How Outsourcing Can Save Your Practice |
Posted: May 26, 2017 |
In the world of health care, it has never been more important to reduce costs wherever possible. With laws like the Affordable Care Act, health care workers are much more accountable for how a patient’s (or his or her insurance’s) health care dollars are spent. This often means that cuts need to be made. It’s true that the country is in a health care crisis of sorts and changes have to be made. But whether you work in a hospital or private office, chances are, you have felt the sting of these cuts. You may have had to cut staffing, which puts more work on the shoulders of the remaining staff, decreasing satisfaction. Before you continue to make cuts, consider the option to outsource medical coding. This can be a cost-effective, yet accurate, way to cut the workload of your office staff. How Will This Save You Money? Medical coding companies are experts in their field. Chances are they can do the coding a lot faster and more accurately than your staff can. As the saying goes, time is money. Partnering with one of these companies will take the task off the hands of your staff, allowing them to put their energy into providing care. Most have flexible options that can work with any budget, whether it’s a long term partnership or just temporary to help catch up with that backlog that has been increasing for weeks. Choosing a Company How do you choose? The most important thing is to be sure the company you go with is up to date on current practices and coding regulations. These regulations will most likely change many times during your career, so it may be helpful to have a partner that will always stay updated on those changes. The coders that are AHIMA or AAPC certified are well trained on current coding practices. The company should have strict compliance guidelines and encourage their coders to continue their education to ensure accuracy and that the claims are submitted properly. If the company does outsource medical coding, be sure that offshore coders are held to the same standards as their onshore peers. A good company will also have a quality assurance team to perform audits of their coders’ work. In a time where patient satisfaction is the key to a successful practice, it’s vital that your staff spends their time on improving patient care and experience. Not many people like having to visit their doctor. It can be unpleasant and takes time away from the busy lifestyle most people have to deal with. If patients have to deal with increased wait times because the staff is busy trying to sort through confusing coding issues, they will not be happy. If there are problems with their bills, they will be even less happy. The health care business is a competitive one, with new practices popping up all the time. You don’t want to lose a single patient. Being able to outsource medical coding can help your bottom line by freeing up medical staff to care for more patients.
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