Medical billing can be a very complicated and stressful task. Not only do you need to collect the insurance information from your patients, but then you also need to submit that information in an accurate and timely manner. Healthcare providers need to be aware of the different codes and rates used by medical carriers and charge for those services. The following are ways to bill a medical carrier as a healthcare provider.
1. Charge the Patient for Medical Services
This type of arrangement includes charging the patient directly for any health care services rendered while also considering any financial limitations or barriers that may prevent them from seeking medical treatment.
Another strategy includes allowing patients to pay their balance online through your website by credit card or debit card after receiving an initial payment upfront in some form such as cash, check, money order. This allows you to continue collecting revenue while also generating interest income on whatever amount they’ve prepaid since there will be months where no additional charges are made until re-payment takes place via monthly installments later down the road.
2. Use a Collection Agency
Many different agencies can help you collect the money from your patients and work with each of those companies on your behalf. You will have an easier time collecting payments by sending them right after receiving documentation from the patient’s visit or treatment.
There are other ways to send information to insurance carriers, such as online portals and fax transmissions. However, it would be best if all paperwork was sent directly through certified mail, so there isn’t any chance of missing documents getting lost along the way. Sending everything needed for processing should also include a self-addressed stamped envelope, making it easier for them to get right back in touch with you.
3. Use an Electronic Billing Company
Billing companies are middlemen between you, your patients, and their insurance carriers. They will find out which providers the patient has contracted with to get the best rates for services rendered or treatment received. You can also utilize different software such as cms 1500 software to make the billing process easier and faster.
By working closely with these companies, they can help submit any claims that may have been denied because of missing information. Once all paperwork has been sent off, it’s important to allow processing before assuming anything was missed along the way; sometimes, there are many steps involved in keeping things organized on both ends, so nothing gets lost in translation.
4. Use an Insurance Verification Company
The fourth way to bill a medical carrier is by using an insurance verification company. These companies will do the heavy lifting for you to verify which carriers your patients have and what plans they are under. You can easily ensure that all of their information has been sent over to be reimbursed or paid upon filing claims and documentation.
By sending in any paperwork electronically, also helps keep everything organized on both ends, making sure nothing gets lost along the way. Like with electronic billing companies, there may be many steps involved in moving things around from one location to another, depending on where everyone works.
Some benefits include not having someone else running back and forth with updates about what is going on or getting lost in translation. Still, there are also some downsides, such as not having someone else to help you figure out which forms need to be filled out for each specific type of insurance carrier. This may only take a few minutes here and there, but it can certainly add up throughout the day, adding an extra task to your already busy schedule.
5. Use an Account Receivable Company
Account receivable companies will verify which carriers your patients have, but they will also keep track of any payments from each one. This can help you ensure that all bills are getting paid on time, so there aren’t any outstanding debts hanging around for very long.
Working closely with these types of companies makes it easier to stay organized throughout the day, which helps avoid missing or losing paperwork along the way. This also ensures everything gets sent over right away without holding onto documents waiting for someone else to take care of them later – everyone should be responsible for their work after all.
There are some benefits to using an account receivable company, such as having someone else take care of the hard work for you. Still, there are also many cons associated with depending on someone else, including paying a monthly or yearly fee no matter how much you end up earning from all this extra money.
Medical billing is a complex and constantly changing process. There are so many rules, regulations, and codes that apply to medical claims processing. It can be difficult for new healthcare providers to know where they should begin when establishing their practices.
