6 Steps to Better Account Management for Busy ENT Practices

One of the most challenging aspects of running a busy Otolaryngology practice is staying on top of account management. There have been so many new things to learn with regard to professional medical billing in recent years. Upgrades to medical billing system software, the ICD-10 changes, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and a downturn economy have all made an impact on healthcare. Healthcare consulting services that specialize in helping ENT practices to maximize their efforts and improve account management are very beneficial. The more you can proactively do to increase effectiveness and accuracy with regard to medical billing and management, the better.

Step One – Technology is Your Friend

The best way to streamline your office is to take advantage of technology and view it as a time-management tool. While there will always be a bit of a learning curve when adopting a new medical billing system, you can get help. MD Pro Solutions offers healthcare consulting services, education, and ongoing support for practices who want to upgrade their system or become more efficient. A quick consultation can help determine areas that are slowing you down and provide you with tips to improve professional medical billing and results. The less time you are spending managing accounts or dealing with ICD-10 changes and training, the more time you will have to spend with your patients.

Step Two – Consider Outsourcing Some Services

If your practice is in the middle of a growth spurt or if you are just starting out, you might not have enough staff to stay on top of account management. Without having to change your medical billing system or software, you can shift your medical billing services to an outsourced team. This can be a temporary situation, while you adjust to office changes or a semi-permanent solution to reduce overhead costs associated with maintaining an in-house billing department.

Step Three – Identify Areas to Improve

Another crucial benefit of hiring healthcare consulting services is that they have the unique ability to see things you cannot. In the busy day-to-day schedule of managing an ENT practice, it is easy to miss simple tasks that can be improved or streamlined. The process of scheduling appointments, verifying insurance coverage, and collecting payments from patients can be time-consuming. A lot of time can also be wasted on medical billing management tasks. A consultant can help you spot areas that can be quickly improved, such as adjusting staff schedules, identifying payment errors, and eliminating unnecessary steps in patient processing.

Step Four – Be a Better Communicator

The more effectively you can communicate with your patients, the better. Train your staff to get all of the current information from each patient before the visit so less time will be spent handling data in the office. This helps patients to get in and out much faster, reducing downtime between visits. Ultimately, the physician will have more time with each patient and be able to stay on schedule throughout the day. Communications should include information about insurance requirements, co-payments, billing procedures, and any additional up-front payments. This can also help to eliminate issues at the front desk with patients who did not understand their responsibility with regard to payment.

Step Five – Improve Forms & Data Collection

Collecting basic information from your patients is just one step of the process. You also need to go over your current forms to make sure that you are getting all of the information that you need. Mailing address, full name, date of birth, work information, social security number, and insurance information should be standard. Go above and beyond to get email addresses and all phone numbers, including home, cell phone, and work. This can be extremely beneficial if you end up having to contact a patient for non-payment.

Step Six – Hire MD Pro Solutions

If you manage a busy Otolaryngology practice and need help with healthcare consulting services, contact MD Pro Solutions. Our team of highly trained and experienced consultants can help you with a wide range of professional medical billing issues. Whether you require training for ICD-10 changes and coding validation, desire a new medical billing system, or wish to outsource medical billing services, we can help. Give us a call at 508-946-1665 or use our online contact form to reach one of our consultants.