Medical Account Solutions » medical billing process

Should the Government Tell Medical Professionals How to Dress?

Webmaster — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:00:01 +0000

Is it goodbye ties and lab coats? A blog post by Janice Simmons “Outlawing ties and watches for the sake of patient safety” provides interesting food for thought about what doctor’s wear when treating patients.

The blog puts a spotlight on the issue saying that ”some lawmakers in New York State believe that they have come up with a good solution to prevent healthcare-acquired infections.”

Even though the practice was put in place in England about 5 years ago to address a spread of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), doctors in NY feel the measure is unjustified and doesn’t actually impact the spread of infectious diseases.

We’re curious if you agree with the doctors or the lawmakers. Take a look at the blog post and tell us what you think.

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MAS Wonders if ACOs are Already in Jeopardy?

Webmaster — Mon, 16 May 2011 14:24:37 +0000

In the world of healthcare, ACOs or Accountable Care Organization have only recently been creating a huge buzz. Are they already in jeopardy?

ACO’s may already be at risk, due to recent budget cutting measures passed by the House of Representatives that would restructure Medicare and Medicaid. If the Ryan budget is fully passed, it will likely start the countdown to the end of Accountable Care Organizations, which were created under the Obamacare law.

Currently Medicare is a “fee for service system” where healthcare providers are paid for each service rendered. At it’s current rate of reimbursement government spending on Medicare increases 7.2 percent each year and is projected to consume every dollar produced in the United States in only a few years. To try and prevent this, the Ryan budget begins a slow transition away from the current fee for service system to a voucher program that would allow seniors to buy private insurance free of charge.

This move is expected to save billions of dollars in Medicare spending and will guarantee coverage for seniors who otherwise will find themselves exposed when the program runs out of money, while still leaving coverage for those currently on Medicare or nearing retirement unchanged.

As ACOs are currently structured, providers in ACOs receive a portion of every dollar they are able to save Medicare in the form of a bonus. Under the proposed plan however Medicare would only be buying insurance for people not paying doctors directly, removing the main draw of an ACO for doctors and hospitals ultimately rendering ACOs a thing of the past.

So are ACOs almost a thing of the past before they even become reality? Chime in and let us know what think–post a comment below or on our Facebook page.

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Don’t you agree that Pay 4 Performance Just Makes Dollars and Cents?

Webmaster — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:28:12 +0000

Can you imagine paying someone for a job not done? Unfortunately sometimes when we hire employees, consultants or service professionals we end up paying them for a job half done. We feel obligated to honor contracts even if we don’t agree with the quality of the work performed.

We know that’s a tough pill to swallow. That’s why at MAS we believe strongly that clients shouldn’t pay unless we deliver. That’s the reasoning behind our Pay 4 Performance guarantee- we don’t get paid unless our clients get paid.

If you like the sound of it, click here to learn more about our Pay 4 Performance program.

Even if you’re not one of our medical billing clients, it might give you food for thought the next time you enter into a service contract!

Don’t forget to comment on this post or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think!

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MAS is Proud to Announce the Launch of our Newsletter Your Medical Billing Office News

Webmaster — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:54:36 +0000

Information is key and at MAS, we’re proud to do our part to help keep others informed about topics, tips and news related to the medical billing industry. The picture below is a sneak peek of our bi-monthly newsletter. Join our list for your full copy today!

Your Medical Billing Office Newsletter Preview

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Are You Setting SMART Goals for Your Medical Billing Office in 2011?

Bill Baylis — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:00:22 +0000

Have you set your goals yet for 2011? Are you setting SMART goals for your medical billing office in 2011? It’s not enough to just go through the daily routine and react to a crisis when it occurs. If you want to maximize your opportunities for success this year, you must set goals that you can track, measure and reach in 2011!

Every medical billing office (and person) should have goals, and, the beginning of the year is the best time to establish them. Productivity experts recommend setting SMART goals.

SMART goals are:

Specific

Measurable

Actionable

Realistic

Timely

So what should you include as some of your practice’s SMART goals? Here are a few things to consider:

Analyze the profitability of your medical billing. Need help? Get the MAS Profitability Calculator now.
Maximize your profitability and receivables. Check out these quick steps to get started.
Stay current with changes that will affect your practice like ICD-10 (more to come from MAS on this)
Find ways to streamline your medical billing and maximize receivables. Click here to learn more on how .
Explore and implement ways to improve your Accounts Receivable Management. Click here for more ideas.

Have a few suggestions of your own? Let us know what items have made your SMART goals list for 2011.

Happy New Year!

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Maximize your profitability and receivables-a few quick steps

Webmaster — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 16:30:29 +0000

Often, when I am reviewing a client’s medical receivable, I notice revenue lost simply because steps were not taken on the front-end that are necessary to secure payment and maximize collections. In some cases, if a few initial steps are not taken on the front-end, there is nothing a biller can do to get a claim paid…the ship has sailed. Fortunately, these mistakes can be avoided by following a few simple steps:

Make sure to collect a patient’s copay prior to their visit–this may seem obvious or perhaps “no big deal”, however, some insurer’s payment is the copay alone and no further reimbursement will be made. Failure to secure this cash upfront could mean that you will not see another dime for this visit.
Check to make sure a patient is truly eligible with their insurer. Some patients may not even be aware that their coverage has been canceled, others may try to be seen without insurance. It is too late to collect payment once the patient is out of the office.
Check to see if an authorization is necessary for this patient’s visit. Insurers are routinely making policy changes that you may not have realized; all it takes is a quick phone call to be certain.
Get a copy of the patient’s insurance card, front and back. This is your insurance to make sure there weren’t any keystroke errors during intake, or, to be certain that there isn’t a different phone number for a patient’s particular policy.
Check prior visits to be certain there are no outstanding balances due. Perhaps the patient owes coinsurance or a deductible has been applied to your visit. A patient is more likely to pay their bill when they are standing in front of you, as opposed to when they receive a bill in the mail.

You might think that these steps are all obvious, however, I assure you they are not. Furthermore, one may not realize these are necessary steps, unless you are familiar with the billing process. Your front-end staff is not only there as a smiling face to greet patients, they should also be looked upon as a conduit between the patient and the biller. If steps taken during intake are done haphazardly, your bottomline will be affected. Share these with all members of your staff, so that you can feel confident that you are maximizing your collections.

It’s also important for you to keep an eye on unpaid claims and make sure that your medical billing is as profitable as it should be. If you’re not sure where to start, I suggest using the MAS Profitability Calculator to make sure your office isn’t losing money. Just sign up for the your complimentary copy of the MAS Profitability Calculator from the home page of the MAS site now*.

*We respect your privacy and will NEVER rent or sell your personal information… Ever!

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Get the MAS Profitability Calculator

Bill Baylis — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:37:50 +0000

We’ve had some discussion and outright debate about value of outsourcing and making the decision to keep your billing staff in-house or sending your accounts receivable out.

Now MAS makes it easier to know how profitable your medical billing practice is!

We know that a lot of 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.

At MAS we understand that many doctors and hospitals are on the fence and that the truth is that they are not sure if outsourcing will actually result in increased profits.

To help answer that question, MAS has developed a complimentary Profitability Calculator so you can have concrete proof that using MAS to manage your medical billing will have a positive and profitable impact on your bottom line.

All you have to do is sign up now to get your copy of the MAS Profitability Calculator so you don’t have to keep tackling cash flow alone. Click here to sign up for your copy now.

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Whose Ball is It? Profit Management with MAS

Webmaster — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 15:37:23 +0000

Baseball fans will know that there are many life lessons to learn from watching the game. One of my favorite lessons is project management. When the ball flies up in the air, the players know their range and how far they are playing. If they come close to another player they call for the ball and back the other person off. It’s like poetry in motion when done right.

Everyone knows what their role is and what’s expected. Good project management involves clarity on the strengths of each team member and what their responsibilities are. So when MAS works with its clients everyone is clear on what their area of expertise is and who’ll “get the ball”. Working with MAS is good “profit management.”

MAS clients get to focus more on their patients and worry less about their medical billing needs because we’re on the ball. We focus on making sure that bills go out in a timely fashion, that payments are properly collected and that profit recovery is maximized.

Having MAS take the lead on medical billing means we look at all aspects from the medical billing process, streamlining resources, maximizing physician practice revenue and overall practice management.

Our doctors get to focus on what they do best—taking care of their patients. A win-win for everyone.

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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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Medical Billing: A “higher calling”?

Susan Baylis — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:25:37 +0000

I found myself heavily entrenched in the news and controversy of the Healthcare Reform Bill for a myriad of reasons. One reason, admittedly, is out of fear. I was, and still am, terribly afraid of dramatic change to our advanced and miraculous healthcare system. Throughout my life, I have watched our healthcare system help save the lives of my premature twin sons, who grew up perfectly healthy, thanks in large part to modern medicine. Conversely, I watched in horror as they treated my father, who had advanced Parkinson’s Disease, with the resources probably used during ancient times.

Nothing is perfect, but if you were to talk to a friend or family member overseas about their universal healthcare system, you realize that we have what people in other countries wish they had!

Of the various clients I have been blessed to have throughout the years, I particularly enjoy doing work for large, inner-city hospitals. Often times, these clients have a large mental health, obstetrical and renal failure population, among others. When I see this type of billing, I think of the lives behind it–the mentally ill patients who are able to lead a better life due to the help they receive, the babies who are born healthy because of pre-natal care and the dialysis patients who are buying more time with their families until a kidney becomes available.

Their lives literally depend upon the fiscal stability of their community hospital! I feel a sense of accomplishment when I get their claims paid because I know that I am helping to keep these hospitals fiscally sound so they can be there for those patients who need them the most!

Recently, we witnessed the closing of a fine institution who served New York City for so many years, that they treated survivors of the Titanic!! St. Vincent’s Hospital was a beloved fixture in the lower Manhattan community that serviced families from the cradle to the grave. Its closing left a hole in the healthcare system of New York City that cannot be fixed. It makes me terribly sad to think there have patients who have suffered, and perhaps even lost their lives, due to the shutdown of this hospital. Would things have been different if they had properly utilized all available resources?

Numbers don’t lie. According to a 2006 Newsweek article, there are approximately $60 billion in unpaid medical bills per year! Our work, of supplementing an over-burdened hospital staff, helps to keep hospitals functioning in our communities so they can continue to serve the patients who walk through their doors everyday!

I have watched the struggles of New York’s inner-city hospitals now for many years and have grown increasingly frustrated as they resist outsourcing their medical billing to an agency, such as MAS. Surely they can do it themselves, why do they need to pay an outside company to do what their internal staff can? Perhaps because, according to the CDC, in 2006 there were 119.2 million emergency department visits alone.

Yes, we want to be leaders in the medical billing industry but my company and I focus on the bigger picture. We know that our efforts and collections help to secure and maintain our cutting-edge American healthcare system. With this in mind, I believe our contributions at MAS could just be a “higher calling”!

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