Increasing numbers of patients that are not able to pay their medical bills due to the economic decline will be the greatest challenge to hospitals going forward, according to more than half (54%) of those acknowledging a survey conducted this month by MedAssist.
Commissioners on Monday postponed a decision to hire a collection agency because of unsettled ambulance bills acquired in unincorporated districts of Flagler County. Instead, county staff will do more research and the item will be returned to commissioners for review sometime in July.
iVolution Medical Systems, a West Hampton, NY-based health care systems firm, is taking a different approach. The four-year-old company, started by former Wall Street consultants to the health care industry, entered the medical receivables space by acquiring experienced billing and collections companies. First there was Professional Health care Billing Services (PHB) of Palm Springs, California in March, and then Continental Collection Services of New York, earlier this month (iVolution Medical Systems Acquires Continental Collection Services, May 13).