According to Pew Research, 15 percent of U.S. adults have used ridesharing services . Where does insurance enter the picture? Uber, Lyft and other ridesharing apps throw a proverbial wrench in hospitals' revenue cycle management operations. Billing is already a major pain point in hospitals – Black Book Research noted most facilities are outsourcing their RCM because in-house teams lack the resources to efficiently handle motor vehicle reimbursement. Ridesharing will only exacerbate the issue. For example, if a rider gets injured and has to go to the hospital, from which institution does the hospital receive reimbursement : The driver's insurance? The passenger's? Uber's? As Uber and Lyft are the most popular ridesharing apps, we'll focus on how these companies handle driver insurance. How do Lyft and Uber insure drivers? Lyft has three types of coverage within its insurance policies: Contingent Liability activates when a driver logs into the app and requests to accept rides – a state Lyft designates as "Driver mode." This coverage provides up to $100,000 per accident for bodily injury. Contingent Comprehensive and Collision kicks in when a driver has picked up a passenger. This coverage applies when a non-collision event damages the driver's vehicle. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist applies when an at-fault driver who is uninsured or underinsured causes bodily injury to himself, his passengers or any third parties. The coverage provides $1 million per incident, and includes no deductible. For example, if a driver is injured in an accident at a time when he is not working for Lyft, his personal insurance will cover him (assuming he lives in a no-fault state, but that's another issue). However, when the driver activates Driver mode, Lyft's Contingent Liability will protect him even if he hasn't accepted a ride from a passenger. What if the driver's at fault? According to Rideshare Dashboard, Lyft's commercial insurance will cover all damages to third parties and the passenger, but the driver will have to cover his own medical expenses. That's when state laws dictate payment. In Massachusetts, for example, which also happens to be a no-fault state and requires all motor vehicle owners to possess auto insurance, the rider's personal auto insurance will cover the medical bills. Uber's insurance system is somewhat similar to Lyft's but possesses a few minor differences. For example, when an Uber driver is transporting a passenger, and another motorist causes an accident that results in bodily injury to the driver, the passenger and anyone else involved, Uber's UM/UMI will cover bodily injury of anyone in the rideshare vehicle.

With new, transformative technological advancements on the rise, it's no surprise that nearly every industry is feeling the impact of the digital age. From a healthcare provider's perspective, new resources can be used to revamp the current revenue cycle management processes you have in place. To reap the benefits of an optimized approach, you must be willing to take advantage of such emerging technological tools and resources, as stated by Chad Sandefur, Director and Healthcare Analyst at AArete. "Generally speaking, in order to strengthen the revenue cycle management, embracing technology within the revenue cycle is key," Sandefur shared with RevCycleIntelligence.com. "Having the platforms to seamlessly facilitate provider-payer interactions are really integral. In many cases, it's mostly about bad debt avoidance. With that in mind, there are a few specific points." Let's take a closer look at the benefits of utilizing technology, plus some of the emerging resources your facility can use to revamp your current RCM processes: The benefits of an optimized approach By paying attention to the new digital advancements that can benefit your RCM, you can ultimately impact the workflow of your staff members while better streamlining services for consumers. Here are some of the advantages of an optimized approach: Reduced chance for human error – Human error is inevitable when handling large amounts of data. Management software can be used to keep track of patient data input and maintenance. Better opportunity for precise, automated data entry – Between appointment scheduling, data input and claims submission, employees have a lot of duties. Automated software can take care of some of these responsibilities, allowing staff members to better focus on a single task at a time. I ncreased cash flow – Claims management technology can expedite claims quickly and produce clean, accurate claims, ultimately increasing cash flow , as stated by Becker's Hospital Review. Optimizing your RCM approach can lead directly to a significant return on investment and improve the overall reputation of your billing department.