on line billing

[tonya_l]

I have a friend that is a social worker and is opening her own business in counseling. She has asked me to do the billing for her, i have never billed for mental health...i work for a nephrologist and bill in office with his software. My question is this: I am not financially ready yet to start my own billing company but would like to help my friend out and bill for her. She is not wanting to buy billing software yet until she is sure her business is going to make it. Has anyone ever just done billing online directly through the insurance companies and kept their pt information on quickbooks or something similiar?......Thanks, Tonya

[PMRNC]

That's actually how I started out.. I got clients before I had my business open or even thought about it. lol

Yes it can be done, but it's tedious and time consuming. As for the type of billing, if you bill for nephrology, you can bill for mental health.. just a lot of authorization, auth tracking (hence the tediousness of not having a good pm software)   I'd also have to ask myself why she doesn't want to invest in a software.?

Also another suggestion, I know you said you are not ready to start your own business..but regardless you SHOULD setup a contract with her and work as a sub-contractor at least to avoid any problems. If you set yourself up as an employee, she will lose out on all the benefits of outsourcing yet if you work as a sub-contractor you both get the benefits, you have a contract and your both covered.

[Michele]

I think Office Ally may have a free software version available.  It's limited, but in your case it may be perfect.

Michele

[tonya_l]

Thanks Linda and Michelle....I will check out office alley!