Spring is upon us and business is booming! We've had the opportunity to attend some FANTASTIC conferences in the past 2 months. Let's finish blogging about what I look for in a billing assistant position before we move on to all the other exciting topics we've learned about this Spring.
I like a biller who really cares about the clinics success as a whole, someone who is invested in their office. They tend to take their job very seriously and will collect your money as if it was their own...this can be very hard to find!
A biller needs to be confident in what they do and not afraid to push for answers or solutions to billing questions or denials. 80% of appeals are paid on the first attempt!
Most important quality in the billing department is the ability to prioritize! Let's face it, there are some claims/denials that just take precedence over the others! But ALL must be able to be dealt with in a timely manner. The best way I've found to prioritize is to make categories that each claim/case falls into. You can do this with file folders or with a multi-tiered desk organizer. Put all those little piles on your desk into each category;
A FEW MINUTES: this is for small things, a quick phone call back, a small fax, make a copy, etc.
ONE HOUR: reverify benefits, argue a claim, checking status, calling on PI cases.
TWO HOURS: major claim disputes, appeal process, printing out patient statements and mailing.
LOTS OF TIME: pulling no-paid claims reports, all patient reports, updating balances.
I take these 4 categories and make a space for them on my calendar each week or every other for my LOTS OF TIME spot. This insures that each category gets the proper amount of attention that it deserves, and the stacks on my desk get smaller and more organized. No more misplaced papers!
Reward your staff! If they are doing a great job I can not emphasize this enough! Your biller especially knows what kind of money your clinic takes in. They have their finger on the pulse. If she has just closed a huge PI case or insurance appeal for you, DO SOMETHING for her! It will develop that #1 quality I touched on in my first requirement. If your staff needs a little push, set some weekly/monthly goals and make a BIG deal of it when they hit them. Bring the FIRE back into your practice and always acknowledge a winning staff.
If you need help in these areas, please contact me. I am always available for questions and to help launch your practice to the next level! kara@chirocorrect.com
