Getting Ready to Outsource HME Billing

Primary considerations before outsourcing HME billing

The decision to outsource is a major one for any company. It’s no different for HME providers or, to be more precise, in the case of HME billing. Providers looking to outsource their billing operations to an external agency, need to carefully consider a few aspects before doing so. Outsourcing of business processes have been around for quite some time now. In our digitally connected world, remote outsourcing is a remarkably common phenomenon and also, one of the most frequently used strategies to reduce operational cost and administrative hassles. But one should look around well before taking the leap.

Outsourcing need not be a blind leap of faith. There are some critical considerations to be made that can help a provider choose wisely. In the realm of HME billing, whether one is looking for complete revenue cycle management support or assistance in a few specific areas of the billing process, there is no dearth of billing service providers to be found. Yet, they are not of equal strength or merit. In other words, some providers are better equipped to meet your expectations, and they are the ones that you must seek out. Here’s a quick list to get you started on the right foot.

Choosing a better billing partner

One of the primary things to look out for is the amount of experience a prospective partner has in the area of HME billing. Firsthand experience in working on claims meant for all the major payers is a great start. One should follow it up with a close scrutiny of the billing operations as handled by the agency. Some of the major aspects to look into in this regard are the quality control system in place from intake to payment, the quality control process for all documents received, the regular reviewing of claims denial rates and reasons, the daily reviewing of unpaid claims and staying current on HME and DME billing and coding regulations.

Of course, when all the boxes are ticked off satisfactorily, a final concern will be the financial decision. One of the chief purposes of outsourcing is to bring about a reduction in operational cost and administrative hassles. Offshore outsourcing can indeed bring along such savings, but one needs to compare prices carefully before signing the contract with a specific service provider. It is also advisable in this regard to investigate if there are any hidden fees involved or a minimum commitment clause.