5 Biggest Challenges with Medical Billing

Medical billing is essential for the financial wellbeing of any medical practice. Use the wrong billing processes and you’re guaranteed to have issues with insurance claims, resulting in revenue problems and displeased patients.

However, there are various challenges with medical billing, any of which could lead to major problems for your practice. Let’s look at 5 of the biggest challenges with medical billing and how you can best avoid them!

1. Incorrect Patient Information
One of the biggest challenges with medical billing is incorrect data. For instance, even the slightest error, such as a misspelling or incorrect date of a birth, can cause an insurance company to deny a claim.

So, it’s vital that all patient info is double-checked to ensure it’s accurate and avoid any issues with insurance companies.

Of course, human error is always likely, even when taking extra precautions to check patient info when billing. One of the best ways to minimize the risk of these errors is to invest in a reliable medical billing software.

2. Missing Documents and Patient Info
Missing information is another challenge with medical billing.

It’s easy to accidentally leave a field blank or forget to attach necessary documents, causing insurance providers to deny the claim. These issues are especially prevalent if staff aren’t properly trained with the medical billing software.

Using the right billing software is a simple way to avoid issues with missing documents and patient information.

For example, consider choosing software that makes it easy to attach documents or outsource to a billing company that better understands the software, reducing the likelihood of missing info.

3. Inaccurate Coding
Medical billing coding is a complex and time-consuming process that many practices struggle with. Physicians are incredibly busy during office hours, so it’s understandable that providers often struggle to include accurate coding for medical billing.

Again, certain medical billing solutions can eliminate these challenges, such as outsourcing billing to a third party or using software with automated coding processes.

User-friendly software features, such as a list of up to date relevant codes, can also streamline the coding process to save time and reduce errors.

4. Duplicate Bills
Duplicate billing is a surprisingly common issue in medical billing. Miscommunications may cause two members of staff to bill the same patient twice, potentially resulting in their bill doubling in price.

Of course, patients are understandably annoyed when this occurs, so it’s an issue that practices must try to avoid. One method of avoiding duplicate billing is to use software with an automated billing feature.

Automated billing alerts you to any duplicate bills for the same patient, allowing for a quick and easy resolution.

5. Collecting Payment
Collecting balance payments from patients is often challenging, especially when using outdated medical billing processes. In many instances, it’s left to staff to chase up balance payments via phone calls, taking away valuable time and resources that could be spent elsewhere.

So, by offering updated payment options, such as multiple payment systems and online billing, you can make balance collection quick and easy.

California Medical Billing is a Professional Medical Billing, Practice Management and Consulting Company. We are dedicated to providing outstanding services to all our physicians. Our medical billing services fit any specialty of health care such as General Practice, Internal Medicine, Psychology, Psychiatry and Specialty Practices.

By using the latest technology available, we are able to provide clients with fast efficient service while maximizing their reimbursement.

We provide service for Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pediatric Medicine practices throughout California. Contact us for a free consultation today!