In many ways, the job of a medical biller is unenviable.
Not only do they have to make sure that all the relevant documents are in order (so as to appease both the healthcare provider and the insurance company) but they must also bear the brunt of the damage of a simple typo (which can cause thousands of dollars in penalties).
However, this doesn’t mean that all medical billing professionals are destined to fail as there are simple steps you can take to minimize your chances of making a mistake. Today, we’ll be taking a look at the 3 most common mistakes made by medical billing professionals and how they can be avoided.
Mistake #1 – Irregularities in Patient Information
By far the biggest mistake medical billing professionals tend to make is accepting and processing documents even though there are irregularities in patient information. Technically speaking, if things don’t add up, the insurance provider is within their rights to refuse to reimbursement – even if it’s something as trivial as the wrong spelling of your client’s name.
Therefore, it pays to make sure that there are no irregularities in patient information. If you find errors like the wrong date of birth or the incorrect spelling of a patient’s name, politely ask them to revise their documents and inform them that such irregularities can cause payment delays.
Mistake #2 – Inadequate Insurance Coverage
A surprisingly common trend among millennials is insurance hopping – which is when people frequently change their insurance provider. Although some changes are brought on by joining a new organization that has a dedicated insurance provider, there are those who change their insurance provider just because they’ve found a cheaper alternative.
While there’s nothing wrong with opting for the economical option, it’s important to understand that the cheapest medical coverage provider probably won’t cover all ailments and conditions. In other words, there’s a high likelihood that the condition your client is requesting coverage for isn’t covered by their new insurance plan
Therefore, if you encounter a client who has changed insurance providers numerous times, you need to double check whether or not their particular medical condition is covered by their insurance. Simply put, if your client files for an uncovered condition, the insurance provider won’t cough up the cash to cover the bill!
Mistake #3 – The DIY Approach
Countless clinics and medical practices think of medical billing as a part of their job and are more than willing to do it themselves. Owing to their lack of experience and training in this domain, they’re bound to make mistakes which would most likely have been avoided by medical billing professional.
Therefore, don’t gamble with your client’s funds and your clinic’s reputation, and get a certified medical billing professional on board to oversee this domain of your operations. Doing so will help you avoid most errors and will do wonders for your brand image!
About Allied Prep Technical Institute:
Allied Prep Technical Institute is a medical and technical training institute that provides comprehensive training to its students. On top of having a physical campus in Manhattan Boulevard, the firm also conducts medical billing and coding programs online that offer students the chance to learn at their own pace and get better at their job.
Contact Allied Prep Technical Institute for more detailed information about its robust training program!