There have been a number of changes related to medical billing this year.Many professionals will report that these changes are because of Obama Care. Others may even state that the ICD-10 changes have created these changes. While these changes may be easy for some, it is always important to remember that changes can create a lot of headaches if they do not work like they are supposed to. No matter what, health care organizations must make sure that any of the applications that they use will actually meet the client needs. So, if you work in the health care field you might be wondering what changes are taking place. What are the trends that are being experienced?
Out of the Doctor’s Office
First and foremost, it is important to realize that billing is no longer taking place within the doctor’s office like it once was. In fact, it has started to make its way into the hands of professional billing services. This will certainly decrease the amount of work on employees and it can also increase the market for medical billers that would like to start their own business.
Many professionals may find that this is a great way to increase the amount of money that they are making. This is because these companies are well aware of what the insurance companies are looking for. They will ensure that the billing is accurate the first time. They can even help negotiate with the insurance companies because this is their area of expertise.
Finding Mistakes Early
It is now possible to find mistakes in billing before you ever send out a claim. This is because there are number of practice management software in the market that allows you to do this. In fact, they will carry out a scan of the medical chart and find any missing modifiers that could hold up a claim. They are also going to be able to scan the patients chart and compare CPT codes.
If you have not moved your billing out of the office then you might want to strongly consider a program like this. Doing so can increase the amount of reimbursements that you receive each time that you do your billing. It will also free up your time so that you, and your staff, can focus on patient care.
Making Payments Easy
It goes without saying that more and more people are looking for ways to use the internet in their everyday lives. It has certainly made some things easier. According to the Healthcare Billing and Management Association, one study showed that the same is true when it comes to paying for healthcare. In fact, this study showed that 72% of patients would like to be able to make their healthcare payments online. Because of this, billing companies may need to make arrangements in order to meet the expectations of the patients that they are billing.
Protection is a Must
Because the internet is so important, privacy and protection becomes even more vital. Therefore, there must be policies and procedures in place to protect all of the patient information that is going to be making its way through the cloud. As individuals use the internet to make payments there must be ways to stop breaches in data. Medical billing companies are going to be required to ensure that credit card protection is taking place at all costs.
According to the Healthcare Billing and Management Association, there may be new EMV standards. These will require those that issue credit cards to include a chip that is going to give an extra layer of protection. This will go one step above the magnetic strip that is currently found on the back of credit cards.
It is easy to see that there are many changes coming. Just because things could become easier does not mean that it will be without complications. Organizations and businesses must work together. Even though professionals want to be paid, the patient security and privacy should always come first. All of the changes have specific benefactors in mind. However, in order for them to be effective, they should work together with the patient in mind.
Author Bio
Daniel Schwartz is a content strategist who sheds light on various engaging and informative topics related to the health IT industry. His belief in technology, compliance and cost reduction have opened new horizons for people in the health care industry. He is passionate about topics such as Affordable Care Act, EHR, revenue cycle management, and privacy and security of patient health data. He can be contacted through twitter at @dschwartz20