Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare will host a series of billing consultations for patients and families. The system is offering patients a chance to sit down with its billing associates to resolve outstanding questions.
“What we are hearing from our patients is that they are eager to have face to face consultations in the rare instances where they are confused about there bill, what they owe out of pocket and what’s covered by insurance,” said Coreen Dicus-Johnson, senior vice president of payer contracts and revenue operations for Wheaton. “Health care can be a very complicated financial transaction, and particularly in elderly patients where they have multiple insurance companies covering different things and giving them the opportunity to sit down with a billing consultant or a financial counselor helps to clarify a lot of those complications.”
Wheaton Franciscan launched the billing clinics as a result of a recent pilot program in Racine. According to Dicus-Johnson, the clinic serviced nearly 200 patients in a one week period.
“The response we received was tremendous; it was such a positive response from the patients and the community that we felt it was important to build on that success,” she said.
The billing consultations will be held on a monthly basis and at various Wheaton locations.
Interested patients are asked to schedule an appointment with one of the billing consultants by calling (414) 456-3200.
Consultations are scheduled for:
- Monday, April 19 through Wednesday, April 21 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare Wauwatosa, 201 N. Mayfair Rd.
- Monday, April 19 through Wednesday, April 21 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare Franklin, 10101 S. 27 St.
- Monday, May 3 through Wednesday, May 5 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare- All Saints cardiovascular institute entrance in Racine, 3801 Spring St.
Patients should bring copies of their statements, explanations of benefits from their insurance carrier and their insurance card to the appointment, but making the appointment in advance will allow the consultants to prepare for the meeting ahead of time, which should help in answering questions more effectively and efficiently, Dicus-Johnson said.
