The medical billing process can be difficult to navigate, especially if it’s your first time doing it. Between collecting insurance information and dealing with third-party payers, the process can be confusing to even the most seasoned medical professionals. Are you looking to improve the medical billing process at your practice? Then keep reading to learn more about how you can make the experience smoother and easier for patients going forward.
How Physicians Can Improve The Medical Billing Process For Patients
Today, a patient will rarely have direct contact with the medical billing company. Instead, that interaction is between a physician’s office and the payer. Often, this results in poor experiences for those patients who do not understand their bill. To prevent these negative interactions and make things easier on their patients, physicians should take an active role in their medical billing process.
Here are five ways they can do so.
Tips for Improving the Medical Billing Process
Collecting unpaid bills for patients is a necessity for physicians. But there are steps you can take to make sure that process doesn’t negatively impact your relationships with those patients.
Be informed
Verify patient’s coverage and benefits before performing any services. Collect at time of service and notify patients that they could receive a bill after the insurance adjudicates their claim. Some doctors may also find it helpful to have an office employee check in with patients after they’ve received their bill, before sending any collection notices.
Demonstrate compassion and understanding (up to a point)
It’s vital to treat each patient as an individual, especially when trying to collect funds. Since every case is different, different strategies might apply from person-to-person. Listen to the questions, reference the EOB that the patient should have received, and explain the balance due. Remind the patient that the balance is determined by their insurance company and that you are contractually obligated to collect. Share the payer’s phone number with the patient should they continue to disagree with the balance and encourage them to call.
Send Reminders
Consider sending reminder emails or automated text messages reminding a patient that a balance is due. Once outstanding balances age past 60 days it may be time to consider a collections process. You may consider turning balances over to a 3rd party collector.
Invest in medical billing software
Physicians looking for medical billing software should invest in software that allows them to bill and collect right away and reduce the hassle of managing paper files. It can automate workflow while reducing redundancy thereby saving time and money.
Outsource revenue cycle management and medical billing services
One of the best things physicians can do to improve the medical billing process for their patients is investing in revenue cycle management services.
Services meant to help physicians improve medical billing processes need to ensure doctors get value for their investment. They must provide fresh ideas, up-to-date information, established best practices, and cutting edge technology solutions to help meet physician needs effectively. They also need to stay on top of industry trends. And of course, keeping up with changes in compliance requirements so physicians stay current and avoid unnecessary regulatory scrutiny.
At RevStream we’re proud to say we do all of this and more! Click here to learn more about our services and how we can ensure the medical billing process at your practice is optimized.