Benefits of AR Management & AR Calling in Healthcare RCM
5 Benefits of AR Management & AR Calling in Healthcare RCM
Managing finances in a healthcare setting is never simple. Between patient care, insurance claims, and keeping operations running, medical practices often face delays in payments that affect everything A to Z. This is why most healthcare providers turn to AR (accounts receivable) management and AR callers.
What is AR Management, and Why Does it Matter?
AR management is the process of tracking and collecting payments owed by insurance companies and patients. Think of it as everything that happens between the moment a patient books an appointment with you and the day you actually get paid.
Say, you have an average AR of 60 days, which means it’s taking two months to collect payments. Ideally, that number should be closer to 25 days. Anything longer starts to hurt your cash flow and indicates growing “aging AR” (basically, unpaid invoices that are getting older and harder to collect).
Poor AR management impacts your revenue and operations, and leaves you spending more time chasing after it than treating patients.
So, What Does AR Calling Do?
AR calling is a focused effort to follow up on those unpaid claims, whether it’s with insurance companies or directly with patients. It’s not just about dialing numbers and reading standard scripts. It’s about skilled communication, navigating billing codes, resolving disputes, and getting claims back on track.
Here’s how AR calling and effective AR management help healthcare organizations stay financially healthy:
1.Streamlined cash flow and faster payments
Healthcare providers rely on timely payments to pay staff, maintain facilities, and invest in providing better care. AR calling speeds things up. AR teams reach out to insurers and patients faster and follow up more efficiently, which reduces delays.
Automated systems also help. Reminders sent to patients about outstanding balances can make a big difference. People are often more likely to pay when they’re reminded on time.
2.Revenue Optimization
Every unpaid claim is a potential revenue loss. Without proper follow-up, claims can get denied, lost, or written off. AR management ensures that doesn’t happen. Skilled AR teams know how to submit claims, avoid errors, and appeal denials quickly.
Practices with effective AR management often keep denial rates under 5%, which directly translates to better revenue performance.
3. Increase patient communication and satisfaction
Patients get frustrated when there’s confusion in billing. If they don’t understand why they owe something, or if they can’t get clear answers, they may delay payment—or find another provider.
AR calling opens up that line of communication. Patients are respectfully informed about their balances, know what to expect, and feel supported. This kind of proactive communication improves trust in you. And when patients trust their providers, they’re more likely to pay what they owe.
4.Reduced Accounts Receivable
When medical claims sit unpaid for months, they often stay that way. AR calling helps medical billing teams catch those accounts before they slip through the cracks.
Timely follow-ups reduce the amount of aging AR and help convert those lingering balances into actual revenue. It makes a huge difference to a healthcare practice’s financial stability.
5. Compliance and data security
There’s also the matter of compliance, which is very important. AR management professionals stay on top of the compliance rules and ensure claims are coded correctly, privacy is maintained, and documentation is up to date. This not only protects against penalties but also improves the chances of getting paid on time.
Some AR calling systems even include analytics tools. These tools don’t just show what’s happening; they also help billing teams figure out “why” it’s happening, helping healthcare providers fix the root causes.
When to Outsource AR Management
Not every healthcare organization has the staff or resources to handle AR in-house. Between claim submissions, appeals, patient calls, and compliance checks, managing it all internally can quickly overwhelm even the best teams.
That’s why many providers are choosing to outsource parts—or all—of their AR process. Here are some areas where outsourcing makes sense:
- Claim Processing: Outsourcing medical claims processing helps reduce errors and speed up the revenue cycle.
- Denial Management: Specialists know how to resolve denials, improve appeals, and increase revenue.
- Payment Posting: Automated systems and experienced staff reduce manual errors.
- Follow-ups and Collections: Outsourced teams can stay on top of overdue accounts without bothering resources from other teams.
When considering outsourcing, it’s worth looking at three things: the vendor’s experience, the overall cost-effectiveness, and how it might affect your patients.
Why Healthcare Providers Choose Infognana Solutions as their AR Outsourcing Partner
Many healthcare providers have turned to Infognana Solutions as their AR management and AR calling partner for good reason. With over 25 years of experience in healthcare revenue cycle management, Infognana offers more than just trained professionals. They bring a strategic approach that focuses on reducing AR days, improving payment timelines, and ensuring accuracy across the board. Whether it’s following up on claims, appealing denials, or helping patients understand their bills, we handle every detail.