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Learn the importance and value of case costing, different types of case costing, and how it helps run the business of ASCs.
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Case Costing – Essential for BusinessSurgery Center Coalition October 4, 2018 Ann Geier, MS, RN, CNOR, CASC™ Chief Nursing Officer Surgical Information Systems www.sisfirst.com
Objectives • Explain the importance and value of case costing • Describe types of case costing • Delineate how case costing helps run the business of ASCs
Case Costing Advantages • Allows for accurate budget forecasting • Contributes to understanding profit margin: what it costs to do business; what is paid by insurers or patients • Data provides accurate information for ASC to use when negotiating payer contracts • Keeps the center focused on costs: should lead to better purchasing costs • Can affect implant costs/competition between vendors • Assists in changing physicians’ behaviors
Level of Detail “If you just focus on the smallest details, you never get the big picture right.” Leroy Hood • Details can overwhelm the process • Lack of details will only give you an overview • Which do you want to pursue?
Levels of Detail • Case costing on every case – every time • Case costing by CPT code • Case costing only top 10 procedures • Case costing that includes OR cost/minute • Case costing that considers overhead as everything minus supply costs • Can you think of anything else?
OR Minutes – Drive the Process • To calculate: • Meter patient time in & time out = time in OR/PR (OR minutes used) • Overhead* = Total costs (from P & L) – Direct supply costs • Overhead per minute = Overhead / OR Minutes • Overhead per case = OR minutes x Overhead per minute • Case cost = Overhead cost per case + Direct supply costs *Calculate monthly. There are various ways to calculate overhead. OR minutes costs will be higher during start-up or with low volume
Getting to the Bottom-line Case Specific Supplies plus Overhead cost equalsTotal Cost Receipts - Total Cost Net Revenue (Bottom-line)
Overhead Costs – Another Calculation • Example: • Revenue = $300,000 • Supplies = $77,000 • Distribution = $75,000 • Debt Service = $40,000 • 200 Cases @ 30 Minutes each
Quick and Easy Cost-per-minute Calculation Step 1 From the P & L Report (Profit & Loss) • OH Cost = Revenue - Supplies - Distribution - Debt Service • OH Cost = $300,000 - $77,000 - $75,000 - $40,000 • OH Cost = $108,000 From utilization reports: • Total OR Minutes = 200 cases X 30 min. each • Total OR Minutes = 6,000 Minutes Overhead Cost = $108,000 = $18 / Minute 6,000 Multiply the per-minute cost by the case-specific OR room time
Where Can You Find This Information? • Preference cards – supply costs • Reports – Profit & Loss, OR times, etc. • Vendors Software system is invaluable
What is Included in Overhead Costs? • Salaries • Utilities • Rent • Interest • Billing Charges/coding/transcription fees • Repair and maintenance • Insurance • Bank fees • Cleaning • Taxes • Consultants • Legal and Professional fees
Starting Point • Inventory • Load complete information in software system • Correct pricing • Correct unit of measure • Correct unit cost of each item • Preference Cards • Review to ensure accuracy prior to loading • Capture as much information as possible • Review at least quarterly • Limit people who can change the information in the system
Supplies • Disposables • Implants • Medical Gases • Medications • Supplies opened but not used, unless they can be safely reprocessed • All other costs should be captured on the P & L Statement
Steps Involved in Case Costing Once information is in the software system: • Print preference cards for each patient • Create an anesthesia supply and medication checklist • When a case is completed, assign staff to check items used, added, not used • Anesthesia completes forms for each case • Supplies used are loaded in the system • Every month, reports on supply usage are generated • Level of detail desired will determine what is run • Analytics are conducted
Software • Work with software provider to maximize use of inventory module • Add analytics to your system • Train frequently • Have all your newer employees been trained? • Are you maximizing the use of your software modules? • Learn which reports will give you the best information? • Assign a super-user
Value of Analytics • Unlike static reports that quickly become outdated, analytics provide up-to-date data that administrators can drill into to draw comparisons • Key performance indicators quickly identify areas for improvement and track results over time • Examples: • High cost physicians – compared to others in specialty • High cost supplies – implants, medications, etc. • OR time used – will affect OR Cost per Minute
You’ve Got the Info…Now What? • If you do nothing with the data, why collect it? • Share it with owners; they have a vested interest • Information allows discussions about block allocation (OR minutes used), supply cost comparison, value of implants by cost • Before data is shared: • Carefully review data • Look for outliers • Ensure accuracy
Garbage In; Garbage Out • When reviewing data, look carefully for: • Incorrect data on preference cards • Incomplete case history • Incorrect times • Supplies are not checked off or added in a timely manner • Look for supply and overhead costs that are unusually high • Causes – again… • Incorrect data on preference cards • Case History module not reconciled • Incorrect times entered into Case History • All of the above • If incorrect data is entered and not caught, guess who will find it? Your Physicians
“If you want to change physician behavior, then you need to provide data that’s relatable to them. You need to provide more than the cost of devices and supplies. In this way, both the cost of devices and supplies, as well as unwarranted clinical variation can be addressed.” Debbie Schuhardt, Clinical Advisory Solutions - Vizient ASC Supply Chain Tip of the Day: Use Data to Tell the Story; Rachel Popa; Becker’s ASC Review; Aug. 22, 2018
Knee Arthroscopy – Cost Comparison Part 2 Cost per minute: using $18.00 per minute Doc 1 - $864 Doc 2 - $1314 Doc 3 - $1224 Doc 4 - $756 Total cost with supplies: Doc 1 - $1,315 Doc 2 - $1,628 Doc 3 - $1,422 Doc 4 - $974
Alternative to Detailed Case Costing • Assume: • Preference cards are accurate* • Costs are readily available and updated • Simple case costing can be used to get a broad picture of physicians, anesthetists, pharmaceutical costs *Often, preference cards do not include all supplies used. Most common omission – implants. What others are often missed?
Some Pitfalls • A common mistake is miscalculating the usage unit of measure related to the quantity per UOM in the Inventory Module • Incorrect costs in the Inventory Module • Not capturing all supplies that are used • You must include supplies opened but not used unless they can be reprocessed for use on another case
Key Takeaways • Accurate case costing is essential to your ASC • Educate all staff on the importance and what role they play in ensuring all associated costs are captured • While it may appear time consuming, once a system is implemented it should only require about 2-3 hours to prepare your Board report • Work with your software provider to determine the reports you will need • Present a professional, accurate report to your Board each month
Remember • It takes time to load inventory • Most ASCs do not fully use this module • Information is not updated • Humans enter data; mistakes happen • Lacking attention to detail can lead to failure • Nothing is done with the data • Case costing is a terrific method to support change in behavior – for staff AND physicians Let’s talk about how you are doing it.
Contact Ann Geier, MS, RN, CNOR, CASC Chief Nursing Officer Surgical Information Systems (SIS) Ann.Geier@sisfirst.com 843-303-0008 www.sisfirst.com For a copy of my free eBook, “Admin 101: What Every New ASC Administrator Needs to Know”, visit www.sisfirst.com, resources, eBooks