Urology billing is difficult. It is part of medical billing, which is complicated. You need people who know a lot and have experience with insurance companies.
The process of billing and collecting payments must be done quickly and accurately. It won’t work well if you’re not involved. The clinical part of your work has to connect with the administrative part to get payments effectively. If you ignore the problem or just hope it goes away, you will lose reimbursement.
The best solution is to learn about the process and handle it. By following set procedures, communicating well, and training everyone involved, you can spend less time on paperwork and ensure you get paid properly. However, you can also outsource the billing side to third-party medical billing services in Arkansas and spend quality time on patient care.
How can we streamline the Urology Medical Billing and Coding?
It is important to get the patient’s information right when you are sending bills. So, after their visit, make sure you get their insurance details like birthdate and Social Security number. Also, write down their home address and any special notes from the doctor for records. It is not just about getting the information; you must check that it’s correct. Having the right patient information helps urology claims get approved and paid faster.
Select the Right Codes Quickly
When coding for urology, there are three main types of codes to consider:
- Visit Codes: These are for appointments with doctors and consultations, and they typically have numbers between 99202 and 99499.
- Treatment Codes: These are for procedures and tests, and usually have numbers between 50010 and 58999.
- Extra Codes: These procedures are performed alongside the main one, marked with a “+” symbol. Using them with the main procedure allows you to get paid for both.
Knowing these main categories and where to find them can simplify the process of choosing the correct code. Once you determine the type of code you need, review the patient’s chart to see what was done that day. This will assist you in selecting the most appropriate code by providing important details about the services provided to the patient.
Review Provider Information
After you have looked at the patient’s details, it is crucial to check them again. When you are sending a claim for urology services, make sure you have the right address and contact details for your urology center. Also, do not forget to include your identification numbers and electronic data interchange (EDI) processing numbers.
Using a Clearinghouse
To make sure your medical billing and coding are accurate and to avoid errors, it is a good idea to use a clearinghouse. A good clearinghouse will check over your urology claims to make sure there are not any mistakes before they are sent. If they do find any errors, they will let the billing person know so they can fix them fast. This helps prevent problems later on with claims that are submitted or coded incorrectly.
Things to Avoid in Urology Billing
Fixing Denied Urology Claims
If a urology claim is denied, there’s a reason. First, check for mistakes before trying again. If there are wrong diagnosis codes, fix them and resubmit the claim with the correct ones provided by the urologist.
Avoid Using Too Few Codes
Using too few codes means you have to explain all the work done, either by mistake or on purpose, to avoid audits. This results in losing money because you have to report all your work, and it may raise suspicions with Medicare.
Almost everyone gets audited eventually. To be safe, teach your staff to use codes correctly and document everything.
Remember the Clearinghouse
Do you know what a clearinghouse is? It helps ensure your urology claims are accurate. A good clearinghouse catches errors, reducing the chances of claim denials. Not using one increases the risk. Remember, fixing and resubmitting claims takes time and money for your urology practice.
Seek Professional Help
Are you a doctor who specializes in bladder and kidney problems and wants to make paying for your services simpler? Is your team having a hard time finding the right support for handling payments related to bladder and kidney treatments? Do you have questions about how to handle payments for these medical services properly? If so, think about contacting a professional medical billing company that can take care of the paperwork for you.
Conclusion
Urology medical billing is as complex sam ase the urology practice. However, it is not the job of the healthcare providers to handle medical billing side by side of the healthcare practice because they are not experts in that. So, accurate medical billing is part and parcel fo healthcare practices if they are looking for the maximum reimbursements. Following the above-mentioned practices can help resolve medical billing and coding issues and get you maximum reimbursements.