Exploring Smart Worklists: Prioritizing Tasks for Improved Denial Management in Healthcare

Healthcare organizations face several challenges in managing denials, which leads to financial losses. Studies show that providers may lose around 15% of their revenue due to issues in traditional revenue cycle management (RCM) processes. Common problems include poor task management and insufficient claim tracking. These factors can turn simple denials into complicated disputes.

Many medical practices still depend on manual processes to go through denial reports and spreadsheets, wasting time and resources. There is a strong need for a systematic approach to prioritize and address these denials. Smart worklists can provide a solution.

The Role of Smart Worklists in Denial Management

Smart worklists are tools that help healthcare teams prioritize their tasks effectively. They simplify workflows by highlighting important claims based on certain criteria, which allows managers to use their resources better.

Smart worklists operate by filtering data according to specific metrics, including denial reasons and claim values. This functionality helps professionals focus on important claims rather than feeling overwhelmed by the number of denials.

Benefits of Implementing Smart Worklists

  • Enhanced Prioritization: Smart worklists identify claims that need immediate action, maximizing recovery potential. By focusing on high-priority claims, organizations can clear pending appeals and improve cash flow.
  • Increased Efficiency: Healthcare teams can handle denials more quickly. Users of smart worklists often report significant increases in the number of monthly appeals processed. One billing specialist increased their output from 30 to 300 appeals by using these tools.
  • Reduced Denial Aging: Aging claims worsen the issue of unpaid revenue. Smart worklists streamline follow-up processes, aiming to lower the number of claims older than 180 days.
  • Facilitating Team Collaboration: Smart worklists promote collaboration within billing teams. Clear priorities help team members work together towards common objectives, improving overall efficiency.
  • Real-Time Insights and Reporting: These tools assist with prioritization and provide valuable analytics. Users can identify trends in denials and claim processing, which can guide future strategies and training efforts.

The Impact of AI and Workflow Automation

Automating Denial Management with AI

Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into smart worklist strategies enhances denial management operations. AI platforms can process large amounts of data quickly, helping to identify trends and provide alerts for managers.

Predictive analytics allow AI to spot patterns in payer adjudication, flagging the claims most likely to be denied. This integration can also lead to automated workflows, which simplify the resolution process.

For example, the Adonis platform uses machine learning to improve revenue cycle management. It identifies underpayment patterns and denial reasons, allowing teams to focus on promising queries and prioritize tasks effectively. Automation of repetitive tasks helps billing specialists concentrate on more critical issues.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

RPA can lighten the administrative load involved in claims management. Routine tasks such as data entry and follow-up alerts can be automated, enabling teams to focus on complex denial issues that require human skills.

An example is the AlphaCollector tool by Netsmart. It integrates RPA to optimize claims follow-up, assigning tasks based on collectors’ skills and priorities. This ensures timely action on outstanding claims and boosts medical practice productivity.

Industry Application and Case Studies

Many healthcare organizations in the U.S. are recognizing the need to optimize their denial management through smart worklists and automated solutions.

Tend and Adonis Partnership

An example of this is the partnership between Tend, a dental service organization, and Adonis, an RCM software provider. Tend seeks to enhance its billing processes using Adonis’s smart worklists to identify high-value claims and improve visibility into underpayments and denial trends. This collaboration aims to modernize Tend’s revenue cycle management across its locations.

Troy Bage, CEO of Tend, noted Adonis’s focus on developing technology that eases the burden of revenue cycle tasks. Partnerships like this reflect a broader trend of integrating technology in healthcare, showing how smart worklists impact revenue recovery and patient care.

Rivet’s Claim Resolution System

Another innovative solution is Rivet’s Claim Resolution, which improves denial management by offering customizable worklists. This platform has helped users process more claims efficiently. Managers reported claims being flagged within a week of denial, speeding up resolution times.

Through detailed reporting, Rivet’s system enhances denial management practices, capturing lost revenue through effective training and knowledge retention for staff.

Scaling Revenue Cycle Management Solutions

As healthcare practices grow, scalable revenue cycle management becomes essential. Smart worklists and AI tools need to adapt to the specific needs of different medical specialties.

Organizations like Adonis and Veradigm are leading this movement by providing customizable workflows and analytics. These solutions ensure providers can handle more claims without losing focus on patient care.

Trends in Smart Worklist Adoption

The use of smart worklists is increasing as medical practices see the advantages of data-driven decisions. Industry leaders are using analytics to understand denial patterns and adjust their processes proactively. The ongoing development of technology will likely enhance these strategies, encouraging more healthcare organizations to adopt automation and data analysis in their revenue cycle management.

Conclusion of the Article

Tools like smart worklists, AI, and robotic process automation are changing the way healthcare manages denials. By improving task prioritization and automating everyday processes, these solutions help organizations recover lost revenue while focusing on patient care.

Healthcare administrators and IT managers should view these technologies as vital parts of their operations. Implementing smart worklists effectively can lead to better workflows and a more sustainable revenue cycle management system, ensuring that healthcare organizations can thrive in challenging times.