Preadmission health care cost and reimbursement estimation tool
First Claim
1. A method for estimating treatment costs for patient, the method comprising the steps of:
- collecting patient data and storing the patient data on a computer;
the computer defining reimbursement coverage using collected patient data;
defining a course of treatment using collected patient data and storing the course of treatment on the computer; and
the computer pricing the course of treatment using reimbursement data, wherein said steps of collecting patient data, defining reimbursement coverage, defining a course of treatment, and, pricing the course of treatment occur prior to admission.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cost estimation tool, preferably a handheld computer, prices and evaluates the financial impact of new residents'"'"' prior to admission. Immediate access to this information and built-in therapeutic substitution and clinical advisories provides the opportunity to optimize pharmaceutical regimens prior to admission. In addition, an abbreviated Resource Utilization Group (RUG) evaluation function provides a rapid assessment tool to project reimbursement under the Medicare Prospective Payment System (PPS). A user may enter a complete drug regimen and estimate the costs for the regimen. Similarly, managed care reimbursement from managed care organizations (MCOs) to be analyzed. Also, drug cost may be estimated through a MEDICAID Preferred Drug List database that identifies potential Non-Preferred drugs that may be non-compensable. The present invention further transmits results wirelessly to health care providers.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for estimating treatment costs for patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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collecting patient data and storing the patient data on a computer;
the computer defining reimbursement coverage using collected patient data;
defining a course of treatment using collected patient data and storing the course of treatment on the computer; and
the computer pricing the course of treatment using reimbursement data, wherein said steps of collecting patient data, defining reimbursement coverage, defining a course of treatment, and, pricing the course of treatment occur prior to admission. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A data storage medium containing a computer-executable set of instructions for estimating patient costs, the set of instructions implementing a process comprising:
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collecting patient data;
defining reimbursement coverage using collected patient data;
defining a course of treatment using collected patient data; and
pricing the course of treatment using reimbursement data, wherein said steps of collecting patient data, defining reimbursement coverage, defining a course of treatment, and, pricing the course of treatment occur prior to admission. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A preadmission patient cost estimation tool comprising:
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an input device for specifying patient data and a course of treatment prior to patient admission;
a first logic for defining a patient coverage category by comparing said patient data to a coverage database containing eligibility rules for one or more coverage categories and reimbursement rules associated with each of said coverage categories;
a second logic for pricing the course of treatment using the reimbursement rules for the defined patient coverage category; and
a patient data database for storing said patient data, said course of treatment, said defined patient coverage category, and said pricing for the course of treatment. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification