Simple Ways for NEMT Businesses to Reduce Billing Errors
In the healthcare industry, all of the service providers have to adhere to an endless list of rules and regulations, and, arguably, billing is one of the most scrutinized procedures. Regardless of whether you work at a healthcare facility, operate as a medical biller or run a non-emergency transportation (NEMT) business, it is vital to set up an efficient billing procedure to prevent claim rejections and denials, stabilize revenue streams and avoid cash flow disruptions.
Given the fact that states and federal governments alone spend about $2.6 billion in a single year on NEMT, an efficient billing procedure is critical for all stakeholders. Billing errors can prove to be costly for your NEMT business and fellow taxpayers in the long run, but with some best practices, you can avoid making them.
What Causes NEMT Billing Errors?
In the NEMT industry, a patient-provider interaction begins when the passenger books an NEMT ride and ends when the provider bills the passenger for the trip. While this process seems quite straightforward, the complicated nature of NEMT billing can derail it.
Here is a list of the usual suspects that stall the billing workflow:
- Wrong billing codes
- Incomplete or erroneous documentation
- Incorrect patient information
NEMT business owners must carefully examine their billing procedures and identify pain points to avoid losing revenue.
Moreover, according to the data of the Medical Transportation Access Coalition (MTAC), on average, if Medicaid recipients have access to efficient NEMT services, taxpayer’s savings amount to $1,300 per patient per month.
How to Correct Medical Billing Errors
Let’s say that despite your best efforts billing errors still occur. Your first line of defense would be the implementation of a regular audit process to catch these mistakes as early as possible. Check the bills for erroneous codes, incorrect passenger data or any other mistakes. Once identified, both rejected and pending claims should be proactively and promptly adjusted. For any future occurrences, here are some detailed tips on how to reduce NEMT billing errors.
Confirm Correct Patient Information
Medical bills, including NEMT bills, are held to high standards of accuracy. Due to the network of payers and providers involved, every bill contains information that can be verified against existing records. That’s why inaccurate patient information is among the most common causes of billing errors.
The first step toward implementing error-free billing for your NEMT business is gathering accurate and up-to-date patient information. NEMT providers need important details to create a valid bill, such as a patient’s correct name, address, social security number, birthday, and insurance information.
A reliable record-keeping system is needed to store NEMT patient data. If you are still relying on manual record-keeping, it’s beyond the time you switch to a digital solution, such as NEMT billing software.
Invest in Medical Billing Software to Correct Errors
Most problems in NEMT billing can be attributed to human error. Perhaps a patient entered incorrect information on a form, or an employee used the wrong code while preparing a bill. Whatever the problem, NEMT billing software offers a simple and elegant solution.
The software can scrub every bill you generate for errors before they are submitted, so you can be confident that they contain accurate information and will hold up to scrutiny. If a bill is rejected for some reason, billing software makes adjusting and resubmitting easier. Finally, beyond speeding up the turnover of funds, electronic billing will allow you to generate custom reports, track all of your business activities and make well-informed decisions on how to refine them.
Up to four million Americans now avail of Medicaid benefits for NEMT services. With an increasing number of their customers relying on either state-funded or private payers, it’s more important than ever for NEMT providers to adopt software that allows them to generate bills efficiently.
File All Claims on Time
Most insurance providers request claim submissions be submitted within 60-90 days of the service, and if a claim is rejected or denied, an additional 45 days is usually allowed to appeal the claim. This sounds like a comfortable buffer, but when you start pushing claims off, they pile up close to deadlines. Software makes it easy to complete claims in a timely manner, and if you’re approaching a deadline, you can set reminders to guarantee you’re never late.
Properly Train All Staff Members
Even if you follow the above-mentioned advice, without an efficient billing department, you will miss filing deadlines, create erroneous bills, and lose a significant percentage of your company’s revenue. Given the added pressure of NEMT billing regulations, it is crucial to invest in regular training for employees.
With regular training exercises and refresher courses, your billing department will be up-to-date with current codes, bill formats, and insurance details.
Team Collaboration
Once you hire and properly train smart, well-rounded workers to get the best results possible your enterprise becomes even more productive when you work as a team. Your medical billing team should split up claim responsibilities in a way that makes the most sense at your practice, and if someone needs assistance or has advice for a better process, that’s what teams are there for. There’s power in numbers, and you’ll get more claims processed faster when you work together.
Pinpoint Your Weaknesses and Refine the Process
Your business is always striving to do the best work possible and provide top-tier services for your customers. Success starts from within, so if you see a need for improvement in your internal process, it’s time to restructure. Talk about what you can all do better as a team, and adjust to move in the right direction.
And, if you’re still trying to operate without billing software for non-emergency medical transportation, give the team at ISI Technology a shout to find out what your business is missing.