What is Medical Billing and Coding?

Medical Billing and Coding

Medical Billing and Coding is the backbone of US Healthcare and has become the need of the hour for many physicians and hospitals. The process of Medical Billing begins right from patient registration with a Doctor’s office and continues till the servicing provider receives all due reimbursements from the insurance company which is the primary requirement for any physician and healthcare. However, their primary focus on Patient care can take their attention from prioritizing Medical Billing affecting your financial bottom line.   Additionally, the challenges and complexities involved in streamlining the medical billing process and getting them done with maximum payments for the physician mandate the role of Medical billing companies!

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Importance Of Medical Billing Outsourcing In Healthcare

Medical Billing outsourcing services plays a crucial role in the healthcare industry, providing numerous benefits to healthcare organizations and medical billing companies. Outsourcing Medical Billing Services is considered as a boon in the Healthcare Industry as they help streamline the process, achieve targeted results with quality services and patient satisfaction, Increase collections and profits to the provider. Here are some key reasons why healthcare outsourcing services are important and how they are beneficial for the physicians and practices.

Reduce Overhead and Operational Cost

Healthcare outsourcing services can help organizations reduce costs significantly. By partnering with Outsourcing companies, healthcare providers can leverage economies of scale, access specialized expertise, and benefit from lower labor costs in different regions or countries. Outsourcing allows healthcare organizations to optimize resource allocation and streamline operations, leading to cost savings in areas such as staffing, infrastructure, software, and equipment.

Access to Specialized Skills and Expertise

Outsourcing enables healthcare organizations to tap into a broader pool of specialized skills and expertise that may not be readily available in-house. Medical billing companies often have deep knowledge and experience in specific areas, such as medical coding and billing, revenue cycle management, clinical trial management, healthcare analytics, and IT solutions. By partnering with outsourcing providers, healthcare organizations can benefit from the expertise of highly trained professionals and access specialized services that enhance the quality and efficiency of their operations.

Improved Efficiency and Productivity

Healthcare outsourcing services can enhance operational efficiency and productivity. Outsourcing Partners typically employ streamlined processes, advanced technologies, and best practices to deliver services. This can lead to improved turnaround times, reduced errors, enhanced accuracy, and increased productivity. By leveraging the efficiency and expertise of offshore outsourcing partners, Medical Billing Companies in US can optimize their workflows, improve patient flow, and provide better care and services.

High Scalability and Flexibility

Healthcare demands can be unpredictable and subject to fluctuations. Outsourcing services provide healthcare organizations with scalability and flexibility to adjust their operations based on changing needs. Your Outsourcing Partner can quickly ramp up or down their resource and adapt to fluctuating patient volumes, seasonal variations, or other market dynamics. This scalability ensures that organizations can meet process demands efficiently without compromising quality.

Process Automation with Technological Advancements

Healthcare is increasingly reliant on technology to drive innovation and improve patient care. Outsourcing Medical Billing Services enables to leverage on the latest technological advancements without incurring the full costs of implementation and maintenance. Outsourcing partners often invest in state-of-the-art infrastructure, advanced software solutions, cybersecurity measures, and other technologies. By partnering with them, you can benefit from cutting-edge technologies, gain a competitive edge, and stay updated with the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.

Compliance and Risk Management

Healthcare outsourcing providers are often well-versed in regulatory requirements and compliance standards specific to the healthcare industry. They have robust systems and processes in place to ensure data security, patient privacy, and adherence to legal and regulatory obligations. Partnering with reputable outsourcing vendors can help healthcare organizations mitigate risks associated with data breaches, compliance failures, and legal liabilities.

It is important  to conduct thorough due diligence, establish clear communication channels, define service-level agreements, and maintain strong partnerships with outsourcing providers to maximize the benefits and ensure seamless integration of outsourced services within their operations. To know more about Medical Billing Outsourcing reach out to Ecare

About Ecare

e-care is an offshore based Medical Billing Company with 25 years of experience providing complete Revenue Cycle Management Outsourcing Services for 120+ clients across the U.S. Choosing Ecare as your Medical Billing Outsourcing partner guarantees 98% Quality SLA for medical billing and coding and 95% collection ratio. To know more about Healthcare outsourcing and Ecare’s expertise call 1-813-666-0028 or log on to Healthcare Outsourcing Services | Healthcare Outsourcing Company | E-care India (ecareindia.com)

Prior Authorization For Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology clinic focuses on providing outstanding patient care with the most effective Gastroenterology services.  Prior Authorization plays a crucial part in Gastroenterology Billing as most often the medical necessity of the medical procedure is evaluated by the insurance company to ensure payment of the claim. Prior Authorization and Insurance Eligibility Verification Services goes hand in hand when the medical specialty  is Gastroenterology as many insurance companies have varied rules and policies which is mostly tied to the final reimbursement of the claim. Read below to understand Prior Authorization in Gastroenterology and the process involved:

Prior Authorization Requisition Process and Timeline:

  • Gastroenterology often requires the determination of medical necessity and timely authorization can reduce denials and increase revenue.
  • Best practice would be to obtain authorization 15 days prior to the appointment date to   avoid rescheduling or canceling the patient appointment for lack of authorization from insurance company.
  • Medical Billing and Coding team have to note that majority of insurances have 15-day timeframes to process & approve prior authorization. Abiding by this timeline will benefit all parties involved such as the patient, physician and also the billing process.
  • For EGD procedures patient should be in medication at least 90 days before having the procedure this protocol in fact can cause delays and rejections in authorization approval.
  • Upon receiving authorization approval, e-care team will update the Authorization number in the software with a valid date along with any deductible remaining and copay to collect.
  • Diagnosis Code plays a major role in authorization requirements, therefore having quality coding is mandatory.

Prior Authorization Process Payer Specification:

  • Authorization requirements always depend on insurance type and patient plans.
  • Authorization requests for EGD, Colonoscopy, & sigmoidoscopy are initiated at the Ambulatory surgical center setting and outpatient setting as applicable
  • There are lists of procedures for EGD and Colon but some insurance will not accept multiple codes in the authorization request, as only one procedure can be requested as per the insurance guidelines. In such case, it is advisable to confirm with the insurance company on the possibilities to change the procedure with same authorization number after the service has been performed.
  • Most insurance do not require prior authorization for Colonoscopy screening except for  diagnostic service which always depends on the patient’s health and diagnosis.
  • Medicare and Medicare supplements do not require authorization when service is done in ASC and outpatient settings. However, authorization requests are submitted for Medicare HMO, advantage, and replacement plans.
  • In case the authorization for EGD and Colon is denied due to not medically necessary, a peer-to-peer review with the doctor and nurse reviewer can be scheduled and processed accordingly.
  • Submission of an appeal or reconsideration for authorization denial with documents that support the procedure is possible in most cases.

To know more about Gastroenterology Prior Authorization process and for experienced partner reach out to e-care at 1-813-666-0028 or log on to Prior Authorization Process | e-care India (ecareindia.com)

How To Make Your Insurance Eligibility Verification Process More Efficient?

Insurance Eligibility Verification

Insurance eligibility verification is the initial and most significant step in the revenue cycle management process Without the eligibility verification process, it’s difficult to communicate with payers and determine the payer responsibilities. These difficulties can increase the number of errors during the claims submissions and also increase the average A/R days & lowers the business revenue. Let us discuss how to process insurance eligibility verification more efficiently.

Insurance Eligibility Verification 

Insurance eligibility verification is the process of checking the patient’s insurance coverage status, eligibility status, etc. Here listed Below is the checklist of information to be verified for a smooth and productive billing of each claim. Type of Medicare coverage

  • Coverage dates
  • Patient demographics
  • Benefit options – including patient responsibilities for co-pay, co-insurance & deductibles
  • Individual plan deductible and deductible remaining
  • Family plan deductible and deductible remaining
  • Referrals and pre-authorizations
  • Claims mailing address
  • Lifetime maximum
  • Address for claims submission
  • In-network or out-of-network status
  • Durable medical equipment coverage

Without verifying this information, healthcare services may be wrecked. Eligibility verification is of paramount importance as any deficiency may lead to claim denials and account receivables delays etc. The major reason for claims denials and delays is that insurance eligibility verification is not done accurately.

Optimize Insurance Eligibility Verification Process

Here are some of the  techniques that can be followed to make the insurance verification process work effortlessly:

Check the patient’s insurance coverage with the payers by reaching the administrators through calls, Interactive Voice Response (IVR), and portals. 

Updating e patient data accurately is essential. Our medical billing team gathers the patient details and gets the eligibility verification, claims details, etc. If any issues found during the eligibility verification process, the issue ought to be set out to avoid denials. Through the eligibility verification process, any miss in the patient data or the claims get updated and claims submitted error-free.

Outsourcing Makes Your Practice More Efficient

Outsourcing free up the workforce to focus on progressively productive tasks, and meanwhile improve payment and collections. The redistributed firm that you will work together with will focus on accelerating approval and co-ordinate with the insurance company concerning pending claims. Outsourcing engages you to have better control of your business. It will make your practice effective and ensure smooth working with staff and smoothed out a business process. 

About e-care India

e-care India is the top medical billing outsourcing company in India. We specialize in Insurance eligibility verification. Our company has necessary security certifications including the SSAE 18, which is an added advantage. We have a Disaster Recovery Centre to make sure that business continues even during emergency times. To know more about e-care and its services, log on to  www.ecareindia.com.

Types of Process in Accounts Receivables in Medical Billing

In medical billing, accounts receivable refers to the outstanding payments owed to a healthcare provider for services rendered to patients. Managing accounts receivable is crucial for the financial health of medical practices. There are several types of accounts receivable in medical billing, each representing different stages of payment processing. Here are some common types:

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Top Complication in Anesthesia Coding for Medical Billing and Coding Experts

Medical Billing and Coding process can vary in terms of being complex or simple based on the type of specialty. Anesthesia services consist of various components, such as the base unit, time, physical status modifiers, and add-on codes. Calculating the total anesthesia time, determining the appropriate physical status modifier, and understanding the use of add-on codes can be complex. Failure to properly account for these components can result in under coding or over coding, leading to reimbursement issues. Let us understand how these components complicates the billing and coding process for Anesthesia.

Complications in Anesthesia Billing and Coding:

Procedure-specific coding

Anesthesia codes are often procedure-specific, meaning they are dependent on the surgical or diagnostic procedure being performed. It requires a thorough understanding of both anesthesia and surgical procedures to correctly assign the appropriate code. Coders need to review the documentation to identify the type and level of anesthesia provided during the procedure accurately.

Documentation requirements

Accurate coding relies heavily on complete and detailed documentation from the anesthesia provider. Lack of adequate documentation or ambiguity in the records can make it difficult to determine the correct anesthesia code. Coders need to work closely with the anesthesia team to ensure comprehensive documentation that supports the services provided

Multiple anesthesia components

Anesthesia services consist of various components, such as the base unit, time, physical status modifiers, and add-on codes. Calculating the total anesthesia time, determining the appropriate physical status modifier, and understanding the use of add-on codes can be complex. Failure to properly account for these components can result in under coding or over coding, leading to reimbursement issues.

Compliance with payer guidelines

Different payers may have specific guidelines and reimbursement policies for anesthesia services. Understanding and adhering to these guidelines is crucial to ensure accurate coding and billing. Payer-specific rules may include restrictions on the use of certain codes, modifier requirements, or documentation expectations. Keeping up-to-date with payer policies and guidelines is essential to avoid claim denials or audits

Anesthesia modifiers

Anesthesia modifiers provide additional information regarding the anesthesia services provided. However, selecting the appropriate modifiers and applying them correctly can be challenging. Modifiers such as P1-P6, AA, AD, QK, and QS are used to indicate various circumstances, such as the type of anesthesia administered, the involvement of a second anesthesiologist, or medical direction. Understanding when and how to use these modifiers accurately is critical to ensure proper reimbursement.

To mitigate these complications, medical billing and coding experts specializing in anesthesia should stay updated with the latest coding guidelines. The best choice would be to outsource to an experienced Anesthesia Billing Expert.

About Ecare

With over 23 years of expertise in Medical Billing and Revenue Cycle Management Outsourcing Services; Ecare has vast experience in Anesthesia Medical Billing and Coding. Ecare has highly trained team exclusively handling Anesthesia Medical Billing and can guarantee high collections and reimbursements. To know more about Ecare and our services call – 1-813-666-0028 or log on to Best Anesthesia Billing Company & Practice Management (ecareindia.com)

3 Different Types Of Medical Billing Companies and How to Choose Them?

Medical Billing Companies

Medical Billing Companies are ready to help physicians, Hospitals, and medical billing groups to reduce their burden. If you are looking to outsource medical billing services then foremost you should need to know the types of medical billing companies to choose between them.

In this blog, we will deep look into the 3 types of medical billing companies

Partial medical billing companies

The services offered by software vendors are responsible for handling coding validation and working rejections due to authorizations, eligibility, and patient demographics. 

Partial medical billing companies offer limited services which include processing the front-end billing process and processing your claims, in place they are designed for practices that have an expert medical billing staff.

If your required services fulfill your needs in partial services then you can choose these types while outsourcing medical billing!

End2End medical billing companies

The End2End is a traditional billing service that established medical billing companies that start offering their services early in your revenue cycle. End2End services include demographics, medical coding services, charge entry, transmission, payment posting, AR follow-up, denial management, etc.

If you are looking to outsource medical billing services then this type is best suitable for you!

Boutique medical billing companies

The boutique has these services offered by smaller companies that have expertise in a limited number of specialties. If you are required to focus on particular services that should help you for better revenue then you choose boutique services. This is a cost-effective service because it offers services-specific assistance to your specialized practice which can be handled in a unique approach to medical billing.

If you are searching for any expertise for your specialized practice then boutique is the best option for you!

Ways to Choose the Best Medical Billing Company

Working with a reputable medical billing service provider may improve your cash flow and reputation whether you are in charge of general practice or specialty services. As a result, you can keep current with regulatory compliances. Therefore, if you’re still interested in learning how to choose the greatest medical billing firm, the information is below. 

Here are some of the ways to choose a good medical billing company.

Look for past experience

This is one of the most crucial inquiries to ask before selecting a medical billing service. How long has the company been in operation? Did their clients have a positive experience? A good general rule of thumb is to search for a company that has been around for a long time. It suggests that they have been successful in keeping clients happy. 

The billing partner must have a strong reputation

Not just a quick review search will do. Markets are rife with con artists that may cause you to lose crucial time and money. Check to determine whether that applies to you. Examine the billing partner in-depth by seeking feedback from medical specialists rather than the general public.

Verify the expert’s familiarity with ICD-10

Proficiency in the latest version of international classification code is the key to error-less coding. ICD-10 can have many benefits that help you save time and money, working with a medical partner who is proficient. Because it prevents claims from returning to hospitals, and there is less concern when the bills are accurately coded.

Find out a responsive billing Companies

Successful medical billing companies employ top-notch strategies to keep customers coming back for longer. The most important criteria for the majority of healthcare providers are speed and availability. Both generating income and minimizing patient inconvenience are required. Therefore, a billing partner should be able to react rapidly to any issues both during and after the service.

Determine Service costs in advance

The cost of the service is that ultimately determines whether to outsource medical billing to a third-party servicer. For any services, before providing the service provider we need to ask about the service cost. Before outsourcing medical billing services ask the following questions: How are service charges calculated? What are the services included in the cost? Are there any hidden charges or processing fees? If there are any discounts available for outsourcing a larger volume of billing needs? Answers to these questions might assist you in selecting a billing company that provides quality services within your budget. When it can be prevented right away, then why acquire unexpected bills?

Check if the company is HIPAA complaint

Engaging with an ISO-certified firm that complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is important to protect your interests. Knowing that the billing company’s procedures adhere to HIPAA requirements provides you peace of mind. In addition, they prevent the mishandling of patient data that is sensitive.

Verify the billing company meets the deadline

Any firm that wants to keep its customers’ support and avoid repulsive situations must adhere to deadlines. For providers, insurers, and insured alike, deadlines are critical. Hence the medical billing companies must stick to deadlines and deliver the results within the stipulated time.

Analysis, what software is used by the medical billing company

In this latest technology, the ideal software helps to save time and bring the process effectively. Not every billing company uses ideal software if you are specific about handling your bills through specified software. It is crucial to communicate this need and obtain confirmation from the medical billing.

Check whether they offer support in denial management

By collaborating with a medical billing company that has denial management experts, you may manage denied claims with ease. Find out from the firm how much assistance they may provide if your claim is denied.

Know the  Business Continuity Plans in Emergencies

Medical billing is a crucial procedure that, in addition to upsetting a few patients, may also have more serious effects that can cost a lot of money and damage one’s reputation. Therefore, develop a backup plan for service continuity in the case of unplanned situations like pandemic sickness or natural disasters.

At ecare, we offer great services for our clients. One of the main aspects is to decrease denials and increase reimbursement! Our team of professional experts makes the process efficient and fulfills the client’s needs. Search medical billing companies in india to know more.

Frequently asked questions

  • What are medical billing services?

The process of generating healthcare claims to submit to insurance companies to get reimbursement for medical services offered by providers and provider organizations is known as medical billing.

  • What are the services medical billing companies provide?

Revenue Cycle Management Services, Medical Coding Services, Charge Entry Services, EDI-Set up/Electronic claims transmission, Payment posting, Accounts Receivable Management Services, Denial Management, Insurance Eligibility Verification, Physician Credentialing Services, Indexing Medical Records, Data conversion, etc.

  • Which medical billing company is the best in India?

In India, numerous top medical billing companies provide efficient services with their unique approach!

  • What are the software medical billing companies used in 2023?

CureMD, Kareo, Nextgen Healthcare, AdvancedMD, eClinical Works, Advanced data systems, Intellisoft Group, Epic, Allscripts, etc.