Your front office is a busy and important first stop for your patients. Front office staff needs to be detail-oriented as well as personable to ensure your practice is interacting well with patients and obtaining information critical to the success of your practice. Skyline Medical Billing Management outlines some procedures that will help your Prescott practice function at its best.
Scheduling Appointments
When scheduling appointments, the staff should always confirm current contact information including mailing address and the best phone number to reach the patient. Insurance information should be obtained at the time the appointment is set. Insurance should be verified at the time the appointment is scheduled to determine copay amounts and to avoid insurance changes, such as canceled policies.
Confirming Appointments
At least 24 hours before the scheduled appointment, a phone call confirming the appointment should be made. At this time the patient should be informed of the copay amount and their outstanding balance, if any. This reminder will help the patient avoid being caught without a checkbook or sufficient funds to pay their copay, and will alleviate the need for future billing for these amounts.
Patient Check-In
At check-in, again confirm the patient’s current mailing address, phone number and insurance information to ensure the claims process will flow smoothly. Getting a claim paid really begins at the front desk, so it’s important to make copies of insurance cards, driver’s license and/or other ID. Staff should review patient registration forms to ensure they have been filled out completely. It may seem redundant, but insurance coverage should be verified again at this time. The copay should be collected before the patient sees the medical provider. If the patient has an outstanding balance, this is the time to collect the balance due and owing. Financial arrangements should be in place before the patient sees the provider to avoid billing issues later.
At Skyline Medical Billing Management, we handle the complexities of managing your Prescott practice, so you can get back to what you do best. We are available to work with your staff to offer guidance on front desk procedures and requirements. To schedule an appointment, or for more information on how we can help with any of your medical billing needs, contact Skyline Medical Billing Management at 928-227-1167.
