Shining a Light on Mental Health

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Hold on. That is what I continually tell myself as I navigate through life. I have had more than my share of life-altering setbacks and have had people, including therapists, ask how I am still standing? It is not until recently that I can say it is because I tell myself to hold on. Many times, when the world feels as though it is caving in on me, I make it to bed and tell myself tomorrow is a new day, a fresh start, a new beginning. I can’t express how challenging life became holding it ALL in. I felt isolated, as though I was the only one or no one would understand. I slowly learned I am not the only one, and although you may not fully understand, it is my story and my feelings, and they matter! I began letting others in by going to therapy, al-anon, and opening up. I have learned that I definitely am not the only one. EVERYBODY has a story EVERYBODY hurts. So why? Why is it that, as a country in this day and age, we shut down/feel shame when we talk about mental health? There is a realm of mental illnesses, including depression and anxiety, yet when we say mental illness, we conjure up horrific thoughts and don’t discuss it. We go into a shame spiral. Again, why do we do that? Everyone feels sadness, grief, and even passing feelings of hopelessness or despair; they are all part of the human experience.

 

Here are just a few facts from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Statistics show that one in four adults experiences an episode of mental illness per year.

Mental illness can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or socioeconomic status.

Individuals diagnosed and undiagnosed with mental illness are those around us- our neighbors, our friends, family, and co-workers.

In the United States, four million children and adolescents suffer from a severe mental disorder that causes significant functional impairments at home, school, and with peers.

Mental health disorders account for more disability than any other illness, including cancer and heart disease, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

What started as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979 has blossomed into the nation’s leading voice on mental health. Today, NAMI is an association of hundreds of local affiliates, state organizations, and volunteers who work in our community to raise awareness and provide support and education to those in need. All of the services and programs that they provide are FREE! One voice at a time! We as a society need to start talking to remove the stigma of mental health. We help one another when we begin chatting.

Integrity C.A.R.E.S.

At Integrity billing, we believe mental health awareness lies within every community, which is why we are a Silver Sponsor. Integrity Billing is a top donor/team participating in the NAMI Walks 5k Walk/Run yearly. Team Integrity C.A.R.E.S. was created by Lorinda Yorlano.  Lorinda was our team’s driving force, and NAMI was a program she loved, supported, and believed in. Lorinda had a dual diagnosis of depression and substance abuse and passed in 2019, and we walk in memory of her. Help us end the stigma of mental illness. Help us today by sharing, opening up, and starting to talk.

All donations are appreciated and make a difference! You can help us reach our goal. Again, NAMI’s programs are all free. Your donation helps raise awareness of mental illness and also helps support our local organization to empower persons with mental illness and their families so they can continue to receive all programs at no cost. Visit our team page at https://www.namiwalks.org/team/integritybillingcompany. Help us support NAMI in the hope that we can replace ignorance, stigma, and hopelessness with knowledge, empathy, and understanding.

Loss profit and break even

RCM Optimization

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Today’s blog is shared from the President of MCAnalyTX’s, Eric Depew, an expert and leader in consulting on outsourced Revenue Cycle Management Services, Healthcare Claim Management & Contract Modeling Solutions. To learn more about MCAnalyTX’s Inc., visit their website at  https://mcatx.com, or reach Eric Depew at (281)920-0300 ext 101

 

Healthcare revenue cycle management is the process of managing billing, coding, and collections basically every aspect of the healthcare organization. RCM is a process that directly impacts your organization’s financial performance.

Revenue cycle management services can help improve your organization in terms of revenue, while also reducing denials, appeals, and follow-up work. Within this article, we will discuss the benefits of outsourcing your organization’s RCM. We will also outline some of the common questions about outsourcing and the process.

First, and foremost in order to be successful, a healthcare organization must process claims in a timely manner, while ensuring that patients are aware of what they owe, and what they pay. The goal of outsourcing RCM is to increase patient collections, and reduce bad debt, all while improving patient satisfaction and care. One of the most important parts of revenue cycle management is reimbursement. In fact, it makes up about half of a hospital’s operating revenue.

What does reimbursement mean?

Simply put, it means getting paid for your healthcare services. It is the process by which a hospital, practice, or clinic receives payment from a third-party payer for services provided to patients. The payer – either a private insurer or a government program like Medicare or Medicaid then reimburses the organization for the services rendered on a negotiated reimbursement basis.

Healthcare organizations can save millions of dollars by utilizing RCM services.

RCM outsourcing saves you money by:

  • Reducing administrative costs
  • Increasing cash flow through faster reimbursement
  • Increasing revenue by ensuring all claims are processed accurately
  • Reducing bad debt and bad debts recovery costs
  • Reducing the number of claims denials and appeals
  • Increasing revenue by identifying errors
  • Improving cash flow

RCM provides a framework for optimizing your revenue cycle performance. The goal is to reduce organizational costs, and improve cash flow, and patient satisfaction.

Get pid the importance of medical documentation

The Importance of Medical Documentation

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Medical documentation is necessary to claims being paid quickly

In today’s healthcare world you need to develop the necessary organizational controls to develop successful processes and procedures in order to stay compliant and financially healthy.  The key to excellent documentation is knowing what is required and what is not. Medical reimbursement comes only from what you have documented if something is not written down it did not happen.  This documentation is also a crucial form of communication. The importance of writing complete, concise, dated and timed documentation cannot be stressed enough. It is not only how you are reimbursed, but legal protection and critical communication.  In the event of a medical malpractice lawsuit the only tools you will have to work with is what has been recorded.

Insurance checklist complete concise date time

Accurate documentation begins with gathering patient information from the very first point of contact, and continually updating as the patient moves through the healthcare process.  Using verification tools will enable you the insight to see how you will be paid for services, and which services and procedures will require further approval from their healthcare provider.  Medical documentation is telling the patient story and applying the correct billable codes. Once services have been rendered it is the facilities responsibility to transcribe said services into billable charges. With clear and concise documentation, you can assign medical billing codes to the claim. These billable codes are the vehicle to revenue.  They are inflexible and must be followed to maintain a healthy bottom line.

Understanding the importance of good documentation is crucial to all aspects of the medical record.   Documentation is more than legal protection.  Medical records are a vital form of communication, and the importance of accurate and dated communication cannot be reiterated enough.

Communicate the treatment plan

Good documentation promotes continuity of care through clear communication with all that are involved in patient care.  This is a way to communicate your treatment plan to other providers for the patient.  This level of communication ensures the highest quality of care.

It’s a legal document from the medical provider

A medical record is a legal record of services rendered by the medical provider. Once written it is permanent.  In case of legal proceedings written documentation is called upon and reviewed to help support an argument either way.  So again clear, concise documentation is crucial to every step of the process.

It’s a document of medical services for the insurer

Medical documentation tells insurance providers what they are paying you for.  Each case is coded and translated into a cost for your practice.  Thorough documentation of all medical issues and treatments is therefore critical to your bottom line.

How do I get paid by insurance?

Your documentation is a process of taking all that is written and identifying it as a diagnosis’s, medical tests, treatments, and procedures for medical insurance. This information is then transcribed into standardized codes. These codes are what are then used to bill government and commercial payers for reimbursement of services rendered.

Information you need to get paid verification of benefits, assessment, date and time, treatment plan, procedure, diagnosis, billing codes

Medical billers are the professionals in charge of processing patient data, which would include treatment records, medical plans, and all related insurance information. Medical billers work to ensure that you, the healthcare provider is accurately and efficiently paid for the services performed.

A full understanding of medical insurance, the claims process, the appeals process, and the impact on your revenue cycle gives the medical billing professional the necessary knowledge to maximize revenue performance.  The financial health of your practice depends on the effectiveness and overall performance of the billing office.

Let’s take  look at your revenue cycle.  Revenue cycle management is an invaluable part of a successful healthcare organization.  Without a trustworthy and efficient billing company, you would be losing out on thousands of dollars in payer reimbursements, patient payments, that your practice depends on.

Understanding and executing an outstanding revenue cycle is an integral component of success.  We have all heard of location, location, location for successful real estate endeavors well for successful revenue cycle management it comes down to documentation, documentation, documentation.

 

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5 Ways That Software Can Help You Grow Your Practice

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You know that growth is essential to your success if you’re a business owner. You need to expand and improve to stay ahead of the competition constantly. One way to achieve this growth is by using helpful software. Good software can help you automate tasks, improve communication, and increase efficiency. We will discuss five ways that software can help you grow your practice. 

1. Prescription Software 

One type of software that can help you grow your practice is prescription software. This tool helps doctors electronically prescribe their patient’s medications. It also allows them to renew and cancel prescriptions. This is a great tool that benefits patients because they don’t have to worry about filling their medication at their pharmacy. All aspects are taken care of by the medical practice’s staff, and the patient just needs to pick up the medication. 

2. Patient Portal 

Implementing a patient portal is another way software can help you increase business. A patient portal allows your current patients access to their medical records and test results, so they don’t have to call your office every time they need an update on their condition. Some portals even allow your patients to schedule an appointment.  

3. Outsource Medical Billing 

While outsourcing your medical billing may not be necessary, it can save you a lot of time and hassle. If your staff spends 40 hours per week on medical billing, you could spend more time on office procedures. If office procedures aren’t yielding enough business, though, then missing out on potential revenue is also an issue. You can outsource medical billing services to a reliable medical billing company regardless of if you need help full-time or just occasional assistance. 

4. Electronic Health Records 

Implementing an electronic health records system can save time and improve your patients’ quality of care. An automated system will keep track of patient information, so it doesn’t have to be updated repeatedly. This also alleviates the risk of human error. Electronic health records can make it easier to schedule follow-up appointments, which will lead to more revenue. 

5. Scheduling 

Scheduling is another area where software can help you save time, improve efficiency, and increase revenue. While many practices still utilize paper to schedule patients, scheduling software can automate this process, ensuring there are no missed appointments. The scheduling system will send reminders to the patient by email or text message that their appointment is coming up. You may also find that utilizing an online appointment scheduling system will help you book more appointments because it is available 24/7. 

Conclusion 

Above are just five ways software can help you grow your medical practice. The software can be customized to meet the specific needs of your business, so if you think about what issues your practice faces and what could be improved upon, you can come up with additional ideas for how software can help you grow your practice. 

5 Benefits of Outsourcing Your Medical Billing

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As a result of the COVID outbreak that shook the world in 2019, new technologies have drastically reshaped the medical field. Electronic health records have replaced the manual administration and manner of operation, which include everything from networking portals to test findings to effective medical billing systems. Technological advancements have profoundly altered the method in which billing services are provided. 

There are strict billing processes for both the payer and the user of healthcare services. It can streamline the medical billing process and enhance income and efficiency by employing the correct medical billing service or healthcare billing strategies. 

In this article, experts of Integrity Billing will help you learn how a medical billing service will benefit your facility the most. So, let’s begin! 

5 Benefits of Outsourcing Your Healthcare Billing Service 

1. Help You Adhere to HIPAA Rules 

First and foremost, be sure that the Medical Billing Service you choose complies with all applicable HIPAA regulations. Legal software products are governed by HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA safeguards patients’ privacy, ensuring that healthcare practitioners remain anonymous. One of the most important advantages of allowing patients to see their hospital documents is improving data systems. 

You may avoid dealing with compliance issues, rejections, and other office hassles by outsourcing your medical billing to a reputable supplier. This frees up your time for other important daily responsibilities. 

2. Free You From the Worries Of The Analytics Reports 

Back in the day, when businesses would outsource medical billing, they would lose control over the financial data required to manage your business. The information provided by your biller was all you needed to determine the financial viability of your practice after outsourcing. This means you can’t utilize the reports for immediate changes or proactive decisions because the data will be out-of-date by the time you receive them. 

A good medical billing service will free you from all the aforementioned worries. They will understand and portray the notion that if you’re spending money on medical expenses, you should be able to see all of your company’s financial information. Your medical billing company should make it easy for you to get immediate access to this data from any device or location at any time. If you’re looking to grow your practice or change your marketing approach, this kind of information might be quite helpful. 

3. Efficient With Software Management 

If you outsource a proficient medical billing company, they will help you with the correct RCM software, which means that your firm’s operations and RCM processes will be streamlined and error-free. In this way, before meeting a patient, coders and billing staff have direct access to the patient’s data, insurance details, and clinical information; disputes are received and handled right away rather than accumulating in a pile. You’ll be in complete compliance with all HIPAA data storage standards if you store your data on the cloud. 

We believe that the cost of the software should be taken into consideration. One medical insurance billing company might charge for these services differently than others. You and your practice must make the best financial choice possible. When searching around, compare the various providers’ offers, costs, and payment terms. 

4. Quick at Insurance Verification 

You must be able to review and verify the insurance status of every patient from the software provided by the medical billing company. As a result, regular insurance status verification might save you time and speed up the procedure. Consequently, doctors can better assist their patients because the confirmation procedure has been shortened. 

5. Expert at Their Job 

With revenue cycle management’s ever-changing requirements, even the most skilled, qualified, and devoted medical billing personnel may have difficulty keeping up. You’ll need a medical team with the knowledge and experience to advocate for your best interests. The best medical billing company should answer all of your questions quickly and easily. 

It is essential to outsource medical billing duties to the appropriate healthcare billing agency to build and sustain a successful medical practice. Regardless of your expertise or unique needs, having the right medical billing services may assist bridge the gap between a seamless billing procedure and improved revenue cycle management. 

Integrity Billing is one of the top medical billing service providers with proven results of less loss and more revenue. Thanks to our custom-made solutions, improved revenue management procedures and faster reimbursements are available. Find out how we can enhance your medical billing by contacting us right away!