Anesthesia medical billing isn’t like other forms of billing that clinics and hospitals might face. There are stringent, federal guidelines to be followed.
Anesthesiologists spend most of their work days with patients and it’s easy to let billing fall to the wayside. However, the right software system can make a huge difference.
It’s equally important to patients that anesthesiology is billed correctly. One minor mistake can lead to an expensive, unmanageable bill. There’s no room for error.
Removing Human Error
Professionals know that payment is calculated by a simple equation of base units, time units, and participating conversion factors. Unfortunately, even if an anesthesiologist has a qualified office manager or AP/AR manager in charge, mistakes happen.
Even if a mistake is caught, it can take months to correct once insurance companies are involved. Payments to clinics might be delayed and recovering patients might get stuck with a higher bill than expected.
The only way to improve this system is by streamlining the process. Integrated software that connects everyone involved in the hospital, including the doctor, takes human error out of the equation.
Double entries are automatically eliminated. Doctors are granted remote access via Internet access and smartphone capabilities, which improves transparency and the ability to act quickly.
Biggest Issues in Anesthesiology
Dr. Marc Koch, anesthesiologist, and diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology, recently reported on the most troubling issues in his practice field. Staffing and utilizing an anesthesia management company topped the list. Both of these factors might contribute to errors in anesthesiology billing.
Little can be done about low staffing issues, but proper anesthesia management is within grasp and can help make up for sparse staff.
When medical billing has errors, issues with reimbursement to anesthesiologists are common. Busy practices might not catch these mistakes until the next quarter – if ever. This means that doctors are essentially providing their expertise for free. There’s no reason to settle for a hit or miss approach to billing.
Breaking the Cycle
Hospitals are notorious for spending too much money on administrative costs. When a business is dependent on various departments and hundreds of employees to get a job down, that’s no surprise.
Anesthesiologists depend on the latest equipment to provide patients with up-to-the-minute care – shouldn’t the same be done in the office?
It’s critical that anesthesiologists and their team are protected and utilize the best technology available. The right software program can save money, decrease stress and improve everyone’s work life.
You wouldn’t depend on an old system when it comes to patient OR prep, so demand the best for your own peace of mind (and wallet).
Jason Knapfel manages web content for MBA Medical Business Associates in Vancouver, WA. The company offers specialized solutions for anesthesia billing.
