable, ensuring that patient financial accounting—for both insured and uninsured patients—is handled appropriately and consistently. Visit www.ntelagent.com for more information.
