It’s not easy to figure out how to improve your billing processes at a time when healthcare is changing quickly throughout the world during the time of the pandemic. and 2022 is quickly approaching, so it’s vital to stay current regarding the latest laws, trends, and technological advancements that could assist you in increasing patient payment and the size of your business.
1. Make the Most of Your Telehealth Revenue:
Telehealth which was needed to treat the outbreak has seen significant traction over the past year. The ease of access, convenience, and speed savings offered by remote medical treatment is well-loved. Telemedicine is now going to be around for a while, but freelance practitioners and billing firms need to adopt new methods of collecting to remain on the right track.
The first and most important thing is that you must use a HIPAA-compliant Telehealth system. The sooner you implement an advanced system, the more it can safeguard patient privacy as well as track telehealth interactions, and provide accurate invoices to speed up reimbursement.
2. Shift to Electronic Statements and Payments:
The patients are increasingly savvy consumers. They are seeking the same payment options for healthcare services as they do for other costs. They are looking for quick and accurate billing, prompt reminders, and simple online and simple payment options for patients.
Since patients are reported to change health care providers due to payments, the practices should ensure that the process is as simple as is possible for payments.
3. Adjust to a Constantly Changing World:
It could be difficult to keep up with changing regulations – or with the technology that will help you stay on top as the industry is rapidly changing. Billing agencies and independent practitioners who wish to stay at the forefront of payment collection must be aware of the benefits of outsourcing affordable Physician Billing Services.
4. Give Patients More Payment Options:
Based on ACA International, 29% of adults struggle to pay their expenses. Some doctors prefer to employ alternative payment methods in hopes of finding an answer. There are however methods to increase the number of patients you see without making drastic adjustments to the revenue cycle process.
5. Collect Patient Insurance and Contact Information Before Appointments:
If a patient contacts you to set an appointment or make an appointment, the front desk staff must have current and complete information or offer the option of emailing or mailing the appointment instead. In the ideal scenario, you have an online patient portal with the capability of obtaining the data online. The fields for collecting or updating this information should be made available within your patient portal or on the internet appointment tool, to help staff members to confirm the coverage of patients who have the right insurance and contact details.
6. Check Your Insurance Eligibility and Look for Any Unpaid Balances:
Check the coverage with the insurers and know the rules of payers prior to or during the time of treatment. These procedures will help you determine changes in the patient collection which portion of costs for standard treatments will be reimbursed and who is accountable for the payments.
7. Implement a Payment Policy That Makes Patients to Be Responsible For Their Payment at The Time Of Check-In:
The requirement that patients pay for copays and the responsibility of the patient at checking-in is the best way to collect balances from patients.
Develop a payment policy for your office to ensure that patients are aware of it is required. When you check in forms, you should include the patient accountability agreement that clients complete. This policy is designed to provide the patient with clear guidelines -and also your staff on how to handle the collection process.
Automated appointment reminders that include details about what’s due when the appointment is scheduled through the patient messaging system.
Patients must be aware of your practice’s uniform, clean payment policy. There are two motives for this: it offers assistance during difficult negotiations and gives patients the possibility of penalties in case they don’t pay.
A standard policy limits the patient’s rights in the event that your collection department attempts to get payment from them. If it’s stated clearly within your policies, patients don’t have the right to claim, “Oh, I thought I could pay it later.”
In fact, paying your customer’s medical bills is more crucial if they experience consequences for not paying on time (the implications of this are your responsibility of you). If a patient is unable to pay their electric bill and the lights go off, paying the bill for the light is an important issue. The payment of medical expenses should be considered a top priority.
8. Accept a Variety of Payment Methods:
Give your customers a variety of payment options such as cash, credit/debit cards, or checks, in order to increase the chance of obtaining the right amount upon check-in. Patients can also make payments easier to access if your portal is equipped with an easy-to-use web-based payment application.
9. Make Partial Payment Options Available – And Keep Track of Them:
Create payment plans for more debts, and instruct staff to effectively communicate and monitor these options effectively. Making payments more flexible procedure will allow your clinic to boost collections, while also ensuring clients pay for the services that they require.
10. Include Follow-Up in The Collection Process:
Perseverance is vital to collect the maximum amount of money. Make a strategic plan to contact patients who fail to pay their bills on time and an outline that your employees adhere to. Your team should be prepared to ask for the full amount, talk about options for payment, and in the event of a need, offer the option of a payment plan.
