What are the key steps in the healthcare revenue cycle from patient access to denial management?

• A. Eligibility and enrollment, registration, charge capture and coding, claim submission, payment posting, and denial management and appeal.
• B. Registration, eligibility and enrollment, claim submission, denial management, and payment posting.
• C. Eligibility and enrollment, charge capture and coding, denial management, and payment posting.
• D. Charge capture and coding, eligibility, registration, and denial management.

Answer: (A)

The sequence starts with verifying that the patient has valid coverage and benefits, then collects all necessary patient information, documents the services provided, submits the claim, records payments, and finally handles any denials through appeals. Verifying eligibility and enrollment upfront helps prevent denials due to missing or invalid coverage, while registration ensures the encounter is linked to the right patient and payer. Charge capture and coding translate the care delivered into standardized codes and charges, which is essential for accurate billing. Claim submission sends those codes to the payer for adjudication, and payment posting updates the ledger with what was paid and what remains due. Denial management and appeals come last, addressing claims that don’t pay and attempting to recover revenue via resubmission or appeal. This order reflects the full flow from pre-visit verification to resolution of denied claims, making it the most complete and accurate representation of the revenue cycle process.