Home health and Hospice agencies today are feeling the pressure of reduced or delayed payments as well as increased expenses. It is more important than ever that billing is done right the first time, every time.
Billing oversights can lead to denials and reduced cash flow. By knowing how to reduce errors in advance, you realize the far reaching benefits of improved accuracy, accelerated reimbursement and better patient outcomes. Here are some things to keep in mind when billing for home health:
Be sure to have complete and correct patient information.
Missing or inaccurate patient information will cause claim denials. Billers should make sure that the patient insurance number is in the correct location, the admission source/referral is correct and the patient status is 30.
The diagnosis code must be valid.
Do not use codes that are marked “invalid.” Billers should keep up to date on the new diagnosis codes as they are released every October. It is also important to choose the correct code for the patient type. For example, you want to be sure you don’t use pediatric codes for adults.
The correct address must be entered to calculate the correct CBSA code for maximum reimbursement.
You need to be sure the correct county and zip code are entered. Please note the address date cannot be after the admission date.
The correct attending physician and NPI must be entered.
You must enter the physician’s full name and correct NPI number. Each of your physicians must have an NPI number.
Review your denials.
One of the best ways to educate yourself is to review your denials, keeping track of your most common denial reasons. Use this list to create a checklist that you will use to review every claim submission.
Are You Experiencing Billing Errors? We Can Help.
Billing is one of the greatest drains on home health and hospice agencies. It takes up valuable time and requires highly skilled employees that are often hard to find and even harder to keep.
HEALTHCAREfirst’s home health and hospice billing experts can help relieve the administrative and technical burdens of in-house billing at a highly competitive price. Their sole focus is on home health and hospice billing and they receive continual education on regulations, rules and best practices. As a result of this experience and education, you will have fewer denied and rejected claims, allowing you to get paid more quickly and accurately.
For more information about HEALTHCAREfirst’s Billing Services click here or call us at 800.841.6095