An error in medical coding and billing is common and that can occur anytime by anyone who is entering the data or typing. It is important that these mistakes are identified and rectified immediately otherwise they may cause a problem in the final payment and the billed amount.
Medical credentialing services providing companies make sure that these mistakes which are mostly human errors are corrected before the final drafting of the bills so that these errors don’t cause any kind of hindrance in the revenue cycle.
The medical credentialing services make sure that these errors are scrutinized effectively so that the bill is foolproof. These errors can be prevented or stopped to ensure that the billing services are top-notch through communication that is effective and efficient.
We came across some of the most common billing and coding errors, have a look
· Mishandling of overpayment
Sometimes, the payment is underpaid or overpaid. The claims cannot be processed correctly because this is an error made by the payer. The medical biller or coder needs to identify this error immediately and rectify it. Underpayment can result in revenue cycle discrepancy and the same goes for overpayment as well.
It is important to communicate with the payer and notify them of the error immediately.
· Procedural codes error
Just a little error in recording the right code against the served medical procedure or treatment and the whole bill can become faulty. It is very important to make sure that the documentation is correct. If the data entry is incorrect the bill will be forwarded to the billing department after the problem is recognized and this can delay the payment process.
To stop this, it is important to train your staff about accurate coding so that the mistakes are fewer.
· Missing information
Omission or complete missing of vital information can cause a significant delay in the payment process.
It seems to be vital to add details like addresses, birthdates, names, and other important information, and missing them out can cause problems.
If the information is missed without checking it with the bill, the claim of payment will be denied. Sometimes the medical coding and billing department is swamped with work therefore they might overlook these small details that are very vital or sometimes write down incorrect information that can also cause problems in the long run.
· Lack of vital information
If the codes are not properly linked with the CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) then the claims will be denied and the payment will be delayed further.
This is not the error caused by the employee of the medical credentialing services company but this occurs when the physician does not give proper information regarding the medical procedures and diagnosis.
This miscommunication can result in a problem so it’s very crucial that the doctor gives the correct info to the medical coding and billing team to compile a perfect bill.
· Healthcare technology errors
It is a known fact that technology is being rapidly incorporated into the healthcare and medical industry making the whole sector more complicated than it ever was in the past.
The medical bills determine that the patient received quality treatment and the aftercare process involving telehealth services and procedures.
If these telehealth services are not inculcated into the final bill then this seems to be an error that needs to be rectified as soon as discovered because this will cause hindrance in the final payment by the patient.
How to prevent these errors?
To prevent the medical billing and coding staff from making these errors it is very important to make them familiar with the processes and all the possible errors that occur commonly in this field so that they can be prevented beforehand.
Check out the following points regarding how to prevent these medical coding and billing errors.
· Educating the employees
Educate the staff and employees because it becomes vital in preventing errors in medical bills. Let the staff understand the essence of medical billing so that they can excel in this field of medical coding and billing.
If you want your company to excel in medical coding and billing, then it is important not only to train the staff but certify them also so that they have an excellent understanding of different codes of medical procedures.
The software for coding and billing should include checklists and reminders important for training the staff so that they can keep themselves up to date regarding the latest development in codes so that the room for human error is minimized.
· Claims clearinghouse
The claims clearinghouse is a technique by which you can check out the bills for errors before handing them out to the relevant person. If an error is found in the clearinghouse it is automatically sent back to be fixed by the staff. This can also reduce the number of errors in the final bills.
· Improve communication
One of the best ways of reducing errors in medical coding and billing processes is by improving communication among physicians and their staff.
Physicians are liable to communicate with their staff, nurses as well as patients before completing the records and paperwork before sending it to the billing and coding company.
The interoffice communication will make the bill foolproof and the chances of errors will be reduced.
The physician and their staff need to be essentially well-versed with the codes of the medical procedure so that the treatments are done smoothly and in the same manner recorded in the final bill. This will also reduce the chances of error and will save both time and energy.
Final thoughts
Errors are inevitable. Everyone makes mistakes but there shall always be room to rectify them. A foolproof bill will improve the credibility of the medical organization and will bring more business to the practice. The medical coding and billing company will help in managing a consistent revenue generation cycle as well as will streamline the process of billing with as little error as possible.
