Thanks. I forwarded a copy of your response to my clinical trials people.
I'm assuming you're still using MediTech as your main billing/HIS system so
what you do may be directly applicable to us. We are in the process of
integrating our invoicing/billing for all research cost centers with our
ecGrant software using the SQL data respository of MediTech. Hope to have
that up and running by Fall...Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: Higginson, David A [mailto:xxxxxx@ARCHILDRENS.ORG]
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2001 5:54 PM
To: xxxxxx@HRINET.ORG
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Who pays for Clinical Trials

Bill,

We (like so many it seems) had just the same problems at Arkansas Children's
Hospital. We have now developed, implemented and are live with a web based
system that has so far achieved 100% accuracy with clinical trial billing.
It took us a while to get there, but we did it by developing a web based
system where study coordinators enroll and schedule visits (and the
procedures to be performed) and then follow up after the visit to 'finalize'
the procedures performed. Once this happens we have a 'back end' process
that checks what was entered into our main billing/HIS system against what
was finalized in the web system, any differences being reported out and
fixed on the billing system. As I said, we have run many different types of
clinical trials (inpatient, outpatient, observation etc..) and have so far
eradicated any initial billing errors.

However, we didn't get to this point overnight. While the new system was
critical so that we had an independently, PI/Coordinator record of what
should be billed, we also had to evaluate and re-engineer our existing
people systems so that all could work together. That involved many different
(and generally small) changes in process in departments like Cost
Accounting, IT, Billing, Admissions, Accounting, ORA etc. but was achievable
once we got everyone talking.

Now we are able to offer a few additional services with the system such as
tracking reports on the trial (# of patients enrolled, protocol due date
reminders etc.) and web creation and routing of study reimbursement.  All of
which provide the PI and staff extra incentive to use the system.

Obviously there is a lot more detail here as to how it all works, but wanted
to let you know the basics let you all know that this problem can be fixed.

-David
David A Higginson, ACMA
Vice President for Information Systems
Arkansas Children's Hospital
1120 Marshall Street
Little Rock, AR 72202
(501) 320-3757
xxxxxx@archildrens.org
> Learn more about us at:  <http://www.archildrens.org/>

-----Original Message-----
From: Caskey, William PhD. [mailto:xxxxxx@CMH.EDU]
Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2001 5:18 PM
To: xxxxxx@HRINET.ORG
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Who pays for Clinical Trials

This is a tough issue. If anyone has a solution, I'd like to know as well.
We currently put a "hold" on all charges when a patient is enrolled in a
study. All charges effectively accrue to a dummy account which is reviewed
by the research nurse or project personnel monthly. All standard of care
charges are backed out to the client account and the research charges are
transferred to the appropriate cost center. We do have a standard of care
charge code and a research charge code for each charge which does help. This
is a very labor intensive process and is prone to a certain amount of error.
We have some checks in place and our process has improved greatly over the
last couple of years. We're always looking for a better way.

Another solution is to require that all charges on a research study be paid
by the sponsor, but as you know, sponsors don't get overly excited when this
approach is used...Bill

Bill Caskey, PhD
Director, Research & Grants Administration
Children's Mercy Hospital
2401 Gillham Road
Kansas City, MO  64108

Voice:(816) 234-3879
FAX:(816) 855-1982
E-mail:  xxxxxx@cmh.edu <mailto:xxxxxx@cmh.edu>

This communication is intended only for the use of the addressee.  It
may contain information which is privileged or confidential under
applicable law.  If you are not the intended recipient or the agent of
the recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, copy or
disclosure of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have
received this communication in error, please immediately notify The
Children's Mercy Hospital at 816-234-3879 or via return Internet
electronic mail at xxxxxx@cmh.edu <mailto:xxxxxx@cmh.edu>  and expunge
this communication without making any copies.  Thank you for your
cooperation.

-----Original Message-----
From: Barbara L. Pifel [mailto:xxxxxx@MED.CORNELL.EDU]
Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2001 4:44 PM
To: xxxxxx@HRINET.ORG
Subject: [RESADM-L] Who pays for Clinical Trials

Would anyone care to discuss possible methods to avoid duplicate
billing for items or services provided as "routine care" to patents
who are admitted to a hospital and who are also a participant of a
clinical trial.

If anyone would like to discuss this issue in confidence, please feel
free to contact me directly.

Barbara
Barbara Pifel
Senior Director
Grants and Contracts
Rm: A131
Telephone: (212) 746-6020 6-6058
Fax:       (212) 746-6938

======================================================================
 Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including
 subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available
 via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists")
======================================================================

======================================================================
 Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including
 subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available
 via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists")
======================================================================

======================================================================
 Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including
 subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available
 via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists")
======================================================================

======================================================================
 Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including
 subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available
 via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists")
======================================================================