Tips for Successful Neurology Billing and Coding February 16, 2022
Neurology practices face challenges because of inaccurate billing and coding. Documentation requirements are specific and complex, which burdens clinicians significantly. That’s why neurology medical billing and coding must be accurate to ensure proper claim settlement and payment.
Don’t worry about it! Here, this article will help you with tips for successful neurology billing and coding.
An Overview for Neurology Medical Billing & Coding Services
Neurology deals with disorders, diagnoses, and treatments of the nervous system. It covers both central and peripheral nervous system diseases.
Neurologists and neurosurgeons treat nervous system diseases either with surgery or non-surgery. In covering more than one aspect of neurology, they demonstrate an incredible level of expertise and attention to detail. Neuromuscular, sleep, stroke, and epilepsy are a few areas that neurologists can handle.
Coding and billing in neurology require a great deal of detail. In a sense, it’s like an extension of Evaluation & Management.
On the other hand, over a hundred codes are available for coding neurology and neuromuscular tests. That’s why coders have a tough time applying the correct code.
Furthermore, billing & coding experts in neurology should be familiar with the codes and rules specific to the field. This is because neurologists see patients in various settings like hospitals, clinics, and offices. Only a company with experts in neurology billing can handle such complexity.
For neurologists, broad and deep expertise are the keys to successful billing. These include collecting all of the money owed to the neurosurgeon, responding to queries from payers, and appealing denied claims.
Check Out These Useful Tips for Successful Neurology Billing and Coding
Courtesy Makes Communication Effective
Medical billers and coders don’t work behind closed doors. These professionals are likely to interact with patients, insurers, third-party vendors, and other stakeholders in the healthcare system. Even so, some of them may find discussions to be challenging.
For example, frustration could arise if the claim isn’t processed or is in process. Therefore, billing and coding teams must always remain courteous with all people they work with, as they act as a ‘bridge’ between insurance companies, physicians, and patients.
Regular Training of Staff Is Important
Your staff needs to be trained in the latest practices for claims settlements to be faster. Be sure it’s being done according to plan so that they are ready to service the needs of patients. If possible, training should be uninterrupted. By training the staff in the fee-for-value model, they will understand how to increase patient satisfaction in the practice.
Verify Patient Benefits
Neurology practices should verify all patient copayments, coinsurance responsibilities, and deductibles before treatment. The registration process should also confirm any necessary approvals and procedures.
Likewise, neurologists must maintain accurate records and medical histories so that timely counseling can occur and reimbursements can be timely processed. It is also essential to follow up on patient prescribed tests and monitor outstanding accounts.
Pay Attention to Details
In neurology medical billing, coders use thousands of different medical codes for various procedures. While it is unrealistic to expect a person (or medical coder) to know every medical code, they should be familiar with where the most common ones are located. Remember that careless errors may delay payment processing and, eventually, cause the payment to be delayed or denied.
Comply With HIPAA
The healthcare professionals also constantly work with the billing department and the patient’s health information. In fact, the (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) HIPAA obligates these professionals to protect patients’ privacy in these cases. For medical billing companies to succeed, they must possess sound judgment and operate with the highest levels of reliability.
Implementation of the ICD-10 Coding System
ICD-10-CM provides greater clinical detail, better specificity, and relevance for managed care and ambulatory encounters. To prevent delays in settling claims, ensure that your coders, billers, and practice staff are up-to-date with the latest codes (including ICD-10) and CPT codes. It will also ensure error-free billing and accuracy in records for future inspections.
Partner With a Reliable Medical Billing Company
By partnering with a reliable billing company, you can eliminate billing errors. Their staff consists of billing experts, who are under their command. They also utilize automation and work with all major health insurance carriers. With them, you can focus more on your patients and reduce the administrative burden.
Coding Levels Should Be Precise
For each patient, it is crucial to use the correct coding level to prevent cloning claims. The coding level should correspond to the level of illness. Otherwise, an audit can result if billing is done for all patients at the same level.
Key Takeaway
In the United States, many neurologists opt to outsource their neurology billing and employment services to overcome payment-related challenges. Our goal at 5 Star Billing Services is to increase revenues, decrease denials, and improve and automate your entire revenue cycle.
Tap Into Our Expertise
Here’s your chance! At 5 Star Billing Billing Services Inc, we offer the highest level of performance for high-quality medical billing and coding. Save your money by outsourcing to a professional billing service.