What to Look for When Outsourcing Medical Billing

Many practices outsource billing to reduce costs, improve collections and give their staff more time with patients. Choosing the right partner is what makes the difference. These are the questions worth asking before you sign.

Experience and certifications

• Do they work with practices in your specialty?
• Are their coders certified (for example, by AAPC)?
• Can they handle credentialing, prior authorizations and patient billing, or only claims?

Security and compliance

Your billing partner will handle protected health information. Ask how they protect it, whether they will sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA), and how staff are trained on HIPAA.

Software and workflow

A good partner works inside the billing system, EHR and clearinghouse you already use, so your team does not have to learn something new. Ask how charges move from your clinical team to billing, and how quickly claims go out.

Reporting you can understand

You should receive regular reports on collections, AR by age, denials by reason and first-pass acceptance. Ask for a sample report before you decide.

Clear pricing

Understand exactly how fees are calculated, what is included, and whether there are setup or minimum fees. Be wary of pricing that is hard to explain.

A smooth start

Ask how onboarding works, who your dedicated contact will be, and what happens to claims already in progress.

Healthcare Providers Care offers affordable billing with a dedicated team, AAPC-certified coders and clear monthly reporting. See our offers for providers and groups.