Q&A: Key considerations for the charge capture process

Q: What are key questions to consider in the charge capture process?

A: When making your decision on how to report bedside procedures, it is critical to weigh your options. This process should be multidisciplinary, with representation from revenue integrity, cost accounting, chargemaster, the finance department, third party payer contracting, billing and coding departments, all affected clinical departments, and those responsible for charge capture or charge entry.

• Who is going to capture these charges and how?
• Is it cost prohibitive to capture certain charges?
• How can your electronic medical record and other systems assist with charge capture?
• Are there system reports that will be helpful in evaluating or streamlining the charge process?
• Is a manual charge sheet required, or can the electronic record produce a computerized charge sheet?
• When will the charges be captured?

For more information, see Medicare Compliance Essentials Training Compendium.

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