Each year, US hospitals incur a percentage of bad debts. Not-for-profit hospitals consider bad debts a cost of doing business.
Using the module readings, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, research bad debts. Based on your research, address the following:
Define bad debts.
Analyze the factors that contribute to bad debts.
Describe what is included and excluded in bad debts.
Describe potential impacts of bad debts on other consumers.
Write a 3-5-page paper in Word format. Utilize a minimum of 2-3 scholarly sources in your research. Your paper should be clear, concise, and organized; demonstrate ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; and display accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.
Assignment Components
Proficient
Maximum Points
Define bad debts.
The definition of bad debts was thorough. Used more than one authoritative resource to support the definition. Research extended beyond the textbook.
Analyze the factors that contribute to bad debts.
Analyzed multiple contributing factors to bad debts, including uncompensated care and inadequate reimbursement. Used more than one authoritative resource to support stakeholder identification. Research extended beyond the textbook.
Describe what is included and excluded in bad debts.
Discussion was comprehensive and included bad debts, charity, and courtesy allowances as deductions from revenue and as not included in allowable cost. Included criteria for allowable bad debts related to covered services. For example, the debt was considered uncollectible if there was no likelihood of future recovery of payment. Used more than one authoritative resource to support stakeholder identification. Research extended beyond the textbook.
Describe potential impacts of bad debts on other consumers.
Discussion was thorough and included topics such as cost shifting and higher private insurance rates. Used more than one authoritative resource to support stakeholder identification. Research extended beyond the textbook.
Academic Writing
Write in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrate ethical scholarship in appropriate and accurate representation and attribution of sources (i.e., APA); and display accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Use of scholarly sources aligns with specified assignment requirements.
Wrote in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrated ethical scholarship in appropriate and accurate representation and attribution of sources; and displayed accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.