Medical Billing Forum
Starting a Medical Billing Business => Starting Your Own Medical Billing Business => : TammyL July 12, 2011, 01:35:52 PM
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Okay I just lost a client that has been with me for 8 years due to this EMR this is going to start making it harder for billing services to Market to providers because this EMR allows you to do billing in house any suggestions how to market with this EMR going into effect for all providers offices what are the pro's and what are the con's to this EMR
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Tammy, That is an uneducated provider.. very simply. The EMR is only going to computerize the existing medical records to eliminate paper. Where we get the "paper" now we can get the record electronically. Your client was no worse off going in house before EMR than they are now, they are just un-educated.. their billing person(s) will still need to do exactly what you are doing right now.
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I think a lot of providers and office staff misunderstand EMR - it's just an electronic means of storing medical records. I get the impression that the vendors for these EMR systems are promising that it can do everything - including billing. It's just like any other software program - its only as good as the info input into it.
At the end of the day a practice still needs someone knowledgeable in billing and the reimbursement process to get the provider paid.
I've found getting educated (and educating our clients) on the capabilities of EMR systems - what they can and can't do - helps to diffuse a lot of the misinformation out there that's hurting billing services and scaring clients away.
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That is because some of the EMR companies are offering billing services with their company. They are having everything go through them and tell the provider they can get the EMR cheaper if they do both, it's all a marketing.
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Also some EMR's do perform the CPT code selection - the physician electronically documents the history/exam/MDM and the EMR software will automatically select the E&M code based on what he's electronically documented and export it to the billing module to be sent out to the payers - no coder or biller involved in the process. Of course, there are risks doing it this way but docs love it - saves them big bucks and completely automates the process. Of course, we'll have to wait and see how this process will hold up in an audit.
In fact, the last time I went to my doctor, they sat there w/their little electronic notepad and recorded my hx/exam/MDM while I was in the exam room - by the time I went to checkout the level of service (99214) was already electroncially out the door on the way to the insurance company! Have to admit it's pretty slick, but like I mentioned above, payers may start to frown on this if a provider's visits suddenly get "bumped up" a level or two because they can copy and paste documentation and use "note cloning" in their records.
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I actually gained a client after he transferred to EMR and was audited by MC for these systems that do automated coding. There will be a need for informed billers and coders, which is why I believe we have to become more focused in our areas of expertise. I've taken classes for chart auditing, will be taking the test to get my CPC license, because I believe you'll need a lot more training and knowledge going forward. A computer is good, but a human eye is better.
Even when I lost a client to EMR, I gave him all the facts, and he hired me to train his new staff. Now, I may not have his regular billing, but every six months he hires me to audit what his staff is doing. It's not an ideal situation, but it's not bad either, because he trusts me and still recommends me to his friends. We lose some. We gain some. But, I believe some things can't be replaced yet with computers. One thing we can't do is wait and see like the publishing and music industry did. We have to find these areas that we're still needed, and trust me we are.
Dee.
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Turn lemons into lemon-aide!
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That's actually great advice Dee. This can also be something that some of the billing associations can cover and help billers out. I am trying to read all I can about EMR/EHR.
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Exactly @ Michelle and QueenAlicia. I believe in turning every situation over and over before I count it as a loss.
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Well I kept the faith and like I stated before when one dorr closes another one always opens and since my lost of client I have 2 clients I am signing up one on Thurs and another one on Aug 5th and I have another around Aug 16th I am getting more business from a biller who is retireing at the end of the year so I have network with that billing company to send all her business my way she specializes in mostly Mental Health but I'm A okay with it since the majority of my clients are Mental Health
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Good for you Tammy!!!
Congratulations!
:) :) ::) :) :)
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Hi
The billing company I work for is also going through this problem. We've had a client for about 5 years now and have worked with superbills but the client just changed to EMR and it has been nothing but a nightmare for us. Seems to me that they are on their way out too.
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Also want to mention that Medicare is paying a good hefty price to DR's who are changed over to EMR
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Just curious, but I have been unable to find out HOW to get paid to switch over. Any connections?
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DMK
I'm not sure on the exact price, but I've heard the incentive program range is about 30k to 40k, for eligible providers.
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Usually the EMR company they went with has the info/paperwork needed to submit for incentive.