Understanding the Impacts of Accepting a Statement Run in Epic

What Happens When You Hit “Accept” on a Statement Run? Let’s Break It Down!

So, you’re working with Epic Resolute Professional Billing, and you’ve just hit that crucial button to accept a statement run. But have you ever thought about what exactly happens behind the scenes? It’s a little like starting a race; once that gun goes off, everything starts moving, and there’s a lot happening all at once. Let’s take a peek behind the curtain and see what this process entails.

Guarantor Accounts: The Unsung Heroes of Billing

When you accept a statement run, one of the first things that happens is a simple yet vital action: the guarantor accounts get stamped with a statement sent date. You might think, “So what? Why is this important?” Well, here’s the thing — that stamp acts like a timestamp on a letter you’d send. It tells everyone involved when the statement was officially dispatched.

This little detail aids in tracking how long it takes for payments to arrive and ensures that the whole revenue cycle management (RCM) process stays on track. Imagine trying to solve a puzzle without knowing when a piece was put in place. It’d be a bit messy, right? This timestamp helps piece everything together smoothly.

Keeping Tabs: Communication is Key

By linking the statement to a specific date, you're not just crossing off a checklist item; you’re also maintaining transparency. Both the billing department and the guarantor (the person responsible for making the payment) benefit from knowing when that statement was issued. It’s like keeping a calendar with important dates marked clearly—if questions arise later, everyone can refer back to that date, making it easier to resolve any issues or discrepancies.

Ultimately, this clarity ensures smoother communication, which can cut down on any future headaches. You know how frustrating it can be when there’s a misunderstanding, right? Having this kind of record helps prevent a lot of miscommunication down the line.

What Happens to the Other Choices? Let’s Keep It Real

Now, let’s take a moment to unpack the other options you might come across.

• Each HAR (Hospital Account Record): There could be a thought that each HAR included in those statements may have its self-pay follow-up level incremented. Although this is an important aspect of managing follow-ups, it doesn’t happen immediately upon accepting the statement run. Instead, that level gets updated internally during another part of the process. Think of it like a secondary layer that gets activated after the initial statement is sent out.

• Removing the Statement Run from Epic: Another choice implies that the statement run is removed from Epic. This is a bit misleading. Essentially, the statement run doesn’t just vanish into thin air once accepted. It remains in the system for record-keeping and reporting. It’s a bit like a passing grade in school — it’s there in your records, and it’s not going anywhere.

• Printing Statements: Okay, now let’s talk about printing. If you thought acceptance meant the statements are printed right away, that’s close but not quite accurate. While printing is an important function, it often precedes acceptance in many workflows. So, the whole production line of printing requires its chunk of time before you ever hit that “accept” button.

The Ripple Effect of Acceptance

Okay, but why all this fuss over just one action? Well, when the statement run is accepted, it kickstarts a cascading effect within the billing process. This finalizes the cycle of billing for services rendered and sets the stage for further steps like payment processing and follow-ups.

Think of it this way: once the statement dates are stamped on the guarantor accounts, the ball starts rolling. Payments can be tracked, queries may arise, and future billing adjustments are made smoother. Plus, if a patient has questions regarding their bill, having that time-stamped reference makes it easier to jog everyone’s memory.

Wrapping It All Up: The Big Picture

At the end of the day, nailing down the details behind a statement run in Epic Resolute Professional Billing can give you a huge advantage in understanding the flow of operations in healthcare billing. Knowing that accepting a statement run leads to accurately stamped dates on guarantor accounts is just one piece in a larger puzzle. Remember, clarity in billing processes not only helps the organization but also fosters good relationships with patients by keeping them informed every step of the way.

And let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to garden more trust in these relationships? So next time you hit that “accept” button, take a moment to think about all the behind-the-scenes actions it triggers—it’s a lot more impactful than you might have initially realized!