Medical billing can be confusing and complicated, but it’s a necessary aspect of healthcare. Here are three things you should know about medical billing.
- Billing Consulting Services
Because of how complicated this type of billing can be, there are many medical billing consulting services available for you to contact. Consultants can help you find the information and answer your questions. They can also assist you in disputing errors. Consultants are also able to help billing companies and medical practices improve accuracy, stay updated and conduct analyses of their data.
- Billing Errors
While all parties involved strive to mitigate the risk of billing errors, they can and do still happen from time to time. There are many reasons an error could occur, such as your healthcare provider entering a wrong code in his or her insurance claim. You should always carefully review your explanations of benefits and your medical bills for errors, discrepancies or labels and amounts that seem strange. Then you can dispute the charge. If you choose to do so, you’ll need to contact your insurance provider and the billing office of your healthcare provider. You may also need to speak to a credit-reporting agency and file a credit complaint.
- The Billing Cycle
All medical billing follows the same general billing cycle. A patient makes a medical appointment and the healthcare provider contacts the insurance company to verify any co-pays or pre-authorization requirements. The appointment occurs and the provider files the insurance claim for the services he or she provided. Then, the claim is processed and the payment responsibilities are determined. Finally, you’ll receive your bill and an explanation of benefits.
The more you know about medical billing and related subjects in general, the more you’ll be able to understand specific bills and situations related to your healthcare. You can also get advice about billing from your doctor and insurance provider.
