While we are still in the middle of summer, it’s prudent to look ahead to next year to prepare for potential changes in how your medical practice will receive payments for services rendered. Whether your patient population currently consists mostly of Medicare patients or only a portion, it’s imperative to stay on top of regulations and updates that the government issues regarding healthcare coverage. And consider that local demographics may be changing, leading to more Medicare patients coming through your doors in the years to come. It can be challenging to carve much time out of your already busy schedule to keep track of what’s happening with Medicare lately. With that in mind, here’s a look at proposed Medicare fee schedule changes that are anticipated for 2023.

The complex nature of providing health care demands complicated computer and software systems to support the work of doctors, their staff, and other members of the medical industry. You don’t need to be a computer scientist to appreciate the nuances of healthcare data standards and systems to help people communicate and share vital medical information. But it’s good to become at least somewhat familiar with the technology that allows us to share important facts and statistics about patients with other healthcare providers.

Medical practices, small and large, rely on electronic health records or EHR software to help them keep track of patient data and spot overall trends in the population they serve. For those healthcare providers working in the area of behavioral health, a behavioral health EHR application is indispensable.

Many healthcare practices across the country are still dealing with the enormous financial fallout stemming from the economic downturn beginning with the novel coronavirus. With patients staying away in droves and not all practices set up for telehealth sessions, revenue certainly went into a downturn for many. As you pick up the pieces and start to rebuild your financial security, it’s a good idea to re-evaluate the RCM services you’ve been relying on for so long.

How is the flow of revenue in your healthcare practice these days? Or more precisely, how is your revenue cycle management (RCM) progressing?

The general public is becoming more familiar with the benefits of behavioral health services. With celebrities openly talking about their need to participate in therapy and prioritize their own mental health, the stigma of seeking assistance may be eroding. That’s good news for providers, who can envision more patients coming for help with their mind and not just their body. Behavioral health is particularly topical, as how the mind-body connection continues to be unraveled in new and fascinating ways. Here are 5 trends you will see at the forefront of behavioral health this year.

In the aftermath of the massive numbers of COVID-19 infections from the global coronavirus pandemic, medical practices large and small are reassessing their revenue cycle as they begin to see more patients coming back. After years of social distancing and shelter-in-place orders, you can assume that more of your patients will be entering your doors once again for appointments that they canceled or procedures and tests that they put off.

In today's market, having an internet basis is pretty standard practice in all industries. Having your patients engaged should be no different for the healthcare industry. Visibility into patient satisfaction allows your practice to stay at its highest performance ability and promote health literacy. The same type of marketing used by merchandise stores across the globe can be beneficial to your practice and can result in improved health outcomes. We discuss improved patient outcomes a bit deeper in this blog.

We live in a patient-centric, digital, outcome-based world today. Doctors not only have to provide accurate diagnoses and appropriate treatment plans, but they must focus on meeting patient expectations and overcoming negative perceptions in the medical marketplace.

Medical Billing: Claim Submission and Follow Up "Medical billing is the process of submitting and following up on claims with health insurance companies in order to receive payment for services rendered," as stated on HBMA. Without submitting clean claims on a timely basis, it doesn't matter how many patients you see or how many services you render.