For HME providers, intake has always been challenging, but today, it’s under more pressure than ever. Higher referral volumes, increasingly detailed payer requirements and persistent staffing shortages are making it difficult for teams to keep up. As a result, what happens at the very start of the process now has a much greater impact on overall revenue cycle performance.
In the latest episode of HME News in 10, Ronda Buhrmester, Vice President of Client Experience, joins host Liz Beaulieu to share her perspective on the current landscape. With 30 years in the industry, she explains that while core requirements like documentation accuracy remain unchanged, the pace and complexity of today’s environment have introduced new risks. Her key message: providers that take a proactive, structured approach are better positioned to avoid downstream issues.
- Many denials and delays can be traced back to gaps at intake, particularly around documentation and payer requirements.
- Rapid changes in payer rules and increased prior authorization demands are adding complexity and slowing reimbursement.
- Staffing shortages are forcing teams to handle higher volumes, making efficient and consistent workflows more critical.
- Automation and analytics can help streamline operations and improve accuracy when integrated into well-defined processes.
- Leading providers focus on identifying root causes and preventing issues rather than managing them after they occur.
Ronda’s insights point to a clear shift in how providers need to approach their revenue cycle strategy. As operational demands grow, success will depend less on fixing problems after the fact and more on building processes that prevent them from happening in the first place.
Strengthening intake, improving process consistency and making better use of technology can help reduce friction across the revenue cycle and support more reliable financial outcomes. Providers that take a more disciplined, forward-looking approach will be better equipped to manage ongoing changes and maintain performance.
