The revenue cycle: What it is, how it works, and how to enhance it

ABSTRACT
• UNDERSTANDING THE REVENUE CYCLE process helps perioperative personnel and managers improve health care charging practices and enables them to make informed policy decisions.
• INTEGRATING KNOWLEDGE of the revenue cycle processes throughout an organization can improve reimbursement, improve compliance with reporting requirements, reduce payer denials, and decrease rework by staff members.
• THIS ARTICLE PROVIDES information to develop a basic understanding of the revenue cycle and makes suggestions on how to improve this process in health care organizations. AORN J 84 (October 2006)578-601. © AORN, Inc, 2006.