DOING BUSINESS
With changing technology and regula- tory requirements as well as today’s economic and reimbursement challeng- es, keeping pace can be overwhelming.
Moving Forward If your facility decides to bring the billing process in-house, the next step is to define specific goals and require- ments for your ASC’s ideal billing sys- tem. What do you need and want from a billing system? If your facility decides to outsource
its billing processes, the next step is to develop selection criteria for an outsourc- ing partner and the technology that it will provide to help you ensure that the com- pany you select can best help you address your billing needs. When selecting a bill- ing system, make sure the vendor offers a cloud-based solution. Ask how the ven- dor’s billing system ties in with your exist-
ing systems. Ideally, the solution should allow you to integrate your billing system with your scheduling and inventory sys- tems. Integration is important because it automates the steps required to convert scheduled cases into zero balances and bank deposits. For example, integration enables payer eligibility to be electronical- ly validated as soon as a case is scheduled into your core system. The vendor should also offer the ability to easily switch to an outsourced billing services provider if de- sired as you don’t want to feel locked in if your future needs change. The billing services company that
you select should have a proven track record in the ASC market and employ certified coders that are current on ASC coding and billing guidelines. The com- pany should also be able to demonstrate how it monitors and maintains compli- ance as updates occur because changes
occur constantly. In addition, the ser- vice should seamlessly integrate with your ASC’s clinical and management software system allowing your facility to have access to real-time data, as op- posed to transferring or working offline because the service operates on differ- ent software. The company should also provide a toll-free number for your pa- tients and answer all billing questions. The decision to outsource or bring billing in-house should not be a painful choice as long as you do your home- work and understand your goals. With careful consideration, you can ensure that you have a successful billing pro- cess in place.
Kevin McDonald is senior vice president of sales for SourceMedical Solutions in Birmingham, Alabama. Contact the author at
kevin.mcdonald@
sourcemed.net.
ASC FOCUS MARCH 2013
25
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