Medical Account Solutions » maximize patient revenue

Holding on to the Passion

Bill Baylis — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:35:03 +0000

Most of us go into business because we have a passion for what we are doing. We’re good at what we choose as our careers because we invest in training to gain expertise. It doesn’t feel like work because we love what we do.

Doctors are no different. They dedicate many years to studying and training to become specialists. But they don’t spend time and training to become medical billers.

Doctors focus on their true passion-patient care. Too bad that the business end of running a practice and dealing with medical billing and fighting with insurance companies often gets in the way of a doctor and his or her passion.

Luckily for doctor’s my passion is medical billing and managing the administrative end of a medical practice. It might be hard to understand that what I find passionate is helping doctors do what they love to do by taking care of the things that get in the way.

Most doctors don’t realize how much administrative work is involved in being able to take care of their patients by having to deal with the insurance companies and all of the rules and clerical things that come into play in order for them to deliver services.

So what’s the solution? Outsourcing and delegating to Bill Baylis and MAS. Because at the end of the day, my passion is all about helping you focus on your passion–patient care.

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Outsourcing: Is it all or nothing? Or is it just Medical Billing?

Bill Baylis — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:43:15 +0000

Our recent blog Outsourcing – the Art of Delegation kicked up some debate.

For most of its 24 years in the healthcare field, MAS has focused most of our talents working with hospital and clinics. When MAS decided it was time to lend our talent and expand our client base toward doctor groups and individual practitioners, we knew that there we some misconceptions about outsourcing. We knew we would have to help to change the culture of what outsourcing really does.

At MAS we consider ourselves a “medical billing company”. Medical billing companies do much more then offer the choice of keeping your billing staff in-house or sending your accounts receivable out. Hospitals have been using medical billing agencies since the 1970′s. They have learned to use each agency to complement their own expertise and weaknesses.

For instance, hospitals have reversed the trend of outsourcing all of their in-patient billing so they can put a concentrated effort on receivables by putting their best and brightest to streamline and maximize that part of the A/R.

It’s a good policy because it puts them in control of their own destiny. They can directly manage the bread and butter of how a hospital will pay their payroll and important bills. However, most hospitals are smart enough to know they can’t do it all. For some hospitals, it’s best to send their no-fault billing to a qualified billing company because of the legal knowledge neededd to get these claims paid.

Companies like MAS are looking to change the face of outsourcing to let doctors and doctor groups know that its not all or nothing! We are here to help grow your business.

When you learn to properly delegate the areas that you aren’t strong in, you can focus on your strengths and leverage your team where they can produce the best results for you!

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Outsourcing: The Art of Delegation

Bill Baylis — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:20:15 +0000

Time management experts all agree that one of the most important skills needed to manage the non renewing resource of time, is to master the art of delegation.

In order to improve your medical office’s productivity it’s important to learn how to delegate those skills that aren’t your area of expertise. That way you can focus on your core business-seeing patients.

In my opinion the medical offices who successfully delegate or outsource their medical billing are more productive and profitable. These offices are also more profitable because by outsourcing their medical billing to a company like MAS,they are able to benefit from our expertise as profit recovery specialists.

So now you’re thinking “trust someone else to bill my patients?” I ask “Why Not?”

When you “delegate” your medical billing and profit recovery needs to MAS, you are a part of the process all the way.

You always have access to your information, you know where your billing is at all times and because we make sure we understand your specific practice—everything is customized to you. The key is that you won’t be spending your time to do it, we’ll take care of it for you.

Mastering the art of outsourcing or delegation will help you streamline your business and save time and money.

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A fun day at work for the MAS the profit recovery specialists.

Bill Baylis — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:00:09 +0000

When you hear the term outsourcing or medical billing, you probably picture a clerical person in the back of a room, just processing invoices and punching in codes and numbers. Some medical offices believe that they don’t need to outsource their medical billing because they can just as easily take care of the “clerical work”.

Well MAS is here to tell you that medical billing is so much more than just submitting codes to insurance companies and following up to receive payment checks. In fact, we’re more than just medical billers, we are profit recovery specialists. We work proactively as an extension of your team to manage your revenue and cash flow so that you can focus on what’s important–patient care.

MAS understands that while it’s important to get the codes right, it’s also very important to remember the human conditions behind the codes. With our team of talented medical billing experts, Medical Account Solutions (MAS) can help your health care organization identify and focus on your unique problem filling in the void to keep your billing processes running smoothly.

We look at monthly trends to see if there are any areas that we can help you improve and streamline your processes to maintain good cash flow. Our problem solving approach means we work harder to make sure that your patient’s important procedures are reimbursed because we know that denied claims hurts them and you.

Why do we care so much? It’s not just about the codes and the numbers. Simply medical billing is fun to us.(when was the last time you heard that). We enjoy fighting on your behalf with the insurance company”s to get claims paid. Going the extra mile to get rejections over turn and doing our part to take the pressure off a growing medical group.When MAS processes your medical billing, we know we’re boosting your productivity so you can see more patients. We know that when we get it right, it’s a win for you and a win for your patients.

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The Cost of Dying: End-of-Life Care. The path of least resistance for a medical blogger.

Bill Baylis — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:24:00 +0000

60 minutes ran a story Sunday night Aug. 6, 2010 (originally published on Nov. 22, 2009). The Cost of Dying: End-of-Life Care . It started with the statement “Every medical study ever conducted has concluded that 100 percent of all Americans will eventually die. This comes as no great surprise, but the amount of money being spent at the very end of people’s lives probably will.” They also reported, that last year, Medicare paid $55 billion just for doctor and hospital bills during the last two months of patients’ lives. That’s more than the budget for the Department of Homeland Security, or the Department of Education.

This piece created a lot of emotions for me. I don’t think it was an accident that I related to this story, considering that I have been working with colleagues who are experts in the field of eldercare and life coaching.

When I first decided to add this story to my blog; it seemed like an easy angle to write about our role in the debate as medical billers. (If you have any thoughts on what role we play, please comment.) After reporter Steve Kroft asked Dr. Elliott Fisher, a researcher at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy “How do so many people end up in the hospital?” and Fisher replied “It’s the path of least resistance”. I realized I was about to take the same path with this blog–so here goes the harder way.

Perhaps we as a country need to take a step back and as hard as this is to say “decide how we want to die”.

Most Americans don’t like to focus on morbid thing like this, but I have to agree with the point of view held by Dr. Byock who leads a team that treats and counsels patients with advanced illnesses: “This is a hard time in human life. But it’s just a part of life. Collectively, as a culture, we really have to acknowledge that we’re mortal,” Dr. Byock said. “Get over it. And start looking at what a healthy, morally robust way for people to die looks like.”

Dale Carnegie once said “Prepare for the worst that can possibly happen” then “calmly try to improve upon the worst.”

I think that we should put some thought today into how we what to die, to maintain some control of our last days. I have deeper understanding of how working with my end-of-life colleagues could help us live a better life. Attorney Craig Andreoli an estate planning expert, Stephanie Ethe long term insurance specialist and Jean Summit-Riker life coach can help us plan and ask ourselves the hard questions now so that we’re better prepared for death.

Jean Summit-Riker said “Life is a journey we all travel, but the choice to take the path to peace and happiness is yours alone.” I think this is our chance to collectively leave a legacy to our children and grandchildren and show them that it is important to prepare for death and that is possible to do it gracefully.

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Your New Health Care System Chart. That’s one big fish!

Bill Baylis — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 13:19:55 +0000

When it comes to wading the waters of the “New Health Care System“, to quote Chief Brody from the movies JAWS “You’re gonna need a bigger boat!”

Check out Congressman Brady’s New Health Care Chart below. If there was ever a time to hire a Medical Billing company like Medical Account Solutions, it’s right about now!

I’m sure you’ll agree that when you’re face to face with a big shark, it’s no time to go ” Rogue”. Don’t try to do it alone. MAS stands ready to help you navigate your way to firm footing in these uncertain waters.

Let MAS handle the details so your health care organization can stay afloat, because if you don’t move quickly, this “shark” will swallow you whole.

Congressman Brady Introduces “Your New Health Care System” Chart

July, 28, 2010 — nicedeb

Last year, TX Congressman, Kevin Brady’s Health Care Bill Chart was a viral sensation. Today, he unveiled a special visual project highlighting how out of control the expansion of the federal government has become: Please visit the permalink for Congressman, Kevin Brady’s blog.

“

A little sunshine goes a long way”.

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Could Streamlining Medical Billing Save $7 Billion a Year? We say yes! MAS has been doing our part for over 20 years.

Bill Baylis — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 23:51:40 +0000

Here is some food for thought from a recent WSJ Health Spot Blog written by Katherine Hobson entitled Could Streamlining Medical Billing Save $7 Billion a Year?

The post highlights a study by a team from Massachusetts General Hospital and its physician’s organization. They examined the time and costs associated with the third-party billing system used in the U.S and calculated that they could save billions by just streamlining typical administrative inefficiencies.

The analysis, published in Health Affairs and funded by the Commonwealth Fund and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, looked at a large, multi-specialty group of doctors that uses the typical fee-for-service model. They looked at what might reduce some of the administrative burden – specifically, the time spent by physicians and office staff doing paperwork and going back and forth with payers.

“Achieving these savings would not require restructuring the basic market-system tenets of our complex health care system through, for example, mandating a single-payer approach,” the researchers write.

Medical billing companies like MAS have been on the front line of streamlining costs since the 1970’s and is a major reason why our industry has taken off since. Over the years. many doctor groups and hospital have taken advantage of our expertise to increase cash flow, including niche billing skills delivered by MAS, such as Workers’ Compensation and No-Fault or Ambulance / Emergency Transport Billing.

Another trend that MAS has seen is for clients to use our billing company on a project basis, as with our Third-Party Follow-Up and Trial Balance Cash Improvement programs. Our team literally becomes an extension of the client’s back office, benefiting them by keeping their office focused on the day to day’s most pressing needs.

What also works well is a contingency billing scale in which healthcare organizations take advantage of a sliding pay schedule that adjusts with need and patient volume. This becomes a win-win when hospital and physician organizations protect bottom line costs while still having a trained staff available when they need them the most.

There is no doubt the battle in streamlining costs in healthcare is a challenging one. When I read a report like this one I get energized and it reminds me that success can be ours! By working together and relying on the various industry segments to do their part, MAS believes that our healthcare industry can save billions. The model is there for us to follow. We look forward to doing our part to streamlining costs– one doctor office, one clinic, one doctor group and one hospital at a time.

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Comparing medical billing companies? If you only focus on price, MAS hopes you don’t get what you pay for.

Bill Baylis — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:05:37 +0000

Believe or not on 90% of our sales calls the first question our potential clients ask is “what do you charge?”

I can understand why most medical offices focus on that “pre-programmed answer” they assume that all medical billing offices are the same. Because they do the same things–don’t they?

I’m here to tell you that they don’t. If you’re considering hiring a medical billing company, I’d like to give you a few different questions to ask, because the truth is ALL MEDICAL BILLING OFFICES ARE NOT ALIKE!

Instead of just asking about price, dig deeper.

Ranging from basic to difficult the answers to these questions will help you figure out if they will give you the attention and client service you deserve.

How long have they been in business? Make sure they have the longevity to grow with you.
Who are their clients? You’ll find out if they are experienced in your area of specialty.
Who are the owners? Understand if they share your strategic vision.
How often will you get to meet with the owners? Confirm how accessible they are if you need to reach them.
Are they givers or takers? Givers will help you grow by sharing information and resources that keep you current and ahead of your competitors. Find out if

they will share what billing software they use with you
the data always yours or theirs
what format can the data be exported in.

How am I doing so far? These questions are a lot tougher than just pricing and we haven’t gotten to any performance questions yet! (I suspect I will get to that in another blog soon).

When it comes to finding the right medical billing company for you, do your research and think about what important qualities you need in a billing agency. If they deliver the right answers to the questions above, price won’t the only factor you base your decisions on.

Remember, not all medical billing companies are the same. Demand the best for your practice. But, if you only focus on price, you will get what you pay for.

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Forget Outsourcing, Try Rural Sourcing. MAS Agrees!

Bill Baylis — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:46:37 +0000

Our friend Stacy Luft of CF Grow has posted this excellent blog by Reporter Nitasha Tiku of INC. titled ”Forget Outsourcing, Try Rural Sourcing“. We could not agree more with this statement at Medical Account Solutions! I hope it is not trademarked yet because it might be my new favorite go-to saying!

We need jobs here first! I could never understand why so many of our jobs have been sent over seas, especially service sector jobs. I have no doubt that we can get the job done better here at home, with more impact to the client’s bottomline, and, with greater customer satisfaction. Cheaper does not always mean better!

We just feel its good policy to shop locally. At MAS, we use our local pharmacist and food market. The owners and workers of these businesses know us, they know our likes and dislikes and they do the little things that keep us coming back again and again. It’s a great investment in our community to buy in our own backyard when it makes sense. American’s know what they want when it comes to service and it makes sense to me to turn to our own backyard when hiring a service oriented company.

We at MAS welcome the challenge to prove why Long Island ”Rural Sourcing” is the way to go with your medical billing needs!

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Outsource your medical billing and get back to healing again!

Bill Baylis — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:27:21 +0000

Throughout our years of servicing the healthcare field we have encountered many physicians who are conflicted, even afraid to outsource to a medical billing agency. Firstly, they are afraid that if they let their billing out of their office, somehow they are relinquishing their power over their own cashflow. And then they wonder, do I now have to fire my office staff who has become like family to me?? And so the panic begins, sometimes even causing the doctor to choose inaction instead of making what they construe as a painful decision. It’s been tough for us to watch when a struggling doctor’s office, rather than seeing the writing on the wall, chooses instead to allow their revenue to decline, thereby jeopardizing their own practice! We spoke to a colleague recently who told us stories of doctors taking second mortgages on their own homes just to maintain the finances of their practice!

Now imagine if you were a physician and could come to your office everyday knowing that you could practice medicine instead of constantly worry about cashflow?

In reality, utilizing a professional medical billing agency will transform your practice. Imagine how efficient an office can be when working together with a medical billing company who is handling the details of generated cash flow. Instead of arguing with insurance companies, your staff can focus on complementing you as a healer, perhaps by generating a new patient flow or simply maintaining patient satisfaction and rapport. A professional medical billing agency will possess and utilize their strengths in organization, billing and collections and allow your staff to focus on your patient’s needs. You can now refocus your staff on supporting you as a healer.

The power is yours when you find the right company. When you begin your search, we hope you will consider Medical Account Solutions!

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