| Factoring is when a business sells its receivables | | | | from the private insurance |
| for a service or product delivered to another | | | | companies or government is too small each |
| business. Many people in the healthcare industry | | | | month for a factor to be interested. |
| think that medical receivables can't be factored | | | | These are small chiropractors, dentists, cosmetic |
| because the "customer" is a person and not a | | | | surgeons and Lasik doctors (often |
| business. But medical receivables can be factored | | | | not covered by insurance) and some nursing |
| because in most cases, your payment comes | | | | homes because of credit problems.Medical |
| from Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, | | | | receivable factoring companies all have different |
| Aetna, etc. In other words, the payment is | | | | minimum monthly net |
| coming to you from a business, so the | | | | collectable amounts, so ask your broker for the |
| receivables CAN be factored.In the past, | | | | one that will be able to help your |
| healthcare professionals could depend on efficient | | | | business. Some work with amounts as small as |
| operations to keep | | | | $35,000-$50,000, others have a |
| their cash flowing, but that often is not enough | | | | minimum of $200,000.Once your account is set |
| now. Increased costs and longer | | | | up with the factor, you will receive up to 85% of |
| times for insurance companies and Medicare to | | | | the |
| pay the bills are making it | | | | invoices within hours of turning them in each |
| impossible for them to keep their practices | | | | week. When the bills are finally paid, |
| running smoothly.Most factoring companies do not | | | | you will receive the rest of the amount owed, |
| factor medical receivables, but there are several | | | | minus a small fee. The fee depends on |
| that specialize in this niche. They fully understand | | | | many things and will probably range somewhere |
| that accounts that are paid by | | | | between 2% and 6%.You will lose all the stress |
| third party payors take more due diligence and | | | | of not knowing when you will be paid for the |
| more things have to be looked at | | | | work you |
| than with "regular" factoring. They know these | | | | are doing. You'll be able to pay all your vendors |
| receivables are filed and paid | | | | and staff on time, you'll be able to |
| differently by different states and then have | | | | keep up with all your bills. You will even be able |
| elaborate payment methods and | | | | to hire more staff or buy more |
| computations. There are government and | | | | equipment, because you'll know you can accept |
| insurance regulations, delayed | | | | more business.There have been instances when a |
| reimbursements, HMOs, contractual allowances, | | | | medical business has been on the brink of |
| multiple payors and many more | | | | bankruptcy and decided to try factoring as a last |
| challenges that are only found in the healthcare | | | | ditch effort and it saved them. |
| industry. The factors who specialize | | | | They were able to turn everything around and |
| in your industry know all the lingo and | | | | are thriving now.Factoring should be considered as |
| terminology and will immediately understand | | | | a tool for growth and management, not as a last |
| your needs.The healthcare businesses that will | | | | resort to save your business. Unless your |
| most easily be approved for factoring are: Acute | | | | practice has very expensive equipment or |
| or Rehab or Specialty Hospitals, Physicians, | | | | diagnostic devices, your largest asset is its |
| Surgery or Imaging Centers, Dialysis or | | | | accounts receivables and these assets |
| Urgent Care or Rehab Centers, Ambulance | | | | can be used to keep your business running |
| companies, Medical Labs, DME/HME, | | | | smoothly and growing.Donna Poisl is President of |
| Osteopaths, Oral Surgeons, Pharmacies, Home | | | | Creative Funding Solutions. CFS works closely with |
| Health Care and Workers Comp | | | | |
| Healthcare Providers and some Chiropractor | | | | several of the best factors in the country, each |
| groups.There are certain types of health related | | | | with different rates, fees and |
| businesses that might be more difficult to | | | | requirements and is able to find the best one for |
| factor, mostly because the net collectable value | | | | each client. |