Provider-Based Outpatient Clinics
Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) strives to provide our patients with information to help them make the most informed decisions possible regarding their healthcare. The information on this page is being provided to help our patients better understand provider-based clinic billing, also commonly referred to as hospital-based outpatient billing, and which Blanchard Valley Health System clinics are provider-based clinic locations.
What is a provider-based clinic?
“Provider-Based” or “Hospital Outpatient Clinic” refers to the billing process for services provided in a hospital outpatient clinic or location. This is a Medicare status for hospitals and clinics that meet specific Medicare regulations and requires that we bill Medicare in two parts (Part A and Part B). These clinics are integrated into the hospital and are therefore permitted to bill services as hospital outpatient departments. These charges often show up on a statement as “facility charges,” which help cover the additional expenses of operating an outpatient department of a hospital compared to a freestanding provider's office. You will be billed separately for hospital and professional charges.
When patients see a provider or receive services in a provider-based clinic, they are technically being treated within the hospital rather than the provider’s office, as these offices are considered departments of the hospital.
Patients benefit because all provider-based clinics are subject to additional stringent quality standards and are monitored by The Joint Commission, an independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies more than 21,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States.
Provider-Based Billing FAQs
Why did BVHS choose to make these departments provider-based clinics?
BVHS has made this change in order to better integrate our provider practices into standardized performance improvement processes and improve the overall quality of care for patients in many ways, some of which include:
- Building stronger provider-patient relationships,
- Ability to coordinate your care across our continuum and with other entities,
- Better management of more complex patients with multiple chronic conditions can result in better health outcomes.
Which BVHS clinics will patients receive a provider-based bill?
The Armes Family Cancer Care Center
Blanchard Valley Pain Management – Findlay
Blanchard Valley Pain Management – Bluffton
Sak Sleep Wellness Center
Wound Care Solutions