Is outsource medical billing more acceptable in some states then others?

[blhoffman]

Hi everyone,

This question might seem a little off the wall but today the thought came to me and I couldn't shake it. So here I am asking it out loud so to speak, silly or not!

Okay, so I have been wondering if outsource medical billing in more acceptable in some states over others? Are there states that are loaded with outsource medical billing companies, from big to small, while there are other states that have very little?

If it was true, then it could be easier to obtain providers if you are doing medical billing from home, because those providers wouldn't bat an eye over it. Then if you are in a state that it is not done, very much and providers don't use the service, wouldn't you be less likely to get clients because they don't trust a service not considered acceptable?

I don't know if that makes sense or not, but it was a thought. Anyone have any similar thoughts while marketing for clients or think it is unlikely scenario? I'm just curious.

Thanks. 

[ssherman]

I don't believe there are any "norms" related to outsource medical billing on a state level. It is largely driven by physician/facility preference.

The only place I have seen the state or federal government way in is how a contract is set-up between an outsource medical billing company and a physician/facility practice (ex. NY Medicaid forbids percentage contracts), and with HIPAA guidelines.

[blhoffman]

Thanks ssherman for your response! 

Maybe I didn't phrase this correctly.

1. Do you think there are states that outsource medical billing is frowned upon more by providers then other states? (Personal choice by providers - nothing to do with state or federal law.)

2. Do you think that some home medical billing picks up clients more quickly or grows at a faster rate in some states more then other states?

3. Do you think all states have the same attitude about home medical billing or outsource medical billing and the difficulty some people have, has nothing to do with what state or area you live in?

Thanks. Don't be afraid to respond!!!

[ssherman]

1. No, providers are generally the same everywhere.
2. No, however, medical billing speciality and the depth of the provider market will play a role.
3. Outsouce medical billing has to show value for money. A bad medical billing staff/company can ruin a providers reputation or bankrupt the practice. Many providers want to be certain they are working with professionals they can trust.

[Michele]

I agree with ssherman.

Michele

[blhoffman]

Thanks for the responses ssherman. I also agree, like you Michelle, with everything ssherman stated.

I guess I was looking for less of a Q & A and more of a discussion about thoughts, feelings and opinions from those just starting or have been at it for awhile. Things they have come up against during marketing and overcame in a difficult area. That sort of thing. I want to know if anyone else has had these thoughts, if it ever crossed their mind through the process of obtaining clients.

I do agree with everything stated. Guess I wasn't getting it across the right way.   

[Michele]

In the 15 plus years I have been doing this I have never come across a provider who cared if I was in a home or an office (I have been in both).  Actually quite honestly it doesn't usually come up.  They may ask me where my office is located (physically), but they've never said "Is your office in your home?".  My personal feeling is if you do well in the meeting, come across professional, confident, intelligent and knowledgeable, and connect with that provider, they won't care if your office is in a barn (a little extreme, probably would care with HIPAA and all - those cows are quite nosey!).  Anyway, you get the point.  I have never heard of any scams associated with Medical Billers who work from their home so providers have to be leery, etc.  I also have never heard of this info varying by state.  I have providers from other states who have hired me based only on our phone conversations/emails.  They've never inquired to the location.  I do often get "how many people do you have working for you?"  That may be there way of asking. 

Michele

[blhoffman]

Thank you Michelle,

There are few family members who have made comments to me this past week. Things along the line of, "You won't get a doctor's office to hire you, if you work from home." My favorite is, "Is that even legit.?" or "Why would a doctor pick to work with someone working from a house, when he can hire a real company?"

So, it got me down and started me thinking that maybe this is truely how people feel about home medical billing in my state of PA. Glad to hear it might be (not so polite) relative's opinions and not a demographic stream of thought.

[DMK]

I think the beauty of the home biller is that there isn't the possibility of low paid employees getting it in their heads to gather patient's information for nefarious activities.

Home billers have significantly lower overhead and when done right, the biller is more in touch with the work flow.

In my town, the billing services are so far behind that I don't know why the doctor's don't just do it internally.  Their cash flow would be much better.  I already work full time with my husband but I've considered trying to pick up other doctors because I'm fast at it.  Our cash flow is so squeaky that I really feel for other doctor's. 

I recently had a surgery and 6 weeks later I still hadn't received my EOB.  I called the surgeon's billing company and they hadn't gotten the paperwork from the physician.  Where is the doctor's staff?  The fee slips should be out daily if possible, but within a few days at least!  So he's missing out on $1000 just from me, and I know he saw more than me on that day!

[ssherman]

Based on what I have seen, the really important aspect is relationship management. Physicans/managers outsource their billing to people- not companies.

If you are making cold calls, practice your pitch. If you are doing email- read every word aloud and double check all of the spelling and grammer. Twice.

[Michele]

In my opinion, the people (many times family members) who make those statements are people who are too afraid to reach for their own dreams, or too closed minded to think outside of their (very small) box.  I don't mean to be rude or put anyone down.  I have an aunt who doesn't believe that self employed people have 'real jobs'.  Well, all of us self employed people know that we usually end up working twice as hard as if we had a 'real job'.  There are a lot of perks, but it's also hard work.  Don't let anyone else steal your dream.  There are thousands of billing services out there that prove all of those statements wrong.   

Michele

PS.  My aunt's husband was self employed for the first 20 yrs of their marriage.  Now he's got a real job working for the town he lives in.  Now he has to work most weekends, holidays, and midnight shifts.  I wonder if she's happier??

[Lisa@srts-inc.com]

Being "self-employed" is a very hard job and it is real........you work a lot more hours and until your business grows,  for a lot less money than you would make working for someone else.......but the reward of success is a great one and the flexibility is also a plus.

In my opinion it doesn't matter if your billing service is run from your home or an office, what matters is can you do the job and do it well, and if you can then your happy clients become great references for future clients. 

I run a billing service from an office, we have been in business over 15 years now and we don't advertise, all of our new clients come from "word of mouth" and we have done very well.

[DMK]

In my opinion it doesn't matter if your billing service is run from your home or an office, what matters is can you do the job and do it well, and if you can then your happy clients become great references for future clients. 

Right on!!!! I believe Charlene once said you could do it from your laptop in a port-a-potty and still do a great job!  At all things, do your best, the rewards will come!

[Pay_My_Claims]

LMAO @ dmk... yeah i guess that kinda sticks in your head!!

[PMRNC]

I have to agree with the others. I've billed multiple states and marketed to multiple states. I too was in PA and I really cannot say one state is more prevalent to hire outsourced companies over another. I can say one thing. I hardly EVER hear of physicians hiring home workers as employee's to work from home, this costs them too much money, not to mention the liability is much greater. An outsourced company needs to be structured as such to reduce costs to the practice(s) that contract with them.

I'll tell you what I do think however about one thing.. those marketing and referring to their businesses as practice management experts, reimbursement specialists, etc will get MORE credibility than using the term "Medical billing company, medical billers"  JMHO