Medical Billing: Difference between revisions

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Created page with "Information for each patient encounter is used for medical billing. The DX (condition of the patient) and CPT (service rendered to the patient) are used when generating proper medical codes for billing. ICD-10 and CPT codes can easily be extracted from the patient encounter and entered into an invoice used for medical billing. The coding information is used to generate HCFA 1500 (CMS 1500) forms for insurance submission or the information can be submitted electronica..."
 
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Information for each patient encounter is used for medical billing.  The DX (condition of the patient) and CPT (service rendered to the patient) are used when generating proper medical codes for billing. ICD-10 and CPT codes can easily be extracted from the patient encounter and entered into an invoice used for medical billing.  The coding information is used to generate HCFA 1500 (CMS 1500) forms for insurance submission or the information can be submitted electronically through EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) to a medical billing clearinghouse.  WebShuttle will guide you through the medical billing process with tools and reminders that make it easy.
The Medical Billing & Claims features in VEHRDICT are built to help your practice manage the entire revenue cycle—from capturing billing codes to tracking payments and resubmitting denied claims. This support page explains how each part of the billing workflow functions in the system, and how you can use VEHRDICT to ensure faster reimbursements and fewer billing errors.


===CPT/ICD code selection and AI extraction===
When documenting a patient encounter, VEHRDICT automatically scans the clinical notes and suggests appropriate CPT and ICD-10 codes based on the content. These AI-suggested codes appear in the billing section of the encounter for your review. You can accept, remove, or manually add additional codes as needed. If your practice uses a set of common codes frequently, you can mark them as favorites so they are easy to access and reuse for future visits.


[[File:Medical billing 2.jpg|800px]]
===Claim generation and clearinghouse submission===
Once billing codes and patient insurance information are finalized, VEHRDICT can generate a claim with just a few clicks. The system automatically formats the claim according to ANSI 837P standards and submits it to your connected clearinghouse. You don’t need to export files or handle separate billing software—everything happens directly from within the EHR. Each claim is assigned a tracking ID, and the status is monitored continuously for updates such as accepted, rejected, or paid.


===Eligibility verification===
Before submitting a claim or even during check-in, VEHRDICT allows you to verify a patient's insurance eligibility in real time. This feature connects to insurance payers electronically and confirms active coverage, plan details, and co-pay information. You can access the verification results from the patient profile or directly from the appointment screen. Verifying eligibility ahead of time helps reduce claim denials and prevents surprises for both the practice and the patient.


==Insurance Verification==
===Payment posting===
When payment information is received from the clearinghouse or entered manually, VEHRDICT makes it easy to post payments to the correct patient account. The system can automatically match Explanation of Benefits (EOB) data with submitted claims, and apply payments, adjustments, or patient balances accordingly. Staff can view posted payments in the billing history section and apply filters to review specific services, dates, or payers.


===Denial management and resubmissions===
If a claim is denied or returned with errors, VEHRDICT highlights the issue and provides guidance on what needs to be corrected. You can open the claim, make the necessary adjustments, and resubmit it directly through the system without re-entering all the data. All denial reasons and resubmission attempts are logged, allowing your staff to track patterns and reduce repeat issues. This helps ensure quicker resolutions and fewer delays in reimbursement.


It is necessary to verify patient insurance information to ensure that eligibility and policy benefits are documented. This determines whether the insurance claim can be obtained for services rendered. Patient responsibilities such as co-pay, deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses need to be entered.  With some services, prior authorization is required from the insurance company.
===Patient invoicing and receipts===
VEHRDICT can generate detailed invoices for patient balances, including charges, payments, and adjustments. You can print or email invoices directly from the system, and each invoice includes your practice’s information and payment instructions. When a payment is made, a receipt can be issued immediately. This ensures that patients are well-informed of their financial responsibility and that your practice maintains clear and professional billing records.




[[File:Insurance screen.jpg|800px]]


== Insurance Verification ==


==Patient Encounters==
Before billing, it is essential to confirm the patient’s insurance status and understand their benefits. This ensures coverage and reduces claim denials.




When the provider encounters a patient during an office visit or telemedicine call, the details of the condition and service are documented in the EHR system.  Audio or video are sent for transcription and all results are documented.  The details can be recorded during the encounter or after the visit or call.  Information about the medications and condition are all documented.  Information from the encounter is used during coding.
* '''Eligibility Check''' – Confirm policy is active
* '''Policy Benefits''' – Review co-pays, deductibles, and coverage limits
* '''Prior Authorization''' – Secure approvals for procedures if required




==Transcription==
[[File:insurance_eligibility_nx.jpg|800px|'''Insurance Verification Screen''' – Review eligibility, coverage, and authorization status.]]




Recorded audio or video is routed for medical transcription.  The transcriptionist will convert audio to standard documents such as a History and Physical, Consultation, Operative Report, Letter, Discharge Summary or any custom document.  Transcribed documents are automatically attached to the patient chart in the EHR system.  The transcribed document contains the complete condition of the health record.  Information from medical transcription will be used during coding.


== Medical Coding ==


==Medical Coding==
Once documentation is complete, coders extract:




Medical codes are extracted from the transcribed information.  The patient's condition, medical services rendered, medical prescriptions are all converted into medical codes.  The complete medical history is condensed into medical codes.  Experienced medical coders are often involved in the medical coding process.  Coders usually extract the DX (condition of the patient), CPT (service rendered to the patient) when generating proper medical codes for billing.
* '''ICD-10 Codes''' – Patient diagnoses (DX)
* '''CPT Codes''' – Services performed




==Entering Medical Charges==
Accurate coding is vital for correct billing and compliance with insurance regulations. Experienced coders ensure codes reflect the medical necessity and scope of service.




Charges for services rendered will be entered into the patient invoice.  Appropriate values are assigned to each of the services rendered.  These charges will then be sent to the medical billing company (clearinghouse) or directly to the insurance company for a claim. The billing sheet must be complete and free of errors or it may reflect during a claim.  Accuracy is very important during claim submission.
{{Tip|Coding errors are one of the top reasons for claim denials. Always double-check code pairings and modifier usage.}}




[[File:Medical billing 2.jpg|800px]]


== Entering Medical Charges ==


==Charge Transmission==
Charges are entered into the system based on documented services:


Transmitting the claims to the insurance company is called Charge transmission.  Electronic submission is called EDI (Electronic Data Interchange).  EDI is secure and encrypted.  Claims need to be without errors when transmitting through EDI.  Errors can result in the following:


1.  Mandatory fields need to be filled without errors.  Claims with errors will be rejected.
* '''Assigning Charges''' – Each CPT code is linked to a standardized billing rate
2.  Invalid information in the patients health record will cause the claim to be rejected by the EDI.
* '''Invoice Creation''' – Review for completeness and accuracy before submission
3.  Claims can be rejected due to insurance guidelines and payer details.


Denials need to be processed if a claim is rejected or not approved.


This creates a billing record used for claim generation and submission.


==Calling about Denials==




In many cases, it is necessary to to follow-up on denied claims to correct issues that prevented payment.  Following up in a timely manner increases the chances of claims being paid.  The goal is to receive payment for all services rending by the healthcare providers.  Often, patient information is supplied and errors are rectified.
== Charge Transmission ==


Sending claims to payers is done via secure EDI (Electronic Data Interchange):


==Denial Management==


* '''EDI Submission''' – HIPAA-compliant, encrypted claim transmission
* '''Error Checking''' – Automated checks to reduce rejections


Learning from prior denials and taking appropriate actions to correct issues is an important step in improving RCM (Revenue Cycle Management).  Denial management is an important step in maximizing payment for services rendered.  Determining the causes of denials will reduce the risk of future denials.  A proper course of action should be takes after evaluating denied claims by the denial management team.  Denied claims should be prioritized by payers and amounts to maximize reimbursements.


'''VEHRDICT''' tools assist in preparing, reviewing, and transmitting claims efficiently.




==Posting Payments==
{{Tip|Use the EDI error checker to catch missing diagnosis codes, date mismatches, or NPI errors before submission.}}




Payments received will need to be posted into the EHR software.  Correspondence, EOB (Explanation of benefits), and ERA (Electronic Remittance Advice) will received from the insurance companies.  The proper amount will need to be posted to each invoice from bulk payment receivables.


== Denial Management ==


[[File:Payment posting.jpg|800px]]
For denied claims, follow-up is essential:
 
 
* '''Tracking and Follow-Up''' – Monitor status and resolve issues
* '''Root Cause Evaluation''' – Identify and address denial reasons
* '''Priority Handling''' – Focus efforts based on claim value and payer
 
 
{{Warning|Denials left unresolved can result in significant revenue loss. Implement a daily check of pending/denied claims.}}
 
 
 
== Payment Posting ==
 
Once insurance payments are received:
 
 
* '''EOB & ERA Review''' – Cross-reference with expected charges
* '''Apply Payments''' – Match incoming payments with corresponding invoices
 
 
Accurate posting ensures financial reporting and patient balance accuracy.
 
 
 
== Example Screenshots ==
 
=== Invoice List ===
 
 
[[File:Invoice_list.png|800px|'''Invoice List''' – View encounters, claim statuses, total charges, payments, and balance due.]]
 
 
=== Apply Payment ===
 
 
 
[[File:Apply_payment.png|800px|'''Apply Payment Screen''' – Enter and reconcile payment details from insurance payers.]]
 
 
 
== Summary ==
 
By following these steps in the '''VEHRDICT''' system, your practice can streamline billing workflows, minimize errors, and ensure fast and accurate reimbursements for all patient services.

Latest revision as of 23:22, 15 July 2025

The Medical Billing & Claims features in VEHRDICT are built to help your practice manage the entire revenue cycle—from capturing billing codes to tracking payments and resubmitting denied claims. This support page explains how each part of the billing workflow functions in the system, and how you can use VEHRDICT to ensure faster reimbursements and fewer billing errors.

CPT/ICD code selection and AI extraction

When documenting a patient encounter, VEHRDICT automatically scans the clinical notes and suggests appropriate CPT and ICD-10 codes based on the content. These AI-suggested codes appear in the billing section of the encounter for your review. You can accept, remove, or manually add additional codes as needed. If your practice uses a set of common codes frequently, you can mark them as favorites so they are easy to access and reuse for future visits.

Claim generation and clearinghouse submission

Once billing codes and patient insurance information are finalized, VEHRDICT can generate a claim with just a few clicks. The system automatically formats the claim according to ANSI 837P standards and submits it to your connected clearinghouse. You don’t need to export files or handle separate billing software—everything happens directly from within the EHR. Each claim is assigned a tracking ID, and the status is monitored continuously for updates such as accepted, rejected, or paid.

Eligibility verification

Before submitting a claim or even during check-in, VEHRDICT allows you to verify a patient's insurance eligibility in real time. This feature connects to insurance payers electronically and confirms active coverage, plan details, and co-pay information. You can access the verification results from the patient profile or directly from the appointment screen. Verifying eligibility ahead of time helps reduce claim denials and prevents surprises for both the practice and the patient.

Payment posting

When payment information is received from the clearinghouse or entered manually, VEHRDICT makes it easy to post payments to the correct patient account. The system can automatically match Explanation of Benefits (EOB) data with submitted claims, and apply payments, adjustments, or patient balances accordingly. Staff can view posted payments in the billing history section and apply filters to review specific services, dates, or payers.

Denial management and resubmissions

If a claim is denied or returned with errors, VEHRDICT highlights the issue and provides guidance on what needs to be corrected. You can open the claim, make the necessary adjustments, and resubmit it directly through the system without re-entering all the data. All denial reasons and resubmission attempts are logged, allowing your staff to track patterns and reduce repeat issues. This helps ensure quicker resolutions and fewer delays in reimbursement.

Patient invoicing and receipts

VEHRDICT can generate detailed invoices for patient balances, including charges, payments, and adjustments. You can print or email invoices directly from the system, and each invoice includes your practice’s information and payment instructions. When a payment is made, a receipt can be issued immediately. This ensures that patients are well-informed of their financial responsibility and that your practice maintains clear and professional billing records.


Insurance Verification

Before billing, it is essential to confirm the patient’s insurance status and understand their benefits. This ensures coverage and reduces claim denials.


  • Eligibility Check – Confirm policy is active
  • Policy Benefits – Review co-pays, deductibles, and coverage limits
  • Prior Authorization – Secure approvals for procedures if required


Insurance Verification Screen – Review eligibility, coverage, and authorization status.


Medical Coding

Once documentation is complete, coders extract:


  • ICD-10 Codes – Patient diagnoses (DX)
  • CPT Codes – Services performed


Accurate coding is vital for correct billing and compliance with insurance regulations. Experienced coders ensure codes reflect the medical necessity and scope of service.


Tip: Coding errors are one of the top reasons for claim denials. Always double-check code pairings and modifier usage.



Entering Medical Charges

Charges are entered into the system based on documented services:


  • Assigning Charges – Each CPT code is linked to a standardized billing rate
  • Invoice Creation – Review for completeness and accuracy before submission


This creates a billing record used for claim generation and submission.


Charge Transmission

Sending claims to payers is done via secure EDI (Electronic Data Interchange):


  • EDI Submission – HIPAA-compliant, encrypted claim transmission
  • Error Checking – Automated checks to reduce rejections


VEHRDICT tools assist in preparing, reviewing, and transmitting claims efficiently.


Tip: Use the EDI error checker to catch missing diagnosis codes, date mismatches, or NPI errors before submission.



Denial Management

For denied claims, follow-up is essential:


  • Tracking and Follow-Up – Monitor status and resolve issues
  • Root Cause Evaluation – Identify and address denial reasons
  • Priority Handling – Focus efforts based on claim value and payer


Warning: Denials left unresolved can result in significant revenue loss. Implement a daily check of pending/denied claims.



Payment Posting

Once insurance payments are received:


  • EOB & ERA Review – Cross-reference with expected charges
  • Apply Payments – Match incoming payments with corresponding invoices


Accurate posting ensures financial reporting and patient balance accuracy.


Example Screenshots

Invoice List

Invoice List – View encounters, claim statuses, total charges, payments, and balance due.


Apply Payment

Apply Payment Screen – Enter and reconcile payment details from insurance payers.


Summary

By following these steps in the VEHRDICT system, your practice can streamline billing workflows, minimize errors, and ensure fast and accurate reimbursements for all patient services.