Saturday, February 6, 2016

Drug And Alcohol Treatment Centers Should Consider Outsourcing Their Billing

By Lou Goldman


Many alcohol rehabs today are pulling their hair out of their heads. They are asking themselves how they can make more profits. Most treatments centers today are not highly profitable. Most are barely making a profit. The reason for this is that there are too many mistakes happening today with medical coding. Most coders are not trained in ICD-10. They are still stuck in the past on ICD-9. It is shocking to see how many coders are not trained for the codes that were released on October 1, 2015.

For starters, ask someone what you need to do in order to get your business to the next level. Ask a coding company how much money they charge to do the work. Often it is a 4% to a 10% service fee. No matter what happens, you need to take your business to the next level. A certified medical billing company can often get you a higher return on your investment. They work for you. An in house medical biller may not have the necessary skills for your business to succeed.

When it comes to treatment, you know that your clients deserve the best. You may need to give them several blood tests a week for drug testing. However, many insurance companies don't see this as a need. You must have a person that handles your billing with experience. They now have to explain to the company in detail why your clients are needing it so many times. Now a day, insurance companies have gotten very nosey. They want more documentation. They want to know that the person is actually getting better. The more of a paper trail that you keep, the better. Remember, everything happens step by step and for a reasons. You will find that getting ahead takes time. There is a pattern of time that needs to take place.

Are you prepared for the year 2016 and beyond? The new codes have changed the billing industry forever. Alcohol rehabs and billers must work side by side in order to be successful. A good biller must know what is happening with each client and document it to the insurance companies. Finding the right codes is always a challenge and it often takes a person with a master's degree to understand the difference. You can be successful if you take the time out to see what your billers are doing.

The tests are hard. It is much like the CPA exam for accountants. Not everyone can pass the test and therefore cannot called themselves certified. As they say, only the strong will survive. It is important to talk with your accountant. Ask them how much money you are collecting each month? Can an outsourced company do better for you? Usually they can since they know that you will fire them if they cannot get you a larger return on your investment in them.




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