Clients Asked Questions


Robotic process automation FAQ

RPA in General:


1. What is Robotic process automation?
RPA is the utilization of AI programming to deal with high-volume, repeatable tasks that are expected manual workforce to perform. This robotic process automation can incorporate inquiries, estimations, and support of records and transactions. Further,robotic process automation (RPA) is the utilization of manual staff configurable programming and technology as a "robot" or "bot," to perceive patterns in the performance of tasks performed by manual workforce staff.
2. Is RPA expensive?
It depends upon your current workflow and the number of manual workforces used to perform these tasks. To decide the expense of RPA for your healthcare organization, it's critical to distinguish which tasks would benefit most from RPA bots. The critical point is to identify repetitive, concentrated areas of your workflow inside your work processes that require similar repetition without conscious human intervention. Those areas cost twice the amount when using a manual workforce instead of implementing RPA. Repetitive tasks are the best way to utilize RPA in cost reduction and return on investment.
3.How long does it take to implement RPA?
The speed of preparing a RPA programming framework is subject to the speed at which a human resource can give accurate quality training. The more complicated a task, the more time it takes to carry out RPA bots. Simple repetitive tasks are always easier for RPA to perform like cataloging, data entry, copy-paste tasks, and reporting all of these activities do take a much longer time for RPA to be implemented. Complex tasks like analyzing denials need a bit more training and time as the robotic process automation programming modules are self-learning.
4. What are the specific benefits one can expect from robotic process automation?
Yes indeed, the general purpose of RPA technology is to decrease human exertion by utilizing a more effective method. Work process streamlining through robotic process automation is around one-third of the expense of the manual workforce. Additionally, robots work every minute of every day round the clock 24/7, and 365, learning at the speed of programming and working at speeds for the manual workforce or staff to accomplish. Also, RPA technology requires the least IT support. Just a few staff is expected for observing RPA bot execution, overseeing yield quality, further developing proficiency, and keeping the elements of the RPA technology pertinent. With organized robots, any human is minimal and productivity efficient.
5. What are the advantages of the manual workforce and RPA bots working in the same interface?
Robots and people utilize the same interface. Refreshing the programming in one robot makes the others on a similar organization update, limiting expenses. Basically, programming support is additionally automated and fulfilled by the robot. Also, robots are "trained" by the people who were specialists in those particular tasks. Since only one robot requires this training module, there are huge savings of funds acknowledged in overall training costs, with numerous robots working, it is easier to increase productivity, speed, and quality.
6.Is RPA bot management difficult?
No, it is not all processes are self-learning by RPA bots. RPA processes utilize essential flowchart frameworks to shape their tasks. The robots share data during tasks. This data considers observing each interaction at a level that people would see as grievous. Also, as statistical analysis, quantitative analysis, and qualitative analysis. Such detailed analysis empowers calibration of the process to further develop work process productivity. Actually, RPA frameworks convey both upstream and downstream information.
7. Do I need the training to use robotic process automation?
Training is not that significant when it comes to using RPA, unlike any other online platform or application, it just requires a basic application and computing skills to use RPA bots. We will provide you training on the use cases of these RPA bots so that the staff monitoring the RPA ensures that the operations are carried forward smoothly. Training for robotic process automation only takes a couple of days at the max depending upon the complexity of the processes you're implementing these RPA bots.
8. What is the difference between RPA and running scripts or macros?
There are many differences and similarities. RPA programming is a few significant degrees more remarkable than any macros or scripts. Some portion of that strength comes from the capacity to interface various robots and utilize the collective data on the whole workflow. RPA frameworks put a high value on the administration processes, something macros and scripts can't do.
9.How frequently does the staff need to monitor RPA?
Like anything planned and designed by humans, even the best RPA programming misses the mark regarding flawlessness. Accordingly, there is a requirement for some human oversight. However, as AI keeps on making RPA devices more skilled, the requirement for dynamic checking and interventions is decreased.
10.Does RPA pave the way to grow along with your business?
Enhancing work processes and expanding profitability is the objective of RPA programming. As recently examined, the capacity for robots to arrange and share information takes into consideration speedy scaling. Thus, indeed, RPA can scale as fast as your business! Moreover, AI and machine learning working related to RPA instruments empower organizations, all things considered, to become quicker than any time in recent years.

RPA implementation in Healthcare RCM:


1.Can robotic process automation be implemented in all RCM operations?
Yes, almost all parts of RCM operations can be automated and it depends upon the complexity of the tasks performed by these RPA bots. The best processes for implementing robotic process automation are repetitive repetitive high-volume tasks that are based on simple rules. There are tasks like migrating medical records that need much more customization in terms of regulatory compliance. These tasks are complicated but can be done when carefully programmed.
2.What is the number of manual work hours reduced by implementing RPA in RCM operations?
Manual work hours are significantly reduced because the most manual workforce is done for high-volume repetitive processes. For example, A hospital with a normal of 75 weekly inpatient encounters would require 325 hours of work, also the effects on RCM KPIs, for example, DNFB and AR days. Robotic process automation technology will save time and decrease costs by cutting short the manual workforce hours to 10 hours, and errors simultaneously.
3. How much billing-related costs can be reduced by implementing robotic process automation in RCM?
Half of the billing-related costs can be reduced by implementing RPA. According to surveys, billing-related costs went from 2% to 5% for conventional Medicare and Medicaid to a surprising 17% for commercial payers. Implementing RPA will reduce 60% of billing costs and have manual staff work on more important tasks where human intervention is needed.
4.Which revenue cycle process would most benefit from robotic process automation?
RCM processes that have huge volumes of Manual tasks and intercommunicable processes all function well when implemented RPA. Manual entry processes, verifications, scheduling and registration, prior authorizations, etc are some of the RCM processes which need automation as they are tedious and time-consuming.
5.Can robotic process automation implementation in RCM eliminate paperwork?
As an information and data-driven RCM process, RPA assists organizations with overseeing dreary, manual, tedious, and time-consuming paperwork tasks assignments customarily executed by human staff members. Robotic process automation is a developing technology. RPA can unquestionably automate a wide assortment of desk work inside RCM operations. With everything moving onto the computerized space, and the security presented by facilitating records in the cloud, it would appear to be legit for RPA to ultimately take out desk paperwork.

RCM process-specific RPA:


1.How can RPA assist healthcare organizations to rectify low productivity and quality in charge capture and entry?
According to industry standard numbers by HFMA and MGMA a sizable healthcare facility with 189,000 unentered and failed to capture charges claims in one month can lose $36 million in revenue. Robotic process automation for RCM tasks like these for healthcare organizations with such huge volume will reduce revenue loss on this scale and helps to revamp your revenue by speeding up claim reimbursement days.
2.Does RPA avoid missing data denials in RCM processes?
Obtaining patient information is crucial to generating revenue for any healthcare organization. It is proven that more denials are in relation to the missing or incorrect patient data such as name, DOB, insurance information, etc. Dangers such as raising denials rates of which 15% is due to missing or invalid data from EDI and payer side. Manual workforce human errors are significantly reduced and increased quality and productivity by 100%.
3.Can RPA assist healthcare organizations to obtain prior authorization?
Yes, RPA can assist you in automatically performing prior authorization requests. It is a well-known fact that prior authorization is the most time-consuming and tedious process which requires a more manual workforce. Utilizing RPA bots-assisted prior authorization processes will eliminate manual checking and filing applications of patient utilization management. It will verify whether particular services need authorization, if so extract the documentation needed for it, and file authorization applications on behalf of your healthcare provider.
4.Does robotic process automation provide denial management KPI?
Managing denials is one of the main objectives of robotic process automation. They cross-verify patient history and treatment methods and then analyze with the insurance guidelines to prevent future denials. The RPA bots have inbuilt denial prevention solutions by the use of dashboards and KPIs including HFMA MAP Keys that provide quantitative management where data is measured and drive improved decisions in terms of collections.
5.What is the role of robotic process automation in contract variance?
Getting reimbursed according to the right contracted rates is the reason why insurance companies have the option called contract negotiations, sometimes the insurance claim adjudicators fail to check the contracted rates and simply assign the claim to be paid at a minimal amount. Robotic process automation bots provide variance reporting vs. the fee schedule, automate the completion of various payer dispute forms and letters, provide completed denials management, and track and manage the reimbursement process which will keep your contracting team notified of these anomalies in payments.
6. Will robotic process automation assist in keeping track of patient out-of-pocket expenses?
CDC reported, that roughly a ⅓ of Americans postpone medical services access due to a lack of specialty-specific benefits and its limitation, contrary to the survey’s outcomes and numbers, most doctors taking an interest in the exploring to accept it is important to have a commitment to their patients and provide useful observations in regards to the expense of care with their patients, RPA bots will notify patients of this crucial clinical data. It obtains accurate benefits and limitations information that can allow patients to know the level of care provided and get educated to make choices with regards to their overall health and financial wellbeing.
7.Can RPA perform coding tasks?
Of course, RPA bots are based upon rule engines. These engines can be modified to learn ICD 10 coding data and the OCR rule engine will compare the medical charts, surgery notes, etc with ICD 10 codes and provide exact codes that are needed for the services rendered. Another exceptional advantage of RPA-assisted coding is it also compares CMS and other insurance guidelines to determine whether the services performed are payable in a particular geographical location.
8.Could RPA verify huge volumes of patient eligibility and benefits?
Regardless of whether the hospital or group practice receives hundreds of patients visiting per day, eligibility and benefits verification robotic process automation can run bulk eligibility reports. RPA bots will check the patient appointment report from the EHR system, within 10 mins you will be able to obtain complete benefit and eligibility information in a spreadsheet that is downloadable and kept in clinical records so that physicians and clinical staff can go back and review the benefits in the past. This will not only allow them to streamline their patient population but also devise an accurate care plan which will benefit both patient and provider respectively.
9.How will RPA monitor patient access and scheduling/registration?
The initial step for any Healthcare organization or medical group to execute a strategy for observing and estimating patient access and patient work process is through robotic process automation. This implies that your healthcare organization knows how long a patient should wait before they can get an appointment at your office/offices. For more modest practices, you can have the RPA bots do this by making a month-to-month log and recording accessible appointments as they show up.
10.Does implementing RPA reduce manual payment posting and reconciliation?
The RPA bots use 835 data to categorize the denial and the reporting of those denials can be sliced and diced. The report will then provide information on how the revenue was recovered or lost. Reports can be exported to excel format or can be downloaded in PDF format as a graph or a pie chart. Payment reconciliation in this automation system provides a reading of multiple payment data such as ACH, ERA, EOB, VCP, and Non-check statements and then identifies unbalanced payments, reduced receivables, revenue leakage, and bad debts. This information can be exported through excel or PDF graph format.
11.Does RPA update itself with federal and commercial insurance coverage guidelines?
Medicare gives coverage to procedures and services for around 43 million patients all over the country. The greater part of the coverage is given on a local level as Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs), which are laid out by the MACs dealing with the Medicare program in a particular local area or state and are automatically identified by utilizing Robotic process automation technology. The claim edits robotic process automation system increases the claimed accuracy for your practice paving the way to other administrative and clinical data workflows by providing Medicare edits specifically to your hospital/medical group's specialty and the services offered to patients.
12.Can robotic process automation identify non-covered services for your specialty under the patient's plan?
Speaking of non-covered services; they do not come under traditional out-of-pocket expenses like copays or deductibles. Non-covered services are purely dependent upon the network of providers, plan categories and benefit limitations. Routine services are sometimes denied as non-covered services because they have benefit limitations, identifying these limitations is the key function of RPA bots. Say for example I have a basic BCBS plan and this BCBS plan only covers the patient history and treatment trends of the individual or family, uncertainty is the more accurate term to describe these kinds of non-covered services.
13.How do hospitals and clinics obtain particular benefits according to specialty using RPA?
Yes, it definitely can provide you with the exact specialty benefit information your practice needs. For instance, if the clinic is an ER or ASC and they have already provided the patient the services and wondering if the patient's plan has ER/ASC coverages, whether they have any limitations in the plan, all the front office needs to do is log in to our eligibility and benefits verification robotic process automation system and key in the patient name, DOB, insurance member ID and select the specialty as ER/ASC and only these benefits will be visible.
14.What is the percentage of accuracy and clean claim rates of robotic process automation?
Accuracy is key when it comes to passing all edits of clearinghouses and insurance companies, here's where robotic process automation comes into the picture to eradicate the burdens of manual charge capture and entry. This results in documenting and entering the services rendered to the patients and allows your billing department to decrease claim denial rates and operational costs while increasing productivity and 100% quality.
15.Can surgical and ER centers use RPA for better charge capturing?
Clean yourscrubbing data at the most proficient spot - the front end. Usual claim scrubbers sit at the back-end of the charge capture and entry process after this process has been completed using RPA-assisted charge capture and entry. A front-end RPA solution with an up-to-date data model and current, modern innovation that can undoubtedly coordinate with your current EMR and RCM framework is the most remarkable and accurate method for cleaning your scrubbing data. It practically eliminates the time required for tedious charge rectification and reworks efforts.