When considering outsourcing your medical billing tasks, several critical questions arise: Will the vendor handle patient medical information securely? How do you ensure you choose the right company? Picking the wrong one could lead to significant hassle and financial losses.
Understanding how to choose an offshore medical billing service can save hospitals, clinics and medical billing companies valuable time in resolving billing issues, increasing revenue and getting paid on time, allowing more focus on complex issues and patient care. Here are some essential criteria to evaluate when deciding to outsource to a medical billing company:
1. Certification: Check if the company is ISO certified and their compliance certifications. SOC1, SOC2 certification is recommended.
2. Data Security: Ensure the company has robust protocols to secure patient information.
3. Experience: Learn about the experience of the medical billers, specialties and software used.
4. Business Strategy: Understand the company’s business strategy and their ability to scale. You want a vendor that can grow as you grow.
5. Turn Around Time (TAT): Know the deadlines and turnaround time they have set for accomplishing tasks.
6. Technology: Understand the software technology they use.
7. Pricing Model: Check the pricing model and look for any hidden costs.
8. Business Continuity: Know the company’s business continuity plan in case of an emergency.
9. Quality Control: Learn about the quality control and how they handle errors
10. Clear Agreement: Ensure the agreement is clear and protects you and doesn’t lock you in if you want to terminate.
If you have already hired a medical billing outsourcing company, check if your service provider meets the following criteria:
- Performance: Do they perform well?
- Deadline Adherence: Are deadlines met consistently?
- Customer Satisfaction: Does the company prioritize customer satisfaction, transparency and communication along with dependable and accurate medical billing services?
You need to be comfortable when choosing a medical billing outsourcing company. By following these guidelines, you can make an informed decision that will benefit your practice and your patients.