Getting to know Axiom Cost Accounting terms

The following is a list of general terms used throughout this guide.

Term	Description
cost item	Any chargeable or non-chargeable item that is stored at the encounter cost detail level and needs to be costed.
dimension	The key columns of a data table are often referred to as the dimensions of the data. These dimensions are typically linked to associated reference tables (such as ACCT and DEPT), which may be referred to as dimension tables.
drilling	The process of viewing the underlying data for a particular row in an Axiom file. There are several different types of drilling such as drill-down, drill-through, and custom drilling.
driver files	Spreadsheets that display configuration settings that control the structure and behavior of plan files within the file group as well as assumptions, such as key inflation factors or drop-down menus needed for reporting or workflow.
encounter	An interaction between a patient and a provider at a particular time or length of time resulting in documented activities, which generally result in clinical related data and patient accounting transactions. The DSS is an encounter centric model for the health services provide community. Patient generally have multiple encounters and encounters generally create multiple transactions that require cost data.
grouping columns	Columns in a reference table define grouping relationships for reporting, process flows, and end-user security. For example, a department table might have grouping columns that assign each department to a region, country, or VP.
microcost	Associating a known cost value directly with the cost item. This method is often used for supply items or other directly contracted service, such as a reference lab fee for a send-out test. Sometimes referred to as Direct Costing.
patient	An individual that has had at least one encounter with a provider. The patient data stored in the DSS is not a transaction design, but rather is intended to capture the “snap shot” of the patient at the time of the encounter. Consequently, there is one patient record for every encounter record.
product	A standardized set of files and other components to support a particular performance management activity. Products are implemented using the Axiom Software platform, and delivered using a product package. 2019.3 is an example of a product.
ratio of cost to charges (RCC)	Allocate costs according to the price or charge for the item
reference tables	Tables that hold lists of information to be referenced elsewhere. Reference tables can be used for many purposes, from lists of planning codes to import mapping tables.
refresh	The process of updating an Axiom file with data from the database.
refresh variables	Variables that impact the data refresh for a file. Users are prompted to define values for the variables before the refresh occurs. They can also be used to filter a report.
relative cost unit (RCU)	A Kaufman Hall term used to denote the Axiom Cost Accounting ability to map previously calculated cost values as a means of spreading costs without the need to define and load them as an RVU.
relative value unit (RVU)	Allocate costs using a relative value across cost items to allocate different amounts to different items according to the relative value stored and identified with the activity or chargeable item.
report files	Files that are designed to query data from the database for reporting purposes. Report files can also be used as utilities to perform calculations and save data, independent of a file group.
reverse markup	Estimating the cost of an item when a charge is generated based on the cost of an item using a markup table and when the specific cost may not be known using a Microcost method. This method is only available for chargeable items and when the actual per-unit charge is available in the cost detail.
service	A diagnostic, surgical or other therapeutic event between a provider and a patient. Services are generally captures as CPTs, ICD-10 Procedures, Charges, etc.
service line	A grouping of services generally based on patient population or diagnostic groups often assigned based on a hierarchy of services rendered to the patient.