HME providers are increasingly turning to full-service billing to help streamline their HME billing processes as the home healthcare industry becomes more complex. So, what is HME full-service billing, and how does it work? In this article, we’ll go over the basics of HME full-service billing—such as what it is, how it works, and why providers are turning to this billing method.

Full-service HME billing is a type of medical billing service that provides end-to-end billing support for companies that provide patients with home medical equipment (HME).

Unlike other types of HME billing services, which may only provide partial billing support, HME full-service billing provides complete billing support from beginning to end. This includes verifying patient insurance coverage, reviewing and retrieving medical documentation, obtaining prior authorizations for services, submitting claims, following up on denied claims, working accounts receivable, and posting payments received from insurance carriers.

What is the process of full-service HME billing?

A consultation between the company and the billing service provider is usually the first step in the HME full-service billing process. The billing service provider will gather information about the provider’s current billing processes and identify areas where they can provide additional assistance during this consultation.

Once the provider has agreed to work with the billing service, the onboarding process will begin. Typical tasks include setting up access to the provider’s billing platform, electronic health records (EHR) system, etc., and training the provider’s staff on using the billing service provider’s software.

Following the completion of the onboarding process, the billing service provider will begin to handle all aspects of the billing process on behalf of the medical provider. This includes verifying patient insurance coverage, obtaining pre-authorization for services, submitting claims to insurance companies, and following up on denied claims.

The billing service provider will also provide regular updates to the HME provider throughout the billing process, keeping them informed of the status of each claim and any issues that arise. This allows the HME provider’s staff to concentrate on providing high-quality patient care.

Why do medical professionals choose HME full-service billing?

HME providers are turning to HME full-service billing to streamline their billing processes for various reasons. Here are a few examples:

• Enhanced Efficiency: HME full-service billing offers a streamlined, end-to-end billing process that can significantly improve the provider’s efficiency. By outsourcing billing tasks to a dedicated billing service provider, providers can free up their staff to focus on providing high-quality patient care rather than spending hours on billing-related tasks.
• Increased Cash Flow: HME full-service billing providers can often submit claims more quickly and accurately than HME providers who handle billing in-house because they have expertise in the billing process. This may result in faster payment from insurance companies, improving cash flow.
• Reduced Denials: HME billing service providers have extensive experience working with insurance companies and navigating complicated billing regulations. As a result, they are frequently able to reduce the number of denied claims, which can be a major source of frustration for HME providers and lead to lost revenue.
• Revenue Growth: HME full-service billing can help HME providers increase revenue by streamlining the billing process and reducing denials. This is especially true for providers that offer a high volume of HME services, as the billing process for these services can be complicated.
• Increased Compliance: Because HME full-service billing providers are billing regulation experts, they can assist providers in remaining compliant with all relevant regulations and requirements. This can help protect against potential legal issues and financial penalties, which is especially important in a highly regulated industry like healthcare.

HME full-service billing is a comprehensive approach to medical billing that offers end-to-end support for providers that supply patients with home medical equipment. By outsourcing billing tasks to a dedicated billing service provider, providers can increase efficiency, improve cash flow, reduce denials, increase revenue, and ensure greater regulatory compliance by outsourcing billing tasks to a dedicated billing service provider.

If you are a HME provider who supplies patients with home medical equipment, HME full-service billing may be the answer to streamlining your billing processes and improving your bottom line.

Working with an experienced billing service provider can relieve your staff of the burden of billing, allowing them to focus on providing high-quality patient care.

Learn more about how an HME full-service billing provider such as ACU-Serve can help your practice thrive—our team is ready to connect with you.