Medical billing, while necessary, is frequently complicated. Efficient billing processes not only assure a steady flow of income but can also increase patient trust. However, with the right tips you can improve your medical billing process and focus more of your time on patient care and support. Here are 13 strategies you can use to improve your medical billing process.

Embrace Electronic Health Records (EHR)

EHR can make life much easier when it comes to medical billing. Healthcare providers can ensure accurate, up-to-date patient information by moving to EHR, resulting in more efficient invoicing and fewer errors. They can help providers to be more accurate in their billing. This is because EHRs can automatically generate claims, which reduces the risk of errors. Some EHRs can connect directly to payers, which eliminates the need to mail or fax claims. EHR can also help track claim status and verify when claims have been received, processed, and paid.

Improve First-Pass Yield

First-pass yield refers to the percentage of claims paid on the first submission. Essentially, you’re measuring that first round of submission to insurances. Your goal for first-pass yield should be around 95% if you want to have a strong revenue cycle. This is also critical because claims that get denied, rarely make through the claims submission process again. By focusing on increasing this measure, providers can save time and money on resubmissions, resulting in faster payouts and better cash flow.

Identify Errors Before Submitting

Pre-submission inspections are critical. Using software solutions that detect potential problems or inconsistencies can assist providers in resolving issues before they reach the payer, decreasing denials and delays.

Regularly Train Your Staff on Patient Intake

The billing process begins with patient intake. Staff should receive regular training to ensure that they capture correct and full patient information, which directly affects billing accuracy. Faster patient intake methods can help to accelerate the billing process by ensuring that patient records are accurate and up to date. When you provide clear and concise patient intake practices, you can often eliminate billing disputes before they happen.

Implement Automated Billing Systems

Automation provides efficiency, particularly in the sector of medical billing. Implementing automated billing systems can improve operational efficiency, reduce human error, and speed up the billing process significantly. Some of the common benefits include:

Benefits of Automation:

Automated systems can manage claims more quickly than manual procedures, resulting in faster reimbursements. Data can be collected automatically, reducing human pauses and unnecessary wasted time. Over time, automation can lead to significant cost savings by reducing the need for manual labor and rectifying errors.

Claim Submission:

You can adjust the system to submit claims in regular intervals and flag claims that are incomplete or detect errors in real time, prompting corrections before submission.

Payment Posting:

Received payments can be instantly matched to patient accounts and invoices.

Follow-ups and Reminders:

Patients and staff can be notified of upcoming or past-due invoices via automated reminders, boosting the possibility of timely payment The system may track claims made to insurance providers and send follow-up queries for claims that have not been paid after a given length of time.

Integration with EHR:

Integrating automated billing systems with electronic health records ensures that patient data remains consistent.

Conduct Regular Audits and Update Patient Files

Audits can help to identify and correct errors in billing or denied claims. Updating patient files can help to ensure that all of the necessary information is included in claims. Audits can also be a great tool to pinpoint bottlenecks or repeated errors that are popping up. Whether that be from human error or computer problems.

Overall, regular audits and updating patient files can play a significant role in improving the medical billing process. By identifying and correcting errors, ensuring that all of the necessary information is included on claims, and identifying areas for improvement, these activities can help to ensure that medical providers are paid in a timely and accurate manner.

Furthermore, regular audits and updating patient files can aid in the protection of patients from medical identity theft.

Stay Updated with Billing Regulations

Medical billing regulations are constantly evolving. Providers must stay informed about changes to ensure compliance and avoid potential legal issues or penalties. Updated regulations can reduce or add processes or steps.

Track Denials

Tracking denials is an effective technique to enhance the medical billing process since it helps you to identify and address the underlying causes of denials. Providers can discover trends, address root problems, and execute corrective steps by tracking and analyzing denials. You can also improve customer satisfaction by cutting back on denials.

Optimize Patient Communication

In the medical billing process, clear and effective communication with patients is critical. It not only guarantees that patients are aware of their financial obligations, but it also develops trust and reduces disagreements. Some communication techniques that improve your bottom line:

• Creating an FAQ section on how your billing services work
• Offering patient portals to make payments and converse with staff
• Itemization on billing statements
• Email/Phone Calls/Text notifications about payments and statements
• Surveys
• Hotline for dedicated billing questions

Offer Multiple Payment Options

It is important to recognize that some patients may struggle with large bills, and offer flexible payment plans to ease the burden. Payment plans, credit card usage, and other measures can help patients pay off larger balances in a reasonable time frame. This is one of the best ways to improve the medical billing process for your practice and patients.

Reduce Coding Errors

Coding errors are one of the leading causes of claim denials. Investing in training and utilizing coding verification tools can significantly reduce these errors, ensuring accurate billing. Incorrect coding can result in underbilling or overbilling, which can reduce a healthcare provider’s revenue. Modern coding software offers real-time error checking, highlighting potential mistakes before submission.

Outsource Billing When Necessary

If you are looking to possibly reduce costs and improve medical billing accuracy, outsourcing can be a great option. Third-party medical billing companies often bring specialized knowledge and experience, which can be used to optimize your office services. Outsourcing also allows staff and resources to redirect their focus from administrative tasks to patient care. Ensuring a smooth transition between in-house billing to outsourcing is the key to success.

Use Analytics to Identify Bottlenecks

Just like other aspects of the world, data is king in identifying how patients are interacting with a service or practice. Analytics can provide invaluable insights into the medical billing process. You can forecast future trends, such as payment delays or seasonal claim spikes. Track KPIs, first-pass yield, claim denial rates, and more! Additionally, analytics help identify where problems are and how to beat them!

Still Need Medical Billing Help?

If you are looking for help with your medical billing and are considering software options or outsourcing, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! At 360Connect, we help customers find suppliers every day! Just fill out our 1–2-minute form and we’ll contact you to verify your information and needs. From there, you can sit back and relax as up to 5 companies will reach out with quotes. This process is 100% free and you get to choose the quote that best fits your needs! It’s that simple.