Gastroenterology Staffing Shortages: The Impact on RCM
Staff shortages and turnovers have been on the rise all across the medical field, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic. Gastroenterology, however, seems to have had a headstart to this staffing shortage — with the New York Times forecasting a gastroenterologist shortage back in 2009.
The aging population, increased prevalence of colorectal cancer in the United States, and pandemic overflow have skyrocketed the demand for gastroenterologists, but the supply has not kept pace.
Shortage Factors:
The aging population in the United States: Both our patients and providers are aging. 40% of gastroenterology services provided are for patients over 60, and the number of Americans 65 years or older in 2060 will be more than double what it was in 2014, according to research from the National Library of Medicine. On top of this, AAMC reported that more than half of gastroenterologists are over 55 — meaning we could see a mass exodus as these providers begin to retire in the next two decades.
Colorectal cancer screenings: Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths between men and women combined, and is expected to cause over 50 thousand deaths in 2024. As a result, regular colorectal cancer screenings have become more common. Not to mention, in 2021 the U.S. Preventative Screening Task Force lowered the recommended colorectal cancer screening age to 45, further increasing the demand for appointments and services.
Pandemic overflow: The Covid-19 pandemic impacted gastroenterologists in more ways than one. Office closures and fear of exposure deterred people from getting regular screenings, and the gastrointestinal impact of patients with severe Covid-19 led to a demand for more appointments, with some patients experiencing pancreatitis that was attributed to Covid-19.
All this to say, the United States is experiencing a massive shortage of gastroenterologists, and this will only continue to grow. With limited practices to choose from, the gastroenterologists who are taking new patients while also continuing to treat existing patients are in high demand. This pressure directly impacts revenue cycle teams.
RCM teams in gastroenterology are expected to do more with less. An increased workload is accompanied by pressure to submit claims quickly and accurately and a need to stay organized and stay on top of payer policies and changes to coding requirements.
Adonis Billing & Adonis Intelligence exist to help revenue cycle teams in gastroenterology keep pace with this ever-increasing demand. Adonis Billing helps teams bill faster and more accurately by automating the most tedious aspects of billing. Adonis Intelligence helps teams predict and prevent denials, prioritize their revenue cycle tasks, discover underpayments, and track payer policies and changes. Intelligence helps revenue cycle teams in gastroenterology work more efficiently, drive more revenue, and stay ahead of the increased demand in their industry.
