Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Keep Your Medical Billing Records Accurate
Before a patient appointment, medical billers should remember to:
Remind patients to bring all pertinent documents
Copy insurance and ID cards before appointments
Gather accurate patient information
Obtain signature on assignment of benefits and HIPAA forms
Collect co-pay
After a patient appointment, healthcare providers should make sure that a detailed record has been kept of the patient encounter. Include such information as complaints, diagnoses, treatments provided, procedures recommended, or follow-up necessary. Furthermore, all of this information should be entered on the charge sheet or superbill, with the corresponding diagnostic codes. Accuracy and documentation is of paramount importance at this stage.
After the patient appointment, medical coders should remember to:
Review patient charts and double check accuracy of charge sheet
Compare the recorded procedures with the proper diagnostic codes
Research and obtain any additional reports that need to be attached to claim
Enter information into database for records keeping
Medical Billing Is The Fastest Growing Opportunity In Health Care
The proliferation of medical knowledge following World War II brought about an explosion of diagnostic, and treatment procedures. As a result, there became a need to organize, and standardize all these developing technologies. Here is where the foundations of medical coding were born. Medical coding met these challenges, and allowed for a more uniform way of communicating health information under a common language. By January 1979, standardized definitions, and codes were adopted, and used by health care providers, and insurance companies. Since improvements and refinements of medical procedures are constantly being developed, codes must be added and updated to reflect these changes. Today, the number of medical and surgical procedures have become enormous, so too have the codes to describe them. These overwhelming numbers of codes and protocols have made outsourcing medical billing the standard.
Medical Billing and related occupations continue to be the fastest growing opportunities in health care. Insurance institutions and government agencies are investing huge resources to control claims’ fraud, abuse, and establish some degree of reimbursement parity. As a result, more insurance companies, and health care facilities are looking to medical billing experts for help. These companies and practices are looking for experienced and educated individuals; the legal consequences of incorrect billing could be devastating. There is a movement in the industry to make medical billers responsible for inaccuracies, much they way accountants are for tax returns.
At present, there are no standards for educational requirements for medical billers and coders. However, more employers are looking for some formal training at an accredited career training institution. These schools range in training time from nine months to two years, anything less would not be considered adequate. There is a move for certification, and several organizations are sponsoring certification examinations in medical billing and coding. Medical billers and coders earn as much as $8 to $10 per hour in the beginning, and could potentially realize $30 to $40 per hours with experience and additional responsibilities.
Today, evolutions in the health care industry are happening at a very high pace. It is only with the assistance of sophisticated computer programs, and standardized coding procedures that medical coders are now able to describe and characterize the tremendous number and various kinds of medical and surgical procedures. These realities coupled with government regulations, and health insurance guidelines have contributed to the strong demand for experienced medical coders and billers.
Medical Billing Transcription by John Robertson
Medical Billing and Medical Transcription Professionals have embraced the growth of technology and have made it possible for thousands of people to work from their home or part time doing Medical Billing Transcription. It is important to keep in mind that there is training involved in Medical Billing. If you have ever filed an Insurance Claim then you know how tedious the forms can be. A Medical Billing professional must know the ins and outs of the entire process.
Competition in the medical billing market is fierce, especially for those who are new to it. Many doctors' offices process their own medical claims. Doctors who contract out their medical billing often use established firms, not individuals working from home.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
A Great Career in Medical Billing and Coding by Angela Olive
Training. Training for a career in medical billing and coding is relatively short. Certification programs only take about 1 to 2 years to complete. As with most positions, higher levels of certification demand higher pay. Training focuses on knowledge of coding standards and systems, as well as medical terminology
Salary. Salary for medical billing and coding professionals can range from $16,000 to $38,000 annually. Salary.com, an online tool that allows you to look at the expected salary for most positions revealed different salaries for different levels of certification and responsibility. A medical records coding technician has an expected salary of $37,818, while a medical billing clerk can expected $29,966. Medical billing and coding professional who work for large institutions such as hospitals or nursing homes reported slightly higher earnings than those employed in physicians offices.
Job Prospects. The job prospects are great for those entering or already in the field of medical billing and coding. The codes change every year and are determined by numerous rules and regulations, therefore, specialized training is very important in job opportunities. Many people are attracted to the position because it does not involve direct contact with patients. Job growth is expected to be highest in healthcare settings including nursing homes, outpatient care centers, and home health care services.
Starting a career in medical billing and coding is a great choice. Short training programs allow people to enter the workforce quite rapidly and start earning a great salary. Medical coding systems change almost annually, so it is a career that keeps you on the move and makes it an exciting career choice.
Billing Medical Software - The Solution for Medical Centres by Sandro Azzopardi
Applications in the medical field are used as a medical management system that can automate and track the process of submitting medical claims to insurance companies. It records the process from the first time a patient visits the doctor, through all the visits and diagnosis held from thereafter, till the end of the treatment. Plus it has several automatic processes and reports based on the information entered that can take much of the load experienced to run the medical process in a non-computerized environment.
Some of the features billing medical software has are: 1. appointment scheduling 2. electronic claims 3. flexible reporting 4. claim tracking 5. patient eligibility 6. ability to interact with other 3rd party software
Like other software applications, medical software needs to be easy to use and have the possibility to log the events that occur during the treatment. It needs to have a simple approach to the medical billing process as a whole, which normally, when done on paper, is a very time consuming process.
The advantages of billing medical software can be summarized as: 1. automatic billing computations for patients 2. auditable history of a treatment case at a glance 3. updated patient details availability 4. reduced time to process
Clients can benefit immensely from medical software. Some obvious benefits are: 1. confidentiality 2. eligibility verification 3. claims submission
Apart from offering the above advantages for both parties, this software can automate the billing and collection process as well as offering simplified procedures for the main tasks needed as part of the medical and treatment process.
But who exactly can take advantage of billing medical software? This software is normally designed for doctors, dentists, medical billing centres and other healthcare professionals who intend to send electronic claims. A good quality billing medical software allows users to work on different modules simultaneously and have the ability to be used in a multi-user network environment. Entering patient details, diagnosis, issuing reports and scheduling appointments are all functions that can be done and are allowed to be done from different users at the same time.
Billing medical software is a must for highly geared medical centres nowadays. Many advantages can be taken from a well written and efficient software. The reduced time to process the work and paper involved, and the total organization of the medical process are just the highlights on which a billing medical software can focus and excel.
Being efficient is a major achievement in today's busy life, especially in hectic environments. A computer with the right software can help reduce the many headaches associated with jobs in medical centres.
What's The Stress-Free Method Of Choosing A Medical
This article is "FREE" expert advice about the proper way to choose a medical billing course for your home based medical billing business. The article is rather lengthy but the information will save you alot of money, time and aggravation! So Let's Get Started…
What's The Stress-Free Method Of Choosing A Medical Billing Course, Medical Billing Training Program or an Online Medical Billing Course?
If you don't know that's OK! Most beginners to the home based medical billing industry don't either but this website was created to give you the up-to-date (2005) expert advice that the sellers of these medical billing training courses won't tell you!
Who Am I & Why Should You Follow My Advice?
That's a fair question and I would be rather shocked if you didn't want to know. Please understand that the following answer to your question is not an attempt to satisfy my own ego but rather to show you that I am not some "QUACK" that just dispenses unfounded theories or hype. My name is Paul Hackett and both my business clients and customers have dubbed me "The Medical Billing Mastermind".
I've been in the home based medical billing business for 8 years, built all my businesses from scratch, have helped hundreds of medical billing beginners start their own home based medical billing businesses and I am the one that most veterans in the industry contact when they need answers.
Here's What A Medical Billing Course, Medical Billing Training Program or Medical Billing Correspondence Course IS NOT.
Sure it would be easy for me to tell what a good medical billing course should be comprised of (and I will in the next section so you can see both sides of the coin) but I know from experience that by telling you how they shouldn't be will make a more dramatic impact on you so you will remember them instantly when researching an online course. Here goes:
1) Your Medical Billing Course shouldn't be taught by anyone other than experienced medical billers or a successful home based medical billing business owner.
2) Your Medical Billing Training/Course shouldn't be given by an EC (Educational Clearinghouses are schools or learning institutions that don't specialize in any one profession but instead teaches everything under the sun like accounting to zoology). The BIGGEST problem with EC's is that you are not taught the in-depth and focused education that you need to be professional and efficient in this industry.
3) Your Medical Billing Course shouldn't take you 2 years to complete (If you are also studying to be a nationally certified medical coder as well it can come close to that depending on the school).
4) Your Medical Billing Course shouldn't be really short in length (1 day to 2 weeks. What will you really learn in that amount of time? NOTHING!)
5) Your Medical Billing Course shouldn't be overly expensive (learning to be a home based medical biller is not rocket science so a medical billing training course shouldn't be more than $700. If you are going to take courses at a local college, specialized medical billing/coding trade school or a vocational school then the price tag will be more. If your course includes classes on becoming a certified medical coder the cost will also be more substantial).
Monday, October 30, 2006
Count The Ways Medical Billing Software Helps You Save
Now let’s count the ways medical billing software can help save you time and money.
1. Easy-to-use and maintain
2. Efficient and accurate in data entry process
3. Customizable to your office
4. Can work efficiently and effectively with multiple clinics
5. Doctors can schedule and manage patients from their office
6. Entry screens are easy to handle
7. Save on data entry time
8. Costs less than old software
9. User friendly
10. New employees will learn how to use it quickly
11. Tracking reports are ever changing to fit practices needs
12. Stay connected and updated with all your offices
13. Work anywhere with an Internet connection
14. It’s secure—HIPPA-compliant servers back it up 24x7
15. Technical Remote Service always available for your needs
16. Tier 1 data center facility ensures system upkeep
17. Reduce IT costs across the board—no extra servers, log-ins, or installations needed
18. Synchronize data
19. Pay-as-you-go—upgrade or keep it simple depending on your practice needs
20. Updates installed often (usually weekly) and major upgrades as you go along
21. Guided setup makes it easy on staff and you for use
22. Professionals train staff and offer continuous help
23. Organize and retrieve client folders without hassle
24. Multiple locations can work on the same real-time data all day
25. Reports are always up-to-date no matter where you are
26. Can archive, download and run reports day or night
27. System speed is quick
28. Pre-configured defaults
29. Have option for patient and appointment data imports
30. It’s web-based and easier to handle for your office than the old software
What do all of these mean for you? They mean better accuracy, more efficiency, and greater benefits for all involved. Not only will you save in time and money, but you will also reduce the amount of stress dealing with outdated software that doesn’t meet your needs. Medical billing software meets and takes care of your clients’ needs, your staff needs, and your needs. It will change the way you manage and keep up on all your office affairs for the greater good.
Medical Billing Services by Steve Snyder
There is a problem in healthcare today; the costs of providing healthcare have been dramatically increasing due to rising malpractice expenses, decreasing reimbursements, and most notably, inefficient processes in practice management. Many physicians have found it difficult to maintain the physical health of their patients and the financial health of their practice. In order to stay profitable, some physicians have become more transactional in their approach to providing care, spending less time with each patient in order to see as many patients as possible. Other physicians have acquiesced to these rising pressures by accepting lower reimbursements and higher costs without making any tangible changes to how they practice the administrative aspects of medicine; still other physicians have left the field altogether.
The solution is as clear as the problem; physicians must make full use of today's technological advancements within their practices in order to spend more time with patients and less time with paperwork. The most effective way to accomplish this is to partner with MTBC. Much more than a medical billing company, MTBC has redefined the meaning of claims processing and practice management by empowering physicians with the technology and data solutions they need in order to best manage their practices.
With clients across the country, MTBC offers a synergy of medical billing, transcription, and EMR solutions in one comprehensive package. The services provided by MTBC reflect the very best in practice management solutions available in the industry today. Our turnkey services will save your practice time and money, while helping you to provide a superior level of care.
Our 4% medical billing service is available to all physicians across all specialties and is designed to increase profitability and cash flow while improving office efficiency. MTBC clients benefit from Secure Online Access to all aspects of billing and practice management features which include online scheduling, eligibility and reporting packages. Our state of the art web-based software allows physicians to manage their practice remotely and they are empowered with Real-Time Access to Information from any Internet ready computer. This level of access to information eliminates the black holes of medical billing, those days of disappearing claims and inaccurate bills are history.
MTBC offers connectivity and reliability which is simply unavailable in expensive server based billing and practice management software. We provide you with the tools you need to enhance the efficiency of your practice while improving your bottom line. Our All-Inclusive Services address the hurdles found in today's healthcare industry. From medical claims billing and follow up, to patient charting and scheduling, MTBC has an integrated solution, which will help you maximize your office's efficiency by cutting your costs and improving your bottom line.
All of our reports and services are designed to facilitate the flow of your billing process by providing you with the information you need to best manage your practice. Our process begins and ends in your office and the work never leaves the security that only your practice can provide. From patient scheduling until claim payment, MTBC helps you manage and document each step of your billing cycle in order to provide the highest levels of efficiency and reimbursement. Your work is scanned to our severs at the end of every business day using high-speed duplex scanners. The work is then processed by our dedicated billing professionals and filed electronically with the necessary insurance companies. Physicians who employ our FREE EMR, upload the work securely to our servers without the requirement of document scanning. We process your billing work the very next business day, and offer you real-time online access to view your submitted claims.
Electronic payments as well as electronic remittance advice are sent by the insurance companies for the fastest possible reimbursement and follow-up. In addition, checks, and EOBs are sent directly to your office and the cycle begins once again.
MTBC's 4% medical billing solution includes all of the services you need to meet the collections which you deserve. Our online scheduler helps you manage your appointments while providing you real-time patient eligibility verification. Our online reporting package is the best in the industry and it includes numerous reports which give you a complete understanding of your practice's financial success.
With real-time reporting, a free integrated EMR, and online access to all of your billing and patient information MTBC's services are simply unmatched. Our 4% medical billing service is all-inclusive. There are no hidden fees, only the low rate of 4% of the collected amount. We offer these services and many more, at only half the price of the competition.
The Need for HIPAA Complaint Medical Billing Software
When you are shopping for medical billing software, ask how and for whom the system was designed, and whether the data will be safe and secure on backed-up, protected, HIPAA-compliant servers accessible only to authorized persons. Look for companies who provide free updates to ensure continued efficiency and HIPAA compliance. The new HIPAA standards require huge changes to how healthcare organizations deal with their patient information, including coding, security, patient record management, reimbursement and care management. HIPAA's provisions include stringent codes for the unvarying transfer of electronic data, including routine alterations and billing.
Clearly your approach to HIPAA medical billing software must include a serious investigation of software security. Most computer experts will agree that there is no such thing as absolute computer or software security, so working closely with your HIPAA software providers to help determine data deficiencies is a good idea. HIPAA Complaint Medical Billing Software can be easily expanded to meet future needs, and can be targeted directly to the size and complexity of your practice. Options for new HIPAA compliant software have never been better, as there is unlimited scalability, a wide range of customization choices, and a large selection of useful features that will prevent the patients' privacy from being compromised.
Innovations in the technology of medical billing software have created a new criterion for digital precision. Make certain that the HIPAA compliant medical software packager you chose includes all finalized aspects of HIPAA to guarantee full compliance with HIPAA standards as they relate to the electronic transfer of protected health information. The regulations themselves took effect in February 2003, and affect every medical practice in the United States. Effective April 2005, HIPAA mandates security measures to physically and electronically secure electronic protected health information (PHI) against unauthorized retrieval, reliably store the electronic data, and provide for emergency access to the data.
Since most medical billing software packages are now designed to be HIPAA compliant, it is just a matter of choosing the right software for your practice, and your medical billing software will run as smoothly and efficiently as ever.
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