Healthcare: Is Earning Good Revenues A Sinking Ship?

By James Michaels


When ICD-10 got released, it caused a panic amongst healthcare providers. Many doctors were scrambling to find certified coders. It was not easy to find these coders because a lot of medical billers in the industry did not prepare for the drastic changes. Many coders thought that the switch from ICD-9 to ICD-10 was going to be a breeze. However, they now see how wrong they were. The codes are complex and often hard to figure out. A person must come to the realization that they can get better with practice, education and experience.

In reality, it takes time to come up with a good business plan. Many physicians are finding it easier to allow their patients to pay for their treatment in cash. This is becoming more popular today because of the high costs associated with healthcare. It is important to have money set aside for medical expenses. Today profiting in healthcare has a lot to do with your utilization management. It is becoming a full time job to do medical billing in a small office. Years ago, the medical biller would often do reception work or answering phone calls from patients. Today, medical billers have to be doing one task at a time. When someone does medical billing and coding, they actually improve the overall revenue.

Billers that work for outsourced companies say that they have good results collection on claims. A claim is hard to collect on if you don't have the proper codes and paperwork filled out. Most doctors today say that their job has more to do with billing than treating a patient. It seems like the system is set up so that you spend 10 to 15 minutes with your patient and 20 minutes with your billing for each patient. Doctors cannot handle doing everything at once. Many physicians find themselves working 12 hour shifts several days a week in order to manage their billing and patient records. It is important to allow a professional ICD-10 coder to handle your billing.

In reality, allowing your fears to diminish is key. It is important to let experts be experts. What this means is that if you know outsourcing your billing will get you higher returns, then you might as well do that. At least your practice will stay open and you will get higher revenues. Yes, you must share your confidential data. However, professional medical billing companies know how to handle these types of claims. Investing your time and money into a reputable company takes trust.

Coding today may seem like an unfair system. However, it is not unfair when you look at all the facts. For starters, you are getting what you pay for. With education, experience and certification, there seems to be a lot of coding success. Without it, your practice suffers. If you cannot find a qualified ICD-10 coder, then it is best to outsource your billing. Many doctors are beginning to discover this now.




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