Medical Billing Blog: Section - General Info

Archive of all Articles in the General Info Section

This is the archive containing links to all articles written in the General Info section of our blog.

Click any of the article links below to read the entire article or browse another section to the right to read articles on another subject.

Tips for Negotiating Payer Contracts to Maximize Reimbursement

Negotiating payer contracts is a crucial aspect of managing a healthcare practice or facility, as it directly impacts the reimbursement rates for services provided. Remember that successful negotiation involves understanding the needs of both parties and finding a mutually beneficial agreement. Regularly review and reassess your contracts to ensure they remain competitive and align with the evolving needs of your practice. Here are some tips to help you negotiate payer contracts effectively and maximize reimbursement: Research and Analysis: Understand the current market rates and reimbursement standards for your specialty and region. Analyze your practice’s financial performance and identify areas where improvements in reimbursement rates are needed. Data Collection: Gather comprehensive

Published By: Melissa C. - OMG, LLC. CEO | No Comments

Assessing the Financial Health of Your Practice: Key Metrics for Billing Success

Assessing the financial health of a medical practice is crucial for its success and sustainability. Key metrics play a vital role in evaluating the billing success of a practice. Regularly assessing these key metrics and adapting strategies accordingly can contribute to the long-term financial success and sustainability of your medical practice. Additionally, seeking professional advice from healthcare financial consultants or advisors can provide valuable insights and guidance in optimizing billing processes and financial management. Here are some key metrics that can help in assessing the financial health of your medical practice: Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) Metrics: Days in Accounts Receivable (DAR): This metric measures the average number of days it

Published By: Kary C. - OMG, LLC. COO | No Comments

Optimizing front desk procedures for improved billing accuracy

Optimizing your front desk procedures is crucial for improving billing accuracy in a healthcare setting. The front desk serves as the initial point of contact for patients and plays a significant role in ensuring that billing information is collected accurately and efficiently. Here are key strategies for optimizing front desk procedures to enhance billing accuracy: Patient Registration: Accurate patient registration is the foundation of billing accuracy. Front desk staff should collect comprehensive patient information, including demographics, insurance details, and contact information. Implement electronic registration systems to minimize data entry errors and streamline the registration process. Insurance Verification: Verify insurance coverage for each patient during the registration process. Confirm eligibility, coverage

Published By: Melissa C. - OMG, LLC. CEO | No Comments

20 Very Important Aspects of Medical Billing

These 20 aspects collectively contribute to the effective and efficient management of your medical billing process, optimizing reimbursement and minimizing the risk of claim denials. Patient Information: Accurate collection and maintenance of patient demographics, contact details, and insurance information. Insurance Verification: Thoroughly confirming insurance coverage, including eligibility, benefits, and any pre-authorization requirements. Medical Coding: Precise assignment of codes (ICD-10, CPT, HCPCS) to document diagnoses and procedures accurately. Charge Entry: Entering coded information into the billing system to generate claims for submission. Claim Submission: Timely submission of claims to insurance companies, adhering to specific guidelines and deadlines. Claim Rejections and Denials Management: Proactive resolution of rejected or denied claims, identifying reasons

Published By: Melissa C. - OMG, LLC. CEO | No Comments

What are some obstacles to efficient healthcare revenue cycle management?

Efficient healthcare revenue cycle management (RCM) involves various processes, from patient registration and insurance verification to claims processing and reimbursement. Several obstacles can impact the efficiency of healthcare RCM. Addressing these obstacles requires a comprehensive approach, including the use of technology, continuous staff training, regular audits, and staying informed about regulatory changes in the healthcare industry. Common challenges to achieving effective RCM: Incomplete or Inaccurate Patient Information: Inaccurate or incomplete patient data during registration can lead to billing errors, claim denials, and delayed payments. Insurance Verification Issues: Difficulty in verifying insurance coverage and benefits can result in claim denials or delays in reimbursement. Coding Errors: Incorrect medical coding can lead

Published By: Kary C. - OMG, LLC. COO | No Comments

Data can unlock capacity in the O.R. & drive better decision-making: Melissa’s Mention

“Optimizing operating room performance is a tough nut to crack for hospitals because true OR capacity is often uncaptured and underutilized due to rigid scheduling protocols. During a workshop sponsored by LeanTaaS at the Becker’s Hospital Review 9th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable in November, Sanjeev Agrawal, president and COO of LeanTaaS, and Matt Ruby, director of business operations, surgical services at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, discussed challenges and available solutions related to efficient OR utilization. Four key takeaways: 1. Unused OR capacity leads to unrealized return on investment. The OR represents the economic backbone of hospitals but is often underutilized because of the rigidity of block scheduling and

Published By: Melissa's Mentions | No Comments

Telehealth and Its Impact on Healthcare Delivery

Technology has influenced many facets of life, and healthcare is not an exemption. Over the last few years, several digital healthcare startups have sprung up, and this has simplified the process of healthcare delivery to remote places and people who find it difficult to commute.   Modern life has undergone tremendous transformation because of the internet and progressive software. This useful tool has changed the way we communicate and keep in touch with family and friends, how we consummate financial transactions, and how goods and services are negotiated and purchased.   There are so many telehealth tools that you can choose from if you are keen on receiving quality healthcare

Published By: Melissa C. - OMG, LLC. CEO | No Comments

ICD-11: What it is, When it is Coming and How it Will Differ from ICD-10

ICD (International Classification of Diseases) is a universally accepted ranking system used by the WHO (World Health Organization) for categorizing physical and mental illnesses. ICD-11 is the eleventh edition of this categorization system. For about two decades, there have been no development or publishing of an update or revision to the ICD. The official presentation of ICD-11 at the World Health Assembly took place in May 2019 following its release on June 18, 2018. Member states are expected to adopt it as the official reporting system starting on January 1, 2022. However, it is still unknown when the U.S. Healthcare system will be ready to adopt it for use. ICD-11

Published By: Melissa C. - OMG, LLC. CEO | No Comments

EHR Satisfaction and Ease of Use

If you are a healthcare worker in any field, you are probably aware of the HITECH Act.  This Act was the inception of the electronic medical record (EHR), and meaningful use.  Meaningful use was the proposal from CMS and ONC.  The idea was to have the electronic medical record have interoperable capabilities throughout the United States (cdc.gov 2019).  We know now that is not in effect.   The introduction of the HITECH Act was to demonstrate to the reader that the front line healthcare worker (Physician, Nurse, Physician Assistant, Certified Nurse Assistant, etc.), are the workers that are the most impacted by the use of the electronic medical record.  If

Published By: Michelle Bottone | No Comments

Flu Season is Nearly Upon Us… Medical Coding for Influenza Vaccine

Since Flu season is rapidly approaching, we decided to take a look at the medical codes that are utilized for billing of vaccine shots.   First of all, what exactly is the Flu? Flu is short for Influenza, which is a contagious respiratory disease caused by the Influenza virus. Influenza virus infects the nose, throat, and in a rare condition the lungs. The symptoms can be mild to severe. The most common influenza symptoms include high fever, sore throat, headache, coughing, runny nose, muscle and joint pain, and fatigue (body weakness). This virus generally occurs during the winter months. Influenza is a serious health condition that can lead to pneumonia.

Published By: Melissa C. - OMG, LLC. CEO | No Comments