3 Answers
Medical billing is the process by which doctors and hospitals receive payment from health insurance companies. It also involves resolving any disputes and following up on claims that have been delayed or rejected. Medical billing is a complex series of procedures that require a great deal of time by skilled professionals. In fact, large hospitals often have an entire department dedicated to billing. The medical billing process is vital to any health care organization; hospitals and medical practices cannot operate without payments from insurance companies.
When you visit a doctor's office or a hospital, a detailed record is kept of any tests, procedures, or examinations that are performed in the treatment of your condition. Any diagnoses made by the medical staff are also noted. This is your medical record, and it provides information necessary to the billing process. After you provide your insurance information to the doctor's office or hospital, the medical billing cycle begins.
Before a bill is submitted to an insurance company for payment, it must be coded. During coding, each service or procedure must be given an alphanumeric code based on a standardized system. In the U.S., procedures are given a code based on the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) manual, and diagnoses are coded using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9) manual.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-medical-billing.htm
11 years ago. Rating: 5 | |