Providing patients with accurate upfront estimates for out-of-pocket costs ensures price transparency and compliance with the 2022 No Surprise Act (NSA), with the opportunity to collect payments right away or create a payment plan. And by ensuring eligibility and pre-authorization when required, radiology departments and practices can avoid late cancellations and gaps in the schedule where imaging equipment may be idle and not fully utilized. This is particularly relevant for exams that require certain conditions be met, such as having a radiologist on site during contrast administration.

Solutions to streamline these common daily tasks with workflow AI are becoming available and may be offered by PACS/RIS manufacturers. These solutions should be integrated into the existing administrative workflow and not as a standalone system. Implementing these solutions in a radiology practice does more than increase administrative productivity: it can also improve the quality and timeliness of patient care, enhance the patient and staff experience, assist the staff in helping guide the patient through their clinical pathway, and provide financial benefits for practices by capturing the appropriate fees from insurance and patients.


About the author: Tim Kearns is the director of marketing, HCIT, at Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc.

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