Frequently Asked Questions

It is the question we are asked most, usually last and quietly. In our experience the opposite happens: most disputes escalate because the two sides are arguing from different numbers, not because either is acting in bad faith. Putting an independent, transparent model on the table moves the conversation from assertion to arithmetic. We share our methodology with both parties, and your group is free to challenge it — that is the point.

Neither, and that is the point. A hospital engages us, but the work is only worth anything if the group can check it too — so we will say plainly when an ask is justified, and equally plainly when it is not. An analysis that only ever concludes "pay them less" is not analysis, and it does not survive contact with the other side's advisors. Being able to say a subsidy is defensible often ends an argument, which is worth more than the engagement costs.

Fixed fee for a defined scope, agreed before we start, so the cost is a line you can approve rather than a meter that runs. We do not take a percentage of savings — contingency pricing gives an advisor a reason to find a problem whether or not one exists, which is precisely the incentive you are hiring us to be free of.

No, but it changes what is worth doing. A benchmark review can be turned around quickly enough to inform a renewal conversation; a full service-line assessment cannot. Tell us the renewal date at the outset and we will scope to it, rather than starting work that will not land in time to be useful.

AOC operates on a lean business model, meaning you get direct, senior-level expertise without paying for massive corporate overhead. We also pride ourselves on complete independence from provider groups, meaning our analysis is purely objective and solely focused on your hospital's best interests.

Timelines vary based on scope. A targeted RCM audit or operational baseline assessment might take 4-6 weeks, whereas complex subsidy renegotiations or full RFP processes can span 3-6 months. We define clear milestones and deliverables upfront.

We partner with both. For hospitals, we often focus on subsidy management, OR throughput, and RFP management. For anesthesia groups, we provide strategic support for payer negotiations, staffing models, and practice stability.

We typically request historical OR utilization data, block schedules, billing/claims data (CPT codes, ASA units), and current provider contracts. We ensure all data transfer is fully HIPAA-compliant.

Yes. We offer end-to-end RFP (Request for Proposal) support. We help draft the requirements, identify potential groups, evaluate proposals based on financial and clinical metrics, and assist in the final contract negotiations.