Is it possible to operate a fiscally viable behavioral health program?
Yes. Horizon works with over 100 hospitals across the country to assist them in operating behavioral health programs that make a significant positive contribution to the hospitals’ bottom lines. Contact us today for a no cost financial analysis and feasibility study.
What impact does the implementation of PPS for inpatient psychiatric programs have on our ability to operate a viable psychiatric program within our hospital?
The Prospective Payment System for Inpatient Psychiatric Programs was designed to be budget neutral. Therefore, reimbursement for psychiatric services for some hospitals will improve while other hospitals will receive less reimbursement than they would have under the former cost-based system.
Horizon can assist hospitals that may benefit from PPS for inpatient psychiatric programs to generate a very good financial return. For hospitals that have been negatively impacted, Horizon can help them manage their behavioral health unit in a way that reduces or eliminates any loss. Contact us today for a no-cost analysis of the revenue potential a psychiatric program offers your facility.
What impact will opening a psychiatric program have on my disproportionate share revenue?
Generally, opening a distinct part psychiatric program that is exempt from acute PPS will have no impact on disproportionate share revenue. In instances where opening a distinct part unit would take the hospital’s acute PPS beds from over 100 beds to under 100 beds there could be an adverse impact. On the other hand, if the psychiatric program is not structured as a distinct part unit, patients treated on the psychiatric unit could have a positive impact on your disproportionate share revenue. Please contact us to further discuss how your current psychiatric unit -- or how establishing a new psychiatric program -- might generate additional disproportionate share revenue for your hospital.
Can a psychiatric program benefit my hospital’s disproportionate share revenue?
Yes. Under certain circumstances opening a psychiatric program or changing the structure of your current psychiatric program can bring increased disproportionate share revenue to your facility. To determine if your hospital is one of the facilities that could benefit, contact us today.
Can you help us recruit psychiatrists?
Yes. When you contract with Horizon to manage your program one of our responsibilities will be to recruit and contract with a medical director for the program. We will also recruit or assist in recruiting additional psychiatrists as necessary. Horizon has full-time physician recruiters whose responsibility it is to identify psychiatrists who may be interested in working with our programs.
Can Horizon help us manage problems with Psychiatric patients in our Emergency Room?
Yes. Establishing a Horizon managed program can assist you in dealing with psychiatric patients in the emergency room in a number of ways. First, a unit gives you a place to admit those patients who present in the ER and are in need of inpatient treatment. Second, the professional staff from the unit including the psychiatrist can be available for assessments and consultations in the ER. If you would like to find out more about how we can assist you with the management of psychiatric patients in your ER contact us today.
If we contract with Horizon to manage the program does the hospital maintain control of the program?
Yes. While Horizon will make recommendations regarding operation of the unit, the hospital maintains ultimate decision making authority in all instances.
What are the benefits of contracting with Horizon?
Contracting with Horizon for the management of your psychiatric program offers several advantages. It provides you and your staff the ability to focus on your core competencies. It helps assure compliance in an ever-changing regulatory environment. You will have access to best practices and benchmark data compiled as a result of Horizon’s experience with hundreds of programs across the country. You can be assured you are offering excellent clinical programs and Horizon’s referral development system helps assure a fiscally viable program. Contact us today to find out more about the many benefits of partnering with Horizon.
What types of fee models does Horizon offer?
Horizon works with hospitals through a variety of contract management fee structures from fixed fee through full risk. In addition, Horizon has entered into long-term relationships for the provision of behavioral services with some providers. These relationships have taken the form of joint venture and lease arrangements with hospitals for the management of their behavioral health programs, and in some instances Horizon has even acquired free standing facilities and pavilions. In any case, Horizon tailors a solution to your hospital’s specific needs, goals and objectives. For more information please call us or complete the form on the “Contact Us” page.
Can Horizon assist us in enhancing our existing psychiatric unit’s operational performance?
Yes. Because managing psychiatric programs is what we do, all day … every day and because of our access to best practices and benchmarking data from working with hospitals across the country we are often able to improve the performance of existing programs. Horizon may be able to assist your facility to reduce staffing costs through the implementation of a structured clinical program, improve reimbursement through an increased understanding of psychiatric reimbursement, and improve census through implementation of a structured referral development system. To request a meeting and learn more about how we might be able to assist you with the operations of your current program, call us or complete the form on the “Contact Us” page.
What benefits would the development of a behavioral health program bring to the hospital?
Offering behavioral health programs provides a variety of benefits including better management of psychiatric patients in the ER, seamless transition patients in need of psychiatric treatment out of medical/surgical beds, and providing a needed service to the community while adding an additional revenue source to the hospital’s bottom line. To find out more about the benefits your hospital could receive from offering a psychiatric program contact us today.
How long does it take to develop a program?
The amount of times it takes to develop a program is dependent on a number of variables. Two of the most critical are whether or not a CON is required and the amount of construction that will be necessary. While Horizon has worked with hospitals to open programs in extremely short time-frames, in general the process should begin 6 to 9 months prior to the projected opening date. If a CON or major construction is required the timeline for program development could be even longer. We would be happy to discuss your specific situation with you and provide you with an estimate of the time necessary to develop a program. Simply call us or complete the form on the "Contact Us" page and we’ll have someone get back with you.
Can I open a psychiatric program anytime during the fiscal year or does it have to be opened at the beginning of our fiscal year?
A psychiatric program can be opened at anytime during the year. However, it can only be exempted from acute PPS reimbursement at the beginning of a fiscal year. Therefore, if the unit is opened at anytime other than the beginning of the fiscal year it will be reimbursed under DRGs from the date of opening through the end of the fiscal year. A unit must receive exemption prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. Therefore, if you wish to operate the program as a Medicare distinct part unit exempt from acute PPS then it should be opened during the last month of the fiscal year. For more information contact us today.
Do you assist with the CON process?
Yes. Horizon will assist the hospital in completing the CON process by providing detailed information on demographics, bed need and competitor information.