Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, N.Y., has signed an outpatient services agreement that could help underinsured patients and reduce ambulatory charity and bad-debt write-offs.
The four-hospital, 1,491-bed medical center is working with Irvine, Calif.-based revenue cycle vendor Cymetrix to help under- and uninsured patients access eligible public programs.
Cymetrix eligibility specialists will guide Montefiore patients through the complex application processes to secure federal and state reimbursement for uncompensated medical care.
"Partnering with Cymetrix allows us to help obtain coverage for a greater number of our patients through government and state programs," said Jim McNiff, associate vice president of health services receivable at Montefiore.
McNiff said the eligibility services, provided at no cost to patients, will help them gain access to Medicaid, SSI, Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits (SSDIB), Medicare, state disability and charity care, as well as many community programs.
Michael Halberda, CEO and president of Cymetrix, said the contract with Montefiore is set for three years.
"By helping Montefiore achieve its financial goals we're also assisting hundreds of patients who currently have little to no income or support resources," he said.
Montefiore Medical Center is comprised of the Henry and Lucy Moses Division, the Jack D. Weiler Division, the North Division and The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, a large home healthcare agency, the largest school health program in the United States and a 25-site medical group practice.