Anchor Dating

Each scenario also provides the option to anchor date the scenario. The anchor date temporarily adjusts the first date of service for all claims in the scenario when executing the model. This allows you to reprice against a given profile, based on the effective date of the profile.

For example, assume the accounts in your patient list have admission dates that range from 1/1/2010 to 12/31/2010, but the profile in your scenario has an effective date of 1/1/2011. Without using an anchor date, these accounts will not reprice against the selected profile. If you specify an anchor date of 1/1/2011, the first date of service for all claims in the scenario is temporarily set to 1/1/2011 so they reprice against the selected profile.

Anchor dating is typically used for future-dated fee schedules. Changing the anchor date does not change any actual claim data. For example, the length of stay on the claim remains the same when you use an anchor date.