Effect of a simplified billing form and the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic on compensable billings in an Australian metropolitan emergency department: An interrupted time series analysis.

HOSPITAL emergency services; CONFIDENCE intervals; HEALTH insurance reimbursement; DOCUMENTATION; TIME series analysis; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; METROPOLITAN areas; COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a simplified billing form on billings recovery. Methods: An interrupted time series analysis of weekly presentations and billings between 1 April 2019 and 14 June 2020. Results: Notably, 3228 patients were included (2030 Overseas Visitor Agreement, 359 Transport Accident Commission and 839 Work Cover). There was a $208.34 (95% CI 155.44–261.23, P < 0.0001) increase in billings per episode, that is, 59% (95% CI 44–74, P < 0.0001), from a baseline of $351.75/episode. There was no significant change in the actual billing rate during the pandemic. Conclusion: Total billings did not change. Less patients were identified, but each generated 59% more billings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]