COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Health System

DATE:

February 15, 2011

BOARD MEETING DATE:

April 12, 2011

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Jean S. Fraser, Chief, Health System

Susan Ehrlich, MD, MPP, Chief Executive Officer
San Mateo Medical Center

SUBJECT:

Position Changes at San Mateo Medical Center

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt an Ordinance amending the Master Salary Ordinance to add and delete positions in the San Mateo Medical Center division of the Health System.

BACKGROUND:

Two key components of San Mateo Medical Center’s revenue cycle are the patient access and patient accounting processes. There are currently 16 patient access points of registration and more than 120 staff collecting demographic and eligibility information on 27,000 patients per month. Currently the accuracy rate for collecting patient access information is at 75.3%. The accuracy of data collection in patient access is correlated to the accuracy in patient accounting and the ability of San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) to collect revenue and reimbursement through appropriate payor programs.

DISCUSSION:

SMMC is establishing a comprehensive pre-registration process which will provide greater access to patient care by identifying the appropriate financial assistance programs for which they are eligible, thus maximizing SMMC’s reimbursement for patient care services.

The addition of a Patient Services Supervisor provides leadership to the patient access process and the addition of a Financial Services Manager focuses on the patient accounting process..

Below is a summary of the requested salary ordinance change needed to implement the personnel changes at San Mateo Medical Center.

Action:

Add:

1 of Position Financial Services Manager II (D151)

1 Position of Patient Services Supervisor - E (E415)

Delete:

2 Positions of Patient Services Office Manager (D040)

The Salary Ordinance amendment has been reviewed and approved by the County Counsel.

This Amendment contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 of a Healthy Community by providing greater access to patient care and improving program coverage for the uninsured residents of San Mateo County. It is anticipated that patient access accuracy will increase to 98.5%

Performance Measure(s):

Measure

FY 2010-11
Estimated

FY 2011-12
Projected

Patient Access Accuracy

75.3%

98.5%

FISCAL IMPACT:

This action represents an estimated decrease in annual salary and benefits of $54,427 and improvement in net revenues of greater than $3.8 million.

Projections of net revenue increase are based on current unbilled charges in the CORE system of $6.6 million and $6.5 million in unbilled and denied charges in SMMC’s billing system. The increased cost and accompanying revenue will be included in the SMMC FY 2011-12 Recommended Budget

Expenses for services provided to the medically indigent or to those covered by programs that do not meet the full costs of care are covered by the County’s General Fund contribution to SMMC.