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Emr system

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Mariana:
I am getting ready to open my billing business but i have a question about the EMR system. i heard from another medical biller that with the new EMR system that the doctors will not be using more paper charts and everything is going more electronically. The EMR system will make the billing much more easier that they will not be needing to outsource anymore. Whats your opinion about that? I want to make sure if i am opening the business there will be a need to outsource. And how will the doctors office provide information to the billing business since everything will be done in their EMR system? I just got a little disapointted when she told me that because i want to make sure if i am opening a billing business there are still going to be a need to outsource. She told me she lost two accounts because they went to the EMR system. Any comments on that?

pattil88:
Medical billing services have to stay on the cutting edge of what's going on in the overall industry, just like any other business. EMR's (and a ton of other services that practice management software vendors are floating around out there) have developed some powerful tools that will make practices think twice about outsourcing. However, I try to "adapt" our services to ensure that a practice is getting some type of added value above and beyond what their current billing process gives them.

For example, after they have adapted to an EMR-based coding/billing function, do they still receive denials from payers? Probably. Does the EMR coding/billing system they use know when to add a certain modifier for certain payers? Maybe - maybe not. I may not be able to get a practice that wants all the services I offer, but I want to position my business and keep adjusting my business plan to fit what they need today and what they'll need in the future. We do that by constantly keeping track of trends occurring in our business niche. (After all, isn't that what makes this so much fun?!!)

I spend alot of time looking at features billing software vendors are offering to their clients and look for ways to capitalize on what's not working by reading different blogs/opinions/etc. from physicians and other industry experts. I don't think medical billing services will become a thing of the past - we just have to keep reinventing ourselves to keep pace with what our markets want and need.

Just my two cents worth......

arms:
I agree, I truly believe there will always be a need for outsourced medical billing services.

EMR's are not that scary.   

EMR's are only a tool and only as good as the information that you plug into it, if the practice staff is not knowledgeable enough in billing they will still struggle and there is no EMR out there that automates claim follow-up and appeals!

If the provider drops you due to getting an EMR they were sadly un-informed and will probably be looking for somebody again when they realize what a mistake they made. I would keep in touch with them for when that happens.

DMK:
EMR is going to be somewhat "mandatory" in the future, but it's really only for records and patient notes.  The EMR we used was only as good as what the Doctor input.  He would click on the services he provided, but at the end of the day I still had to read the notes and make sure what he said he did was in the record, and that he billed for what he did. 

When the billing was done, it still required that someone actually push the button and print the claims, send to the secondaries and chase down unpaid and incorrectly paid claims.  EMR can not and will not replace billing services in house or out sourced!

Whatever specialty you decide to pursue, try to be up on the software packages available and the pros and cons for the software.

QueenAlicia:
I actually go to a doctor/hospital that does EMR and I think it's great.  They don't have to look up my file thru paper and it's easily accessible. I think that it also requires that the doctor actually chart in updates and what services he provided that day.  This may be an issue for some providers.

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