5 Questions To Ask When Hiring a Medical Biller

Starting and running a wellness practice requires a lot of knowledge, persistence, and hard work. And many parts of the business need your expertise and energy. But there is one component that you don’t need to handle: your medical billing. If you’re ready to outsource this task, it’s essential to know which questions to ask when hiring a medical biller.

Doug Fir Billing is passionate about providing our clients with excellent, vigilant billing support. We specialize in mental health to ensure clients get the covered services they need and providers get the payments they are due. To learn more or get a quote, reach out to our team today.

How To Choose a Medical Billing Company for Your Practice

There are all kinds of reasons to outsource your medical billing. With an expert biller on your side, you will enjoy more accurate work to ensure timely payments. In-house billers tend to have a high turnover rate. This ongoing change leaves you in a nearly constant cycle of training someone new, opening your practice to more billing errors.

So, how do you choose the right person for your needs? What questions should you ask when hiring a medical biller? Let’s take a look.

Before you start interviewing, take some time to know what type of support you need. It’s crucial to find someone who meets your current needs and has the capacity to do more as your practice grows. 

Be sure to have the following information ready to share with potential companies:

• The number of providers in your practice

• Which insurance plans you are credentialed with or expect to be

• The approximate number of clients or patients your practice serves

• Which billing/payment software you use

Now, it’s time to interview some possible billers!

Important Questions To Ask When Hiring a Medical Biller

When it comes to skill and experience, medical billers are not all created equal. Here in Oregon, the state does not currently require licensure for medical billers and coders. 

However, having a certification certainly doesn’t imply that a biller knows how to do their job. Self-taught medical billers with experience, integrity, and attention to detail can do far more for your business than an inexperienced - but “credentialed” - person. This fact means that you must do your due diligence when interviewing an outsourced or in-house biller.

Here are the top five questions to ask when hiring an outsourced medical biller.

1. Do you have experience in my type of practice?

Since insurance can cover anything from medical care to speech therapy to massage therapy, it’s important to ask a biller about their experience. Some outsourced billing companies specialize in medical care, while others focus on mental health or alternative modalities.

If a biller tells you they can “do it all,” be sure to ask for references within your niche or area of practice. Yes, on paper, a medical billing expert can “do it all” when it comes to the different types of plans and providers. But that doesn’t mean they actually know how to do it accurately and effectively.

It’s also a good idea to be sure a biller has experience billing for telehealth appointments if that applies to your practice. Additionally, be sure to ask if they have experience with commercial, Medicare, or Medicaid billing, depending on your clientele.

2. Who will handle my account?

Some billing companies are owner-operated businesses where the owner does all the billing work. Others have a team of billers available. Either setup is fine as long as you know what to expect. 

Generally, it’s best to choose someone with a team of people, even if it’s a small team. Although you’ll likely have a dedicated biller for your account, a bigger group means there is someone to do the work if your person isn’t available.

If only one person is doing the job, be sure to ask how they handle coverage if they get sick or have vacation time. You need to know their contingency plan, so your billing needs aren’t left unattended.

It’s also a good idea to ask if they outsource any of their work overseas. This practice is becoming more common and can be adequate for some people. But most providers prefer to have their accounts in the hands of someone who lives in the US and has familiarity with our healthcare system.

3. How do you handle claim denials?

Ideally, a potential outsourced biller will explain how their process works to prevent as many denials as possible in the first place. Everyone’s job is easier, and your revenue flow is smoother when that happens.

But it’s still important to ask how they handle claim denials on your behalf. Even the most accurate processing can result in denials at times. So knowing that your biller can advocate for you is crucial.

4. How do you stay updated on insurance and billing changes?

Medical insurance seems to be in a constant state of flux. Plans change. Providers drop in and out of networks. Laws go into effect with different administrations. Things are constantly changing. Your biller should tell you what steps they take to remain up-to-date with these shifts.

5. Are you and your team HIPAA-Compliant?

This is one of the most vital questions to ask when hiring a medical biller. By law, outsourced and in-house billers must follow HIPAA regulations just as you do. Be sure anyone you interview can answer the following questions:

• How do they train their employees on HIPAA compliance? Is it one-time or ongoing?

• How do they secure their devices and records?

• What is their procedure if there is a HIPAA breach?

• Do they require their team to change passwords at regular intervals?

• Do they require a signed contract and Business Associate Agreement (BAA)?

Side note: the answer to those last two questions should be ‘yes’ for best results!

Are You Ready To Outsource Your Billing?

When it comes to all the decisions you must make for your practice, choosing a billing company is one of the most important. You deserve a trustworthy company with experience, expertise, and integrity. Asking the questions in this article will help you find the right person for your needs and goals.
The Doug Fir Billing team is excited to connect with you to see if we’re a good fit for you. We have experience billing for a variety of practices, but our specialty is outpatient mental health clinics. Contact us today to learn more and get a quote for your business. We look forward to hearing from you!