Frequently Asked Questions

DECOnet Eligibility Application software, specifically designed for tracking eligibility status, is a critical tool for not letting anything ‘slip through the cracks’ and potentially not getting a patient coverage.
DECO’s field staff can go to patient homes and pick up documents, transport patient to Social Services appointments, and hand deliver applications to Social Services, while facility liability typically prohibits this critical activity.
HFMA and the American Hospital Association published the Patient Friendly Billing® Project in February, 2005, which, among other suggestions, encourages hospitals to utilize the expertise of an outside Vendor for eligability to avoid unintended consequences down the road.
DECO can pay bonuses to employees to encourage hard work; most facilities don’t have that latitude.TOP

The price seems high, and makes my budget look out-of-balance, how can I justify bringing a Vendor in at those rates?

What is important to note is that DECO doesn’t make a dime unless we generate revenues for the client. We convert potential $0-pay accounts into real dollars. A percentage of $0 collected is $0 on your budget, but a percentage of $1M collected is worth the expense for basically ‘free money’.
Medical Assistance Eligibility Services should NOT be considered part of the normal budget. No payments would be due UNLESS a proportionate amount of revenue was received by the client. It is a no lose situation for the facility.
Additionally, and more difficult to calculate except at the CFO level, is the Disproportionate Share benefit. These are very significant and real dollars that are paid to a facility for caring for a proportionately larger share of Medicaid patients than other Payor Classes and is reconciled ultimately on a facility Cost Report or other settlement statement.TOP

Other than good Public Relations, how can my facility benefit monetarily by helping my patient base get SSI and/or SSDI benefits?

Often times a patient can’t qualify for traditional Medicaid due to income or assets slightly over the guidelines, but they can’t pay their medical bills and may truly be disabled.
If a facility contracts with a Vendor for Disability Services, this potential ‘gap’ in reimbursement can be plugged with the patient initially getting Medicaid with a ‘look-back’ window from the date they first attempted to get benefits. This means that a facility caring for a patient who wins disability benefits could potentially be reimbursed for up to 24-months worth of visits from Medicaid and/or Medicare
After 2 years, SSI recipients are eligible for Medicare which reimburses faster and for more services..
Potential DSH Benefit for Facility
Patient receives a monthly income.
Patient has resources to obtain treatment and medications.
Patient may be eligible to receive food and housing assistance.TOP

We see great benefits in DECO’s services. How long will it take for DECO to be up and running and creating a revenue stream for our facility?

DECO produces a detailed customized Implementation Plan
Depending upon the specifics at a particular facility, DECO can begin servicing a new client typically within 90-days.TOP

I think my current Vendor is doing a good job – why should I consider bringing DECO on board?

Be certain you have great reporting tools to track the total number of referrals given to your Vendor and the total number (%) of referrals converted to Paying Accounts and the time-frames that it took to convert the accounts.
The revenue may seem good….but in reality you could be leaving just as much revenue on the table.
Does your current Vendor have a Social Security Disability Advocacy Program with experienced Representatives like DECO offers?
DECO can assist you in analyzing your current Vendor’s performance to determine if you would benefit by changing Vendors.TOP