Billing Company Transitions Are Scary. Here's How to Ensure It Goes Smoothly.

One of the top reasons providers hesitate to switch billing companies or in-house billers is the fear of delayed payments during the transition. Most providers have confirmed that, at least once, there have been snags during a transition and they are just not prepared to take a financial hit, even if they're not happy with the current billing situation. It takes a leap of faith to make a change that could seriously impact their income. There are many things that could go wrong that would result in their worst fears coming true; so, how do we as a billing company make sure that doesn't happen? The answer is simple: research, accurate data entry and constant follow-up.

When you're starting a new client it is imperative to ask the provider for the basics and then do your own research. Many providers don't actually know the details on how they bill insurances- confirm what they tell you. How a provider is credentialed can vary from insurance to insurance so make sure you know what NPI and Tax ID to use before you start billing. Failure to do so will cause EDI paperwork to be rejected claims may not even make it to the payer.

Accurate data entry is an obvious one. If you put the wrong NPI in your system, nothing will pay. Be thorough and double check the spelling of providers' names and locations. Make sure all numbers are correct and complete all EDI/ERA paperwork accurately and timely.

Follow-up might be one of the most important aspects of billing, period. When you're starting a new client you must make sure the claims are getting through the clearinghouse without errors and are accepted at the insurance. Check claim status after a week just to ensure they are in process and not denied. If there are any problems, you want to know within the first week and not wait 30 days.

The bottom line is to get as much information as possible before the start date of your contract. Knowing what insurance(s) a provider accepts, how they are credentialed with each payer, what their fees are for each procedure, how payments come in (EFT vs. paper check) and what reports they need at the end of each month will ensure the transition is a smooth one. You can complete EDI/ERA paperwork a week before starting the billing. Make sure you have online access to insurances so you can check claim status without spending time on the phone. Being thorough can help ease the provider's anxiety and keep payments coming in on time.

If you are considering switching billing companies, or have any questions about a smooth transition, we can help! Contact us today.

Premier Medical Billing LLC

www.premiermbma.com

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