The medical billing revenue cycle is critical for mental health and addiction treatment centers. Accurate medical billing and coding are important to your organizational financial health and to your continuing to deliver quality care.

Unfortunately, medical billing and coding errors can occur, leading to denied or delayed payments, compliance issues, and revenue loss. In this blog, we will discuss ways to avoid common medical billing and coding errors in claims for mental health and addiction treatment services.

1. Stay Up-to-Date with Coding Guidelines

For many treatment center owners, the biggest factor stopping them from handling medical billing in-house is fear of the unknown. Since medical coding requires adherence to specific coding guidelines and regulations, and when those guidelines and regulations change, medical coding can seem like a complex and daunting task.

It is crucial to stay up-to-date with the latest changes in coding guidelines, including updates to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes, and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes. Familiarize yourself and your staff with the latest coding manuals and resources, and ensure that they are being used correctly in the medical billing process. This will help you avoid coding errors that can result in claim denials or underpayment.

AZZLY^® simplifies coding for providers, both with our comprehensive revenue cycle management solution AZZLY Rize^™, which incorporates the latest coding guidelines, and with the support of our expert RCM, billing and coding staff dedicated to helping our clients. Our streamlined coding process reduces the risk of errors and ensures accurate and compliant coding practices. Let us tell you more.

2. Verify Patient Information

Patient information, such as demographics, insurance coverage, and authorization details, play a crucial role in the medical billing process. It is essential to verify patient information at the time of registration and update it regularly to ensure accuracy. Common errors in patient information, such as incorrect names, addresses, or insurance policy numbers, can result in claim denials or delays in payment.

Implement a robust patient registration process that includes thorough verification of patient information, insurance coverage, and authorization details. Train your staff on the importance of accurate patient information and provide ongoing education and training to ensure compliance. AZZLY’s revenue cycle management services include patient verification features that help identify and correct errors in patient information, reducing the risk of billing and coding errors.

3. Document Services Accurately

Accurate documentation of services rendered is critical to ensure proper medical billing and coding. In the mental health and addiction treatment areas of healthcare, services provided, including evaluation and management (E&M) services, therapy sessions, and medication management, must be documented accurately to support the services billed. Failure to document services properly can result in claim denials or payment delays.

Develop clear documentation guidelines for your clinicians and ensure that they are trained on proper documentation practices. Document all services rendered in the patient’s medical record, including the date, time, duration, and nature of the services provided. Make sure that the documentation supports the codes billed, including the medical necessity of the services. AZZLY’s revenue cycle management services include comprehensive documentation tools that help clinicians accurately document services rendered, reducing the risk of coding errors and claim denials.

4. Conduct Regular Audits

Regular audits of your medical billing and coding processes can help identify and correct errors before they result in claim denials or payment delays. Conduct internal audits of your billing and coding practices to ensure compliance with coding guidelines, accuracy of patient information, and proper documentation of services rendered. Identify any patterns of errors and take corrective actions to address them promptly.

In addition to internal audits, AZZLY can help you by providing an unbiased assessment of your billing and coding practices and can help identify any potential errors or areas of improvement. AZZLY can help identify and rectify any billing and coding errors, ensuring compliance and maximizing revenue for treatment centers.

5. Educate and Train Your Staff

Proper education and training of your billing and coding staff are crucial to avoid common errors. Keep your staff updated with the latest coding guidelines, regulations, and industry best practices. Provide regular training sessions and workshops to ensure that they have a thorough understanding of the coding process and can accurately code and bill for services rendered.

AZZLY’s revenue cycle management services include ongoing education and training programs for billing and coding staff. They provide access to resources, webinars, and training sessions that help keep staff up-to-date with the latest coding guidelines and industry changes. Investing in education and training for your staff can significantly reduce the risk of billing and coding errors and improve the overall efficiency of your revenue cycle management process.

6. Implement Technology Solutions

Leveraging technology can be a game-changer in avoiding medical billing and coding errors. With the advancement of electronic health record (EHR) systems and billing software, treatment centers can automate and streamline their revenue cycle management processes, reducing the risk of errors and improving accuracy and efficiency.

AZZLY offers cutting-edge revenue cycle management software that integrates seamlessly with EHR systems, providing a comprehensive solution for medical billing and coding. Their software automates the coding process, verifies patient information, and performs real-time audits, helping to minimize errors and ensure compliance. By implementing technology solutions like AZZLY’s revenue cycle management software, treatment centers can significantly reduce the risk of common billing and coding errors.

7. Monitor and Follow Up on Claims

Monitoring and following up on submitted claims is a crucial step in the medical billing revenue cycle. Claims can get denied or delayed due to various reasons, such as coding errors, incomplete information, or missing documentation. It is essential to regularly monitor the status of submitted claims and follow up on any denials or rejections promptly. Each Payer can have unique requirements.

Create a system to track and monitor claims, and establish a process for timely follow-up on denied or rejected claims. Investigate the reasons for denials or rejections and take corrective actions to resubmit the claims accurately. AZZLY’s revenue cycle management services include comprehensive claim tracking and follow-up features that help treatment centers monitor the status of their claims and address any issues promptly.

8. Stay Compliant with Regulations

Compliance with regulations, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines, is critical in the medical billing and coding process. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in severe consequences, including fines, penalties, and legal liabilities.

Stay updated with the latest regulations and guidelines, and ensure that your billing and coding processes comply with them. Train your staff on the importance of compliance and implement robust policies and procedures to ensure that patient information is protected, and billing practices are in line with regulations. AZZLY’s revenue cycle management services are compliant with HIPAA and CMS guidelines, providing treatment centers with peace of mind and ensuring that their billing and coding processes are in compliance with industry regulations.

Let’s Start a Conversation!

AZZLY offers comprehensive solutions that can help treatment centers avoid common billing and coding errors. Our modern platform solution purpose-built for mental health and addiction treatment centers integrates electronic health records (EHR), automates the coding process, verifies patient information, performs real-time audits, and provides ongoing education and training programs for billing and coding staff. By leveraging technology and expertise from AZZLY, treatment centers like yours can streamline your revenue cycle management process, minimize errors, ensure compliance, and maximize revenue.

To learn more about AZZLY, speak with one of our AZZLY EHR and RCM Experts. Grab time on your Account Manager’s calendar here. We are available to answer questions any time at hello@azzly.com or 1 (888) 400-3201. We want to get to know you!