| Electronic medical billing software is now | | | | areas of data-management can improve the |
| commonly used in the specialist field of medical | | | | efficiency and effectiveness of the business. |
| billing. There are today a variety of custom-made | | | | Transcription capabilities can reduce the need for |
| software packages which provide this important | | | | paper records, saving both time and money. |
| function. | | | | Some software can be even accessed via |
| Use of specifically designed software for this has | | | | portable devices such as palm handhelds or mobile |
| numerous advantages over using general purpose | | | | phones, which allows billing work to be |
| software for this function as the software is | | | | accomplished away from the workplace. |
| specifically created for the detailed and unusual | | | | Medical bills are sometimes sent via a clearing |
| needs of the profession. Of course, using such | | | | house rather than being sent directly from the |
| software is also a major advantage over doing | | | | healthcare facility to the company which provides |
| the process on paper. Unfortunately many | | | | the insurance. This practice of using specialist |
| insurance companies still process the bills sent to | | | | clearing houses can reduce errors, reduce the |
| them using a paper-based system, which leads to | | | | amount of rejected claims and speed up the |
| considerable delays, errors and other significant | | | | payment process. Clearing house submission can |
| problems in the process. | | | | be done by some electronic medical billing |
| Most software in this area will currently be | | | | software. |
| compatible with the 2005 Health Insurance | | | | Use of some billing software can even increase |
| Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) act | | | | the amount of reimbursement that the insurance |
| which is a legal requirement for all medical billing | | | | company will pay the healthcare provider. The |
| processes. | | | | software needs to be compatible with the various |
| Some relevant software also adds other areas of | | | | formats required by a wide range of different |
| relevant functionality such as scheduling, finance | | | | insurance companies. Support is very important |
| handling and accounting, letter and report writing, | | | | for electronic medical billing software both in |
| and other tasks relevant to healthcare facility | | | | terms of clear help files and availability of |
| management. The integration of these different | | | | person-to-person help when needed. |