AHA 4th Quarter 2010 RACTrac Survey Results

The American Hospital Association’s (AHA) RACTrac Survey is a free web-based survey that was developed “in response to the lack of data and information provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and its Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) on the impact the program is having on America’s hospitals.” The 4^th Quarter 2010 RACTrac Survey Results are now available on the American Hospital Association (AHA) web site.

Key Overall Findings in the 4^th Quarter 2010 Survey Results include:

• Over 1,850 hospitals have participated in this survey since data collection began in January of 2010.
• $86 million in denied claims have been reported since the first quarter of 2010.

Key Findings specific to Hospital Survey Participants Region C: (Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands):

• Participating Hospitals reported an increase in RAC Activity from 76% to 78%.
• The Average Value of a Medical Record requested in a Complex Review was $15,681.
• The Average Value of Denials were:
  1. $408 for Automated Denials
  2. $5,342 for Complex Denials
• The Top Reason for Automated Denials was Outpatient Billing Error.
• The Top Reason for Complex Denials was Incorrect MS-DRG or Other Coding Error
• For the 4^th Quarter Region C Hospitals appealed 10% of their Denials with 57% of the appeals being overturned at a value of $1.1 million.

 The entire 4^th Quarter Survey Results can be found at RACTrac Survey .

AHA is offering their Quarterly Nationwide RACTrac Webinar on April 6^th from 2:00 to 3:30 EST. A link to register for this webinar can also be found at RACTrac Results & Upcoming Webinar .