Medical Billing Forum

Medical Billing Software => Medical Billing Software Questions => : EmilyMess November 09, 2011, 05:48:50 PM

: Software upgrade costs
: EmilyMess November 09, 2011, 05:48:50 PM
I am a very small billing service (2 clients right now) and I am going to have to upgrade my software before Jan 1, 2012 to comply with 5010.  My question: I would like to bill my clients for part of the upgrade cost. I am not sure if it's ok to do that but if I can do it, how should I approach the subject with my clients?
Any and all suggestions would be helpful! I've only been doing this for a year and look forward to hearing from some more seasoned experts.
Thanks so much!
: Re: Software upgrade costs
: PMRNC November 09, 2011, 07:23:43 PM
Ethically it's not right to ever charge your "clients" any costs associated with "doing business" that means software, upgrades, tech support, coding books, continued education, etc. Any costs that you incur as a cost it takes to be in business should not be handed down to your clients. That would be like your client's charging patient's if toilet paper goes up, or claim forms or even if they needed a software upgrade. 
: Re: Software upgrade costs
: EmilyMess November 09, 2011, 07:59:43 PM
Oh thank you so much! That is how I felt about it but a friend brought it up and gave me a pretty convincing argument.  :-[
I am so glad I found this forum!!