Around 80% of medical bills have errors.
Medical billing and coding errors can add up to thousands of dollars. Errors on medical bills can be caused by several factors, including billing errors, coding mistakes, and administrative errors.
In most cases, these errors are unintentional. They happen because the medical provider or insurance company has not properly documented care or insurance status.
If you are wondering how to avoid common medical billing errors, they short and simple guide is for you.
1. Duplicate Billing
The most common type of billing error is duplicate billing. This happens when you bill the same service or procedure multiple times.
However, preventing duplicate billing is simple.
Whether you use a standard payment model, or something different like the capitation model, you can use an electronic health record (EHR) system to enter all of your patient’s information into one place. This will eliminate the possibility of patients being billed for services they did not receive.
2. Incomplete Billing Forms
Incomplete billing forms can cause a lot of confusion, especially if you are outsourcing your medical billing services to an outside company. If the biller cannot get all the information needed from the patient, they will probably submit an incomplete claim.
This will cause a denial of payment. To avoid this issue, make sure that you train your staff on how to fill out medical billing forms.
3. Misapplied Insurance Payments
When you are a medical provider, you will often receive insurance payments for services rendered. However, many things can go wrong with medical billing.
You may receive a payment for a service that was not provided by your office. Or you may receive an insurance payment for services that were not covered by the patient’s insurance company.
If this happens, then it is up to you to return this money to the patient or their insurance company. This can lead to lost revenue and poor customer relations if not handled properly.
4. Medical Coding Errors
Medical coders assign codes to medical claims to classify them. If they incorrectly classify services, then they will be paid by the insurance company at a lower rate than what is warranted by the service provided.
To avoid this, medical coders need proper training and certification. You can also use automated coding software can also help to reduce errors in this area.
5. Wrong Patient Information
The wrong patient information can lead to claims that are denied. This is especially likely if you work with many patients and have multiple providers who see them at different times.
It is important to keep track of each patient’s health history to avoid these kinds of mistakes.
If you use an electronic medical record system, this can help reduce the risk of wrong patient information. If you do not have one, it is important to keep a hard copy of all documentation on file so that you can quickly reference it when needed.
Avoid These Common Medical Billing Errors
Making these common medical billing errors can be costly and confusing.
They can also lead to higher insurance premiums and lower credit scores. By avoiding these common medical billing errors, you can ensure that your patients receive the care they need.
