Administrator’s Bi-Weekly Review For Week Ending June 10th

 Continued Dedicated Service to Our Community

Administrator’s Bi-Weekly Review

For Week Ending June 10th, 2023

A Council Grove summer is well under way when the Washunga festival is again in our rearview mirror. The weather held off for a very nice event from beginning to end and as a member of the Chamber, I want to thank everyone who attended, volunteered, and/or sponsored the event. It’s too early to know any outcomes compared to prior years, but it is great to say that there were no significant casualties (sunburns not included).

One other Community event I will mention is a Housing Summit being held this Thursday night at the Dealership Building (6:30). Anyone who has an interest as a builder, investor, financer and/or developer in improving housing options for our City and County, is welcome to attend and will likely learn of some State funding opportunities as well as some recent considerations from the City of Council Grove.

Last week brought anticipated surveys to the White City Clinic and to the Assisted Living Center, both of which came out with rather nice scores, so congrats and appreciation to the teams that prepped and lead those exchanges. Those are always stressful encounters and there is always a huge relief to secure a need for minimal corrective measures. Our hospital awaits its own full blown survey in the near future (we think).

After starting the year off in a good manner we are dealing with an expected backlog in our revenue cycle claims processing. Though temporary and explainable, it is resulting in a few weeks of slower than normal claims processing, and hopefully with only minimal subsequent write-offs. This delay is adversely impacting May’s income statement and balance sheet and will probably affect June’s to some degree. I share only so we are all on the same page that this is an issue beyond simply the learning phase of Cerner, but it, too, accentuates the importance of complete and thorough charting and carefully selected entry of charges and diagnosis codes. Also the quick evolution of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries being enticed to utilize the Advantage Plans, governed by insurance companies adopting their own rules for paying claims, is really having an impact on  ALL US hospital’s and clinic’s revenue cycle work flows – in a very disruptive manner. At MCH, we have never experienced this level of disruption more so than in 2023. We are simply busier than ever volume wise, but all the while meeting more and more resistance in getting paid properly. I am hopeful that there is light in the end of this tunnel, as we figure out the rules and can accommodate most of them earlier in the process. Throughout a patient encounter, we all play a role in dropping a clean bill…so we are all either successful together or we will all struggle together. I know we all prefer success!!!

Above all, we appreciate the work you deliver daily, in clinically and compassionately taking such good care of our patients. Please keep that focus!

Kevin Leeper, CEO