What factors can lead to increased accounts receivable days?

Increased accounts receivable days can primarily be attributed to high denial rates and delayed claim submissions. When claims are denied, it creates delays in the revenue cycle, as the healthcare provider must address the denial, potentially resubmit the claim, or appeal the decision. Each of these steps can significantly elongate the time it takes to receive payment for services rendered.

Similarly, delayed claim submissions push back the entire process of revenue collection. If claims are not submitted in a timely manner, it takes longer for payers to process them and for the healthcare provider to see the reimbursement.

Both of these factors directly contribute to an increase in the duration that accounts receivable remain outstanding, which is reflected in the accounts receivable days metric. This metric essentially measures how many days on average it takes for the organization to collect payment after providing services, and higher numbers here signal inefficiencies in the revenue cycle.

On the other hand, efficient billing processes, quick payer responses, immediate patient payments, streamlined communications, and frequent audits are factors that typically contribute to reducing accounts receivable days rather than increasing them.