How Does ASC Billing Ensure Accuracy In Bills And Smoothness Of Claim Reimbursement?
It’s
the outpatient surgical services that are primarily provided by ASCs
(Ambulatory Surgery Centers). Such services can be a part of big hospitals or
operate as standalone surgical centers. Although Ambulatory Surgery Center
(ASC) Billing claims seem to be alike regular medical claims, they are quite
different in terms of filing. ASC billing claims are filed on the HCFA 1500 or
837P, whereas UB-04 or 837I is
used to file the hospital outpatient surgical claims. ASC billing requires
extra caution as even minor errors can result in massive claim denials. Here we
discuss about ASC billing ensure accuracy in bills and smoothness of claim
reimbursement.
Let’s
take a look at the different ways to improving Ambulatory Surgery Center
Billing:
- Clarify the Collections
Process
Communication with patients must be open and transparent
if ASC medical claims billing efforts are to be more efficient. Make sure
that new patients are aware of their financial responsibility for numerous
services rendered.
A sign in the reception area explaining the payment system will
also be beneficial, as patients will be unable to claim ignorance of your
policy at a later stage. To ensure timely billing collections, collect
ASC billing related information from patients on the same day, including a copy
of their photo ID and an insurance card for your records.
- Automation of Basic
billing functions
Forcing employees to perform tasks that can be performed more
easily by automated systems is a drain on your healthcare business. It lowers
morale and frustrates employees who could otherwise focus on providing more
patient-centered, personalized services. Identify routine and mind-numbingly
repetitive ASC billing tasks. Payment reminders must be issued, individual
claims must be filed, and assistance in choosing the appropriate ASC medical
billing codes should be provided.
- Monitor Denials
Whether a practice outsources ASC billing and coding operations
or processes claims in-house, having a system of balances and checks in place
will enhance your first-pass rates.
Instead of scolding staff for mistakes, one should work with the
mindset that every rejection is an opportunity to enhance the ASC billing and
coding process. When you see higher-than-expected denial rates, for example, it
could be a sign that your scouring procedure is inadequate for your current
workflow or your in-house team needs advanced training.
The following are common reasons for denials:
- Physicians lack the
necessary credentials.
- Lack of sufficient
documentation to back up your claims.
- Codes are used by
your team for services or equipment that are not covered by insurance
providers.
Tracking denial codes may reveal simple steps your practice can
take to improve efficiency. Sending chart notes and ASC billing services to the
outsourcing billing experts on a daily basis, for example, could save time and
improve accuracy. Similarly, if claims are consistently returned for services
deemed “non-covered,” it may be time to review your coverage verification
process as well as your coding protocols.
- Improve Quality Control
To be sure, eliminating claim errors is critical for the
financial health of your practice. However, once a claim is approved, the ASC
billing and collection process does not end. Medical healthcare providers can
keep a close eye on cash flow by using generally accepted accounting practices
to post and record payments.
Create a deposit log for each receipt and send it to the ASC
billing team to improve account balance accuracy. The log must include all
information required to ensure proper posting and to allow reviewers to easily
confirm correct payment amounts posted to the correct accounts.
A log should include the following basic information:
- Name of the patient
- Account number
- Cash Receipt Number
- Amount owed
- Service date or
referral reference number
- Follow Up on
Delinquent Claims
How much money is on its way to your practice? The percentage of
delinquent claims awaiting service will be revealed by answering this question.
A dedicated biller should be assigned to review account aging in order to
determine which claims are not being paid on time.
You may discover communication issues with insurance providers
or patients after thoroughly reviewing aged accounts receivable. Are the
delinquencies the result of ASC medical biller mistakes? Is it easy for
patients to understand your statements? Is your ASC billing and coding
partner processing your claims quickly?
High delinquency rates indicate a larger issue. When you
consistently review delinquent accounts with an eye toward improving
performance, you can meet these problems early on when they are easier to
solve. It is critical to implement processes and patterns that will assist your
ASC billing and coding team in filing claims faster and more efficiently in
order to maximize revenue cycle management.
Outsource Your Difficult Collections
You may be hesitant to consider outsourcing of your ASC billing
and coding operations as you have been providing services in the community for
many years. However, keeping an open mind is prudent, especially when the
efficiency of your revenue cycle is at stake. Working with a third-party
revenue cycle management services provider such as 24/7 Medical Billing
Services frees up your staff by delegating more difficult collections to
experts.
They will use compassion and sensitivity to assist your patients
in dealing with their outstanding bills, such as setting up a payment plan.
Finally, reviewing the ASC medical billing cycle from the initial patient
contact to check deposit will allow you to improve the claims process and
capture reimbursements more efficiently, resulting in improved cash flow.
About 24/7 Medical Billing Services:
We are a medical billing company that offers ‘24/7
Medical Billing Services’ and support physicians, hospitals, medical
institutions and group practices with our end to end medical billing solutions.
We help you earn more revenue with our quick and affordable services. Our customized
Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) solutions allow physicians to attract additional
revenue and reduce administrative burden or losses.
Contact:
24/7 Medical Billing Services
Tel: +1 888-502-0537
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