The 10 Advantages of Outsourcing Your (Behavioral Health Billing)

Healthcare in a digital environment is complicated, particularly with the numerous regulations that seem to be constantly rolling out additional layers. Healthcare providers are spending more time and...

Healthcare in a digital environment is complicated, particularly with the numerous regulations that seem to be constantly rolling out additional layers. Healthcare providers are spending more time and resources as they organize patient care, and this time could be put to better use. Using a qualified, outsourced behavioral health billing company can provide better service as your workload reduces, you experience fewer disruptions and your profitability increases.

10 Advantages of Outsourcing Your Behavioral Health Billing

Decreased Employee Expenses. You will not be liable for employee healthcare, acquisition costs, PTO, and other employee load expenses when you are outsourcing your behavioral health billing. The amount of resources expected to manage the behavioral health insurance process is high. Another point of using an outsourced behavioral billing solution is the cost-share model. This enables billing expenses to be based on your volume and earnings. This is an advantage if you have a low-income month; you will not have a fixed cost associated with your billing.

Improvement of Revenue Cycle. As the legal and administrative terms for behavioral health providers constantly keeps growing in complexity, and as claims process grows more challenging, working with a skilled, qualified billing company trained in behavioral health can provide big relief. RCM software or Behavioral Health Revenue Cycle Management is a specific application specially designed for practices that treat patients with behavioral concerns. It helps practices process payments, handles claims, and creates revenue better than using a generic billing application. This will drastically improve the management of your revenue cycle.

Keep Patient Data Secure. One of the major concerns that prevent physicians from outsourcing their medical billing is internet security. Protecting patient and practice data is critical. All professional outsource medical billing company has the responsibility to protect all patient information (HIPAA compliant).

Reduce Staff Errors. Even the smallest blunder can cause an insurance company to deny a medical billing claim, with someone on your staff to correct the mistake, resubmitting the request and waiting for the revised application to be accepted and processed. Working with a specialty provider reduces staff blunders, since they have more experience working with billing and have undergone a lengthy training process, much greater than your in-house team.

Greater Consistency. Due to unplanned staff changes or employee absence, billing in-house puts your practice at higher risk for revenue interruption. An outsourced medical billing service provides an entire team of experienced people ensuring that your claims get prepared efficiently, leaving your practice less exposed to interruptions in cash-flow.

Better Claim Processing. Every insurance claim must be paid promptly and accurately in order to optimize a medical office’s cash flow. Time is valuable, generally healthcare staff do not have the luxury of reviewing and following-up on each claim. Let’s face it, healthcare professionals and their support staff are often pulled in various directions. But these claims should be presented as soon as possible and accurately the first time. Otherwise, unpaid claims can quickly rob an office of resources that could be applied elsewhere. Being forced to make tons of phone calls to insurance providers only wastes more time and adds frustrations. Healthcare providers should greatly consider outsourcing this function to reduce the administrative load placed on their support staff. Good medical billing companies are quick, consistent, and accurate with the submission and processing of any insurance claim.

Transparency. Others believe that outsourcing your billing means giving up control and the power of your practice, but this is entirely incorrect. When you outsource your billing, you obtain greater control and transparency. You can review compiled data or monitor the process at any time, according to your discretion. This gives you up-to-the-minute evaluations of how your practice’s billing is being processed and whenever you decide.

Profitability Increase. Due to incompetent, inadequate, or inaccurate claims, medical providers lose revenue. However, that’s not the case if you outsource billing to a qualified behavioral health billing group. Why? Simple! These outsourced behavioral health billing specialists are just that, experts, much more skilled than your in-house staff. They’re skilled at handling appeals and reversing denials. They hold the insight and expertise to pinpoint specific areas of vulnerability, limiting repetitive errors in claims, and assuring more claims are met (paid out) on the first attempt.

Knowledgebase. Outsourced billing solutions for behavioral health come with a wealth of knowledge. They understand the various complexities of billing insurance and hold the knowledge to examine trends and recognize industry transitions on the spot. Longevity in this niche area is not common; however, necessary. The results that stems from longevity and experience is priceless. Being able to understand each insurance carriers’ historical trends, paid amount(s), fine print of policies, etc., can have a massive impact on your behavioral health organization’s capacity to collect on insurance.

Faster Procedure. Automating routine administrative duties makes your work more productive and valuable. Automating same-day claim submissions will increase your cash flow. A standard paper-based claim may take at least two months to move through all the channels before you receive payment. Advancing a clean claim, appropriately coded for maximum benefit, supported with the assistance of the EHR can result in full compensation in a short period of time.

Conclusion

These are plenty of great reasons to outsource your behavioral health billing to a professional group. It makes sense to outsource revenue cycle management services to a third party, putting less strain on your internal resources.

Medical Credentialing (On-Board Process for Providers, Facilities)

Credentialing for providers, large groups, or facilities can be a tedious task that can often require a team of specialists to handle all the on-boarding information as well as updates throughout the ...

Credentialing for providers, large groups, or facilities can be a tedious task that can often require a team of specialists to handle all the on-boarding information as well as updates throughout the year. As of April, 2018, CMS now mandates that providers maintain accurate information and timely updates. Providers and facilities that do not keep up with these updates risk having their in-network status with the insurance company taken away as well as fines and penalties.

We have composed some of the most popular questions and concerns that your office may have in choosing someone to credential your providers.

Questions:

Turn-around time – 24 hours

New Provider – Using primary source verification, we are able to pull most of your provider’s information within a few hours. If more information is needed from the provider or facility then we can gather that information quickly by sending you a secure link with information needed to send back.

Resolve a credentialing issue – Our credentialing applications are tailored to the insurance companies specifications. If there is wrong information or information missing then the application cannot be sent out without it being corrected. The turnaround time would be same day for us. If there was information lacking from the provider then they would get a same day email with information needed and a secure link to add the information.

How to send and receive applications and required documents

Most of the information will be gathered via primary source verification. This is the most up to date accurate information that can be populated. In most cases it has more up to date information than what the provider has available to give us. All applications will be generated electronically and able to be signed electronically.

Availability for participation in our on-boarding meetings

We are available 5 days a week. Monday through Friday and Saturday mornings for any conference calls. We would be happy to accommodate your requests.

What distinguishes us from our competitors?

Primary source verification: we are alerted to any changes in the providers license, credentialing, DEA, CAQH, NPPES etc., the same day it is changed in their systems. This is usually weeks before the facility or provider is even aware anything has changed. This allows us to alert you and the provider of any credentialing, licensing, certifications, and board expiration’s that come up in a timely manner so we can correct them and keep your providers and facility in full compliance.

We are able to tailor credentialing applications to the insurance companies specifications so that there is little to no denials.

We have electronic signature capabilities on all credentialing applications that can be sent directly to the provider through secure email. We are also able to provide each on-boarded provider with their own credentialing secure email if your facility would like.

Most everything that we do is electronic, which will eliminate most, if not all, need for paper forms or paper signature requests.

Provider /Facility and its managing employees would have access to our secure software platform for you to view and print any and all provider information, licenses etc., that you may need to keep on file.

We can provide you reporting on when applications have been sent, viewed by the provider, signed by the provider, accepted by the insurance company. We keep track of every email, signature, view, acceptance, denial, and more. All communication is auto-documented and made available for you and your staff to see. Transparency and communication are very important to us.

We are able to integrate with CAQH so there are timely automatic updates as soon as the primary source verification has also been updated.

We are available to speak with you 6 days a week.

Timeline to provide services from date contract is signed

(Once a contract to provider credentialing services to your facility and providers was signed and the Excel spreadsheet was sent over with the providers information, the timeline would be as follows):

Providers would be complete and added to our software within 5-8 business days.

By week two you can expect the providers to be integrated with primary source verification, CAQH, NPPES, PECOS, DEA, and other licensing agencies.

By week three, the credentialing contracts would be generated based on information you provide to us. E-mails would be sent to providers if more information was needed.

By week four, we would like to see everything submitted and sent out electronically.

While we strive to keep within our timelines, we are also at the mercy of the providers responding back to us in a timely manner as well.

After the first month, we would now be considered fully integrated and working on the current applications sent, maintaining provider compliance with insurance company(s), CAQH, NPPES, DEA, State Licensing.
Ready to add more providers as needed!

Advantages of Employing a Branding & Design Agency

If you own a business or if you’re planning on opening a business, there will come a time when you have to step into a branding and design agency. It can be for various reasons like to create a logo, develop a website, put you on social media platforms or to even run marketing campaigns! 

The goal of owning a business is to give the people what they want and establish a business in the market. While you might have the data required on how to run your business, only a creative agency can help you connect with your audience and help you stay ahead of your competition.

Competence and Experience:

Each business has its own area of expertise. This is why we go to that particular business to buy their product or use their service. If you run a clothing business you have all the expertise on it such as the different kinds of materials, designs, prints, cuts, styles, etc. You would also know what is currently trending and what kind of outfit will suit which body type and so on and so forth.

Now if you want to brand, market and establish your business, you need to visit someone who has the knowledge and experience for that. You cannot achieve all of this with one in-house designer. While they might be competent in their field, they will not be able to provide what an entire creative team can, because they are all experienced in their own fields. A creative agency will be driven to deliver a specially curated agenda and strategy for your business.

Artistry:

A branding and design agency literally hunt for the crème de la crème of the creative world. This means there are a bunch of designers, developers, and marketers bouncing off crazy creative ideas off each other to provide the best for each business. Each of these teams aims to be the best at what they do and hence keep proving themselves time and again that they have what it takes to be the best with every new business they work on.

The branding strategies, marketing campaigns, design, and development are carefully worked on and executed to be unmatchable. The work of one in-house designer will not be as effective as an entire team brainstorming for you. In this current digital age where technology is at the helm of most industries, a creative agency knows how to put a business on the map in the midst of all its competition, utilizing the latest technology available.

Value for Time:

Every business has its own sets of goals and visions. For this to materialize you should be focusing your time on your business. We live in a world where we need to utilize each other’s talents and services. If there is an electrical work to be done in your house, though you may have the basic knowledge on how to do it, you will not actually do it. One because a dedicated electrician knows the simplest and best way to get the job done and secondly because you can focus your time and energy where it is actually needed. In the same way, while you prioritize on achieving your goals let a creative agency prioritize on establishing your business.

Value for Money:

Employing another member for your design needs is going to cost you quite a bit. Designers are deemed as highly paid professionals in this era. The costs of employing an in-house designer who will be unable to perform the tasks of a digital marketer, web developer, animator, brand strategist and a designer, can be better spent on a good creative design company.

Even if you plan on employing an entire team, you will be spending more on each of their salaries based on their experience than on a good branding and design agency. Investing in combined expertise and skillset is never a waste of money if it’s going to optimize the development and reach of your business.

Trustworthiness:

When you trust an agency with your work, you indirectly trust members of the team to provide their best work yet. More team players equals more artistry, which equals to brand growth and establishment! A good branding and design agency ensure that the projects that they work on are everything and more than what the client has asked of them. They stick to the quoted budget. They are always ready to talk to the clients and clarify their queries.

They make themselves available to explain to the clients the process and the strategy that will be employed to ensure that the business is going to get the spotlight it needs to grow, develop and expand. They readily change their work timings and days to meet deadlines and deliver supreme services! A good branding and design agency is a trustworthy agency. You can trust them and rely on them.

Dedication:

There is so much that goes into design, branding, and marketing. Agencies established in this field have the experience and expertise needed to strategize, plan and execute the work. This is one of the businesses out there that works for the success of another. Always choose a dedicated creative agency instead of an in-house designer. They can never achieve what an agency can. Get in touch with us at Tablo Noir if you are looking for a branding and design agency that designs unique and innovative strategies to build and market your brand.

DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS IN USA AND ITS CURE

The human digestive system works non-stop to produce enzymes and process the foods to extract essential nutrients, but junk food, adulterated foods, and chemicals that we consume create extra pressure on the system. The body produces digestive enzymes; however, it cannot produce enough to keep up with the typical western diet, which is full of enzyme-depleted, over-cooked, and processed and canned foods. This is one of the main reasons for the rise in digestive health problems. 

Nearly 7 hundred thousand people in the USA suffer everyday from digestive issues such as heartburn, acid reflux, GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder), IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), Indigestion, Constipation, Diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea and so on. But why do we suffer from so many digestive problems? The answer is that we eat in a hurry, we do not chew carefully, we rush our eating times, or worse, we eat on the run.

The digestion process works well when we eat properly, have proper rest, and lead an active lifestyle. Digestive enzymes exist naturally in the foods we eat when consumed raw. However, eating uncooked food is not always a good idea. Therefore, we need to cook foods just sufficiently, because when we overcook the food, we destroy the enzymes in the food. That  places more stress on our bodies to produce digestive enzymes and even fats and proteins have within them the digestive enzymes necessary to break them down into the components our cells can utilize. The human digestive system works non-stop to produce enzymes and process the foods to extract essential nutrients, but junk food, adulterated foods, and chemicals that we consume create extra pressure on the system. The body produces digestive enzymes; however, it cannot produce enough to keep up with the typical western diet, which is full of enzyme-depleted, over-cooked, and processed and canned foods. This is one of the main reasons for the rise in digestive health problems.

The stress and rapid pace of modern life many times requires additional dietary supplements to compliment the bodies' natural abilities. This can be easily achieved by the available over the counter herbal digestive care dietary supplements in USA. The natural dietary supplements in USA provide much required support to all the bodily systems so that it can function effortlessly. The reason to prefer herbal dietary supplements is because they help in avoiding the serious side effects otherwise caused by western medicine pharmaceuticals. There are multiple herbs that can help with digestion problems in the long run and without any side effects or altercations. Following are the tips to help resolve digestive problems and herbs that can help with the condition:

Eating on fixed timing and regular intervals is of utmost importance.

Eating soothing foods like yogurt, green vegetables and fibre rich foods, keeps the digestive system healthy.

Yogurt contains good bacteria called probiotics that helps in maintaining the gut health while improving digestion.

Probiotics help with digestion issues and also aids in digestion of heavy nutrients like lactose.

Apples are a good source of soluble fibre called pectin.

Pectin helps in increasing the stool volume and helps resolve problems like constipation or diarrhea.

It decreases the risk of intestinal infections and inflammation of the colon.

Fennel has high fiber content and it improves regularity of the digestive tract.

Fennel is also an antispasmodic agent and helps in limiting the negative effects of gastrointestinal symptoms.

Kombucha, a fermented tea, has a rich probiotic content which helps in healing stomach ulcers.

The famous tropical fruit of Papaya contains a critical digestive enzyme called papain which aids in breaking down the protein and helps digestion by supporting enzyme creation.

Papaya also helps in healing the damage caused by IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and soothes the stomach.

Fibre packed whole grains such as wheat, oats, quinoa, and farro helps improve digestion in many ways.

It mostly helps in bulking up the stool content and ease constipation.

Secondly, the grain fibers act as probiotics and help the healthy gut bacteria for a healthy working digestive system.

Fermented soya beans called Tempeh are a rich source of probiotics.

The antinutrients in soybeans prevents absorbesion of certain nutrients, but the fermentation process helps break down an antinutrient called phytic acid and makes tempeh a healthy snack for the digestive system as well as for general wellness of the body.

Studies claim that probiotic in tempeh helps alleviate the symptoms of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), diarrhea, and bloating.

Beetroot’s healthy nutrients helps feed the good bacteria in the gut and aids the digestive system. It also adds to the stool bulk and alleviates the symptoms of constipation. 

Beetroot is also good for increasing the blood hemoglobin content and purifying the blood.

Miso, made using fermented soya beans and koji, a type of fungus, is another excellent source of probiotics and help in the growth of healthy gut bacteria to aid digestion.

Miso probiotics also helps overcome intestinal issues such as diarrhea.

Ginger is an ancient spice and one of the most studies spices used as a digestive aid.

Ginger helps with alleviating problems like nausea and morning sickness.

It is well known for its action of accelerating the emptying of gastric chambers.

Ginger helps in alleviating symptoms of indigestion, gas, nausea, and morning sickness during early days of pregnancy.

Kimchi or fermented cabbage is rich in probiotics and promotes bowel health.

Green vegetables such as spinach, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and other leafy greens are also a good source of magnesium, which can help relieve constipation by improving muscle contractions in the gastrointestinal tract.

Sauerkraut, cabbage fermented with lactic acid, is rich in probiotics and is generous in helping to break down the enzymes nutrients into smaller, more easily digestible molecules.

Peppermint is a healthy herb that has a soothing effect on the human digestive system.

It relaxes the muscles of the digestive tract which improves the working of the digestive system.

A compound called menthol in peppermint helps alleviates conditions like IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), stomach aches, stomach cramps, intestinal inflammation, nausea, vomiting, and bloating.

Digestive problems can be very challenging, but handling them is not difficult when you put your mind to it. There are various herbal dietary supplements in USA available for providing the much needed support to the human digestive system. The natural digestive support dietary supplements in USA are healthy and risk-free as they do not tend to have any side effects. Eating right, consuming fiber-rich and soothing foods, such as whole grains, dark green vegetables, yogurt, and chia seeds, play a major role in creating a healthy digestive system more easily and quickly without any complications.

Why Hire SEO Expert in Austin for SEO of Your Business?

Search engine optimization has become quintessential for every business in today’s time. If your business is not visible online, you are as good as not at all having an online presence. And when you realize the importance of SEO for your local business, the first thing that comes into mind is how to do it and that too at minimum cost. Well, DIY is one way to go, hiring an SEO expert in Austin is other, and postponing is another.

Hiring professional SEO experts for SEO of your local business has many benefits. Let’s have a look at some of the key benefits.

Right SEO

Anyone can start SEO. There is no compulsion that only professionals are allowed to do it. But the question is, are you capable of doing it right? There are many practices that when you implement it on your website, your SEO results will be endangered. And getting wrong in DIY SEO is not difficult. All it requires is some misunderstanding of Google algorithms or following a wrong DIY SEO guide. You may be following unethical strategies which could result in your website getting permanently banned or removed from search results. Hence, you end up doing more harm than good. On the other hand, professionals have the right training, skills, and expertise. They know what works and what doesn’t and how to achieve desired results.

Improve website

For many years, SEO means stuffing keyword. Hence, many people easily become so-called SEO experts, but today, SEO has changed a lot. Google considers everything forms relevance of content to website speed, ease of navigation, and HTML tags. When you hire professionals, every little aspect of your website gets improved. They will improve your website loading speed, interface & navigation, build backlinks, add listings, and optimize the website for the right keywords. One cannot address the technical aspects without the right training and skills.

Focus on results

SEO is not about just getting any kind of traffic. There is a huge difference between traffic oriented SEO and result oriented SEO. There is no point of getting website traffic that does not convert. An SEO expert in Austin makes sure your website get quality web traffic that has higher chances of conversion. They follow the SEO strategies that not only focus on ranking your website but getting more conversions. You may have also heard about many people saying they have been doing SEO for many years, but still, haven't achieved the top rankings for competitive keywords. Well, it is the result of poor SEO. Professionals perform proper keyword research, audit website, and prepare the result-driven SEO strategy for your website.

Simplified reporting

Analytics play a big role in the success of your SEO campaign. And navigating through your Google Analytics to determine conversion rates, acquisition channels, tracking keywords rankings, split testing landing pages, evaluating bounce rate, and tracking down the results is not at all an easy task. It requires certain skills and knowledge to deal with analytics. An SEO expert in Austin prepares the reports for you in a simplified manner without technical jargon, which will allow you to understand the results of SEO efforts easily and prepare a plan of action.