To start an estimate session, you must request a SCHEDULE SEARCH or a CLIENT SEARCH.
To request a schedule search, select from the list of
Service Centers in the left-most field of the Schedule Search area. Click
on the arrow to display the list. Click
on a
To perform a client search, enter the client’s last name, or the case number, or the patient’s name and year, then click on the Client Search button.
Results for any search are displayed in the Search Results area. Select the desired client invoice from the list by clicking on a Gray Box in the left-most column. Then click on the Fee Estimate menu item or the Fee Estimate icon to open the Fee Estimate window.
After you begin your estimate session, you should be in the Fee Estimator window. Ensure that the information displayed in the Current Client and Patient Displayed area is accurate so you are creating an estimate for the expected client and patient.
When you complete a new fee estimate session, you create a new version of the estimate for the associated invoice. New versions are created after all information is entered and the Finalize button is clicked.
First, you must select the appropriate
If templates have been prepared for the selected Service Center, you will see the first one displayed in the Select a Template area. If no templates are displayed, click on the Load Templates button to check for available templates. You can click on the arrow at the right of the display field to see your template choices. Then you can select a template and click on the Template button to have the associated procedures loaded into the Procedures Checklist.
Note: Update the quantities as required – the default value is 1. Incorrect quantities, especially for CCU or Radiology procedures will significantly understate the totals.
If no templates are available, you must select individual procedures from the Procedures Checklist. By default, the Custom procedures (those loaded if you were to click on the Custom button) are loaded in the Procedures Checklist. These include the top 30 most common procedures associated with the selected Service Center.
If you want to view another list of procedures, click on other buttons in the Procedures Area.
Click on the Alphabetic button to arrange procedures in the checklist alphabetically. All procedures associated with the selected service center will be displayed.
Click on the Frequency button to arrange procedures in the checklist by recorded frequency of use for the service center. This does not list all associated procedures. It lists only the most frequently used procedures.
Click on the Consultations button to display all potential consultation procedures for all Service Centers in the checklist.
Click on the Admitting Exams button to display all admitting examination procedures in the checklist relative to the selected Service Center.
When you have the procedures you need, select each procedure by clicking on the checkbox to the left of each procedure needed. Select as many procedures as needed from the checklist, then click on the Add Selected Procedures button. The procedures will then be added to the Current Estimate display area found at the lower quarter of the window. Note that you cannot generate reports on this information until you click on the Finalize button.
You can make changes and corrections to the estimate as needed before finalizing. You can use the Add Estimates and Credit area to include estimates that are not automatically added or to enter a teaching credit that will reduce the estimate. You can use the Add Comments area to annotate your estimate as needed. You may also add other needed procedures by selecting new Service Centers and repeating the procedure selection process.
When you are close to completing your estimate session, click on the Process Estimate button to commit the information entered to the system database. Again, you cannot generate reports on this information until you click on the Finalize button.
You can still make changes to the estimate. Review all the information for the estimate by looking at the Current Estimate area. Each row displays a specific procedure and the costs associated with that procedure. You can adjust the Low and High estimates by entering new data in those columns. You can use the Remove column to cut unneeded procedures or those entered by mistake. You can also mark a recommended procedure as being declined by the customer by entering a check mark in the Client Decline column for the associated procedure. Note that this does not remove the procedure from internal reports, but rather adds specific notation that identifies declined procedures. Declined procedures do not appear in the Client Report.
When you are satisfied with the information entered including all changes, estimate adjustments, and annotation, click on the Finalize button. Clicking on this button sends completed information to the database and enables the report subsystem to access the data to create reports. When you finalize an estimate session, you create a new version of the estimate. Understand that you can always create a new estimate version for the associated invoice. New versions are created for various reasons. For example, a client might take an estimate home and reconsider the recommended procedures and plan of action, then call or return to ask for a new estimate.
When a fee estimate session has been completed and the information finalized, a new estimate version for the associated invoice is created. Several report types can be generated on this information. The Latest Finalized Version field displays the number of the latest finalized estimate version for the associated invoice.
Click on the Client Report button to view the Client Fee Estimate report. This report contains subtotals by Service Area for all procedures, and fee estimates entered. Declined procedures are omitted. The only comment displayed is the Discharge Comment.
This is an external report that can be printed for the client.
Click on the Detailed Report button to view the Detailed Fee Estimate report. This report contains all procedures, fee estimates, and comments entered during the estimate session. Declined procedures are included in this report along with detailed report comments.
This is an external report that can be printed for the client.
Click on the Most Recent Final Estimate button to view the Detailed Fee Estimate report that was last generated if a series of estimates has been created. For example, if five estimates had been created, clicking on this button would display the fifth (last, most recent) estimate created.
This report contains all procedures, fee estimates, and comments entered during the estimate session. Declined procedures are included in this report along with detailed report comments. The most recent finalized estimate serves as the treatment plan.
This is an external report that can be printed for the client.
Click on the Earliest Estimate Report button to view the Detailed Fee Estimate report that was first generated if a series of estimates has been created. For example, if five estimates had been created, clicking on this button would display the first estimate created.
This report contains all procedures, fee estimates, and comments entered during the estimate session. Declined procedures are included in this report along with detailed report comments.
This is an external report that can be printed for the client.
Click on the Variance Report button to view the Variance report. This report contains the low and high estimates for each procedure. Estimates are organized alphabetically by service center, then by procedure. The Variance report is typically used to compare two report versions, which are selected by entering a number in the associated Start and End fields.
Click on the Plan vs. Actual button to view the Estimate and Actual Expenses report. This report compares the actual expenses incurred after all procedures have been completed to the most recent finalized estimate, which serves as the treatment plan.
Buttons and controls in the Report Display area allow you to navigate through multi-page reports, to refresh the display, to select from several printers to send copies, to export the report , to Toggle the Group Tree, to zoom in or out on report displays, and to search the report for specific text.
Click on the Client Rpt Business Office Print button the print the Client report directly to the business office. A file will be sent to the business office where the client can pick up a copy of the report.