The 5 Challenges Covid Brought Along With It Into The Medical Billing And Coding World
COVID-19 Medical Billing And Coding Challenges
RCM and Billing professionals have their job cut out for them as they adjust and develop strategies to more effectively manage the interruptions and pressures created by COVID-19.
There’s been less time and attention to dedicate to keeping up with developments in the industry as they concentrate on handling the specifics of medical billing for healthcare firms as the pandemic’s spread has forced everyone to stay alert and learn everything they can in a short span of time.
That being said, let’s look at five challenges that have been brought to our attention in light of the pandemic.
Having An Appropriate EHR System
Electronic health record (EHR) systems are having to adapt to changing requirements for patient care as healthcare practitioners face unprecedented difficulty combating the COVID-19 outbreak globally.
The challenge for providers is that they need to have an EHR system that is up-to-date with the latest research on Covid. There are many providers who don’t have this information on their EHRs simply because their system doesn’t update automatically, or because they don’t know how to update the system.
In order for providers to have a relevant EHR system, they need to be able to keep up with the changes in technology and stay on top of software updates. Otherwise, the provider will not be able to use it efficiently with their other systems such as billing or scheduling.
Adhering To The Meaningful Use Guidelines
The Meaningful Use Guidelines are a set of rules that healthcare providers must follow to be eligible for incentives. They are designed to incentivize providers to adopt electronic health records and use them in ways that improve patient care.
The Meaningful Use Guidelines have been criticized for being too rigid, too complicated, and too demanding for the providers, particularly in light of the global pandemic.
Maintaining Data Security
The challenge of data security is that it is a never-ending battle. The more we secure our data, the more hackers will work to find new ways to breach the system.
Security breaches happen daily and it’s not just companies that are affected. Personal information is at risk too, which can lead to identity theft and fraud.
The Internet of Things (IoT) has also opened up new avenues for hackers to exploit. These devices are not always secure and they are often overlooked by security teams when it comes to updates and patches. This makes them an easy target for cybercriminals looking for a way in.
Surprise Medical Billing
Surprise medical billing is a particularly tricky problem for patients and health-care systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. To that end, several states have already taken steps to protect both providers and patients. On February 1, 2015, Oregon became the first state to enact legislation in response to a pandemic. The plan requires employers and healthcare providers to disclose in advance any cost increases that may result from a pandemic. In addition, the legislation requires all health-care providers and their agents to provide a written estimate of services prior to providing care.
The Necessity To Educate Employees When It Comes To Achieving Compliance With Medical Guidelines
An important aspect that needs consideration after Covid is how do we prepare for a pandemic? What are the steps we should take in order to be compliant? In order to stay compliant with medical guidelines during a pandemic, know all of your employer’s policies and procedures related to pandemic preparedness, including their emergency response procedures.
The challenge is that there are many different ways of achieving compliance. This means that the training needs to be tailored to the specific business model and industry. This is why it is so important for a company to understand its own situation before they start training their staff on what they need to know.
Conclusion
The Covid Pandemic has been a major challenge for the medical billing and coding world. It has caused an increase in healthcare costs by exacerbating issues such as fraud, and waste in the healthcare industry. The pandemic is a major contributor to the health care crisis that is currently happening in America.
In response to the Covid Pandemic, many coding and billing companies have been developing new ways to transmit data. These new standards are expected to protect the interests of both providers and patients. The idea is that by using the latest technology, it will free up time for professionals who are bogged down with administrative tasks so they can focus on what they do best – caring for patients.
Learn how we can help you processing your medical billing, contact us online or call us at +1-307-368-8003 or Email us at alexa@v-etico.com.
Danielle Ezra
Executive – Social Media Marketing
V-Etico Services LLC
www.v-etico.com
Phone: 1 (307) 368-8003
E-Mail: alexa@v-etico.com