The first thing any healthcare practice will want to get is the prompt payments for the services provided by it. But, it so happens that as much a healthcare provider wants to get paid promptly, there may arise issues that prevent insurance companies to deny or reject payments.  There is no sure shot strategy to follow that will ensure that all the claims submitted are paid in full by the insurance companies. However, healthcare practices can minimize rejections and denials by managing efficiently their account receivables. Though it sounds a bit complex, it is much simpler when it is outsourced to medical billing companies like Avontix . Let us see some tips that can help in managing a healthcare facility’s accounts receivables. Outsourcing: An experienced medical billing company can provide an effective and highly trained accounts receivable team that manages efficiently all the challenges in cash flow. It is the responsibility of the professionals in medical bill...

Increasing use and popularity of smartphones has increased the use of mobile phones for EHR solutions. The technology that facilitates mobile EHR has transformed the way clinical care is provided. There are some benefits of using mobile EHR like improving the patient satisfaction, reducing the workload at the healthcare provider’s office. Let us see some tips that can improve and maximize the effectiveness of mobile EHR solutions. Access: To reap maximum benefits, it is necessary that everyone related to the practice has access to mobile EHR. This enables the patients and providers to quickly access all the patient information in accordance with the HIPAA regulations. iPad use by the provider:   It is better to use an iPad instead of a mobile phone by healthcare providers when meeting patients and making charts as it gives a professional look than a phone that gives an impression that the doctor is distracted. EHR features: While starting to use the mobile EHR...

Medical coding and medical billing are two of the most vital segments of the healthcare system in the USA. To maintain patient safety, quick payments for treatments provided and effective operations of a healthcare facility, both of medical coding and medical billing are needed. These two require professionals who are skilled at reading, understanding, recording and tracking critical medical information at a quick pace and at the same time maintaining confidentiality. But, why and how are these two fields important for the healthcare industry? Let’s see how medical billing and medical coding play an essential role in modern medicine and medical industry. Medical coding is all about patient care: Medical coding jobs require taking information related to diagnoses, treatments, procedures, medications and translating them into alphanumeric codes. All this information is collected from a wide range of sources that include physician notes, transcription reports, electronic reco...

                                      Do you remember when is the last time you wanted to do something and did it immediately? It’s very common for all of us to have an agenda to do something and then conveniently postpone that work for some indefinite time. It happens many times that you want to clean up the mess at your home, but put it away for the next day. Then again you postpone it to another day. This kind of procrastination is common in everyday life, whether it’s personal work or official work. There is a momentary feeling of goodness when we procrastinate doing something. But, it also builds up some pressure or tension on us and sometimes we may even lose out on achieving something due to this kind of behavior.  When you are really exhausted and can’t do some work, it’s alright to postpone it. But, postponing things just because of lethargy will impact negatively on your p...

One of the biggest challenges faced by healthcare providers and medical billing industry is the claims denial. Constant changes in various regulations and updates in ICD-10 are resulting in increasing claims denials that prove to be a hindrance to several healthcare providers. Adequate Monitoring of Denials: Medical billing industry is facing revenue losses to the claims denials. To avoid denials the main requirement is to monitor the regular billing and claim submission processes precise and less time-consuming. The primary goal of professionals in medical billing jobs is to see that the financial stability of the healthcare providers is maintained while the physicians provide the most optimal health care to the patients. One of the most significant and influencing factors in this aspect is achieving proper reimbursement for services provided. Claims denials play a critical role in the financial well-being of healthcare providers. Monitoring and managing denials...

The process of assigning proper universally accepted codes to the documentation reports of patients’ medical records which are used to submit health insurance claims to the insurance providers is called medical coding. The person in the medical coding jobs, who performs this process, is called a medical coder, and a coder needs to allocate appropriate medical codes like CPT, HCPCS, and ICD codes to patients’ claims. In other words, when a patient visits a healthcare facility due to any reason, his or her visit is recorded in certain medical codes that help in tracking the patients’ visit’s reason and the services received which have been billed. Is medical coding a tough job? As it is with any other job, the right person with right attitude and skills will not find medical coding difficult. Medical coding jobs basically need an eye for detail because one cannot afford to miss any information while working with crucial patient information and every diagnosis, treatment or...

In our previous article, we have already understood that to catch the medical billing nuances fast it is very helpful if the terms that are commonly used in the medical billing jobs are understood first. As a continuation of our efforts to understand the various medical billing terms, in this article, we shall see some more terms that are commonly used in the medical billing industry. Fiscal Intermediary – Fiscal Intermediary (FI) is a Medicare representative who processes Medicare claims. Guarantor – Guarantor is a party that pays for an insurance plan of a patient but he himself is not a patient. HCPCS – Healthcare Financing Administration Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) is a coding system to explain the various services, treatment and devices used in providing healthcare. These codes are commonly used by medical billers to file health insurance claims. Healthcare Provider – Entities that provide healthcare services to patients like hospitals, physicians,...

The technological advancements have changed our lives tremendously. The impact of technology can be seen in every field of life. In the healthcare industry, technology has not only helped improve the quality of life with new machines and medicines but also has helped both the healthcare providers and patients with patient information at the fingertips which facilitate faster decisions. The electronic medical records and electronic health records are a result of the technology. Let us a take a look at some of the recent trends in the electronic health records arena. Using mobile technology: With more and more people using smartphones, there is an increase in the demand for access to medical records on mobile phones. Since patients move from one place to another and visit different specialists, it is understood that it becomes necessary to be able to access the information from anywhere. Using cloud technology: The cloud technology comes with its own benefits of cost-ef...

Though medical coding and medical billing have emerged as the most sought-after career options with lucrative pay packages, many candidates are still thinking to get into this field. This is because of the myths that are common to this field. Let us see some of these myths and the truth regarding them that is beneficial to those who wish to join the healthcare force that makes a difference to the revenue cycles of the healthcare providers. Only medical knowledge is required : It is true that medical coding and medical billing jobs require medical knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, diseases and procedures. However, it is not just medical knowledge that is required for these jobs, but knowledge of insurance policies and procedures, coding guidelines and HIPPA regulations are also required to master the skills. So, not only people with medical knowledge but anyone with good math skills and an eye for detail can pursue a career in medical coding and billing industries...

The technological advancements have changed our lives tremendously. The impact of technology can be seen in every field of life. In the healthcare industry, technology has not only helped improve the quality of life with new machines and medicines but also has helped both the healthcare providers and patients with patient information at the fingertips which facilitate faster decisions. The electronic medical records and electronic health records are a result of the technology. Let us a take a look at some of the recent trends in the electronic health records arena. Using mobile technology: With more and more people using smartphones, there is an increase in the demand for access to medical records on mobile phones. Since patients move from one place to another and visit different specialists, it is understood that it becomes necessary to be able to access the information from anywhere. The cloud technology comes with its own benefits of cost-effectiveness, more storage capacit...

                             With billions of people getting affected by illnesses and diseases, it is a tough job to report all the details regarding the patients’ visits to healthcare facilities. This is all the more difficult when there are multiple healthcare facilities and the same patient may visit a physician multiple times. To ease the process of reporting these details for future references and for insurance purpose, medical codes are used and medical coding has become one of the most significant professions in the healthcare sector. Medical coding involves taking medical reports from healthcare providers which include patients’ conditions, diagnoses, treatment provided and translating them into a set of codes as per the international standards. Coding modifiers accurately is absolutely necessary to get the due revenues for a healthcare provider which can be learnt by enthusiastic medical coders a...

What is that one thing that can take you to success in times of difficulty? It is confidence. Confidence to overcome difficult situations and handle pressure in tough times will bring success. Confidence is built on many things but primarily it is built on choices you make and accomplishments you get from your choices.  We all definitely want to be confident, but how to build confidence is a big question for many. Building self-confidence is not a matter of one or two days. It is a process and habit that has to be built over a period of time investing your time and energy and this can be done by anyone who wants to be successful following some simple rules. Be positive – Being positive is the first thing that has to be followed to be self-confident. You ought to give yourself positive self-affirmation that tunes your mind to think right and take right decisions. Words like “I can do this” and “I am capable” are examples for positive self-affirmation. Positive statement...

Medical transcription has been a lucrative career option for many since the start of business outsourcing industry in India. When you are looking out for a new career, you may not be sure if you are fit for the industry or not. You may be skeptical about the qualities that employers look for in prospective candidates wishing to join medical transcription jobs. The role of a medical transcription professional is to transcribe the audio files dictated by a physician into written documents. For such a role the following skills are required to become a successful medical transcriptionist. English Language skills – The basic quality that employers look for in a candidate vying for medical transcription jobs is a good understanding of the English language. One has to have a fair command of grammar and punctuation to be able to transcribe appropriately. Medical Terminology – A medical transcriptionist requires having sound knowledge of the medical terminology, human anatomy an...

                                  It is being noticed that documentation errors in medical records that even result in deaths are on the rise. According to studies, inaccurate medical documentation is one of the major reasons for patient deaths in the recent times. Per a report, thousands of the Americans are being killed from preventable adverse effects of inaccurate medical documentation. It is important to incorporate best EHR solutions into your medical practice along with some efforts in documentation processes. Let us understand some common documentation mistakes that cost you. Incomplete medical record: Care should be taken that patient’s every encounter with the healthcare facility should be documented properly with complete information including the patient’s medical history, reasons for the visits, diagnosis, test results, and treatments. Risk factors: All the health risk ...