Patient Tips From a Medical Billing Service

Patient Tips From a Medical Billing Service
By Anthony J Pensabene

The process of medical billing is necessary, yet can be frustrating for both the patient and the doctor’s office. The patient is placed in a position in which they depend on their health insurance for payment; and, that is also the case regarding the doctor’s office as well. Like the health insurance provider, medical billing companies act as a third party to facilitate the process.

The following medical billing tips are provided in order to aid patients’ understanding and awareness of the associated processes and also to expedite the processes in any way to ensure satisfaction for all parties involved in medical collections.

- The doctor’s office is responsible for the medical coding. The health insurance provider reads the medical coding information and determines what percentage (if any) of the payment is owed by the health carrier (patient).

This portion of the process can also involve the patient. If a particular procedure is known beforehand, the patient can call the doctor’s office and inquire about the associated medical billing information. The patient can then call their health insurance provider and inquire about the intended patient billing structure.

- If there is a discrepancy regarding a bill, then do not delay to get it settled. Medical billing involves several parties, so there is no time for hesitation. A delay in medical claims can be detrimental to the patient because the doctor’s office may eventually send the account to their collections department, which could count against a patient’s future credit score.

- Maintain notes until the entire medical collections process is complete. Backtracking or relying on memory (or the verbal information relayed by a third party) will only delay the process.

- Read literature provided by insurance companies (especially that related to the patient billing process). It can be a hassle, but it is also the patient’s responsibility to familiarize themselves with their available coverage and what portions may be their ultimate responsibility.

- Many people receive health coverage through their company. The company should either have an in-house Human Resource person or outsource the need to a Human Resource service. These representatives should also be knowledgeable about medical billing and can be utilized as another source of help.

- As aforementioned, the entire electronic billing process can be frustrating to many parties. It never helps things by expressing anger to parties involved. It is always better to maintain composure and express concerns in a mannerly and objective tone. Such actions will expedite the resolution of any medical coding issue.

Cobalt Health (http://cobalthealth.com) provides innovative revenue cycle management services and business intelligence to physicians, diagnostic testing facilities, allied health providers, hospitals and surgery centers. We offer complete medical billing, collections, and accounts receivable management, superior reporting and analysis capabilities, and a dogged determination to deliver the maximum return for you. You did the work, now let us take the hassle out of obtaining your fair compensation.

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