Author Topic: Suggestions for Billing Software  (Read 15016 times)

mcneil.karen

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Suggestions for Billing Software
« on: September 14, 2016, 01:39:43 PM »
Thanks to Alice and Michele for all the great resources they have provided through this forum.

I am starting a Home-based Medical Billing Business and have two questions.  I would appreciate your feedback:
      1.  Which Billing Software would be best for the business.
      2.  Would you recommend signing a contract for the billing software before gaining the first provider.

Thank you.

KAM

PMRNC

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Re: Suggestions for Billing Software
« Reply #1 on: September 14, 2016, 04:34:02 PM »
I've been doing this since 1997. My feeling with software is that you DO not need it. If you are an experienced medical biller you can work in any system/software. Why pay costs and force clients to transition if you don't have to? Years ago I saw the need to change my business model to accept clients using any PM system. I did this because I saw that clients rarely wanted to make the transition in time and of course revenue. If you are an experienced medical biller, you can work in any system, so why not keep your overhead low and diversify your services by working in the clients existing PM system? It makes NO sense to force clients to transition to a "preferred" system.. by working in THEIR system you can showcase your knowledge and experience w/out sacrificing time and money.

I won't say what is best sytem.. because the WORST system can be utilized by the best biller w/out additional costs or training. My clients LOVE the fact that I don't make them switch, there is no conversion time and best of all no overhead costs to me. :)

Linda Walker
Practice Managers Resource & Networking Community
One Stop Resources, Education and Networking for Medical Billers
www.billerswebsite.com

mcneil.karen

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Re: Suggestions for Billing Software
« Reply #2 on: September 14, 2016, 05:03:49 PM »
Thank you Linda for your timely response.  Great advice which will be beneficial as I move forward.

Michele

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Re: Suggestions for Billing Software
« Reply #3 on: September 14, 2016, 07:14:41 PM »
We do work in many providers systems as well.  It is good to be able to do that.  However, not all providers do have software so we also own our own software for those providers as well.  Just wanted to mention that so that you are prepared when meeting with a client.
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mcneil.karen

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Re: Suggestions for Billing Software
« Reply #4 on: September 14, 2016, 09:23:08 PM »
Thanks Michele.  What software do you use?


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Re: Suggestions for Billing Software
« Reply #4 on: September 14, 2016, 09:23:08 PM »

Michele

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Re: Suggestions for Billing Software
« Reply #5 on: September 15, 2016, 11:39:22 AM »
We use Lytec when our clients do not have software.  We purchase our software through Murray at SMG Systems.  (We do not get any kickback for referrals, we just really like the company.) 
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mcneil.karen

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Re: Suggestions for Billing Software
« Reply #6 on: September 15, 2016, 04:19:18 PM »
Thanks so much Michele.  What was your deciding factor to buy vs cloud? What clearinghouse are you using with Lytec? 

Kind regards!

PMRNC

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Re: Suggestions for Billing Software
« Reply #7 on: September 15, 2016, 10:06:01 PM »
On the very rare occasion a practice doesn't have a PM system I have a white paper with various software solutions they can choose from as well as discounts and demo's. This way the practice gets to make their decision and maintain the control.
Linda Walker
Practice Managers Resource & Networking Community
One Stop Resources, Education and Networking for Medical Billers
www.billerswebsite.com

Michele

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Re: Suggestions for Billing Software
« Reply #8 on: September 16, 2016, 10:56:11 AM »
We bill for several providers who go into nursing homes and do not have offices and do not want software.  They hire us because they don't want to have to mess with that.  Honestly about 1/3 of our business are providers that do not have and do not want PM systems.  If I tried to force them to get one they would go elsewhere.
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Michele

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Re: Suggestions for Billing Software
« Reply #9 on: September 16, 2016, 11:05:17 AM »
Thanks so much Michele.  What was your deciding factor to buy vs cloud? What clearinghouse are you using with Lytec? 

Kind regards!

We bought Lytec originally over 20 years ago, before the cloud.  :)  Over the years we have looked at cloud based software and considered switching.  The main reason we have not switched is because we have not found a software that is as cost effective.  Most of the cloud based softwares charge per practice/provider and that just does not work for us as a billing service. 

We use Office Ally.  We pay $19.95 per month for unlimited claims.  For many years we paid $0 but now we have over 50% of our claims as government plans (Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE) so we pay $19.95.  Again UNLIMITED.  We send thousands of claims a month so that is less than $.01 per claim.  Office Ally has been great for us.  Customer service is always awesome.  (We don't get any kickback from Office Ally either.  They have a referral program but we don't even mess with that.  We have used them for years and are very happy.)
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Re: Suggestions for Billing Software
« Reply #9 on: September 16, 2016, 11:05:17 AM »

mcneil.karen

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Re: Suggestions for Billing Software
« Reply #10 on: September 19, 2016, 05:27:20 PM »
Michele, your feedback is really great.  I can understand you purchasing the software 20 years ago.  In today's environment though, cloud seems to be the way to go.  I must agree with you they are very expensive.  I have reviewed quite a few and one of the biggest disadvantage is the pricing structure.  I will keep looking at others in an effort to find a good price.

Thanks very for your sharing.

mcneil.karen

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Re: Suggestions for Billing Software
« Reply #11 on: September 19, 2016, 05:29:25 PM »

Hello Linda,
Are you able to share the white paper with various software solutions.


Thank you

Michele

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Re: Suggestions for Billing Software
« Reply #12 on: September 19, 2016, 10:46:20 PM »
Even though our software is "server based" Lytec offers a "cloud based" version.  A couple of our providers use that and we can access their software from any internet.  If you find a cloud based that is cost effective please share.  I think it might be with Big Foot.
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PMRNC

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Re: Suggestions for Billing Software
« Reply #13 on: September 20, 2016, 11:34:07 PM »
MOST practices have a PM solution in place. In marketing a medical billing company the way to market when the practice has a PM solution is of course to show the practice they don't lose any control over their existing PM solution.  Again.. IT is VERY VERY rare today to run into a practice that has NO PM solution..but if you do, there is still a way to maintain a low/no overhead by just merely giving the practice solutions to software and letting them setup and the billing company has access.

It's MY opinion that a billing company today does NOT need to maintain any costs associated with PM software/systems. Those practices that DO have a system in place they want to replace can be easily maneuvered with a list of software companies they may want to setup with. For those practices with an existing PM system that the billing company can access there is NO wait time, no transition time, nothing stops, reimbursement goes on nice and smooth.. if your a billing company that is transitioning a practice to your PM system there is a setup time, transition time and reimbursement DOES slow down. To me that is the best marketing angle.. NO WAIT, no TRANSITION. 

I have personally seen too many billing companies LOSE clients because the client did not want to undergo a transition to a new PM system or software. In order to accommodate those types of clients a billing company must be diversified in how they will work.
Linda Walker
Practice Managers Resource & Networking Community
One Stop Resources, Education and Networking for Medical Billers
www.billerswebsite.com

kristin

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Re: Suggestions for Billing Software
« Reply #14 on: September 21, 2016, 12:08:17 AM »
I have seen the total opposite to be true, in regards to the clients the billing companies I work for have. NONE of them have had a PM solution/system in place(over 20+ providers total). In some cases, it is because they had always used billing companies in the past, and never had the need to have their own PM system, in others it was because they were new providers just starting out.

That said, I agree with the rest of what you are saying...if you can access their existing PM system, do so. Be willing to learn on what they have in place already. Makes them happy, saves aggravation and time, keeps the money coming in.

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Re: Suggestions for Billing Software
« Reply #14 on: September 21, 2016, 12:08:17 AM »